2 new cd's - RAY BARRETTO AND ROBERTO ROENA

[SkinDeep]

Ray Barretto
Standards Rican-ditioned
CD (Zoho 200610), Released 2006;
Editor's Pick:
From the first track of Barretto’s last date, you can hear that something special is happening. First, Barretto and Adam Cruz, behind a great David Sánchez solo, seem as if they’re about to explode with happiness. After a few other solos, Sánchez and Barretto get into some trading of fours, and there it is again, just the simple fun of creation. You hear it everywhere: Hilton Ruiz’s solo on Ivy, where he goes way out harmonically, and on all of the Sánchez solos, where he’s clearly having a blast putting together music on standards, something he rarely does.
Barretto, for the date, had brought together some of the best Latin jazz musicians in the world, including Ruiz on piano, Sánchez on saxophone, Papo Vázquez on trombone, John Benitez on bass and Adam Cruz on drums; Barretto’s son Chris, plays saxophone on two tracks, plus conga on one. They’re playing the sort of music Barretto played often enough in the '50s and '60s, jazz with congas, and it’s deeply swinging in the New York sense. The whole thing’s an achievement, and this is an album that we’ll all be hearing on the radio for a long time to come.
Highly Recommended. (Peter Watrous, 2006-08-03)
Song titles include:
Lean On Me 8:16
Trav'lin Light 7:41
Ivy 4:27
Suddenly It's Spring 5:07
I Had The Craziest Dream 5:27
Something To Live For 3:46
Baby, Baby All The Time 6:30
Brandy's Blues 6:24
Strange Music 4:52
Musicians include:
Ray Barretto Congas on trackts 1-5, 7,8; scat vocals on track 9
Hilton Ruiz Piano
David Sanchez Tenor sax on tracks 1,3,4,7,9
Papo Vazquez Trombone on tracks 2,4,5,7,8
Chris Barretto Alto sax on tracks 2,8; conga on track 9
John Benitez Bass on tracks 1-5; 7-9
Adam Cruz Drums on tracks 1-5; 7-9
Category: Latin Jazz => Latin Jazz
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-21916.10 CD $17.98

Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound
Sr. Bongó
CD (Roan 20063), Released 2006;
Editor's Pick:
Oomph! This one's brimming with swing, brother. Here's a fresh salsa project that will breathe life into any party. What more would you expect from a project led by maestro Roena that includes pianists Willie Sotelo and Papo Lucca? Hows' about heavy hitter timbalero Tito D'Gracia? Or a solid wall of coro made up of Luisito Carrion, Darvel Garcia, and Domingo Quiñonez? Singers Hector Tempo Alomar and Javier Marrero never sounded better: Listen to the drive on the Eric Figueroa composition "Tin Tin Ton Ton" — *the* jewel in the crown, in this listener's opinion, or the fiery track "Abre Tu Corazón." The material here feels totally vital and essential. Includes two versions of the killer tribute "Por Siempre Anibal" (Anibal Vázquez) — one of them being a brilliant Puente-esque big band version with guests Cachete Maldonado, Tommy Villariny, Angie Machado and many others. Legendary Roena himself is in top form here, and his performance on Sr. Bongó would draw the respect and awe of bongoceros of any age.
This is the real deal, folks. Salsa the way it ought to be. A big DJ Aljert, and a must-have: Very Highly Recommended. (BP, 2006-08-03)
Song titles include:
Sr. Bongo
No Dejes Marrero
Cantar Con Un Amigo
Tin Tin Ton Ton
Deja Que Te Toque Roberto
Abre Tu Corazon
Canto A La Amistad
Por Siempre Anibal
Sin Rencor
Por Siempre Anibal (Big Band)
Musicians include:
Roberto Roena Bongo y campana
Victor Calderon Congas
Tito D'Gracia Timbales
Pedro Perez Bajo
Angie Machado Trompeta
Cusi Castillo Trompeta
Luis Aquino Trompeta
Miguel Rodriguez Sax & flauta
Moises Cancel Trombon
Willie Sotelo Piano
Enrique "Papo" Lucca Piano
Pichie Perez Gurios y maracas
Hector Tempo Alomar Cantante
Javier Marrero Cantante
Luisito Carrion, Darvel Garcia, Domingo Quiñonez Coros
Musicos Invitados: Big Band "Por Siempre Anibal"; Luis Aquino-1ra Trompeta;Jan Duclerc-2nd Trompeta; Tommy Villariny-3ra Trompet;Angie Machado-4ta Trompeta; Rafi Torres 1ra Trombon; Toñito Vazquez-2nd Trombon; Jorge Diaz-3rd Trombon; Moises Nogueras- Trom
Category: Salsa/Son => Salsa => Puerto Rico
Shipping Value: 1
ORDER TL-21978.10 CD $15.98