Charanga Pasión

Latin Beat Magazine, August, 1997 by Max Salazar

On Wednesday, June 18, 1997, La Charanga Pasion debuted at La Maganette, located at 3rd Avenue, corner of 50th Street in New York City. An estimated crowd of 500 dancers crowded every square inch of the premises just to hear the flute and strings orchestra which had been promoted by Vicky Sola, radio host of the popular Saturday noon to 3 p.m. program, "Que Viva La Música" over WFDU FM transmitting out of Teaneck, New Jersey's Fairleigh Dickinson University.

What became obvious this evening was New York City's changing dancing scene which is no longer just Hispanic dancers, but representatives from different parts of the world. Yasuyo Kimura, Pasion's female Japanese conga drummer, was responsible for attracting one third of the audience which were Asian dancers. Another third were African Americans while the remainder were Anglos and Hispanics. To see Asians and African Americans dancing like Barrio natives, utilizing the slick Eddie Torres mambo steps, half turns spinning, convinced me that Salsa is and would continue to be danced in remote cities around the world.

At 8:30 p.m., seven attractive ladies and two male musicians began writing the first page of their history book. Contributing to this historic moment were violinist and co-leader Betsy Hill, pianist Wendy Ryan, vocalists Eva Padilla, Debbie Resto and Marta Acea, conguera Yasuyo Kimura, bassist Guillermo Edghill, timbalero Papo Pepin and flutist/co-leader Connie Grossman. Connie and Betsy took turns in announcing the tunes, their composers and arrangers; a good will gesture last utilized by Cal Tjader in the early '80s.

Dancers formed a semicircle in front of the stand just to watch. When the erotic montunos to the tunes of El gato, Coro mi yare, Mi son, Tu volveras and No hay mal played, joy erupted on the floor. To see the beautiful Debbie Resto scat sing Let Me Love You was one of the evening's visual treats.

During the intermission, the beaming parents of Connie and Betsy were introduced and admitted this was the first time they were in a Latin music club. During the second set, the incident which usually leaves an indelible impression happened. Betsy announced the tune Za-Ba-Dap, composed and arranged by Connie Grossman. Less than one minute into the tune, there was a move on to the dance floor. The sounds were erotic, arousing, the type which cause bodily chemistry changes and overflowing libidos. Za-Ba-Dap was the Cuban rhythm of son montuno at its best, the tune which cannot miss being a hit and selling the CD when it is released

Eddy Zervigon, musical director of Orquesta Broadway said, "They sounded great." Tony "Locks" Rodríguez, promoter of the Maganette's Wednesday Night Salsa said, "When Pasion reaches its peak, it will be a world-class charanga."