Willie Moreno y Su Orquesta Moreno Soy

Latin Beat Magazine, August, 2003 by Rudy Mangual

(Bongoreno Records)

Moreno Soy marks the solo debut as a bandleader of percussionist Willie Moreno, a previous member of the popular New York-based salsa band Los Hermanos Moreno, which he co-led with his younger brother Nelson. Opening with the Willie Colón/Héctor Lavoe classic hit No Me Llores Mas, arranged by Mike Rivera (bassist and producer of this project), Moreno and friends remain true to the classic salsa sounds and styles of the early seventies throughout this recording, adding just the necessary modish textures to keep the music fresh and intriguing. With additional arrangements by Isidro Infante and Efraín Dávila Jr. (the band's keyboardist and programmer), Moreno delivers a total of eight scores, including Nací Moreno (a mega-hit for La Sonora Ponceña in the seventies), with solos this time around by guests Isidro Infante (acoustic piano) and Edwin Sánchez (electric piano). Moreno Medley captures some of the hits from Los Hermanos Moreno's catalog, and A Quien Le Creo, a palpable upbeat salsa, adds to the mix. Angel Rios and Greg Jiménez are the lead vocalists for the band, with William M. Torres, John Jairo Ibáñez and Marcos Bermúdez on chorus. (RM)