¿Quién Tiene Ritmo?

Latin Beat Magazine, Nov, 1998 by Rudy Mangual

SONIDO ISLEÑO

¿Quién Tiene Ritmo?

(Tresero Productions)

Sonido Isleño (Island Sound) is the name of this new group from a somewhat ecliptic island in North America, the island of New York. The group, a quartet most of the time, expresses the diversity of sounds and shapes one experiences on the urban island of skyscrapers. They blend the traditional Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban rhythms with jazz, blues, and other contemporary Northern musical forms. The mostly instrumental musical renditions from the band project a succulent, danceable, easy-to-groove music which never loses its flavor. Led by guitarist/tresero/cuatro player/composer/arranger Benjamín Lapidus, the young string master brings to the group years of experience performing with both Latin and jazz top names like Juan Pablo Torres, Larry Harlow, Larry Goldings, Joe McPhee, and Tani Tabbal. The other members of the group also have similar musical credentials, making this group a small powerhouse of music and talent above the norm. The opening and title track ¿Quien tiene ritmo? smokes like an early Benson tune with Willie Bobo on percussion. The same goes for the track Zachor. Other selections get more into the traditional Afro-Caribbean mood but continue exhibiting a fresh sound and solid substance overall.