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Hector Bonet ***1/2
Hector Bonet (M&M) Salsa
Favorite Tracks: 1, 4, 6 |
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Ismael Miranda ****
Vengo Con Todo (Universal) Salsa
Favorite Tracks: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
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Julio Salgado ****
Easy Living (Combo Records)
Favorite Tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 |
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This story begins with my good friend Grace. She tells me about this friend of hers that's somewhat of a salsa guru. This guy talks to her about his musical heroes, Barretto, Colón, Lavoe... The Fania All Stars... This and that... "Oh and he's also cutting a salsa record... I told him about you and how much I trust your taste in salsa music, so why don't you give him a call?", and that I did. Hector and I chatted for about 20 minutes, and in that period of time I got goose bumps! I mean once you hear that Robert Vilera, Raul Agraz, Pablo Santaella, David "Piro" Rodriguez, Kimo Solis, Aris Martinez, and Willie Amadeo worked on your debut record, under the musical direction and supervision of Rene Leyva, you really can't help it. This ensemble of talent, along with its resume, experience, and price tag, pretty much speaks for its self. Singer/songwriter Hector Bonet has in his hands a very dry-fender-bass-snare-drum recording that at times can be very cluttered. However it's a very energetic and technically flawless recording that's bound to get you grooving. In other words, this debut CD doesn't sound like a debut CD. Although Hector Bonet is a songwriter, he doesn't sound like one. Unlike Omar Alfanno, Ricardo Vizuette, and other singer songwriters out there, Hector Bonet definitely has the edgy salsa street element necessary to make the salsero in him come out and work! His vocals and improvisations are very much on point every step of the way. You can feel the great care that went into this recording, and as such, it sets the ground work for a bright future.
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I'm probably the only one who doesn't get one iota of excitement by the name Louis Garcia as a producer. I think his arranging style is way too predicable and overrated. I think I've been listening to music way too long. Gilberto Santa Rosa, as much as I love his music, has had a 50% rate of success as a producer of music for anyone other than himself. These two dudes hooked up and decided to produce a commemorative live CD, as well as this record for Ismael Miranda. To say it bluntly - I was not eagerly awaiting in anticipation for this CD, but on the recommendations by a couple of people, I gave the CD a listen, and the first 3 tracks did NOT do a thing for me. But what followed was totally unexpected. The laser pointed at tastiest 6:39 minutes son montuno track I've heard in a long time. It was as filthy as Asi Se Compone Un Son. It was followed by the most inventive medley I've heard. So inventive it doesn't sound like a medley but like an original song. Next up is Para, the most aggressive song I've heard Ismael Miranda sing since Con Mi Viejo Amigo. Truth be told, it's hard to say this is a great record on a first listen, but it certainly grows on you. And once it does, you can easily hear why Ismael Miranda vino con todo.
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When I first heard the promotional track off this CD, I immediately thought "oh my God! Jerry Rivas left El Gran Combo". It was a shocking yet plausible thought only because Charlie Aponte around that time recorded a single for a project titled De Alla Pa'ca , and El Gran Combo left Combo Records for a millionaire contract at Fonovisa. The fact that radio did not (and still does not) tell it's audience who sings the darned song did not help either. At any rate, many months later in 1995 I learned that Mirame was the first and only single promoted by Combo Records; not for a Jerry Rivas solo record, but for the debut CD by Julio Salgado. Much like it's a major compliment to think of Pupy Torres as a close carbon copy of Chamaco Ramirez, I think it's just as complimentary to say that Julio Salgado is a carbon copy of Jerry Rivas. Some have even confused Julio Salgado to Pedro Brull! In either case those are great talents to emulate! Don't you think? Moving on to the content of this CD you'll find that the music is very thick and very danceable. It's the type of salsa we've grown to expect from legends like Eddie Montalvo, Chino Nuñez, Jose Mangual Jr., Guillermo Edghill, Johnny Torres, and a fresher Lucho Cueto. No fender bass, no snare drum, no keyboards, no confusing coros, no cuban timba sound, no fancy R&B melodies! It's just straight classic salsa.
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