The recording industry as a whole is cost cutting. Wow - this is news. The cutting has been so severe and strict that my mail box is no longer stuffed with large envelopes from the different record labels and their "products". I guess I'm not their list anymore. As a result, I had to revert and become a mere mortal and start, once again, buying music. There's very little out there that piques my interest enough to buy. I've never been into the bandwagon Cuban-ophiles that would buy anything labeled made in Cuba. I learned my lesson after Buena Vista Social Club. Neither was I going to buy the pretty-faced-boy-salsa-band-studio-package, and their off-springs, just because they are popular. In all honesty, I'm not going to be spending my hard earned dollars on music from folks that came up out of thin air. I consider myself a traditionalist. Not exactly one that's, in the words of Huey Dunbar, "hemmed up in a time", but one that believes in people paying their dues by building a name for themselves with their hard work and dedication. In recent times, Gilberto Santa Rosa & Victor Manuelle are undisputed examples of what I'm talking about. I don't think I have to go into a history lesson on why do we revere The Fania All Stars - do I? These other new cats out there - I mean, other than being talented products of studio work; where did they come from? What's their track record? I know I'm being kind of harsh, after all they probably have accomplished much more than I in the grand scale of things. They have recording careers and I... well... I work a nine to five. But! The fact still remains that I'm not spending my hard earned money on folks that are produced out of thin air. So I decided to pick up Dominic's latest production for Prestigio Recordings.
What Da?
I know what you're thinking, what happened to all that talk about people paying their dues?! Talented products of studio work?! Isn't Dominic exactly that? In a word, the answer is no. Much like watching Huey Dunbar do coro and sing duets within India's band, I've known of Dominic since his days as a corista in Cuco Valoy's band. "Oh man, you're going back! That's just goes to show - you never know who is watching and paying attention." And in Dominic's case, people are paying just a little bit too much attention. While the word on the street is that Dominic is a brash and arrogant young man, who is very self-absorbed and egotistic, I found him to be quite contraire. Whether he's hanging out at Gonzalez & Gonzalez with one or two friends, or being asked to join Tony Vega on stage, Dominic exhibits none of the symptoms usually attributed to a conceited star. "I like to watch a good show just like any other patron attending a nightclub. It so happens that Tony Vega was a bit under the weather that night, and Aris Martinez, who is a friend of mine, invited me to go on stage and join Tony in doing his Ismael Rivera medley. I like to be around people. I'll shake a hand and take a picture with anyone, it's no big deal. I like to be in the thick of things."
With arrangements by Angel Fernandez & Ricky Gonzalez, who is also credited as the producer; Dominic's fourth recording, titled Soy Como Soy; is his most professional and satisfying production to date. It is a vast improvement from his previous three recordings. Recordings that include previous hits like "Niegalo Todo", "Soy Tuyo", "Lloran Las Rosas", and "Locuras Tengo De Ti".
"You think we fixed a couple of things there?" (Chuckles)
Did they ever! Not only is Dominic the best talent in Prestigio Recording's roster of artists, but released back in the summer of 2002; Soy Como Soy is Prestigio Recordings' best sounding salsa CD since George Lamond's debut record for the recording company. The sound engineering is impeccably crisp, full, clear, and flawless! That alone can make the difference between a good and a great CD.
"We took great care of this recording. Every detail was carefully appraised. The songs, the arranging, and the overall feel for this production. And based on the feedback I've gotten, I can say with great confidence that the work we did here will please my fans, and help me earn new ones."
Out of the newest batch of salseros to hit the market, Dominic is the only one with: A) Enough vocal strength to deliver a song, attached with feelings and all, like a seasoned vocalist. Not like cat in heat. B) An impressive command of the language to deliver, in a meaningful and well thought manner, the art of the soneo. C) A certain level of versatility that enables him to perform a salsa, a bachata, a ballad, and a reggae... Yes reggae! As a true natural.
Considering how diverse Dominic's musical influences are, one shouldn't be that surprised. "I love music, I love good music! I love bachatas, I love a good merengue, and I love a good ballad. I try my best to, at the very least pay tribute to those pioneers who immortalized many great songs. Camilo Sesto, Ricardo Montaner, and Danny Rivera, to name a few, are guys that deserve plenty of recognition. I try to do that with my ballad medleys."
Make no mistake about this recording. In the midst of exemplary vocal skills, pretty lyrics, unorthodox rhythm fusions, Dominic's Soy como Soy is a serious gut-bucket salsa recording designed to please his already established fan base, and to conquer those who, for whatever reason, have not accepted his work.
© 2003 Néstor A. Louis