Salsa/Latin Music CD Reviews - Palo Salsero

CD Reviews If there's something positive to be said about the musical rut the music industry is stuck in for the past 5 years ( and counting ), it should be the opportunity that has resurfaced for recordings that were released years ago. Recordings that were virtually ignored by the general public should now be getting a shot for a second chance to be noticed. For the most part these were not bad recordings, simply put they were recordings released at a time when the market was saturated with strong competition from MP, RMM and The Mighty Sony Discos.

Raffy Diaz ** Un Chico Romantico Favorite Tracks: 1 - 6**		Roberto Delgado ** Ruben Blades presenta Roberto Delgado Favorite Tracks: 2 - 6,8,9**
One of these records comes from a surprisingly vocally gifted individual. Raffy Diaz, a guy who has the vocal range and ability of a seasoned salsa singer - big emphasis on singer, launched into the market a production that was as good as anything that came out of Puerto Rico during the mid 90s. Under the musical guidance of Rene Leyva, Raffy Diaz showcased a contemporarily smooth production made up of basic percussion, piano, bass, and three trombones. The arrangements, with all their melodies and harmonies, are pretty. They even make you tap your foot and bob your head without really noticing. I think that's a good thing, don't you? I mean, if we really sit and hear this record out, the production value and content is no different than what Humberto Ramirez and Julio Alvarado did during that precise era. An era that was big on safe lyrics and mid-tempo swing. Mid-tempo? Swing? Sounds like an oxymoron? Nevertheless, we can't cry over spilled milk... Raffy Diaz had/has in his hands a production worthy of acquisition and/or re-release. ###		Another production that went totally noticed, at least it was here in New York, was Ruben Blades presenta a Roberto Delgado. The record was put out by an entrepreneurial label named Kiwi Records almost immediately following the success of Ruben Blades' Rosa De Los Vientos - a record that also featured Roberto Delgado and Dino Nugent as the main arrangers. Ignoring the obvious ironies of this record - ironies that also include syrupy arrangements by Humberto Ramirez, Julio Alvarado, and the musical ‘godfathering' of Ruben Blades; Roberto Delgado ended up with a debut CD that was as good as what was going on during that mid 90s era. A mild percussion section that's tightly intertwined with a piano and bass line that's consistently in the pocket. It reminds me of Issac Delgado's (no relation) debut record. one that featured Luisito Quintero on all percussion. Eventhough the production has a couple of tracks that are just hook-less songs that say a lot of nothing, it has the familiar style of what was happening in Latin radio all over The U.S. A style that, in all honesty, I kind of miss... Liking syrupy, lyrically-indulging songs, is sort of a guilty pleasure of mines. The window of opportunity has just been re-opened for Roberto Delgado, for this CD is one that could capture what was missed the first time around. ###