Vive

Latin Beat Magazine, Nov, 1998 by Gilbert Rivera

MILLY QUEZADA

Vive

(Sony Discos)

Considered by many as the latest Queen of the Merengue and basking in the glory as the recipient of the highest artistic award from her native Dominican Republic (El Premio Soberano), Guezada releases her latest album Vive (Lives). The twenty-plus year veteran vocalist suffered the loss of her husband/manager of twenty years a few years ago. The loss was extremely difficult for the mother of three. Her professional career had been in its entirety in the hands of her husband, Rafael Vásquez.

Milly Guezada has courageously bounced back and last year she experienced her most triumphant season via recording and concert shows that were well-received in Puerto Rico, New York City, and the Dominican Republic. This new production is proof of the strength and talent of this remarkable female artist. The album was recorded in three separate sessions that took place in Puerto Rico, New York, and the Dominican Republic. Each session featured top studio musicians, with arrangements by Rafael Quezada, Henry Jiménez, and Manuel Tejada. The selection Para darte mi vida, a Victor Victor composition, is featured twice, the first time in a duet by Milly and Elvis Crespo, and secondly by herself, as a bachata. The duet version was an instant hit. My favorite tracks are Si piensas en mi and Tu me llenas de amor Excellent CD.