Grupo Afro Boricua " Bombazo"

Grupo Afro Boricua " Bombazo"
label: Blue Jackel

Trombonist, composer, and arranger William Cepeda is a grandson of Don Rafael Cepeda, a composer, performer, and folklorist who dedicated his life to preserving the Afro-Puerto Rican styles of bomba y plena. In Bombazo, which is impeccably recorded and packaged with succinct but informative liner notes, the young Cepeda certainly does his part in maintaining the music. As he sets out to revisit the different variations within those styles, he creates a fascinating, thoroughly enjoyable travelogue. Check the irresistible groove of "San Tomas," the earthy "Yuba Medley," or the breathtaking "El Conde de Loiza," or "Meliton Tombe," featuring the seis corrido, a rhythm played at a breakneck pace. There are also subtle innovations, such as Cepeda's take on "Amalia" ("No Quiere Ir Ebozo"), a song popularized as a salsa tune by trombonist Willie Colon and the late singer Hector Lavoe. Bombazo is a tantalizing glimpse into a rich but little-known Afro-Caribbean tradition.
This recording by Grupo Afro Boricua is an excellent collection of Folkloric Bomba music from, Loiza Puerto Rico. If you expect any trumpets, piano or guitars in this collection, you are not going to get it here. This is not Salsa, nor Plena. This is BOMBA, at its Purest Form. You are going to get a strong mix of African influenced Puerto Rican chants, and singing. Each track on this collection is powerful and moving, and can equally rival even the Bata of the Lucumis of Cuba, in soul and beauty. Essential listening. Highly recomended.

Afro Boricua 5:36 - seis corrido, sica
Yubá Medley 7:14 - yuba cuartino, lero, corbe
Seshuque Y Balance 2:33 - seis corrido
San Tomás 1:34 - sica
El Gallo Canta 4:28 - plena
El Conde De Loiza 2:14 - bomba
Amalia (No Quiere Ir Ebozo) 4:30 - yuba 6/8
Melitón Tombé 2:32 - bomba, seis corrido
Rulé Son Da 2:03 - corbe
Majestad Negra 3:06 -
El Doctor Guenaga 2:30 - seis corrido
Lamento Borincano 6:21 - bomba
Seis Corrido Medley 3:05 - seis corrido
El Belén 3:49 - bomba, plena

Musicians include:

William Cepeda Musical director, conch shell, trombone, piano, vocals
Antonio Martinez Principal vocalist
Nellie Lebron Lead vocals, bass guitar
Roberto Cepeda Vocals
Hector Matos Percussion, lead vocals
Hector Calderon Percussion, vocals
Luis Cepeda Percussion
Angel Mojica Percussion
Harry Diaz Vocals on "Verso Negro"

Rapindey! Marcelino Guerra

Rapindey! Marcelino Guerra; Label: Intuition

In this CD you will find the final offering of a Cuban musician who in the end was largely forgotten by his musical collegues and listeners alike.Marcelino Guerra was a lover of the guaracha, son, bolero and rumba music. An excellent guitarist and second voice, he penned some of Cuba's most famous songs. Among them; Pare Cochero, A Mi Manera, Convergencia, Arrebatadora to name but a few. These songs are covered by every single Cuban musician at some point in their careers. Some Cuban musicians have made them a permanent part of their repertoire. The famous Orq. Aragon for example is permanently identified with the song, Pare Cochero. It is their most requested song, even after 50-years of playing it at almost every appearance they make. It is said that the true test of a good song is when it acquires that golden patina that can only come with time. Marcelino was a master story teller of the highest order. This CD is really in 2 parts. In the 1st. half Marcelino is in fine form. Half-way through the recording, he became ill and was hospitalized. When well enough to perform, he returned to the studio but by that time his strength was no where what it was but his artistic timbre remained. In true master musician tradition, he used this to the best of his advantage to add true feeling to the recording. In this second half of the CD, his voice is raspy and less sure but his soul remained with him and he brings it to the fore front, exposing all for the listener. Listen to one of the true greats of Cuban music sing about the life he lived and loved. Cuba!

01. Pare cochero
02. Arrebatadora
03. Guajiro
04. Fuiste cruel
05. Prietita
06. A mi manera
07. Qué música más linda
08. Oye mi son
09. Buscando la melodía
10. Pobre cantor
11. Maleficio
12. Volví a querer
13. Cuando se canta bonito
14. Convergencia
15. La clave misteriosa
16. Sandunguera
17. Me voy pa'l pueblo

Cachao, Master Sessions, vol. 1; Label; Sony
A MASTER'S PIECE, POWERFUL! ... TOP NOTCH ARRANGEMENTS! ... In this album, you get a truly masterful performance from Cachao and company. In this offering he is surrounded by a roster of talent that has only been equaled few times before in the very rich history of latin music. Some of those other recordings are as follows; 1. "Estrellas Areito vol. 1 - 4", Areito label and 2. Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nueyorquino vol. 1 - 2", Salsoul label. To say that it is the among the very best Cuban music EVER recorded is truly an understatement, from the opening track to the very last one, what one gets is Afro-cuban music played with a pure passion and love. It is obvious just by listening that the musicians in this album played with their hearts exposed. I was not present at the recording but I know that the head charts and arrangements were used only to begin each session. It is phyically impossible to write and then have each member play the music contained in this recording. An improvisers paradise. It is very rare for musicians to find themselves in a setting where all of their emotions flow with electrically charged passion as with this album. As a collector of Cuban music, I have heard most of what has been recorded. This ranks among the very best of them all (...and there are 1000's of excellent records of Afro-Cuban music). If you are just discovering Cuban music, this is a perfect place to begin exploring. For those already baptized, GET THIS ONE!
Al Fin Te Vi
Cachao`s Guiro
El Alcalde
Descarga Cachao
Isora Club
Mambo
El Son No Ha Muerto
Lindo Yambu
Mi Guajira
Lluvia, Viento Y Cana
Club Social De Marianao
A Gozar Con Mi Combo

Conjunto Libre

Manny Oquendo & Conjunto Libre, "Ritmo, Sonido, Y Estilo "
Label; Montuno Records

An outstanding offer by Manny Oquendo & Libre. Very few recordings come close to this one from any era, Conjunto Libre at their best. There in not one bad cut in the entire set. Every one a smoker from front to back. A dancer's paradise. The musicianship is of the highest caliber throughtout with a solid lineup to boot. Jimmy Bosch on trombone plays in the funky Barry Rogers tradition - hot and hard. Steve Turre joins in on this set, lending his cool funk to the mix. He plays the conch shell on, Little Sunflower that is nothing short of amazing. Rounding out the T-bone section is Dan Reagan the lead t-man, he carries the fellas through the difficult passages with a rico suave touch. Dave Valentin on flute smokin' as always. Joe Manozzi on piano is strong and solid. The vocalists are the very talented, Pupi Cantor and a young Herman Olivera doing their thing with flair and sabor. Of course the man himself, Manny Oquendo holding everything together on timbales and bongo. He plays like a man possessed by the beautiful spirit. His style is not the rapid-fire technique type, instead Oquendo plays relaxed and does not waste a single beat, but everything he plays is placed just right and with heat. A master at work. All Libre recordings are highly recommended!!!! This one is high on the list. Get this one.

1. Que Humanidad
2. Elena, Elena
3. Bailala Pronto
4. Estoy Como Nunca
5. Little Sunflower
6. Llora Timbero
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