Tito Rodriguez - Live At The Palladium

Released 1960 United Artists Latino

Produced by Don Costa

Re-issued by WS Latino

Available at Descarga, Prodland and possibly others

1. Mama Guela 2:36 (Tito Rodriguez)
2. Satin And Lace 4:25 (Phil Sunkel)
3. Te Comiste Un Pan 2:27 (Rosendo Ruiz Jr)
4. Liza 4:15 (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
5. El Monito Y La Jirafa 3:49 (Rosendo Ruiz Jr)
6. El Pollo De Carlitos 2:23 (Rigual)
7. Double Talk 3:08 (Phil Sunkel)
8. El Sabio 2:09 (Tito Rodriguez)
9. Miedo Al Cha Cha Cha 2:07 (Rosendo Ruiz Jr)
10. El Mundo De Las Locas 5:58 (Aaron Sachs)

Arrangements by Harold Wegbreit, Phil Sunkel, Aaron Sachs, Julio Andino, Eddie Palmieri.

This is one of the most famous Tito Rodriguez albums. Probably the best dance track is the instrumental "Satin And Lace." Despite the venue Palladium in the album title, this album is better understood as a pioneering Latin Jazz album. As such other highlights would include Double Talk, El Mundo De Las Locas, El Monito Y La Jirafa and Liza.

As typical of Tito Rodriguez albums, personnel information on the CD is absent. Unlike in most other cases, I did manage to find many of the musicians involved in making this album with some research.

Musicians include (based upon my research):

Eddie Palmieri / Piano
Phil Sunkel / Trumpet
Bert Collins / Trumpet
Harold Wegbreit / Trumpet
Gabriel "El Chino" Gonzalez / Trumpet
Aaron Sachs / Tenor Sax
Pete Finelli / Alto Sax
Julio Andino / Bass
Manny Oquendo / Bongos
Pat Rodriguez / Timbales
Luis Goicochea / Conga
Tito Rodriguez / Lead Vocals, Percussion
others?

Tito Rodriguez And His Orchestra - Tito Tito Tito

Recorded 1964 United Artists Latino

Produced by Leroy Holmes

Re-issued by WS Latino

Available at Descarga, Prodland and possibly others

1. Descarga Cachao 5:01 (Israel Lopez)
2. Boco-Boco 3:15 (Chano Pozo)
3. Cosas Del Alma 4:25 (Jose "Pepe" Delgado)
4. Ese Eres Tu 2:00 (J. Valentine)
5. Donde Estabas Tu 3:01 (Ernesto Duarte Brito)
6. Sun Sun Babae 3:00 (D.R.)
7. Descarga Malanga 5:16 (Tito Rodriguez)
8. Tremendo Cumban 3:04 (D.R.)
9. Dudas De Mi 3:33 (M. Gomez)
10. La Toalla 2:48 (Ernest Duarte Brito)
11. Yo Lo Puedes Decir 3:56 (N. Cevedo)

Arrangements by Rene Hernandez.

The album title Tito Tito Tito is probably not official, but it is how it's known by many. Here Tito Rodriguez plays typical Palladium dance music mostly. This album includes the classic Descarga Cachao. Other highlights include Donde Estabas Tu, Sun Sun Babae and La Toalla.

The band is as usual anonymous. In the 50s and 60s, most Latin bandleaders did not give any billing for the musicians - Cal Tjader being a notable exception. In any case, most if not all of themembers from 1960 "Live At The Palladium" had departed for other projects. It is well-known that Israel "Cachao" Lopez was in this recording, however.

Musicians include:

Israel "Cachao" Lopez / Bass
Tito Rodriguez / Lead Vocals

and possibly…
Rene Hernandez / Piano
Jesus Caunedo / Saxophone
Emilio Reales / Trumpet
Rafael "Tata" Palau / Alto Saxophone

Sonora Poncena - Determination

Released 1982 Inca

Re-mastered 2006 Fania / E-Musica

Produced by Papo Lucca

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Yambeque 6:22 (D.R.)
2. Soledad 5:45 (Adalberto Alvarez)
3. Creo En Ti 4:01 (Jose Antonio Mendez)
4. Herida Cerrada En Falso 5:00 (Tonito Ledee)
5. Date Cuenta 6:27 (Francisco Alvarado Morales)
6. Si La Ven 4:41 (Roberto Anglero)
7. Joldo 4:21 (Duke Jordan)
8. Aunque Te Quiero 6:13 (Joseito Gonzalez)

Arrangements by Papo Lucca (1,2,3,4,6,8), Angel Torres (5), and Luis Ramirez/Papo Lucca (7).

Yambeque made salsanewyork.com list. I also like Si La Ven and Joldo.

Musicians:

Enrique "Quique" Lucca / Leader
Enrique "Papo" Lucca / Piano, Musical Director
Ramon A. Rodriguez "El Cordoves" / Trumpet
Delfin Perez / Trumpet
Angel Velez / Trumpet
Heriberto Santiago / Trumpet
Antonio Santaella / Bass
Efrain Hernandez / Bass
Jessie Colon / Timbales
Vincente Rivero "Little Johnny" / Conga
Angel L. Hernandez / Bongos
Miguel A. Ortiz / Guiro, Maracas, Lead Vocals
Juancito Torres / Flugelhorn (6)
Yolanda Rivera / Lead Vocals
Tonito Ledee / Lead Vocals
Miguelito Ortiz, Tonito Ledee, Edwin Rosas, Adalberto Santiago, Papo Lucca / Chorus

Sonora Poncena - Musical Conquest / Conquista Musical

Released 1976 Inca

Re-mastered 2006 Fania / E-Musica

Produced by Papo Lucca & Louie Ramirez

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Narana Cai 6:04 (D.R.)
2. Bomba Carambomba 5:11 (A. Amadeo)
3. Canto Al Jibarito 4:55 (Castro R. L. Yappy)
4. La Clave 7:45 (Joe Torres)
5. Esta Es Venezuela 5:00 (Cesar Viera)
6. La Pollera Colora 3:58 (Wilson Choperana, Juan Madera)
7. El Tiempo 4:18 (Alfredo Gil, Enrique Caceras)
8. El Pio Pio 4:58 (Luis Demetrio)

Arrangements by Papo Lucca.

I believe this is the first album Sonora Poncena released after Inca label was absorbed by Fania. The knight/warrior motif in the cover by Ron Levine started here.

Narana Cai and El Pio Pio are two of the best-known songs by Sonora Poncena. La Pollera Colora made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Enrique "Quique" Lucca / Leader
Papo Lucca / Piano, Synthesizer
Cuchy Castro / Trumpet
Tony "Cordobes" Rodriguez / Trumpet
Delfin Perez / Trumpet
Johnny Rivero / Conga
Angel L. Hernandez / Paila, Bongos
Edgardo Morales / Timbales
Tato Santaella / Bass
Yomo Toro / Cuatro
Ismael Quintana / Percussion
Miguelito Ortiz / Lead Vocals
Luigi Texidor / Lead Vocals
Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Tito Allen, Ray De La Paz / Chorus

Ismael Rivera Y Sus Cachimbos - Esto Si Es Lo Mio

Released 1978 Tico

Re-mastered 2006 Fania / E-Musica

Produced by Ismael Rivera

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. Las Caras Lindas 7:12 (C. Curet Alonso)
2. Comedia 3:01 (Placido Acevedo)
3. De Medio Lao 3:58 (Javier Vazquez)
4. A Medias No 4:59 (Mario Hernandez)
5. La Perla 5:28 (C. Curet Alonso)
6. Ella No Merece Un Llanto 5:31 (Bobby Capo)
7. Angelica 4:09 (Placido Acevedo)

Arrangements by Javier Vazquez.

Las Caras Lindas is one of the best known Ismael Rivera song and made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:
Javier Vazquez / Piano, Musical Director
Carlos "Rigo" Malcom / Timbales, Quinto
Hector Zarzuela / Trumpet
Manolin Gonzalez / Saxophone
Victor Venegas / Bass
Jose Luis Gonzalez / Conga
Victor Gonzalez / Bongos
Ismael Rivera / Lead Vocals, Clave, Maracas, Guiro
Ruben Blades, Adalberto Santiago, Nestor Sanchez, Hector Lavoe / Chorus

Ismael Rivera Y Sus Cachimbos - De Todas Maneras Rosas

Released 1977 Tico

Re-mastered 2007 Fania / E-Musica

Produced by Ismael Rivera & Louie Ramirez

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc

1. De Todas Maneras Rosas 4:15 (C. Curet Alonso)
2. Hola 2:56 (Juan Pablo Torres)
3. Si Te Cojo 3:09 (Bobby Capo)
4. Mi Son Sabroson 4:15 (Javier Vazquez)
5. El Mesias 4:13 (Johnny Ortiz)
6. Mi Musica 3:55 (C. Curet Alonso)
7. Profesion Esperanza 3:24 (C. Curet Alonso)
8. La Oportunidad 5:22 (C. Curet Alonso)

Arrangements by Javier Vazquez.

De Todas Maneras Rosas and El Mesias made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Javier Vazquez / Piano
Elpidio Vazquez / Bass
Mario Hernandez / Tres
Hector "Bomberito" Zarzuela / Trumpet
Manolin Gonzalez / Saxophone
Jerry Chamberlain / Trombone
Juan C. Ross / Conga
Vitin Gonzalez / Bongos
Carlos Malcom / Timbales
Sammy Ayala / Percussion
Ismael Rivera / Lead Vocals
Tito Allen, Ruben Blades, Adalberto Santiago, Sammy Ayala / Chorus