LATIN PLAYLIST SUMMER 1999
Compiled
by El Largo
1. Jose
Alberto
"Dejate
Querer" Ryko Latino
El Canario is back on a new label and with
a fantastic new release. Check out the Spanish-feel palmas and guitar on this track.
2.
Hector Tricoche
"Laura
No Esta" Rodven /PolyGram Latino
A surprisingly funky arrangement on this
number featuring the slick Puerto Rican singer.
3.
Punto y Aparte
"Te
Puedes Ir De Fiesta" CDT Records
A wicked cover of Giraldo Piloto's
"Aun Asi." The rich production of this retitled version makes it a
much safer bet than the Klimax original.
4.
Elvis Crespo
"Pintame"
Sony
Crespo's new merengue CD has a very
familiar ring to it, but is still a sure fire floor-filler.
5.
Orishas
"A
Lo Cubano" Chrysalis /EMI
At last some good latin hip-hop. Orishas
are 4 Cuban rappers who recorded this with a French production team and guest
percussionist Anga Diaz (ex-Irakere). A must buy for anyone interested in this
kind of crossover.
6.
Fruko y sus Tesos
"Igualita
Que Tu" Discos Fuentes
An excellent choice for those who like a
retro salsa sound with a Colombian edge.
7.
Mikey Perfecto
"Su
Cintura" RMM
With DLG going pop, the door is open for
others to give the salsa-reggae style a try. Although Perfecto can't match Huey's
sublime vocals, his ragga outbursts are storming.
8.
Adalberto Alvarez y su Son
"Y
No Me Da La Cuenta" Havana Caliente /Atlantic
A return to form for Alvarez who has
tightened up his act since the grim '97 release "Magistral." The new album has fresher arrangements,
catchier riffs and even the occasional rap-like break: purists be warned.
9.
Manikkomio
"Lokko
Enamorado" Sonolux /24K /Sony
"Comiendo
jabon que rico!" More mad merengue from this funny
farm group. A more consistent disc than last year's debut release.
10. Los
Van Van
"Sandunguera"
(Live) Mundo Libre Musica
An excellent live version of the Cuban
legends' flagship anthem.
11. P18
"Escuchen
Mi Conga" Tabata Tour /Virgin
Experimental fusions of hip-hop, house and
latin from Cuba. Some kicking tracks among the assortment.
12.
Tito Puente, Jr.
"Azucar" (Norty Cotto Mix) Compose Tropico
Best track on this new Puente Jr.
latin-house CD thanks to the presence of
Cotto at the mixing controls.
13.
Sello LA
"No
Se Como Llegar a Ti" MP /Sony
In your face Cuban timba: aggressive piano
riffs, screaming 'metales' and a heavy bass. Vocals not always 100%.
14.
Latinos En La Casa
"Pa
Puya" Discos Fuentes
There are some full-on "merengue
breakhop" cuts on this Colombian release for fans of Fulanito, Proyecto
Uno, Sandy and Papo, Liberados etc..
15.
Ricky Castro y su Banda Soberbia
"Mujer
Soberbia" Elvin Productions /Discomania
If high speed merengue with minimal lyrics
is your thang, then Castro and
Soberbia won't disappoint. Unfortunately, there are no reggae breaks like on
the 1997 track "El Bononon."
Other Releases of Interest:
Nettai Jazz Gakudan (Tropical Jazz Big
Band)
"My Favorite" Victor
This is the third release from former
Orquesta de la Luz leader Carlos Kanno's current Japanese latin group. The album
concept is built around latin-jazz covers of an array of
'favorites' but there is also a great
original track by trombonist Hideaki Nakaji, "Ruinas."
Adalberto
Alvarez y Maria Jose Santiago
"FlamencoSon" Circular Moves
As the title suggests, famous songs of Spain's most famous
flamenco singer of recent decades, El Camaron de la Isla, have been given a
Cuban-son feel by maestro Adalberto Alvarez in this tribute album.
Papo
Vazquez
"At The Point" Ubiquity
Also inspired by Camaron is the track
"Amor Gitano" written by trombonist Vazquez of Fort Apache Band fame. His new latin
jazz release features a line-up including Andy Gonzalez on bass, Richie Flores
on congas and Chico O'Farrill's son, Arturo on keys, plus jazzer Michael
Brecker guesting on tenor sax.
Eddie Palmieri and Friends
"Live" RMM
If you missed Palmieri's recent gigs then
why not pick up this live recording from 1996? All the proceeds from this CD
will be given to the Bronx Lebanon Hospital. Among the names playing with
Palmieri are trumpeter Juancito Torres
and trombonists Juan Pablo Torres and Jimmy Bosch.
Caravana Cuba
"Late Night Sessions" Dreamer Music
Jimmy Bosch also blows on this assortment
of tunes taking in various traditional forms: guajira, son, rumba and even bata.
Most of the musicians featured on the recordings are Cubans from both sides of
the sugarcane divide such as
Francisco Aguabella, Perico Hernandez, Chucho Valdes, Maraca Valle, Anga Diaz and Carlos del Puerto, Jr. The album tries to bridge the two communities in the memory of Cuban broadcaster Emilio Vandenedes.