Latin Beat music update

Latin Beat Magazine, Oct, 1998 by Nelson Rodríguez

The summer is over and you know what that means. The holidays are just around the corner. With the many releases available in the market, I'll try to keep you informed on the better recordings.

The Frankie Ruiz compilation, Nacimiento y Recuerdos, includes only one new song, Vuelvo a Nacer. The track is doing very well on the charts and the CD debuted on Billboard's Hot Shot Debut at #8. This is by far Ruiz's biggest charting CD, unfortunate as it is with his recent death.

Elvis Crespo was the hands-down winner at this years Salsa Festival in New York, with India a close second. The young merenguero is super hot and has a second number 1 hit in Tu Sonrisa, off his debut CD that has captured New York and Puerto Rico by storm.

While El Gran Combo was a welcome sight at this year's concert, they seemed a bit slow and a lot older, but many, myself included, feel a new CD would jump start them. We know the good people at Combo Records, where EGC has returned to record, will do them justice.

On the new release by the Lebrón Brothers titled Lo Mistico, the promotional track Yerba Mala was retitled Dulce Amargo just before the release. The vocalists on this new CD are Luis Ayala and Frankie Vásquez, both veterans who join the brothers José, Angel, Frank and Carlos. Carlos Lebrón and Jeanette López handle the vocal duties on Family Affair. Lebrón Brothers fans won't be disappointed.

One of the hottest CDs out right now is Oro Sólidos El Presidente Del Merengue. While the music swings, it's not very different from other Oro Sólido CDs and that part I understand. The vocal style of Raúl Acosta is more talking than actual singing and you hear that often today. Merengue has in a sense become very raunchy. You can figure out what's happening by the titles La Paleta, (when they ask you to "chupar"), El Baile de la Ducha, La Vecina, the funny La Viagra, Arroz Que Carne Hay and Mujeres Calientes.

One CD that works is Toño Rosario's Exclusivo. Rosario aptly demonstrates why he is still one of the best, with hits such as Me Enamoré De Ti, Homenaje a Puerto Rico, Que Mujer Más Buena and Un Buen Perdedor.

Conjunto Libre fans should pick up Con Salsa...Con Ritmo (Volumen 1) recorded for Salsoul Salsa just after the Grupo Folklórico Experimental Newyorquino. This CD contains Lamento Borincano, No Critiques and Donna Lee/A Gozar y Bailar. Dave Valentín, Ron Cuber, Jerry González and Nelson González are also on this CD.

Producer Sergio George will record a live CD titled The Sir George Collection...with scheduled performances by Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, DLG, Victor Manuelle, Lisette Meléndez, Frankie Negrón and some new artists on Sergio's label.

Danilo Pérez continues to be one of today's most impressive pianists, as shown on his CD Central Avenue. He showcases very talented musicians on this CD, including John Patitucci, John Benítez, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Jeff Ballard.

Plena Libre, led by Gary Núñez, has been recording for years. Their 1996 recording, Plena Pa' Ti, features a smashing version of Los Van Vans Sandunguera, and the title track has been a holiday favorite this past year. Check out the roots of Puerto Rican music.

One of the best things about Vocal Sampling's Live In Berlin (recorded at the Heimatlklange Festival on August of 1997 is the fact that every time the guys perform, it's a fresh version of the song. When you consider that everything is done by voices and hands, the result is amazing.

Pedro Conga y Su Orquesta Internacional have a new CD, Peligroso, with the lead vocals being handled by Edgardo Díaz Peña and Rafy Cruz. The hits are Si Tu Te Vas and A Las Mujeres.

A CD I didn't expect much from but was impressed with was Sheena's Y Aquí Estoy. The tracks that stood out were Pronto Volveré and I Wanna Be (Ahora Si Quiero). This last song was one of my favorite jackson Five songs. Good Luck, Sheena.

The group Tolú (Alex Acuña & Justo Almario) does an ourstanding job on the CD, Rumbero Poetry. Even though this group was originally formed in the early '80s, it never became an actual group and never recorded until now. Thanks to producers Jacques Hubert and Juan Morillo, this debut, 15 years in the making, is finally a reality. Understanding of the group's concept is clearly defined in the recordings that include awesome performances by the leaders, as well as Luis Conte, Harry Kim, Joe Rotondi, Michito Sánchez, Arturo Velasco, Ricardo "Tiki" Pasillas and John Peña. The guests include Luis Enrique, Richie Garcia, Otmaro Ruiz and Ramon Stagnaro.

A surprising Latin jazz CD is trumpeter Bobby Shew's Salsa Caliente on the Mama label. This CD, recorded in Los Angeles, has an all-star lineup of pianist/arranger Mark Levine, Tiki Pasillas, Justo Almario, Art Velasco, Michito Sánchez, Eddie Resto, José "Papo" Rodríguez, and Sal Crocchiolo. The recording is a first class CD with excellent recordings and the musicians excel in each tune. I can tell that they really enjoyed themselves here, but none more than Bobby Shew, who has made his personal dream to record a Latin jazz CD a reality.