Ray Barretto – Soy Dichoso

Released 1992

Produced by Ray Barretto

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Angel Fernandez (2,4,6,8), Ricky Gonzalez (1,7), Hector Martignon (5), Barry Olsen (3)

1. Soy Dichoso 4:50 (Hugo Gonzalez)
2. Lo Que Me Paso En La Guagua 5:05 (Mercelino Guerra)
3. Los Ejes De Mi Carreta 5:16 (Atahualpa Yupanqui, Romildo Risso)
4. En Entierro Del Feo 4:53 (D.R.)
5. Tal Vez 4:14 (D.R)
6. Café Con Leche 4:41 (D.R.)
7. Flor De Los Lindos Campos 4:42 (C. Curet Alonso)
8. Diganme La Hora 4:46 (Ray Barretto)

Ray Barretto's final Salsa album. Four songs (Soy Dichoso, Los Ejes De Mi Carreta, En Entierro Del Feo, Flor De Los Lindos Campos) made salsanewyork.com list, which makes the album appear better than it is. It's a solid album, but I wouldn't call it a standout.

Musicians

Ray Barretto / Leader, Conga
Tito Gonzalez / Maracas, Guiro
Ricky Gonzalez / Piano
Hector Zarzuela / Trumpet
Angel Fernandez / Trumpet
Steve Gluzband / Trumpet
Jimmy Delgado / Timbales
Carlitos Soto / Bongos
Jimmy Bosch / Trombone
Adalberto Santiago, Tito Allen, Tito Gonzalez, Felo Barrios, Saba / Chorus

Other players in (2,3,5)

Hector Martignon / Piano
Jose Jerez / Trumpet
Christ Anderson / Trumpet
Tim Ouimette / Trumpet
Jeffery Lopez / Timbales
Jorge Gonzalez / Bongos
Jaime Moreno / Bass
Barry Olsen / Trombone

Ray Barretto – Rican / Struction

Released 1979

Produced by Ray Barretto

Fania / E-musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Oscar Hernandez (1,2,7), Eddie Martinez (3,4), Gil Lopez (5), Dick “Taco” Mesa (6)

1. Al Ver Sus Campos 5:36 (Johnny Ortiz)
2. Un Dia Sere Feliz 5:27 (D.R.)
3. Piensa En Mi 4:43 (Agustin Lara)
4. Ya Vez 5:38 (D.R.)
5. Adelante Siempre Voy 6:01 (C. Curet Alonso)
6. Algo Nuevo 6:53 (Dick Mesa)
7. Tumbao Africano 7:10 (Ray Barretto)

A Grammy winner. Some consider it more experimental or avant garde. To me it sounds fairly conventional Ray Barretto. Two songs (Al Ver Sus Campos, Adelante Siempre Voy) made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians

Jose Jerez, Puchi Boulong, Hector “Bomberito” Zarzuela, Jose Febles / Trumpet
Papo Vazquez / Trombone
Todd Anderson / Tenor and Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Oscar Hernandez / Piano
Sal Cuevas / Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass
Jose Fajardo / Flute solo (6)
“Little Ray” Romero / Lya Bata drum (7)
Eddie Rodriguez / Ltotele Bata drum (7)
Luis Gonzalez / Bongos and Cencerro and Chorus
Ralph Irrizary / Timbales, Snare drum, Floor tom-tom, Bass drum, Cymbals set up
Tito Allen / Chorus (2,3,4,7)
Ray De La Paz / Chorus (1,5,6)
Adalberto Santiago / Lead Vocals and Chorus
Ray Barretto / Conga

Ray Barretto – Indestructible

Released 1973

Produced by Ray Barretto

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Louie Cruz (1,2,6,7), Eddie Martnez (3,5,8), Louie Ramirez (4)

1. El Hijo De Obatala 5:02 (C. Curet Alonso)
2. El Diablo 5:21 (Bienvenido Julian Guetirrez)
3. Yo Tengo Un Amor 5:03 (Rafael Hernandez)
4. La Familia 3:49 (Julia Gunda Merced)
5. La Orquesta 4:32 (Roberto Rodriguez)
6. Llanto De Cocodrilo 3:54 (D.R.)
7. Ay No 6:06 (D.R.)
8. Indestructible 4:11 (Ray Barretto, Joseph Roman)

This arguably is one of the more popular Ray Barretto album for a rather large number of Salsa dancers. The best known song is Indestructible - perhaps best played slowed down. Next is El Hijo De Obatala - also arguably better played slowed down. The one song that did make salsanewyork.com list is La Familia.

[note added March 7, 2008 - The composer credit for La Familia is a little strange in my opinion. I have a Jose Curbelo CD which gives the composer credit to Jose Curbelo Sr. In any case, La Familia was one of big hits for Jose Curbelow in the early 50s.]

Musicians

Ray Barretto / Conga, Clave, Musical Director
“Little” Ray Romero / Timbales
Tony Fuentes / Bongso and Cencerro
Edy Martinez / Piano
Julio Romero / Baby Bass
Art “Artie” Webb / Flute
Roberto Rodriguez / Lead Trumpet
Joseph “Papy” Roman / Second Trumpet
Manuel “Manny” Duran / Third Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez / possibly Maracas
Felo Barrio / Guiro (3,5)
Menique (2,3,4,6,7,8), Hector Lavoe (1,2,3,4,6,7,8), Roberto Rodriguez (5), Felo Barrio (5), Willie Colon (1) / Chorus
Tito Allen / Lead Vocals

Ray Barretto – Carnaval

Released as double-album in 1973
Original albums released 1961 and 1962

Produced and engineered by Ray Fowler

Fantasy

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Selections 1-8 originally released as Latino! (Recorded Sep 20, 1962). Selections 9-18 originally released as Pachanga With Barretto (Recorded Jun 1 and 2, 1961)

1. Manha De Carnaval 4:25 (Bonfa-Peretti-Creatore-Weiss)
2. Sugar’s Delight 3:23 (Ray Barretto)
3. Exodus 5:20 (Ernest Gold)
4. Descarga La Moderna 4:26 (Gil Lopez)
5. Summertime 2:57 (Gershwin-Heyward)
6. El Negro Y Ray 5:54 (Barretto)
7. Mira Que Linda 2:31 (Pedro Calzado)
8. Cocinando Suave 6:01 (Barretto)
9. Pachanga Oriental 2;42 (Hector Rivera)
10. Barretto En La Tumbadora 3:04 (Hector Rivera)
11. Cumbamba 2:47 (Hector Rivera)
12. El Paso 2:49 (Hector Rivera)
13. Linda Mulata 3:03 (Hector Rivera)
14. Oye Heck 2:44 (Hector Rivera)
15. Los Cueros 3:07 (Hector Rivera)
16. Pachanga Suavecito 3:38 (Hector Rivera)
17. Ponte Dura 3:59 (Hector Rivera)
18. Pachanga Para Bailar 2:55 (Hector Rivera)

I had this album for quite some time yet I had only a few listening for the second half of the album, which is Ray Barretto's debut album as a leader and is all Pachanga and Charanga and has a distinctive sound. From the second album (or the first half of this album), two Salsa (Descarga La Moderna, El Negro Y Ray) and two Cha Cha (Summertime, Cocinando Suave) made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians

Ray Barretto / Conga, Bongos (2), Timbales (6)
“El Negro” Vivar / Trumpet
“Chombo” Silva / Tenor Saxophone (1-8)
Frank Mercado / Tenor Saxophone (9-18)
Jose Canoura / Flute
Mike Stancerone / Violin
Alfredito Valdez Jr / Piano
Ricky Jackson / Bass
Ray Mantilla / Timbales
Wito Kortwright / Guiro
Willie Rodriguez / Percussion
Rudy Calzado / Percussion

Hector Lavoe – El Sabio

Released 1980

Produced by Willie Colon
Musical Director – Jose Febles

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Jose Febles (1,3,5,6,7), Alberto Garcia (2), Hector Lavoe Orchestra (4)

1. El Sabio 4:28 (Tito Rodriguez)
2. Plazos Traicioneros 3:34 (Luis Marquetti)
3. Noche De Farra 5:59 (Armando Dwolff)
4. Para Ochun 6:33 (D.R.)
5. Alejate 7:05 (Raul Rene Rosado)
6. Llore 6:20 (Jose Febles)
7. Ceora 5:45 (Lee Morgan)

Two songs (Para Ochun, Llore) made salsanewyork.com honor list. El Sabio and Alejate are also danceable, which means more than half of the album is usable – rather unusual for a 70’s Fania album.

Musicians

Eddie Montalvo / Conga
Edgardo Reyes / Timbales
Jose Mangual Jr / Bongos
Luis Mangual / Bongos
Danny Rosado / Bass
Eddie Rivera / Bass
Joe “Professor” Torres / Piano
Gilberto “Pulpo” Colon / Piano & Fender Rhodes
Ray Maldonado / Trumpet
Puchi Boulong / Trumpet
Harry D’Aguiar / Trombone
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Papo Vasquez / Trombone
Willie Colon / Trombone, Vocals (background), Chorus
Milton Cardona / Vocals (background), Chorus
Hector Lavoe / Lead Vocals

Hector Lavoe – Comedia

Released 1978

Produced by Willie Colon

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Willie Colon (1,3), Luis Ortiz (2), Jose Febles (4,5,6), Edwin Rodriguez (7)

1. El Cantante 10:23 (Ruben Blades)
2. Comedia 3:28 (Jose A Espinoza)
3. La Verdad 5:30 (Freddy Molina)
4. Tiempos Pasados 4:26 (D.R.)
5. Bandolera 9:32 (Victor Cavalli)
6. Porque Te Conoci? 4:47 (D.R.)
7. Songoro Cosongo 7:50 (Eliseo Grenet, Nicolas Guillen)

El Cantante is one of the most famous Hector Lavoe songs – it just might be my favorite Hector Lavoe song. Although it is very long, it is very danceable. Bandolera is slightly shorter but becomes considerably faster. Songoro Cosongo is a bit slower in pace but still quite good.

Musicians include

Gilbert “El Pulpo” Colon / Piano
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Jose Febles / Trumpet
Luis “Perico” Ortiz / Trumpet
others

Hector Lavoe – De Ti Depende

Released 1976

Produced by Willie Colon

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Willie Colon (1,3,8), Louie Ramirez (4), Luis “Perico” Ortiz (5,7), Jose Febles (2), Edwin Rodriguez (6)

1. Vamos A Reir Un Poco 7:34 (Perucho Torcat)
2. De Ti Depende 4:34 (Miguel Angel Amadeo)
3. Periodico De Ayer 6:47 (C. Curet Alonso)
4. Consejo De Oro 2:43 (Arquimedes Arcidiacono)
5. Tanto Como Ayer 3:42 (D.R.)
6. Hacha Y Machete 5:32 (Enildo Padron)
7. Felices Horas 6:05 (Luis A Perez)
8. Mentira 6:38 (D.R.)

Two songs (Vamos A Reir Un Poco, Hacha Y Machete) made salsanewyork.com honor list. Vamos A Reir Un Poco should be played slowed down perhaps by about 5% if same pitch can be maintained. Periodico De Ayer is one of the best-known Hector Lavoe songs. Some consider it better for listening than dancing, but I personally like dancing to it. Felices Horas is another possibility albeit a bit long and fast. I have read some complaints on the net about the sound quality of the E-Musica remastering, but I don’t think there’s a big problem (with caveat that I have not heard “better” LP sound). For whatever it’s worth, I like this album the most out of the four Hector Lavoe albums I have – and I like all four.

Musicians

Hector Lavoe / Lead Vocals & Maracas
Jose Mangual Jr / Bongos, Percussion & Chorus
Milton Cardona / Conga, Percussion & Chorus
Jose “Professor” Torres / Piano
Angel “Papo” Vazquez / Trombone
Ray Feliciano / Trumpet
Santi “Choflomo” Gonzalez / Bass
Yomo Toro / Tres Guitar
Willie Colon / Chorus
Ruben Blades / Chorus

Hector Lavoe – La Voz

Released 1975

Produced by Willie Colon

Fania / E-Musica Remastered 2006

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Willie Colon (1,2,6,8), Jose Febles (3,5), Louie Ramirez (4,7)

1. El Todopoderoso 4:20 (Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe)
2. Emborrachame De Amor 2:57 (Mario Cavagnaro)
3. Paraiso De Dulzura 4:33 (Hector Lavoe)
4. Un Amor De La Calle 3:21 (Orlando Brito)
5. Rompe Saraguey 6:31 (Virgilio Gonzalez)
6. Mucho Amor 2:08 (Roberto Garcia)
7. Tus Ojos 3:33 (Jose Luis Delgado Perez)
8. Mi Gente 5:29 (Johnny Pacheco)

Hector Lavoe’s debut solo album. Paraiso De Dulzura made salsanewyork.com honor list. Other well-known songs include El Todopoderoso (okay for dancing), Rompe Saraguey (Cha Cha) and Mi Gente (not as good for dancing).

Musicians

Tom Malon / Trombone
Jose Rodriguez / Trombone
Ray Maldonado / Trumpet
Hector Zarzuela / Trumpet
Milton Cardona / Conga
Jose Mangual Jr / Bongos
Eddie “Guagua” Rivera / Bass
Nicky Marrero / Timbales
Mark Dimond / Piano
Ruben Blades, Willie Colon, Willie Garcia / Chorus
Hector Lavoe / Lead Vocals

Tito Puente – Mambo Birdland

Released 1999

Dedicated to Mario Bauza

RMM Records

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc.

All songs arranged by Tito Puente except (5,9) originally arranged by Tito Puente and adapted by Jose Madera

1. Mambo Birdland 5:36 (Tito Puente)
2. Juventud Del Presente 5:39 (Silvestre Mendez)
3. Ban Ban Quere 5:36 (C. Varela)
4. Como Esta Migue 5:43 (Felipe Neri Cabrera)
5. Cha Cha Cha Mambo 8:53 (Tito Puente)
6. Guaguanco Margarito 7:22 (Silvestre Mendez)
7. Mi Mamita 6:22 (Tito Puente)
8. Mambo Gozon 4:56 (Tito Puente)
9. Oye Mi Guaguanco 7:57 (Tito Puente)
10. Ran Kan Kan 6:26 (Tito Puente)
11. Oye Como Va 5:54 (Tito Puente)

Three Salsa (Mambo Gozon, Oye Mi Guaguanco, Ran Kan Kan) and one Cha Cha (Oye Como Va) made salsanewyork.com honor list. This live recording also contains some conversations between Puente, the band and the audience lasting up to about half minute on most of the tracks. It’s even better than Live At Birdland.

I believe this is Tito Puente's second to last album containing all new recording. Essentially all of Tito Puente recordings were made with Tico (from 1949 to 1955, 1961 to 1981), RCA Victor (1955-1960), Concord Picante (1982-1996 - there is a 2002 release of a 1994 recording), and RMM (1991-2000). Tito Puente's RMM discography of original material is as follows in reverse chronological order.

Tito Puente - RMM albums
2000 Obra Maestra (with Eddie Palmieri)
1999 Mambo Birdland
1998 Live At Birdland (Dancemania '99)
1996 Jazzin' (with India)
1995 Tito's Idea
1992 Live At the Village Gate
1991 The Mambo King: His 100th Album

Musicians

Tito Puente / Timbales and Chorus
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Lewis Kahn / Trombone
Chris Washburne / Trombone (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Juan Pablo Torres / Trombone (2,3,4,10)
Peter Yellin / Alto Sax
Mitchell Frohman / Alto Sax (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Bobby Porcelli / Alto Sax (2,3,4,10)
Mario Rivera / Tenor Sax and Flute
Pedro Miranda / Baritone Sax (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Mitchell Frohman / Baritone Sax (2,3,4,10)
Kevin Bryan / Trumpet
Ray Vega / Trumpet and Flugelhorn
John Walsh Jr. / Trumpet
Hector Colon / Trumpet
Sonny Bravo / Piano
John Rodriguez Jr / Bongo and Congas
Jose Madera / Congas
Luis Bauza / Bata (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Thomas “Chuckie” Lopez / Percussion
Bernard Minoso / Bass (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Ruben Rodriguez / Bass (2,3,4,10)
Carlos Henriquez / Bass (2,3,4,10)
Pedro Rodriguez / Chorus (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Nilsa Rodriguez / Chorus (1,5,6,7,8,9,11)
Frankie Morales / Lead Vocals

Tito Puente – Dancemania ’99 Live At Birdland

Released 1998

Dedicated to Jimmy Frisaura & Santitos Colon

RMM Records 82270

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc.

All songs arranged by Tito Puente except (7) arranged by Sonny Bravo and (4,5,6) originally arranged by Tito Puente and adapted by Jose Madera

1. Lullaby of Birdland 1:10 (George Shearing)
2. Mambo Inn 8:24 (M. Bauza, E. Sampson, G. Woodland)
3. Cayuco 8:13 (Tito Puente)
4. Complicacion 6:31 (Francisco Aguabella)
5. Mambo En Blues 7:13 (Tito Puente)
6. Babarabatiri 8:16 (Antar Daly)
7. A Donde Vas 10:18 (Tito Puente)
8. Flauta Y Timbal 6:45 (Tito Puente)
9. Mas Bajo 7:44 (Tito Puente)
10. Cua Cua 8:06 (Jesus Guevara)

I believe this is Tito Puente's third from final album of all new recordings.

Three Salsa (Mambo Inn, Babarabatiri, Cua Cua) and two Cha Cha (A Donde Vas, Mas Bajo) made salsanewyork.com honor list. This live recording includes conversations between Puente, the band and the audience lasting up to about half minute between each track. It’s fabulous.

Musicians

Tito Puente / Percussion and Chorus
Peter Yellin / Alto Sax
Bobby Porcelli / Alto Sax
Mitchell Frohman / Baritone Sax
Juan Pablo Torres / Trombone
Reynaldo Jorge / Trombone
Lewis Kahn / Trombone
Kevin D. Bryan / Trombone
Raymond Vega / Trumpet
John Walsh / Trumpet
Thomas Lopez / Trumpet
Sonny Bravo / Piano and Chorus
John Rodriguez / Bongo
Chucky Lopez / Percussion
Jose Madera / Congas
Ruben Rodriguez / Bass
Carlos Henriquez / Bass
Frankie Morales / Vocals
Joe King / Chorus
Dave Valentin / Flute

Bobby Valentin - 25 Aniversario del Rey del Bajo

con sus cantantes originales

Released 1991

Bronco Records 159

Available at Descarga, Prodland, Amazon, etc


1. Introduccion
2. Que Pollito
3. Margarito
4. Huracan
5. Cuando Te Vea
6. Pirata De La Mar
7. Papel De Payaso
8. Soy Boricua
9. El Caiman
10. Linda Teresa
11. Jurame
12. Cantare Con Una Orquesta
13. Ramo De Flores
14. Tantos Deseos De Ella
15. Complicacion

The selections in this CD are taken and reordered from a 1991 live concert celebrating Bobby Valentin's 25 years as a bandleader - a DVD (En Vivo Desde Bellas Artes) of 2 hour 57 minute long concert is available with 14 additional tracks. I like the lack of crowd noise in between songs in this CD. Three songs (Margarito, Cuando Te Vea, Linda Teresa) made salsanewyork.com honor list. I'm not sure who the lead vocalist for all songs (aside from Frankie Hernandez for Cuando Te Vea and Marvin Santiago for Pirata De La Mar, Papel De Payaso and Soy Boricua) - so I listed every lead singer involved in the concert.

Musicians include:

Jose Manuel Lugo / Piano
Luis Quevedo / Piano
Cuto Soto / Trombone
Tommy Villarini / Trumpet
Jose "Jochi" Rodriguez / Trumpet
Jesus Caunedo / Alto Sax
Sammy Velez / Baritone Sax
Chago Martinez / Timbales
Pedro Hernandez / Bongo
Wilfredo "Willito" Lopez / Conga
Primi Cruz / Chorus
Pedro Brull / Chorus

Marvin Santiago / Lead Vocals
Frankie Hernandez / Lead Vocals
Johnny Vazquez / Lead Vocals
Giovani Lugo / Lead Vocals
Rafael "Rafu" Warner / Lead Vocals
Luigi Texidor / Lead Vocals
Marcelino Morales / Lead Vocals
Vincentico Valdes / Lead Vocals
Ramsey Rios / Lead Vocals
Luisito Carrion / Lead Vocals
Joaquin "Tato" Pena / Lead Vocals