Alfredo De La Fe & Fruko – La Llave De Oro

Released 2005
Colibri Records

Alfredo De La Fe & Julio Estrada (Fruko)
Executive Producer & Musical Director

Available at Descarga

1. Somos Los Reyes De Mundo 5:22 (Alfredo De La Fe)
2. Julio El Gitano 4:51 (Rafael Barros)
3. Anhelos 3:55 (Alfredo Gutierrez)
4. Ritmo Sabroso 4:41 (D. R.)
5. Kukucha Ku Cha 4:31 (Raul Alonso)
6. No Soy De Aqui 4:35 (Facundo Cabrales)
7. Nostalgia De Mi Tierra 6:20 (Pedro Carrasquillo)
8. Soy 5:17 (Willy Chirino)
9. Manana 4:38 (Marin Medina)
10. Sibanicu 3:34 (D. R.)
11. La Botija De Abuelito 5:29 (Jose Fajardo)
12. El De Los Ojos Negros 5:12 (D. R.)

This is a collaboration between Colombian Salsa legend Fruko and renowned Cuban violinist Alfredo De La Fe. Sibanicu made salsanewyork.com list. Ritmo Sabroso is fun.

Musicians:

Alfredo De La Fe / Violin, Cello
Pablo Grajales / Piano
Giovany Montoya / Bass
Vladimir Hurtado / Trombone
Leon Giraldo / Flute
Jaime Gale / Timbales, Conga, Campana, Guiro, Bongos
Carlos Andres Caballero / Tiple, Guitar
Alcidez Diaz / Accordion
Ricardo Arango, Tomas Rocha, Sandra Monsalve, Alvaro Parra, Julio Lozano / Chorus
Ricardo Arango / Vocals
Sandra Monsalve / Vocals
Tomas Rocha / Vocals
Linda Estrada / Vocals
Carlos Mario Aguirre / Vocals
Oscar D’Leon / Vocals (3)
Jose Alberto “El Canario” / Vocals (2,8)

Raphy Leavitt & Orquesta La Selecta – Somos El Son

Released 1986
Bronco

Produced by Raphy Leavitt


Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc


1. Primera Vez 4:33 (Raphy Leavitt)
2. El Que No Abona 3:37 (Pedro Ortiz Pica)
3. De Prisa 4:58 (Raphy Leavitt)
4. Chiquilla 5:44 (Luis Marrero Gonzalez)
5. Somos El Son 4:57 (Victor Rodriguez Amaro)
6. La Cuica 4:46 (Peter Velazquez)
7. Luna De La Noche 4:22 (Peter Velazquez)
8. La Patita De Conejo 4:37 (Peter Velazquez)

Arrangements by Isidro Infante (1,4,5,8), Julio “Gunda” Merced (2), Javier Fernandez (3,6,7).

This is the thirteenth studio album by the veteran Puerto Rican band La Selecta formed in 1971 and led by Raphy Leavitt. Raphy Leavitt had 9 studio albums with Borinquen label and 3 albums with TH label before this album, his first of two with Bronco label. Two songs (Chiquilla, Somos El Son) made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Raphy Leavitt / Director, Piano
Armando Lopez / Trumpet
Osvaldo Morel / Trumpet
Luis A Caballero / Trombone
Melvin Rios / Trombone
Edwin Rosario / Bass
Pedro Gonzalez / Timbales
Raul Santiago / Conga
Luis Tirado / Bongos
Giovanni Lugo / Percussion, Chorus
Hector Luis “Pichi” Perez, Mario Cora, Edgard Nevarez, Giovanni Lugo, Sammy Marrero / Chorus
Sammy Marrero / Lead Vocals
Carlitos Ramirez / Lead Vocals

--

Raphy Leavitt discography

with Borinquen label:
Payaso (1971)
Mi Barrio (1972)
Jibaro Soy (1973)
Herido (1974)
A Recorded Inferno (1975)
De Frente A La Vida (1976)
Con Sabor A Tierra Adentro (1977)
Cosquillita (1978)
Soledad (1979)

with TH label:
Raphy Leavitt La Selecta (1981)
Sembrando Semillas En El Alma Del Pueblo (1982)
Siempre Alegre (1983)

with Bronco label:
Somos El Son (1986)
Orquesta La Selecta (1988)

with RL label:
Provocame (1990)

with Frama label:
20 Anos Despues (1992)

with VI lable
30 Aniversario Live (2003)

Erick – Aquel Cantor

Released 1995
Vedisco

Produced by Naty Martinez

Out of print but available through some Amazon sellers and Descarga

1. Aquel Cantor 5:13 (Oswaldo Delgado)
2. Arriba 3:38 (Julio Gutierrez)
3. Dame Ese Placer 4:15 (Hector “Goyito” Rodriguez)
4. Tu Recuerdo 5:27 (Hugo Beiza, Jorge Pedreros)
5. Quiero Olvidarte Y No Puedo 5:23 (Natividad Martinez)
6. Te Pido Perdon 5:28 (Corrado Cammisuli)
7. Dile 4:15 (Edgar Alexander)
8. La Guitarra 4:15 (Edgar Alexander)

Arrangements by Naty Martinez (1,2,4,5,7,8), Carrado Cammiuli (6), Hector “Goyito” Rodriguez (3).

This is a solid album by one of the better known Salsa Romantica singers Erick. Three songs (Aquel Cantor, Dame Ese Placer, La Guitarra) made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians include:
Ely Mendez / Second Vocals (1)
Jerika / Chorus (8)
Ruben Rebolledo / (8)

Eddie Torres and His Mambo Kings Orchestra – Dance City

Released 1994
Exclusivo Records

Produced by Oscar Hernandez


Available at Descarga


1. Arinanara 3:36 (Chano Pozo)
2. Remember Me 4:28 (Stan Applebaum)
3. Pa’ Gozar 5:21 (Oscar Hernandez)
4. Caravan 3:23 (D. Ellington, I. Mills, J. Tizol)
5. Eres Mi Coco 4:10 (Guito Gonzalez)
6. Dance City 3:21 (Oscar Hernandez)
7. Llevatela 4:38 (Armando Manzanero)
8. Tu Me Estas Volviendo Loco 6:21 (Rafael Perez Botija)
9. Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso 5:04 (Eddie Palmieri)
10. To Be With You 4:40 (Nick Jimenez & Willie Torres)
11. Mulato Rumbero 4:22 (A. Rodriguez)
12. Hot & Heavy 4:47 (Sonny Bravo)

Arrangements by Oscar Hernandez (1,2,3,5,6,8,10,11), Joe Mannozzi (4,9), Paquito Pastor (7), Sonny Bravo (12).

This album was commissioned by well-known NYC Salsa dancer Eddie Torres. Six songs (Arinanara, Caravan, Llevatela, Tu Me Estas Volviendo, Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso, Mulato Rumbero) made salsanewyork.com Salsa list and one song (Pa' Gozar) made the list as Cha Cha.

Musicians:

Oscar Hernandez / Piano, Musical Director
Mitch Frohman / Sax, Flute, Musical Director
Johnny Torres / Bass
Tony Barrero / Lead Trumpet (solo “Caravan” & “Dance City)
Jose “Ite” Jerez / Trumpet (solo “Hot & Heavy”)
Luis Lopez / Trombone
Pablo Calogero / Baritone Sax (solo “Hot & Heavy”)
Roger Rosenberg / Baritone Sax
Jimmy Delgado / Timbales
George Delgado / Conga
Johnny Rodriguez / Bongos, Guiro
Marc Quinones / Maracas, Guiro
Adalberto Santiago, Nestor Sanchez, Tito Allen, Eddie Ganz, Deborah Resto, Claudette Sierra / Chorus
Bobby Porcelli / Alto Sax solo “To Be With You”
Jimmy Sabater / Lead Vocals (1,7,10,11)
Sammy Gonzalez / Lead Vocals (2,9)
Luis Rosa / Lead Vocals (5)
Ray Rico / Lead Vocals (8)

Jose Alberto “El Canario” - Back To The Mambo: Tribute To Machito

Released 1997
RMM

Produced by Isidro Infante


Out of print but available through some Amazon sellers


1. Tributo Al Bravo 4:43 (William Liriano, Isidro Infante)
2. El As De La Rumba 4:46 (Silvestre Mendez)
3. La Feria De Las Flores 4:35 (Jese “Chucho” Monge)
4. La Paella 5:05 (Frank “Machito” Grillo)
5. Como Quiera 4:11 (R. Marks, Ralph Lew)
6. La Rumbantela 4:52 (Frank “Machito” Grillo)
7. Oye La Banda 4:50 (Justi Barretto)
8. Que Bonito Es Puerto Rico 4:18 (Justi Barretto)
9. Soy Salsero 4:26 (Frank “Machito” Grillo)
10. Sarabanda 4:08 (Justi Barretto)

Arrangements by Isidro Infante (1,4,7), Nelson Hernandez (2,5,10), Ricky Gonzalez (3), Ramon Sanchez (6), Tommy Villariny (8), Cuto Soto (9).

Many old Machito favorites get new arrangements in this hit Jose Alberto album. Six songs (El As De La Rumba, La Paella, Como Quiera, Oye La Banda, Que Bonito Es Puerto Rico, Sarabanda) made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Isidro Infante / Piano, Keyboards, Musical Director
Jose Tabares / Bass
Eric Velez / Conga
Pablo “Chino” Nunez / Timbales
Ray Colon / Bongo, Guiro, Maracas
David “Piro” Rodriguez / Trumpet
Pablo Santaella / Trombone
Noah Bless / Trombone
Nelson Hernandez / Baritone & Alto Sax
Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Jerry Medina, Darvel Garcia / Chorus
Nadeen Gautier / Female Vocals
Jose Alberto “El Canario” / Lead Vocals
Tito Puente / Guest Artist (presumably Timbales)
Dave Valentin / Guest Artist (presumably Flute)

Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers – The Hideout

Released 2004
Milestone


Produced by Todd Barkan

Available at Amazon, Descarga, etc


1. The Hideout 5:14 (Henry Brown)
2. El Abaniquito 4:51 (Jose Curbelo, Bobby Escoto)
3. Born To Groove 4:39 (Plata, Plata, Stubblefield)
4. Guajeo En Dominante 4:42 (Bebo Valdes)
5. Ruby 4:38 (Roemheld, Parish)
6. Superstition 6:14 (Stevie Wonder)
7. Para Mongo 4:40 (Harvie S)
8. Good News 4:30 (Harvie S)
9. Quiet Village 4:18 (Les Baxter)
10. Facil 4:25 (Harvie S)

Usual mix of Latin, Funk and Jazz typical of Pucho. El Abaniquito is quite good for Salsa/Mambo dancing.

Musicians:

Henry “Pucho” Brown / Timbales, Leader
Eddie Pazant / Alto Sax
Lewis Kahn / Violin, Trombone
Ric Faulkner / Trombone
Al Pazant / Trumpet
Richard Lee Wendell / Trumpet
Gerald Brazel / Trumpet

Johnny Griggs / Conga, Percussion
Santos Rivera / Bongos, Percussion
John “Madhatter” Spruill / Piano, Organ
Danny Mixon / Piano (1)
Willie “Yambo” Bivens / Vibraphone (9)
Marvin Horne / Guitar (3,6)
Tehrin Cole / Bass (1,3,5,6,9)
David Herscher / Bass (2,4)
Harvie S / Bass (7,8,10)
Tyrone Govan / Drums (1,3,6)
Chico Alvarez / Vocals (2,7), Percussion
Deborah Resto / Vocals (2)
Dwayne Fitagerald / Vocals (3)
Joe Locke / Vibraphone, Marimba (1,4,5,6,7,9)
David Ellis / Tenor Sax (2-7)

Sonora Carruseles – Espectacular

Released 1996
Discos Fuentes

Re-issued 1999
Discos Fuentes Miami Records

Available at Amazon, Descarga, others


1. Adios Compay Gato 4:00 (Nico Saquito)
2. Caliventura 4:01 (Javier Garcia, Julio Estrada)
3. Acuyeye 5:10 (Johnny Pacheco)
4. Chela 3:38 (Hernan Builes)
5. El Brujo De Arjona 3:46 (Guillermo Buitrago)
6. Carruseles 3;46 (Dario Gil)
7. Oye Mi Conga 4:25 (Miguel Matamoros)
8. Copas Y Amigos 4:11 (Espinel)
9. Los Cocacolos 4:04 (Roberto De La Barrera)
10. Mi Pregon 4:02 (Dario Gil)
11. Cumbia De Mi Tierra 3:59 (Delfo Ballestas)
12. Vitamina 3:47 (Noro Morales Isquiano)

This is one of the earliest album by Sonora Carruseles, a very popular Colombian Salsa band formed in 1995 by Diego Gale and Mario Rincon. Vitamina made salsanewyork.com list.

Cesar Batalla / Lead Vocals (1,3,6,7)
Delfo Ballestas / Lead Vocals (5,8,11)
Marinho Paz / Lead Vocals (10,12)

Sonora Carruseles – Heavy Salsa

Released 1998
Discos Fuentes

Re-issued 1999
Discos Fuentes Miami Records

Available at Amazon, Descarga, many others

1. Al Son De Los Cueros 4:02 (Diego Gale)
2. Que Bailen Tos 4:16 (Cesar Monge)
3. Ave Maria Lola 4:06 (Sergio Siaba)
4. Mosaico Boogaloo 5:18
- Mambo Batiri (Antar Daly)
- Me Gusto Boogaloo (D.R.)
- Regalo Para Ti (D.R.)
5. La Joda 4:03 (Octavio Paneso)
6. Linda Cubana 3:51 (Alvaro Cabarca)
7. Mosaico Cumbias 3:52
- La Cumbiaba (Guillermo Portabales)
- Cumbia Cienaguera (Luis Enrique Martinez)
8. Tabaratiando 3;22 (D.R.)
9. Micaela 4:42 (T. Pabon, M. Rodriguez)
10. Mosaico Matamoros 5:08
- Comentario En El Solar (Miguel Matamoros)
- Hoy La Rumba (Miguel Matamoros)
11. El Pito 4:29 (Jimmy Sabater)
12. Quiereme Siempre 4:36 (G. Lines, R. Gothne, Ben Molar)

Arrangements by Diego Gale (1,2,3,5,9,11,12), Jose Aguirre (4), Enrique Carrillo (8,10), Alvaro Cabarcas “Pelusa” (6).

This was an extremely popular album when it was released and remained very popular for many years afterwards in places as far away as the United Kingdom - so much so that there was a bit of a backlash. The version of Micaela in this album made salsanewyork.com list.

Musicians:

Diego Gale / Conga, Maracas, Guiro, Campana, Co-Musical Director
Jaime Gale / Timbales
Hernan “Tato Tatin” Benitez / Bongos
Alvaro Cabarcas “Pelusa” / Piano
Enrique Carillo / Piano
Daniel Silva / Bass
Hugo “Copetin” Fernandez / Trumpet
Diego Javier Gonzalez, Carlos Guerrero, Diego Gale, Igor Moreno, Luis Florez, Gabino Pampini, Alvaro Pava, Ostwal Serna, Brigido Chaverra “Macondo”, Nando Malo, Marinho Paz / Chorus
Gambino Pampini / Lead Vocals (3,5,6)
Luis Florez / Lead Vocals (2,7,9,10,11)
Brigido Chaverra “Macondo” / Lead Vocals (10)
Marinho Paz / Lead Vocals (8)
Nando Malo / Lead Vocals (12)