Ned Sublette
Cowboy Rumba
(c) 1999 Palm Pictures
Distributed by: RykoDisk
RATING: ***3/4
At first I didn't know what to think. People all around me are swearing by this record. "Man this sounds really good!", are the words coming out of individuals that I really respect and admire. All I could ask at the time was, "Man are you serious? You've got to be kidding me? The guy sings and sounds like a country western guy singing salsa!" Exactly, that's the idea! "What?! I don't understand? Is this supposed to be cool? It's corny if you ask me! I mean, what is this?! Has everybody gone mad?!!!" As you can see, at first I didn't dig this record because I couldn't get pass the way Ned Sublette sang this record. He really sounds like a cowboy doing salsa! Good salsa! "Wait a minute, I got it! It's the music!". You see, because of the music I learned to actually dig this record. The music is really fresh and well done. Ned Sublette's "Cowboy Rumba" has lots of tasty son montunos, mixed with merengue, Colombian cumbia, and guaguanco's that are just a delight to listen. The fascinating thing about this entire production is, that is one of an incredibly high caliber. With the participation of Dominican Musicians like Ramón Orlando & Crispín Fernández, Cuban musicians like NG La Banda & Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, New York musicians like Joe Torres, Jimmy Delgado, Johnny Almendra, Bobby Franceschini, Néstor Sanchez among others, and the sound engineering of Jon Fausty; makes this a fact. The oddest result from this one-of-a-kind cultural exchange between American western folklore and Afro-Latin American culture, is Ned Sublette's ability to sing and sonear a western style lyric in clave. Talk about being creative! Ned Sublettes' "Cowboy Rumba" is the one record that makes wearing boots, spurs, chaps and a lasso with a Cuban rumbero shirt with a conga drum strapped across you chest look like they belong together.
Juan Luis Guerra & 440
Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es igual
(c) 1999 Karen
Distributed by: Karen Records
RATING: ***1/2
There is merengue, and there is Juan Luis Guerra 440. With "Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual", Juan Luis Guerra brings to the forefront an incredible barrage of songs that capture the essence of something abstract that says plenty without saying much. The music in itself is fascinating because the merengues are not your average merengue. They are blends and shades of the rich musical heritage born in the Island of La Espanola. The percussion is clearly fussed with Haitian compa, therefore the guira is not overwhelmingly loud. The horn and woodwind sections are arranged with great finesse and agility that you as a listener can't help but to exclaim "wow". 440 can easily be compared to Seis/Son Del Solar in terms of their subtle use of synthesizers, drums, and effects. These sounds neatly placed together can be quite enchanting. Juan Luis Guerra also includes one salsa track that aims to please everyone - the romantic, the dancer, and the listener. In the humor department Juan includes a track titled "El Primo". Song that's about the cousin that's a jack of all trades, and knows everybody famous and important. Arturo Sandoval & Ed Calle are featured in this track. Although "Ni Es Lo Mismo, Ni es igual" has moments that lack luster, because of the mellowness in some of the tracks, it's nevertheless another fine recording by the man that took the sound of merengue to the next level.
George Lamond
Entrega
(c) 1999 Prestigio
Distributed by: Sony Discos
RATING: ***
Ok here are the meats and potatoes of this record: Bass - Ruben Rodriguez. Piano - Ricky Gonzalez, Miguel Bonilla, Juan Gonzalez, and Sergio George. Percussion - Bobby Allende, Marc Quiñonez, Robert Villera, Ray Colon. Trumpets & trombones - Ray Vega, Raul Agraz, Richie Viruet, and Pablo Santaella. Reggae Rap - Nes Roberts. Coro - William Duval, Chris Raymond, Johnny Rivera, Ray Sepulveda, George Lamond, Ricky Gonzalez and a whole bunch of talented guys. Musical Producers - Miguel Bonilla, Luis Cabarcas, Angel Fernandez, Ricky Gonzalez, and Sergio George. Get the idea? Wink, wink - Different producers for every track. As you can see this can easily be considered a post 1995 All-Star cast of musicians doing today's popular sound - R&B/reggae fussed salsa. It contains 10 bouncy tracks that are, like his current hit single titled "Que Te Vas", in line with the musical taste of today's youth. Not only is "Entrega" George Lamond's first salsa production for the newly formed Prestigio Records, but it's also the first enhanced cd in the salsa realm! In other words, aside from music, this cd also includes the music video of "Que Te Vas", interactive scrolling lyrics to all the songs, a biography, and interviews with George Lamond in English and Spanish. This really blew me away! Not so much the technology, because it's been around for about 5 years, but because of the fact that the salsa industry has finally caugh up with the times by using new technology effectively. Congratulations George Lamond and Prestige Productions.
Jose Alberto "El Canario"
Herido
(c) 1999 RykoLatino
Distributed by: RykoDisk
RATING: ****
Herido is the title of Jose Alberto El Canario's latest, and my question is, if this is how he shows us his hurt, how does he express his anger or his joy? With Herido, Jose Alberto has put out record that is aggressive the only way Canario knows how. By experimenting with Cuban influences, the way the bass, piano, and timbales are played; Canario lightly adds a third dimension to track 4, without surrendering Jose Alberto's identity. He also includes a merengue that adds color to the entire production. Track 6 titled "Amor Improvisado" has a vintage arrangement of Ramon Sanchez. I only wish he would continue to arrange is such fashion. The bass line is really funky! The coro is hooked up! Jose Alberto is just superb! There is a track dedicated to Peru. "La Flor De La Canela" it's a tremendous track arranged by Lucho Cueto. This guy is quickly becoming one of my new favorite arrangers. With singing, soneos galore, breaks, and baritone I would have to say, "eso es una salsa del carajo!". What else is there to say about Jose Alberto El Canario? This guy doesn't have a bad record! Ok arguably one, Llego La Hora. But since then, Jose Alberto El Canario has quickly become one of those very few artists that consistently puts out a quality product that consumers purchase blindly because of his track record, musical quality, and musical integrity. With Jose Alberto El Canario, it's never a miss, it's always a hit!
RATING SYSTEM:
***** EXCELLENT (Must Have!)
**** GREAT (Very Impressive!)
*** GOOD (Safe Investment)
** AVERAGE (Not a Priority)
* POOR (Don't Waste Your Money)
© Nestor A. Louis ALL REVIEWS ARE SOLELY THE OPINIONS OF THE AUTHOR.
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