Spanish Harlem Orchestra - Un Gran Dia En El Barrio

Released 2002

Rykodisc International

Produced by Aaron Luis Levinson

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc


1. Mama Guela 3:33 (Tito Rodriguez)
2. Obsesion 5:32 (Pedro Flores)
3. Tambori 3:32 (Hector Rivera)
4. Aprende A Querer 4:18 (Tony Rios)
5. La Musica Es Mi Vida 3:53 (Sandioval and Guajiro Gonzalez)
6. La Banda 4:49 (Willie Colon)
7. Pa' Gozar 5:48 (Oscar Hernandez)
8. Somos Iguales 3:44 (Ramon Rodriguez)
9. Vale Mas Un Guaguanco 4:09 (C. Curet Alonso)
10. Pueblo Latino 4:20 (C. Curet Alonso)

Arrangements by Gilber Lopez (1,2), Marty Sheller (3,6), Oscar Hernandez (4,7,9,10), Angel Fernandez (5,8).

A ground-breaking album when it was released, this still is the best album made by the Spanish Harlem Orchestra because its success led to bands revisiting roots of Salsa/Mambo. I actually bought their second album "Across 110st" prior to buying this album, and I still think this one is much better. Three Salsa (Mama Guela, La Music Es Mi Vida, Somos Iguales) made salsanewyork.com list. The whole album is good for listening and dancing.

Musicians:

Oscar Hernandez / Piano, Musical Director
Ruben Rodriguez / Bass
Ray Vega / Trumpet
Raul Agraz / Trumpet
Jose Davila / Trombone
Ozzie Melendez / Trombone
Mitch Frohman / Baritone Sax
Pablo "Chino" Nunez / Timbales
Bobby Allende / Bongos
George Delgado / Conga
Ray De La Paz / Lead Vocals
Frankie Vasquez / Lead Vocals
Herman Olivera / Lead Vocals
Jimmy Sabater / Lead Vocals

Grupo Gale - Afirmando

Released 1995

Codiscos

Produced by Diego Gale

Available at Descarga, Museo Del Disco


1. Buscando Olvidarte 4:57 (Luis A. Florez)
2. Parece Mentira 4:22 (Javier Gonzalez)
3. Mirala Que Linda Va 5:07 (Sandy Rico)
4. Volver, Volver 5:32 (Luis A. Florez)
5. Enamorado De Ti 4:54 (Adriana Benitez)
6. Ven A Medellin 5:32 (Diego Gale)
7. Hace Dano 4:56 (Luis Lambis)
8. Rica Combinacion 4:05 (Morist Jimenez, Diego Gale, Javier Gonzalez)
9. Prestame Tu Mujer 4:52 (D.R.)
10. El Virus Del Amor 4:42 (Luis Lambis)

Probably their best album. Three of the highlights (Volver Volver, Ven A Medellin especially and Prestame Tu Mujer) made salsanewyork.com list. The composer of Prestame Tu Mujer is Remberto Bequer according to a Ray Barretto CD I have.

Musicians:

Diego Gale / Conga, Timbales, Bongos, Guiro
Jaime Gale / Timbales
Tato "Tatin" Benitez / Bongos
Pedro Perez / Bass
Pablo Grajales / Piano
Luis Aquino / Trumpet
Tommy Villariny / Trumpet
Angie Machaod / Trumpet
Hugo "Copetin" Fernandez / Trumpet
Antonio "Tonito" Vasquez / Trombone
Jorge Diaz / Trombone
Angel Torres / Trombone
Morist Jimenez / Trombone
Johnny Pavas / Synthesizer
Jorge Cottes / Vibraphone
Oscar Abueta / Maracas
Ostval Serna, Javier Gonzalez, Morist Jimenez, Juan David Grajales, Igor Moreno, Johnny Pavas / Chorus
Javier Gonzalez / Lead Vocals
Cesar Batalla / Lead Vocals
Juan David Grajales / Lead Vocals

Gilberto Santo Rosa - Esencia

Released 1996

Sony International

Produced by Jose Lugo

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc.


1. No Quiero Na' Regala'o 4:42 (Perin Vazquez)
2. Amandote 4:41 (Rafy Monclova)
3. Esas Lagrimas 4:48 (Omar Alfanno)
4. Yo No Te Pido 4:39 (Jorge Luis Piloto)
5. Me Falto 4:52 (Manny Benito)
6. … Y Eso Duele 4:27 (Ray Monclova)
7. Para Vivir 4:13 (Pablo Milanes)
8. Siempre Acabo Igual 4:56 (Omar Alfanno)
9. No Ha Pasado Nada 5:09 (Armando Manzanero)
10. Peligro 4:53 (Rafy Monclova)
11. Dolia Menos 4:55 (Omar Alfanno)
12. Yo No Queria Conocerte 4:51 (Rafy Monclova)

Arrangements by Lenny Prieto (1), Jose Lugo (2,9,11), Eddie Garcia (3), Ricky Gonzalez (4,10), Jan Duclerc (5), Louis Garcia (6), Pedro Rivera Toledo (7), Jose Gazmey (8,12).

Three songs made salsanewyork.com list - No Quiero Na' Regala'o, Esas Lagrimas and Y Eso Duele.

Musicians:

Jose Lugo / Keyboards, Piano (2,3,5,6,8,9,12)
Jose Gazmey / Bass
Sammy Garcia / Conga
Santigo "Chago" Martinez / Timbales
Rafael "Tito" Echevarria / Bongos
Jan Duclerc / Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Tommy Villarini / Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Gergie Torres / Trombone
Jose Luis Encanacion / Saxophones, Clarinet, Flute
Jorge Laboy / Guitars
Lenny Prieto / Piano (1)
Ricky Gonzalez / Piano (4,10)
Luis Manolo Tirado / Piano (7)
Hector "Pichi" Perez / Percussion
Beckie Zambrana, Jerry Rivas, Osvaldo Roman, Hector Rivera / Chorus
Gilberto Santa Rosa / Lead Vocals

Jimmy Bosch – Soneando Trombon

Released 1998

Rykodisc

Produced by Jimmy Bosch & Aaron Luis Levinson

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

All songs written by Jimmy Bosch except track 6 by Hugo Gonzalez

Arrangements by Jimmy Bosch (1,2,5,8,9.10), Oscar Hernandez (3,7), Angel Fernandez (4) and Javier Vasquez (6)

1. Descargarana 6:45
2. Otra Oportunidad 5:43
3. Crisis De Identidad 5:20
4. Muy Joven Para Mi 5:20
5. Gaviota 4:40
6. La Soledad 5:30
7. Padre Soy 5:38
8. Cha Cha Gabriel 5:38
9. Erben On The Phone 5:23
10. Jimmy’s Bop 6:13

Jimmy Bosch’s highly successful debut album as the headliner. Otra Oportunidad still is his best-known song by far and is included in the salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Jimmy Bosch / Trombone (all), Clave (all), Chorus (3,4,5,7)
Alfredo Valdes Jr / Piano (1-8)
Joe Santiago / Bass (1-9)
Jimmy Delgado / Timbales (all), Cua (3)
Louie Bauzo / Bongos (all), Quinto (3)
Pablo Batista / Conga (all)
Mauricio Smith / Flute (2,4,8), Baritone Sax (1,5,6)
Jeff Lederer / Tenor Sax (except 6), Soprano Sax (6)
Junior Vega / Trumpet (all)
Herman Olivera / Lead Vocals (1,2,3,7), Chorus (1-6,8), Clave (2,5), Guiro (3,4)
Frankie Vasquez / Lead Vocals (1,2,4), Chorus (1-6,8), Maracas (1,2,4,5,6,7,9)
William Duval / Chorus (1,2,3,6,8)
Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros / Trumpet (1,6,8)
Arturo O’Farrill / Piano (9,10)
Steve Wilson / Alto Sax (9,10)
Andy Gonzalez / Bass (10)
Jimmy Sabater / Lead Vocals (1,8)
Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez / Lead Vocals (5)
Mary La Rose / Lead Vocals (9)

Jimmy Bosch – Salsa Dura

Released 1999

Rykodisc

Produced by Jimmy Bosch, Aaron Levinson and Mark Bingham

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

All songs composed by Jimmy Bosch except (8) by Wayne Shorter and (9) by Marco Aurelio Solis Gatica

Arrangements by Jimmy Bosch (2,3,10,12), Ricky Gonzalez (1,6), Mauricio Smith (4), Jimmy Bosch & Louis Bauzo (5), Jimmy Bosch & Nelson Gonzalez (7), Jeff Lederer (8), Felix “Junior” Vega (9), and Alfredo Valdes Jr. (11).

1. La Cacharra 4:55 [guaguanco]
2. Canta Mi Mozambique 5:41 [mozambique/comparsa]
3. Pa’ Mantener Tradicion 4:14 [guajira]
4. La Noticia 4:11 [son]
5. Impacto Tendremos 3:20 [plena]
6. Toco El Trombon 5:10 [conga/son montuno]
7. Viento Frio 5:15 [songo/descarga]
8. Speak No Evil 5:11 [Latin jazz]
9. Amor Por Ti 3:47 [bolero]
10. Vengo De Amor 4:57 [yambu]
11. Sigo Cambiando 4:23 [son]
12. Un Poquito Mas 6:01 [descarga]

Jimmy Bosch’s second album. Un Poquito Mas made salsanewyork.com list. In my opinion, this is the weakest of his three albums.

Musicians:

Jimmy Bosch / Trombone (all), Chorus (1,3,7)
Steve Turre / Trombone (12), Conch Shells (12)
Felix “Junior” Vega / Trumpet (all)
Ricardo Pon / Flute (7,11)
Jeff Lederer / Clarinet (3), Soprano Sax (9), Tenor Sax (all)
David Sanchez / Tenor Sax (2,8)
Ricardo Pons / Baritone Sax (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10)
Abiud “Humpy” Troche / Bass (all)
Nelson Gonzalez / Tres (3,6,7,10)
Ricky Gonzalez / Piano (1,2,6,8)
Alfredo Valdes Jr / Piano (2,4,5,7,8,11,12)
Jesus “Chucho” Valdes / Piano (3,10)
Jimmy Delgado / Timbales (all)
George Delgado / Conga (all except 5,7), Pandereta Segunda (5)
Richie Flores / Conga (5,7)
Chucky Lopez / Bongos (1,2,6,7,8,9,10,11)
Louis Bauzo / Bongos (2,4,12), Cajones (10), Pandereta Requindo (5)
Pedro Emilio Rodriguez / Guiro (1,2,3,5,10,11), Maracas (4,6,8,9), Clave (6,8,10)
Efrain “Frankie” Vazquez / Lead Vocals (1,10), Chorus (1,2,3,4,5,10,12)
Herman Olivera / Lead Vocals (5,6,11), Chorus (2,4,5,6,7,10,11,12)
Frankie Morales / Lead Vocals (4,9), Chorus (1,2,4,6,7,10,12)
Frankie Seguinot, Cita Rodriguez / Chorus (11)

Jimmy Bosch – El Avion De La Salsa

Released 2004

JRGR Records

Produced by Jimmy Bosch and Angel Fernandez

All songs composed by Jimmy Bosch

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Angel Fernandez (1,3,5,8,9,11), Gil Lopez (2,6) and Jimmy Bosch (4,7,10)

1. El Avion De La Salsa 5:08 [guaguanco]
2. Barreras Ninguna 5:31 [mambo]
3. El Embajador 6:46 [songo/descarga]
4. Vengo A Cantar 7:17 [cha cha cha/descarga]
5. Medicina No! 4:52 [son/mambo]
6. Que Bonito Es Sonar 5:20 [mambo]
7. Mama Y Papa 4:31 [plena]
8. Mi Cuerpo Tiembla 5:04 [mambo]
9. Que Alivio 5:50 [charanga/son/descarga]
10. Cocosito 4:51 [song montuno/descarga]
11. Llego La Hora 5:04 [mambo/bomba]s

This is Jimmy Bosch’s third album and arguably his strongest effort – or at least his most consistent work. Que Bonito Es Sonar made salsanewyork.com list, and I thought that pretty much all songs categorized as Mambo (and there are five of them here) are danceable upon my first hearing.

Musicians:

Jimmy Bosch / Trombone (1,3,4,5,6,7,8,10,11), Lead Vocals (7)
Dan Reagan / Trombone (2,9)
Edwin Sanchez / Piano (all)
Abiud Troche / Bass (1,8)
Andy Gonzalez / Bass (7)
Hector Maximo Rodriguez / Bass (2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11)
Yomo Toro / Cuatro (7,10)
Alfredo De La Fe / Violin (3,9)
Dave Valentin / Flute (3)
Mauricio Smith Jr / Flute (5,10 solos)
Mitch Frohman / Flute (3,10 parts), Baritone Sax (2,3,5,6,9,11)
Jeff Lederer / Tenor Sax (all)
Carl Corwin / Baritone Sax (1,5,8,11)
Raul Agraz / Trumpet (1,5,8,11)
Pete Nater / Trumpet (3,6,9)
Steve Gluzband / Trumpet (2,4)
Bobby Allende / Conga (1,8), Bongos & Bell (2,3,6,9,10)
Eric Velez / Conga (4,5,11)
George Delgado / Conga (2,3,6,7,9,10), Bongos & Bell (4), Guiro (4)
Pedro Poncholo Segundo / Bongos (5,11)
Ray Colon / Bongos & Bell (1,8)
Luisito Quintero / Bell (5,11), Timbales (5,11), Maracas, Guiro, Clave (5,11)
Marc Quinones / Timbales (1,8), Maracas, Guiro, Clave (1,2,3,4,6,8,9,10)
Roberto Cepeda / Guicharo, Pandereta (7)
Ray De La Paz / Lead Vocals (4), Chorus (2,4,7,11)
Herman Olivera / Lead Vocals (4), Chorus (2,4,7,11)
Willie Torres / Lead Vocals (4), Chorus (3,4,6,9,10)
Marco Bermudez / Lead Vocals (4), Chorus (3,4,6,9,10)
Juan Rey Bayona / Lead Vocals (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,11)
Ray Sepulveda / Chorus (1,8)
Rey Viera / Chorus (1,8)
Gabriel Bosch / Chorus (7)

German Villarreal Mambo Big Band - Con Permiso De Mis Mayores

Released 2007

Union Records

Produced and Directed by German Villarreal

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

Arrangements by Ediberto Llevano, Luis Medina, Jorge Hugo Alvarez, German Villarreal

1. Tibiri Tabara 3:04 (R. Marks, R. Lew)
2. Fantasia Cubana 3:39 (Rey Briant)
3. Cuando Te Vea 4:04 (Tito Puente)
4. Maracaibo Oriental 3:04 (J. A. Castaneda)
5. Son Para Un Sonero 4:37 (Adalberto Alvarez)
6. Me Gusta Boogaloo 3:16 (Carlos Hayre)
7. El Rincon 3:10 (W. Guevara)
8. Chango Ta Beni 3:40 (Justi Barretto)
9. Almendra 3:09 (A. Valdes)
10. Ran Kan Kan 4:40 (Tito Puente)

This is an excellent dance album from Colombian-based band led by German Villarreal with rearrangements of old classics. The fun highlight is Fantasia Cubana, which made the salsanewyork.com list along with Almendra. Chango Ta Beni and Cuando Te Vea are pretty good too - not necessarily the best versions out there but decent enough as an alternate version. Ran Kan Kan is also serviceable.

Musicians:

Igor Moreno / Lead Vocals
Mauricio Daltaire / Second Vocals (5)
Jorge Hugo Alvarez / Piano
Luis Arroyo / Piano
Ricardo Rosales / Bass
Nestor Garcia / Saxophone
Jorge "Cuper" Bermudez / Saxophone
Ediberto Llevano / Trombone
Wilver Fajardo / Trumpet
Javier Ortega / Conga
German Villarreal / Timbales, Timbalito, Bongos, Campana, Guiro
Angel Onofre / Flute
Igor Moreno, Mauricio Daltaire, Willie Garces / Chorus

Orquesta Flamboyan con Frank Dante - Different Directions

Released 1968 Cotique

Re-mastered 2007 Fania/E-Musica

Produced by Ralph Lew

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Ay Que Felicidad 3:35 (Frankie Dante, Angel Rodriguez, Ed Edenfield)
2. Pa' Guaynabo 3:28 (Frankie Dante, Angel Rodriguez, Ed Edendfield)
3. La Negra Caridad 3:02 (Javier Vazquez)
4. Paz 3:40 (Frankie Dante, Ed Edenfield)
5. El Jibaro 4:27 (Frankie Dante, Burre Speights)
6. En Caracas 3:38 (Frankie Dante, Angel Rodriguez, Ed Edenfield)
7. Lo Que Quiero Es Gozar 5:07 (Javier Vazquez)
8. Flores 3:11 (Frankie Dante, Burre Speights)

This is Frankie Dante (full name - Lenin Francesco Domingo Cerda) and Orquesta Flamboyan's debut second recording. The band has been described many things - bohemian, colorful, worst-dressed, smelly, a street band. Ay Que Felicidad and El Jibaro are good for Cha Cha, and Paz is fun for Salsa. I would say that this CD is not a bad intro to Frankie Dante's music except that it's the only one of his albums, which is not out of print currently - so it's not like there a choice in the matter.

Musicians:

Ed Edenfield / Piano
Eddie Gonzalez / Bass
Joe "Chickie" Fuentes / Trombone
Angelo Rodriguez / Trombone
Billy "Tata" Baxter / Timbales
"Latin" Joe Colon / Conga
Alex Ojeda / Bongos
Jose "Juicy" Cruz / Percussion, Chorus
Frankie Dante / Lead Vocals

Cal Tjader & Eddie Palmieri - El Sonido Nuevo

Original album released 1966
with bonus tracks recorded in 1963 and 1967

Reissued 1993

Produced by Creed Taylor

Verve

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Los Jibaros 2:44 (Ray Rivera, Vin Roddie)
2. Guajira En Azul 3:26 (Eddie Palmieri, Cal Tjader)
3. Ritmo Uni 3:51 (Eddie Palmieri, Jose Rodriguez)
4. Picadillo 7:04 (Tito Puente)
5. Modesty 2:28 (John Dankworth, Adolph Green)
6. Unidos 4:34 (Eddie Palmieri, Cal Tjader)
7. On A Clear Day You Can See Forever 1:53 (Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner)
8. El Sonido Nuevo 5:02 (Eddie Palmieri, Cal Tjader)

Bonus tracks
9. Fuji 2:32 (Cal Tjader)
10. Black Orchid 3:10 (Cal Tjader)
11. Los Bandidos 7:16 (Cal Tjader)
12. Poinciana 3:25 (Nat Simon, Buddy Bernier)
13. Yellow Days 2:19 (A. Carrillo, A. Bernstein)
14. Along Comes Mary 3:20 (Tandyn Almer)

Arrangements by Eddie Palmieri (3,4,7,8), Claus Ogerman (1,2,5,6), Stan Applebaum (9,10,12), Chico O'Farrill (13,14).

The main material in this CD is the first of two collaborations between Eddie Palmieri and Cal Tjader - El Sonido Nuevo. Most of the musicians are from Eddie Palmieri's band La Perfecta. The final 6 tracks are from two other Cal Tjader albums.

Picadillo made salsanewyork.com list as Salsa while Guajira En Azul and Poinciana made the same list as Cha Cha. Also of potential interest are the Afro-Cuban tracks Los Jibaros, Ritmo Uni, and Unidos,

Musicians:

original LP El Sonido Nuevo (tracks 1-8)
recorded 1966

Cal Tjader / Vibraphone
Eddie Palmieri / Piano
Barry Rogers / Trombone, Conga
Julian Priester / Trombone
Jose Rodriguez / Trombone
Mark Weinstein / Trombone
George Castro / Flute, Percussion
Bobby Rodriguez / Bass
Ismael Quintana / Percussion
Tommy Lopez / Drums
Manny Oquendo / Drums

from Breeze from East (tracks 9, 10, 12)
recorded 1963

Cal Tjader / Vibraphone, Percussion
Jerry Dodgion / Flute
Lonnie Hewitt / Piano
Dick Hyman / Organ
Stan Applebaum / Celeste, Conductor
two unknown / Guitar
George Duvivier / Bass
unknown / Timbales
unknown / Drums

from Along Comes Cal (tracks 11, 13, 14)
recorded 1967

Cal Tajder / Vibraphone
Al Zulaica / Piano (11)
Chick Corea / Piano (13, 14)
Stan Gilbert / Bass (11)
Bobby Rodriguez / Bass (13,14)
Ray Barretto / Conga (11,13,14)
Armando Peraza / Bongos (13,14)
Carl Bernett / Drums (11)
Grady Tate / Drums (13,14)
Derek Smith / Organ (13,14)
Chico O'Farrill / Conductor (13,14)