A Tiempo De Danzón

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 1998 by Luis Tamargo

FRANK EMILIO FLYNN A Tiempo De Danzón (Milan Latino)

My favorite 1997 disc was Frank Emilio's Barbarísimo, despite Milan Latino's failure to provide a copy of said recording. Nevertheless, I managed to acquire it through the late Emilio Vandenedes (via pianist Sergei Kasimoff).

1998: History repeats itself. The neglectful label did not send a promotional copy of Frank Emilio's new album to this writer, perhaps his biggest fan on the West Coast. Instead, it was provided by a third party.

It is worthwhile to go through such unofficial channels when it comes to the music of Frank Emilio, a clinical case of multiple personalities. There is Frank Emilio, the Cuban jazz pioneer. There is Frank Emilio, the filin catalyst. There is Frank Emilio, the descarga wizard.

As clarified by its title, the new release is about another musical personality- Frank Emilio, the hard-core danzonero. With the exception of the autographic Luyanó, the repertoire consists of danzón standards, from Miguel Fílde's Las Alturas de Simpson (the oldest danzón ever created by homo hispanicus) to Abelardo Valdés Almendra, possibly the most recorded danzón of all times.

As expected, our blind man in Havana is backed by a squad of die-hard danzoneros, including flutist Joaquín Oliveros, bassist William Rubalcaba (Gonzalo's older brother) and the successor to Gustavo Tamayo's throne- the spectacular güirero Enrique Lazaga.