Latin Beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 1998 by Nelson Rodríguez

As we gear up for the final months of the year, some of the hottest music of 1998 is emerging and heading into the holidays with a bang.

Roberto Clemente: Un Tributo Musical joins many of Puerto Rico's top artists with awesome arrangements in a concept album in honor of the baseball legend and my number one sports idol. Somos La Fuerza Latina features Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Tito Allen, Wichie Camacho, Lefty Pérez, Chocolate Coombs and Edel Borrero plus a chorus of baseball players who assist on the recording.

Another hot release that is expected soon is a new Richie Ray salsa dura CD, his first in eleven years or so. Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz were super hot in the '60s with the boogaloo and jala jala but more importantly, Richie Ray is one of the best pianists of that decade, this guy cooked, the Michel Camilo of that era.

Fans of Juan Luis Guerra's 4.40 will enjoy the three ladies known as Grupo 3-30. Directly from the Dominican Republic, Arismer Eduardo, Mariel Nathalie and Zenayda Monseratt perform bachatas and merengues unlike any of the previous female bands. Proyecto De Ternura has begun to kick in with the lead single being Concierto de Amor en tu Cuerpo. The concept, similar to 4.40, emphasizes on harmonics with poetic lyrics that tell a story.

The Lebron Brothers release for Nueva Fania is titled Lo Mistico, Los Hermanos Lebron and features Luisito Ayala and Frankie Vásquez on vocals. Vásquez has been appearing with Conjunto Libre. Yerba Mala is the single that headed out to radio.

The West Coast was treated to a great performance by Johnny Almendra y Los Jovenes Del Barrio, featuring Jillian at the Sportsmen's Lodge in August. The band proved to be an exciting act that drew a huge crowd of charanga lovers. Many of the fans who were there that evening witnessed New York's best. Johnny Almendra has already prepared a new CD, but no distributor has been mentioned.

The new merengue act, The Baby Band (L.E. Productions), has remixed the freestyle hit Louder Than Love, by TKA, into a swinging merengue. Another good track on the sampler is Merengue y Ya. Another new act that has been working for the DJs at IMC (International Music Center Record Pool) in New York is MP'S K-Libre.

Eddie Arroyo has recommended as the hottest track at the clubs, La Banda Chula's Ay Que Olla.

Cuco Valoy has put together a new CD with a new twist, but mostly salsa. The last big salsa hit that Cuco had was Juliana which was redone this past year by DLG.

Los Adolescent's have just released their third CD, La Misma Pluma and debuted in New York's Copacabana with the lead single Huellas.

Toño Rosario's new CD Exclusivo has a hot single in Me Enamore De Ti. I'm still waiting for Toño to record a CD with his brothers.

H.O.L.A. Records has a new young salsero named Jorge Luis with the debut CD Ayer produced by Osvaldo Pichaco. No Me Digas Que No has made it to many of the east coast radio stations.

Willy Chirino produced a CD for a new group signed to Polygram called Grupo Ñ. The single Corazon Partido is the fourth version we're heard so far this year of this composition.

The African salsa band Africando continues to produce great CDs and on the new release Baloba, the West African vocalists are joined by Laba Sosseh. Laba was the first to do African (senegalese) salsa produced by Roberto Torres in the early '80s. The musicians are always some of New York's best. Aicha is the single that has quickly caught on with the DJs. This CD is on some of the best charts throughout the world beat outlets.

Anthony Colón has began to finally climb the charts with his single Me Esta Doliendo Dejarte.

MP will release a CD titled Los Hijos De Los Célebres that unites the sons of Ismael Rivera, Andy Montañez and Pellin Rodríguez. Ismael Rivera Jr., Andicito Montañez and Puchi Rodríguez have a surprise in store for us. Their back up band was the Apollo Sound and each son sings classics originally done by their legendary fathers. Check out Milonga Sentimental, Jala Jala, El Caballo Pelao, El Nazareno, Arrebatadora and many more.

Cuba L.A. is one of the year's hottest CDs that unites the talents of Danilo Lozano, Luis Conte, Orestes Vilató, Carlos Puerto Jr. and many more of today's best West Coast musicians. Check out El Dulcerito Llego.

Former saxophonist for Irakere and NG La Banda, Carlos Averhoff, has been working on a solo project since defecting to the U.S. while on tour with Isaac Delgado.

Bio Ritmo combines Cuban salsa with tinges of the '90s in a hot new release, Rumba Baby Rumba. The eight piece band is led by René Herrera.

David Sánchez's Obsesion is a wonderful CD in which we get a look at David's roots, with music from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Brazil and the U.S. Great CD with some great songs in Lamento Borincano, Obsesion, Cuban Fantasy and Los Aretes de la Luna. The CD was co-produced by Branford Marsalis.

Paulito F.G. continues his sensual current salsa sound backed by the Cuban swing on his latest Con La Conciencia Tranquila. Guitarist Rogelio Napoles excels on this CD as does trumpeter Alexander Abreu. The title track as well as Y Ahora Que, Para Volver Conmigo, No Me Puedo Enamorar and Y San Toma Que stand out.