Ignacio "Mazacote" Carrillo El Figuron

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2003 by Gilbert Rivera

(Envidia)

One of the top exponents of Cuba's old brigade of singers/composers is Ignacio Carrillo, alias "Mazacote." After a career that spanned over 40 years with the popular groups Conjunto Bolero, Orquesta Neno González and Chapottin y sus Estrellas, Mazacote retired from performing in 1988, resurfacing again in 2001 with the CD De Profesión ... Sonero, for the Envidia label, earning a welldaserved prize in the annual "Cubadisco" awards ceremony celebrated in Havana that same year. El Figurón is his latest recording and it includes a repertoire of some of his original compositions, in addition to several Cuban standards. Julio Barroso heads the musical direction from the piano chair, with the aid of trumpeter Eloy Abreu, tres guitarist Miguelito Martinez, and an impressive percussion section led by Enrique Lazaga Jr. on conga drums. Joining Mazacote on second voice and chorus is his good friend, the veteran singer Ciso Guanche. High points in the recording include the opening track, Soy de Buenavista, the title track El Figurón, No Comas Más Bombón, and the descarga Frutas del Caney.