Latin Beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, Oct, 2003 by Nelson Rodriguez

The 2003 list of Latin Grammy nominees made evident that the industry needs a huge overhaul. Maybe it would be better off without a Latin Grammy presentation.

It was a disgrace that so much excellent music did not get a fair chance to be nominated. Putting them in a book is not good enough! With this said, this publication is even more important to keep you updated on the finest music, old and new.

Las Estrellas Cobo joins the elite list of hot discs that will make many year-end Top Ten lists with their release of Heavy Duty-Cobo Music Jam. Nothing short of perfect when you combine Manny Oquendo, Chocolate, Alfredo De La Fé, José Mangual Jr., Orlando Marín, Eddie Montalvo, Jimmy Sabater, Andy González, Pupi Legarreta, Willie Amadeo, Juan Pablo Torres, Alfredito Valdés Jr., Manuel Valera, Jorge Maldonado and the new vocalist Yousie Barbara. Great songs and great arrangements by the band formerly known as the Caimán All-Stars.

Some available oldies but goodies include Orquesta Broadway's Arrímate Pa'Cá (Come Closer To Me, 1966), produced by Tito Rodríguez; from Venezuela, Mango's Puro Mango, a compilation of their best sextet sound; Milly Quesada's salsa album, No Te Puedo Tener, produced by Luis "Perico" Ortíz, featuring Sonny Bravo, Lewis Kahn, "Bomberito" Zarzuela; Mickey Cora y Su Orquesta Cábala's Hoy a Las Seis, produced by Willie Rosario; Salsa Fever's ¡Que Vivan Los Estudiantes! (1980); Roberto Faz y Su Conjunto's Baila Conmigo; Noro Morales' Bailemos Con Noro Morales (Latin Dance Party Vol. 3) with vocals by Tito Rodríguez and Juan Ramón Torres; La Playa Sextet's The Sound of Puerto Rico with Vitín Avilés and Junior González; and Nacho Sanabria's El Nuevo Sabor De Nacho, produced by Willie Rosario.

Poncho Sánchez has not missed a step with his new CD, Out Of Sight, with guests Ray Charles on Mary Ann, the JB's (James Brown horns) Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley on five tracks, vocalist Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave fame) on the tune Hitch It to the Horse, and organist Billy Preston on the opening track, One Mint Julep.

Andrea Brachfeld & Son Charanga's Back With Sweet Passion combines her charanga savvy with a flair of jazz with outstanding musicians Alfredo De La Fé, Oscar Hernández, Chembo Corniel, Jorge Maldonado, Chico Alvarez, Papo Pepín and more. With tasty new versions of some old standards and the fiery Descarga Son Charanga, Rumba Cha and La Flauta De Andrea, this one will be enjoyed all year long.

Ricardo Lemvo & Makina Loca continue their diversified sounds with a major contribution by Jesús "El Niño" Pérez, on the CD Ay Valeria! Fans of the Lemvo sound will not be disappointed.

One of the best releases from Cuba this year comes from percussionist Maikel Blanco y Suprema Ley, whose Ya Llegaron Los Cubanos swings with fantastic compositions and arrangements that give the band a unique sound. From start to finish this album is a keeper.

Long John Oliva's AC Timba Jazz wasted no time in getting another recording out this year and it's worth it. Buscando La Ortographia is a fusion of jazz, afro-Cuban rhythms and Brazilian influences that make this an experience you won't want to miss.

Baseball player Bernie Williams' The Journey Within is a mostly jazz CD that showcases his brilliance as a smooth guitarist. Only the opening track, La Salsa En Mi (one of his seven compositions) uses Gilberto Santa Rosa and Rubén Blades on chorus. This one will go well on a romantic evening with good wine.

Rubby Pérez has formed his own label for the release of his latest, Volando Alto, which many critics love.

Mariano Cívico's De Costa a Costa is a disc with new versions of material he sang with Costa Brava in the eighties, including Te Voy a Hacer Feliz, Tu Precio, Flor Bonita, Que Importa, Cualquiera Menos Tú, Los Hombres Lloran Por Dentro and Ni Llanto Ni Lamento.

Cuban Conexión, led by bassist Nicolas Sirgado, has a wonderful Latin Jazz CD, Haciendo Memoria, with outstanding performances by pianist Roy Sainz and European violinisr Taras Dumitro. The tracks that will blow you away are Funk De Almendra, Funkallero, El Invento Del Siglo and Dime Si.

Cuban vocalist Teresa García Caturla is joined by friends Ibrahím Ferrer, Tony Pérez, Omara Portuondo, Pio Leyva, Lázaro Dagoberto González, Rolando Valdés, Guillermo Rubalcaba and Amadito Valdés on Llegó Tete, one of the year's best recordings.

Puerto Rico's Truco y Zaperoko are back after a long absence with Música Universal, with a unique sound that has made them a favorite.

Coming on November 28th to the Conga Room in Los Angeles will be one of Cuba's greatest lute players, Barbarito Torres.

Veteran conguero Papo Pepín, who has recorded hundreds of albums as a sideman, is making his debut with Al Natural, featuring Carlos El Grande on vocals.

Another veteran who is making a return is Felo Barrio, as vocalist on the most recent recording of Típica Tropical, led by flutist Eduardo R. Aguirre. This band recorded quite a bit in the eighties.