Check out DJ Dave's new elWatusi Playlist!
Welcome to the elWatusi eNewsletter Nº 5 for July 14, 2010.
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For your consideration, this week we have a beautiful batch of downloads, starting with the superb new release from Lucas Van Merwijk & The Cubop City Big Band entitled Que Sensación, a big band tribute to Afro Cuban Jazz. There is a flash of great titles in the reissue department as well, including classics by Javier Vazquez, Yomo Toro, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, as well as the gem Celia, Johnny & Pete. John Child had contributed additional Artist Mini Bios and, direct from Germany, DJ Dave joins the elWatusi family of Playlist creators. Read on...
Lucas Van Merwijk & The Cubop City Big Band | Que Sensación!
A big band tribute to the pioneers of Afro Cuban Jazz. Grupo Afro Cuba, one of band leader and drummer Lucas Van Merwijk's primary and major inspirations in this genre, was a leading force in the 1980s. The Cubop City Big Band recorded three of their compositions: "Que Sensación," "Ya Puede Empezar La Dicha De Los Dos" and "Si Preguntan Por Mi." The great Cuban sax player Paquito d'Rivera is honored on this record in an original composition entitled "Pa' Quito," written in Paquito's style by the band's pianist and arranger Marc Bischoff. "Para Yemaya" is an adaptation of an arrangement by Nueva Manteca's brilliant pianist and leader, Jan Laurens Hartong. The late Emiliano Salvador, legendary genius pianist and composer, is honored by the tracks "A Puerto Padre," a song dedicated to Salvador's place of birth in Cuba and "Para Luego Es Tarde."
Javier Vazquez | La Verdad
I like this record a lot. It is a really fine representation of the New York sound from the mid '70s. Perhaps it is the interweaving of the trombones and trumpets, or the arrangements that put the rhythm section right up front. The seasoned and strong vocals by Chito and the absolutely terrific coro section with Yayo El Indio, Carlos Diaz and Roberto Torres are reasons enough.
Rick Davies | Salsa Strut
Jazzismo is a Latin jazz group led by trombonist/composer Rick Davies and has existed in its current incarnation since March of 2002. Started by Davies in New York City in the late 1990s, the original group included such Latin music stalwarts as pianist Arturo O'Farrill and bassist Harvie Swartz. When Davies relocated to the Burlington/Plattsburgh area to assume a faculty position at Plattsburgh State University of New York, he reorganized the group using some of the finest musicians in Vermont, Montreal, and Northern New York State.
Cubanoson | Rumba Nueva
Terrific son-salsa release by New Yorks's own Cubanoson as led by singer and pianist Leonel "Papo" Ortega. With Junior Rivera on tres, percussionist Luisito Quintero, trumpeter Roberto Rodriguez Jr. and others. Very highly recommended.
Cubanoson | Recordando a Cuba
Nice! An all embracing, son-salsa release in the style of the best classic SAR recordings. In fact, most of the arrangements here are done by Manolo Albo, one of the originators (along with Roberto Torres and Sergio Bofil) of the SAR dynasty. The brainchild of pianist-singer Leonel "Papo" Ortega, Cubanoson sports deep, rich tres driven grooves (Junior Rivera) fronted by seasoned singers who know what they're doing: Ernest "Chico" Alvarez, another SAR star, and the legendary Ronnie Baro (Africando, SonSublime, Broadway, Barretto etc.) who here revives the classic "Monsieur Jose" -- remember that from the recently reissued classic Sonido Solido? "Papo" Ortega can spin a fine, inviting montuno, and sports a just-right vocal timbre to fit right in with his other first-line singers. Cubanoson has all the elements of the best old school dance material, and is earmarked to become a classic. With percussionist Luisito Quintero. bassist Willie Cintron, trumpeter and musical director Roberto Rodríguez and others who help to make this one a very special acquisition. Very Highly Recommended.
Os Ipanemas | Os Ipanemas
This is Os Ipanemas - Os Ipanemas (1964), for Columbia, a unique and killer set of Bossa Jazz with Afro Influences, featuring the traditional bass and drums with the addition of Astor Silva trombone, Neco's guitar and Ruben Bassini percussion. Astor Silva is probably the leader of Os Ipanemas, which is a constellation of Brazilian musicians that recorded this first and only album for Columbia. Os Ipanemas were assembled 40 years later for another recording and different formation, but never could reach what was done in this first 1964 release. Loronix Brazil Music Blog
Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco & Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez | Celia, Johnny & Pete
CONTRIBUTOR COMMENTS:
"One of the most important records in Latin music! The individual masterpieces 'Me Voy Contigo' and 'La Madre Rumba' are included here." (Phil Riggio, 1998)
"A near-flawless collaboration among three giants of salsa, this 1980 recording includes the original 'La Dicha Mia,' La Reina's tribute to her musical compadres. If you're familiar only with the English-language travesty of that tune from the 'Mambo Kings' soundtrack, you better get this essential album. " (George De Stefano, 1994)
Perfume de Salsa | Solo Ella
This all-woman Salsa/Latin Jazz ensemble from the Netherlands have devoted themselves to this music and they have succeeded in producing a well paced dance-oriented album. Includes the famous Puerto Rican plena Elena Elena.
Issa Juma and Super Wanyika Stars | World Defeats the Grandfathers - Swinging Swahili Rumba 1982 - 1986
For nearly thirty years, the "Wanyika" bands dominated Nairobi's nightclubs and recording industry. Their music was propelled by light percussion and made sweet with a delicate interplay between rhythm and solo guitars. The sound was sparse, but a rich bass filled the gaps and on top were catchy melodies sung in a Swahili that could be understood across East Africa. This was the defining sound of Kenyan Swahili rumba in the late 70s and early 80s, and Issa Juma was a pivotal figure in both its creation and development. His powerful baritone voice was indisputably the best of the Wanyika clan and, constantly experimenting, his style would change with each producer and session. Carefully re-mastered, full-length recordings that include bona fide hits alongside rare, never-before-released tracks, this album is a long-overdue homage to a brilliant vocalist and band-leader, an innovative and accomplished musician who today is sadly missed.
Combinacion De La Habana | Que Combinason
A terrific son-guaracha release - with a couple of fine boleros thrown in for good measure - from some very special Cuban musicians. Guest vocalist Raul Planas transforms the atmosphere into something ethereal and timeless.
SambaDá | Gente
With their third studio release, Gente, SambaDá embodies the Afro Brazilian traditions of the Candomble religion, the martial art/dance Capoeira and innovative percussion, while also being firmly rooted in Samba Reggae, surf rock and California funk. From a bed of searing surf rock guitar licks, blazing percussion grooves, slamming drum beats, funk bass lines, and tight horn arrangements, SambaDá's vocalists bring tradition and innovation together in a cohesive sound that could only be forged in the sands of California. This CD was produced by Greg Landau and features percussionists Marcio Peeter and Wagner Profeta from the legendary Bloco Afro, Ilê Aiyê
Ray Barretto | Todo Se Va A Poder
**Classics Revisited** This album and the 1987 follow-up, Aquí Se Puede, were a major part of the soundtrack of my life in the mid-1980s because my wife, Helen, would constantly play them in the house. With the benefit of hindsight the band on the album should have been called "Ray Barretto and the Stars of Tomorrow", because the lineup contains Jimmy Bosch, Ricky González, Jimmy Delgado and Cali Aleman, who became names in their own right, along with prominent sidemen like Angel Fernández and Chris Anderson. Angel and Ricky shared the task of arranging the seven tracks, which include the standout numbers "Perstame Tu Mujer" and "Todo Se Vá Poder", composed by Johnny Ortiz.
Todo Se Vá Poder is also a favourite of Ray Rosado (Wayne Gorbea's longtime collaborator, arranger, composer, percussionist and coro singer), who points out that timbalero Jimmy Delgado and bongosero Carlito Soto tightly lock the swing. Co-lead vocalist Ray Saba does a fine job. Also known as Del Rey Xaba, Saba was born in Isabela, Puerto Rico, and previously worked with Orchestra Yare and Los Kimy, among others... Highly recommended. (John Child)
Andy Harlow | La Musica Brava
CONTRIBUTOR COMMENTS:
"Andy is a multi-instrumentalist who put together some excellent jazz-influenced salsa sessions in the seventies. The lesser known of the two Harlow brothers, Andy never received the attention lavished on Larry, but his style was unique and highly listenable. Yomo Toro, Eddie Martinez and Jose Madrid are some of the excellent musicians on this mid-seventies date, which features a soulful version of 'Tin Tin Deo' and the irresistible dance groove of 'La Mujer Cocinera.'" (Mark Holston)
Eddie Palmieri | The Truth/La Verdad
Palmieri recorded the album La Verdad (The Truth) with salsa singer Tony Vega in 1987. It included such monsters as "Congo Yambumba" and, of course, "La Verdad." It featured Charlie Sepulveda, Angie Machado, Giovanni Hidalgo, Anthony Carillo and others.
Louie Ramirez | A Different Shade Of Black
Yes Virginia, even Louie Ramirez went through a disco phase. Here it is, in all its 1976 gold-chained, blow-dryed spendor. There's even a disco version of the jazz standard "Laura," the signature tune from the Otto Preminger movie. With arrangements by Louie, Marty Sheller, Sonny Bravo, Dick Mesa and Randy Ortiz. Recommended, if just as a snapshot of a place and time. Ventures into Latin soul, as in the pretty darn cool "Barrio Nuevo." LR on vibes and timbales.
Tommy Olivencia | Fiesta De Soneros
Original Release date: 1978. Produced by Luis Ortiz & Ray Barretto Arranged by Luis Ortiz, Maximo Torres & Cabrerita. Compiled by Al Santiago
Yomo Toro | Musica Para El Mundo Entero
Mark Richardson, Trompeta & horns | Tony Barrero, Trompeta Peter Perez, Trombon | Yomo Toro, Guitarra & cuatro | Rafael Rosado, Piano | Nelson Rivera, Bajo | Louie Carrasquillo, Conga | Walberto R. Malines, Timbal & piano | Peter Perez, Bongo & Horns | Ozzie Muñiz, Fundador de la evolucion | Milton Cardona, Coro | Jose Mangual, Jr., Coro | Louie Carrasquillo, Ri | Edwin Rivera, Maracas | Adrian Perez, coros | Edwin Olivieri, coros
Bobby Valentin | Se La Comio
Very early Bobby Valentin. Nice grooves, especially "Guarambembere."
Fania All Stars | Social Change
This 1981 crossover album featured: Idris Muhammad, Eric Gale, David Spinozza, Juancito Torres, Hector Zarzuela, Renaldo Jorge, Lewis Kahn, Leopoldo Pineda, Tony Barrera, Johnny Pacheco, Adalberto Santiago, Nestor Sanchez, Guest: Gato Barbieri.
Artist Mini Bio: Charlie Palmieri
Nine years senior to his famous brother Eddie Palmieri, Charlie was born of Puerto Rican parentage in New York on November 12th 1927. A child musical prodigy who could faultlessly copy a piece on the piano by ear, he began piano lessons at the age of six and later studied at the Juilliard School of Music. During the 1940s and '50s he worked as a sideman with Rafael Muñoz, Xavier Cugat, Tito Puente, Pupi Campo, Johnny Seguí, Tito Rodríguez, Vicentico Valdés and Pete Terrace, among others. In 1948 he made eight Latin jazz-oriented recordings for the Alba label with his first band Conjunto Pin Pin featuring Sabú Martínez on conga, which were collected in the album El Fantastico Charlie Palmieri on Tropical Records. Also in the Latin jazz vein...more
Artist Mini Bio: Joe Bataan
Dubbed the undisputed King of Latin Soul, Joe Bataan was not only a pioneer of this R&B/Latin fusion style and its ally boogaloo, but he also played a part in the early development of the '70s disco and '80s rap movements. Born Bataan Nitollando on May 14, 1942 to a African-American mother and Filipino father, in Joe's words, he "grew-up in poverty and trouble" in East Harlem absorbing a mixture of pop, Latin, doo-wop and R&B influences. During his teens he ran with gangs and was sentenced to five years in Coxsackie State Prison for driving a stolen car. Music proved to be his salvation when he rounded-up a group of young...more
DJ Dave The Subway to Salsa!
Los Angeles, Warsaw, Milano, Marrakech, Amsterdam, Zurich, Basel, Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Hannover and Düsseldorf: This is just a quick listing of DJ Dave's intense work as a world renowned and frequently traveling Salsa DJ playing a big bunch of Festivals and club gigs all around the globe.
Beside the influence of contemporary Salsa from New York & Puerto Rico, DJ Dave's trademark is the "Salsa Mambo", also called "Salsa Dura" or "Salsa Classica" or "Fania Salsa." This music is characterized through hard beats, elements of Jazz and a lot of breaks and improvisations, but always stays danceable.
Spotlight - Aceituna Sin Hueso
One of my favorite bands is Aceituna Sin Hueso. Led by Miriela Moreno, a Cuban singer-songwriter. It's exceedingly smart pop with lyrics about consumerism and identity, and she can really sing, too. The band can rock, often adding violin to the mix, allowing Moreno's poignant thoughts and poetry to slip in the back door, seemingly unnoticed, while you groove. The band's videos often have subtitles just so do don't miss what's being said. I recommend that you get both titles Marginales.com (see below video) and Consumir Preferiblemente Antes De: (For Immediate Consumption). - elW...more