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CD Reviews... Latest Edition 
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Conjunto Imagen
Afinando - 20 Aniversario Favorite Tracks: All |
José M. Lugo Guasabara Favorite Tracks: All |
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After driving 40 miles, we got to the place and heard this saucy baritone grooving to a thriving tumbao. Highlighted by guiro and maracas, the dance inviting sound was coming from none other than Ernie Acevedo's Conjunto Imagen. I was surprised, not by the awesome quality of the band but by where I found them! I mean - Long Island?! But that's commentary suited for another time. The song comes to an end and in between the bantering between Imagen's front men and the dancing crowd, I hear my name invoked in some sort of shout out. For all I know there's another Nestor in the crowd. I hear my name again, I look towards the band and sure enough there's Ernie looking in my direction. I gotta say - that was kind of cool! If only I wasn't committed to a family and the women in the place actually gave a shit.
At any rate, the band finishes the first set and, in between taking care of fans by taking time to chat with them, accepting their praises for assembling such a tremendous band; Ernie graciously comes over and hands me his latest CD. We talked a bit and, since he is without question prominently growing into the role of a respected producer, I learned of his upcoming productions. Conjunto Imagen's second set comes and goes with me sweating profusely because of all the dancing I managed to get done. On our drive back, my friend - a working percussionist - and I are shockingly surprised by how accurately the band's awesome show is reflected in its CD. You know how it is when you see a show that baits you into getting the CD, only to be disappointed by the fact that it is not as good as the show you just saw. Clearly that’s not the case with this record.
Celebrating their 20th anniversary titled Afinando, Ernie Acevedo's Conjunto Imagen has put out what could be one of their finest recordings to date. Then again, after reflecting about them a bit, I can’t say Conjunto Imagen has, if at all, any bad records. Let's be honest, with a few minor linguistics shortcomings and other questionably dated material, all their records are extremely good. Conjunto Imagen has a substantial list of recordings, twelve according to their website (www.conjuntoimagen.com) and each is loaded with awesome tracks capable of becoming huge hits that could earn the band a huge following through out Latin America. I remember when I first heard them, I immediately thought of them as La Sonora Ponceña in a conjunto setting. When they added the Baritone, they morphed into Willie Rosario in a conjunto setting. This is the setting that works best for them and one that is clearly accentuated in Afinando. As it's evident with the group’s newest core of vocalists headed by the known commodity that is Eddie Rosado, Ernie Acevedo is cleverly positioning Conjunto Imagen to become a musical institution that's at the forefront of developing new talent. I think the time is ripe for that.
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Not counting the numerous All-Star recordings done by Alegre, Cesta, Tico, Fania, TH, MP, and RMM labels, once every seven to ten years, since I’ve been collecting salsa music, the hot salsa producer of the time puts out what could be considered his own personal all star record. A record that puts on display his personal taste, as well as his abilities. A record that basically showcases the ‘who’s who’ in his pecking order. Take for example Louie Ramirez, since he wasn’t a singer, some of his records were filled with the icons of the time. Then, while paying tribute to Beny Moré, almost every vocalist in Fania’s roster from Hector Lavoe and Celia Cruz, to Nestor Sanchez and Luigi Texidor; recorded in three Tito Puente All-Star caliber records. Then, featuring Rafael Ithier, El Conjunto Quisqueya, and Ruben Blades, in the 80’s Luis “Perico” Ortiz did Entre Amigos. The 90’s brought us The Sir (Sergio) George Collection. The new millennium has been relatively quiet until now. After quietly launching his first all-star heavy solo project titled “Piano Con Mata” (I say quietly because I never heard it), José Lugo ventures out of the producer corral again with another all-star heavy production under his name. Guasabara brings together some, if not all, of Lugo’s most successful collaborators and together they create a record that’s nothing short of phenomenal. The record has its brainy moments, but just when you think the record is going to turn into a musician’s only soliloquy, José Lugo’s Guasabara lets loose a massive Tito Puente styled big band / big sound dance track with the appropriate sonero to bring it to life. Speaking of soneros - Herman Olivera... I used to be a big fan of his during the days of Manny Oquendo’s Libre. But truth be told, I haven’t cared for his stuff for quite some time. I even passed on a solo record he did in the 80s. His work with Eddie Palmieri left me yearning for the Herman of 20 years ago... Many things do. José Lugo polished him and, by giving him some sort of structure and direction, brought him back to form. So much so that I’m truly excited for him and for his talent, which has been stagnantly meandering around for way too long. Moving on to the rest of soneros, there’s El Cano Estremera who really doesn’t need much to make any song into a comedic diatribe filled with double entendre. There’s also newcomer to Lugo’s stable of talent, Issac Delgado. Though his style in the art of the soneo is less than flashy, his velvety approach to interpreting a song is genuine and smooth as smooth gets, and makes up for his shortcomings. Then there are the two big dogs… The crown jewels that are Victor Manuel(le) and Gilberto Santa Rosa. These two… Whom for the last 3 years have delved into the realm of pop salsa almost full time, except for the short mailed-in bursts of calle courtesy of their better judgment in how to make a good balanced track that’s palatable for salseros de la mata. But much to my pleasant surprise, these two boastfully come to life unlike anything they’ve done in recent times. Thank goodness for that. I was getting tired of defending them. Then again – who cares? They’re making money. José Lugo’s Guasabara is not a look-who-I-got-to-record on-my-record ego trip from a producer that’s hot, it is however the musical testament of a musician that truly wants to give to the fans of this music a worthy product to enjoy and cherish for years to come. |
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