Latin Beat Music Update - Artículo Breve

Humberto Ramírez has just finished his bolero-jazz CD Dos Almas, with a sextet that includes Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Eddie Gómez, Mario Rivera, Giovanni Hidalgo and Ignacio Berroa.

Arturo Sandoval's My Passion for the Piano showcases Sandoval's amazing keyboard skills with a quintet that includes bassist Dennis Marks, Ed Calle, drummer Ernesto Simpson and percussionist Samuel Torres.

Daniel de Los Reyes, currently on tour with Earth, Wind & Fire, has a new release coming out titled One Shot Shaker.

Omar Sosa, who will be performing this month in L.A., has a new CD, Sentir (Otá) which continues to explore the fusion of traditional voices and rhythms from Cuba, Venezuela and Morocco with today's jazz harmonies. It picks up right where Prietos left off and offers the listener a chance for introspection.

Los Hermanos Moreno, led by trombonist Nelson Moreno, released the impressive Una Miradita, with beautiful versions of Alvaro Torres' De Qué Me Sirve Quererte, Alejandro Sanz's Corazón Partío, and Manuel Alejandro's Amor Total. Also check out Una Miradita and Sólo Con un Beso.

Another good recording titled El Rio, comes from Tampa, Florida, by Orquesta Infinidad, with vocals by Earlee Salas and Enrique Mendoza.

Ex-Adolescente and Pasión Juvenil vocalist Wilmer Lozano is on his own now, with original and fine arrangements by bassist Tomás "Monchy" Bernal and Fernando Giovanetti.

Bassist Eliseo Borrero's The Prophecy (Elibor) is a hot Latin jazz recording with performances by Otmaro Ruiz, "Tiki" Pasillas, Joe Rotondi, Julius Meléndez, Jimmy Branly, Ramón Flores and Alex Acuña.

Papo Cocote, lead vocalist for the '70s band Roberto y Su Nuevo Montuno, has a comeback release produced by pianist Willie Sotelo titled Papo Cocote y el Montuno.

Frankie Morales' Mambo of the Times (Cobo), recorded with members of the T.P. Orchestra, includes a tribute to Tito Puente and excellent commercial tracks. It is a hot CD, and Morales sounds better than ever. This is, by far, his best recording as a soloist.

Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son's new CD Suena Cubano (BIS) has outstanding arrangements on Mi Tumbao, Sí No Fuera Por Las Mujeres, Cuatro Sones de Adalberto, La Cleptómana and Caprichosa.

Here Comes...El Son: Songs of the Beatles, Cuban style (PMS) is a percussive tribute to the Fab Four recorded in Cuba. You've never heard the Beatles' Hey Jude, And I Love Her, Eleanor Rigby, Get Back, We Can Work It Out and Hello, Goodbye quite like this before.

Some of the tunes on the upcoming Klimax and Friends include 24 Por 24, Debí Llorar, Torre de Cali, Contraste, Recorrido Habanero, Sinfonía de Metales, Café Casino and Melena Obatala featuring such guests as Chucho Valdés, Roberto Riverón, Germán Velazco, Jorge Reyes, Changuito, Julio Padrón and Elpidio Chappotín, among many others.

Also from Cuba comes the debut of Puly Hernández, exvocalist with Dan Den, titled A Golpe de Sabor.

David Cedeño has a wonderful compilation of salsa with English lyrics coming out that contains his best hits: Lady In Red, Live Without You and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. He's also looking for a deal to release his all-Spanish language, best-of collection.

If you come across Willy Santiago's Regreso a Borinquen, grab it. This CD was a pleasant surprise, with a variety of rhythms spanning various styles of salsa, songo, bomba, mambo and jazz. Santiago, a former band member of Sonia López's band, Orquesta Mega Uno and Impacto Crea in Puerto Rico, resides in Austin, Texas where he is based.

Roberto Borrell and his Orquesta La Moderna Tradición continue to delight crowds in the San Francisco Bay Area with their CD Goza Conmigo, and currently remain the only U.S. band dedicated to the danzón.

Manhattan Vibes is the name of a new east coast trio led by vibist Christos Rafalides that includes John Benítez and drummer Steve Hass (plus special guest Randy Brecker). What makes this CD unusual but extremely creative is the fusion between the musicians and their inspired mix of Latin rhythms, jazz and funk. Check out La Escencia del Guaguancó, Caravan, Tango Fantasy in C, Flamingo Strut, All the Things You Are and Fool on the Hill.

Conguero extraordinaire Little Johnny Rivero played recently at S.O.B.'s, in New York, with an all-star band that included Mario Rivera, Andy González, Jimmy Delgado, John Benítez and percussionists Luisito Quintero, "Chembo" Corneil, Pedro Martínez and Steve Thornton. Can we expect a recording?

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