A Bite from the Apple

Latin Beat Magazine, April, 1997 by Nelson Rodriguez

Fantastic recordings have made their way to the retail outlets this month and we have some more to add to your wish list. But before we begin, congratulations to Paquito D'Rivera and Ruben Blades for their Grammy wins. On a tropical note the trend seems to be a varied amount of rhythms such as the Blades CD or Gloria Estefan's prior Grammy win. We'll wait until next year to see if that's true or not.

Merengue acts in Puerto Rico are beginning to harden their swing in order to penetrate the difficult U.S. market. Celines has done it on her new recording La Flor Del Merengue and Limi-t XII is in the same process.

RMM Records celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a limited anniversary series of 10 CDs of their Greatest Hits by Tito Puente, Orquesta Guayacan, Tito Nieves, José Alberto "El Canario," Tony Vega, Domingo Quiñones, Ray De La Paz, Ray Sepúlveda, Johnny Rivera and more. Look out for a special budget line also coming out for the summer.

The new Oscar D'Leon CD, Oscar D'Leon En Nueva York, is without a doubt his best recording since his early solo efforts of the '70s. Isidro Infante was at the helm of this recording in which Oscar brought five arrangements from Venezuela by Tomas "Monchy" Bernal. This recording is a smoker! The one song that stands out above the rest is the duet Oscar does with India on No Te Acerques Mas.

Eddie Palmieri has plans to record a salsa album with his ex-vocalists Lalo Rodríguez, Tony Vega, Ismael Quintana and Cheo Feliciano. Let's hope this becomes a reality.

Some critics feel that the young vocalist Saned (Rivera) is a better singer than her brothers Jerry and Edwin.

The José Alberto "El Canario" Tribute To Machito finally hit the streets and quickly hit the charts with Como Queria and Sarabanda. The modern arrangements to these classics are superb.

Another superb recording is The Caribbean Jazz Project's Island Stories that brings out the magic of Paquito D'Rivera, Dave Samuel's and Andy Narell. The best thing about this unique trio is their complete tour support of the CD. Check them out when they hit your town.

Giro is back with a new CD, Historias De Amor and an array of romantic salsa tunes with composers like Omar Alfanno, Ricardo Vizuete, Poldo Castro, Cuto Soto and Mimi Ibarra.

The lady many on the music scene have been comparing to RMM's India is Santa on Fonovisa Records. Her song Esta Vez Si Se Acabó has become a huge hit and can be found on her CD Lo Quiero A Morir. The music is swinging and worth the listen.

Without a doubt the hottest woman in salsa right now is Brenda K. Starr and her CD Te Sigo Esperando. Brenda is a young Puerto Rican from New York who is very well known for her freestyle/ballad music and such hits as I Still Believe and What You See Is What You Get. Humberto Ramírez produced this new CD with the #1 hit Herida. To answer the question of whether Brenda has arrived to replace India, my opinion is that Brenda K. Starr is here to be herself and the woman is here to stay.

A great CD to pick up is Barbarisimo by Frank Emilio Flynn y Sus Amigos. This legendary pianist is supported by an all-star cast including one of the hottest new young congueros, Miguel Anga, and another legendary timbalero, Changuito. Add flutist Maraca and bassist Carlitos del Puerto, and special guests La Orquesta Ritmo Oriental members Enrique Lazaga, "El Raspa" Eugenio Rodríguez (founder and vocalist respectively) and Frank Emilio's niece, flutist Marell Flynn, and you have the makings of a great CD. It contains all sorts of instrumental formats including mambo, rumba, danzón, son estilizado and more. One of the year's best.

Johnny Ray's Salsa Con Clase new CD is titled Mas Agresivo Que Nunca and is climbing the charts once more with the hit Olvidame. The CD has some superb tunes and the English salsa Before The Next Teardrop Falls.

Levantate Y Baila is the new one from Orquesta Maravilla De Florida, one of Cuba's hottest modern charangas.

Those of you who love yesteryear's salsa should check out vocalist Frankie Dante and "Los Rebeldes" with the hit Semilla De Caña Brava. This 1979 Cotique release included arrangements by Louie Cruz, Louie Ramírez, Marty Sheller and Joe Manozzi.

Johnny Pacheco's Sabor Tipico from 1972 includes the vocal talents of Pete "Conde" Rodríguez, Pacheco and Alberto Valdés.

One of my favorites, not available on vinyl for over 25 years is Tommy Olivencia's A Toda Maquina..! with vocalists Paquito Guzman and Sammy "El Rolo" González. Check out the guaguancos La China, Tu No Haces Falta and Como Cambia El Tiempo.

La Patrulla 15, led by vocalist Jossie Esteban will rock the merengue airwaves as they are now with the smash hit La Colota. Esteban Grullon (Jossie Esteban) and Alberto Martínez (Ringo) both childhood friends present their latest CD La Colota and to my delight this is La Patrulla 15 I've known for the past 18 years. The CD swings on many of the tracks to the approval of fans who have come to love and dance to the sounds of this merengue act.

Finally something by NG La Banda led by flutist José Luis Cortes and recorded in Japan. Cabaret Estelar is from 1995 but now available if you can find it in the specialty shops. NG La Banda also has available the jazzy CD Nuestro Hombre En La Habana. Tony Calá is a featured vocalist for NG La Banda and is highlighted on Tony Calá Canta Benny Moré. This is also from 1995.