Ernie Acevedo Y Grupo Imagen Contra La Fuerza - Reseña

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2002 by Gilbert Rivera

(Platano Records)

One of New York City's best-kept secrets is the salsa party band of Ernie Acevedo y Grupo Imagen. Established in 1989 by percussionist/vocalist Ernie Acevedo, Grupo Imagen has always embraced tropical dance music in their own unique way, staying true to the roots of the music, yet evolving with the times. Contra La Fuerza, Grupo Imagen's latest release, marks the group's 10th recording in the last 12 years. Twelve tracks illustrate wonderfully the sound and talent of this conjunto-style band with the tunes La Moneda (a Cuco Valoy composition); Me Mata La Pena (a Ramón Orlando Valoy composition with killer arrangements by Chino Nuñez); El Montunero (an Ernie Acevedo composition with solos by the group's co-leader, Junior Rivera, on tres guitar, and special guest musician Eddie Zervigón on flute), and Aviso (an Aquilino Zuñiga composition arranged by Lucho Cueto) leading the pack. They also do a pretty good salsa version of the Backstreet Boys' hit-song Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely. Trumpeter Angelo González is the group's musical director and also a contributing arranger. Ah endless list of special guest musicians contributed to this production: Pablo "Chino" Nuñez (percussion and arranging), Nelson "Gazú" Jaime (trumpet, piano-syn and arranging), Edwin Sánchez (piano-syn and arranging), Lucho Cueto (piano-syn and arranging), and Willie Ruiz on chorus and arranging.