Salsa Music Artists of the Month-April 2004

[peachexploration]

I thought it would be cool if each month if we "discover" three Salsa Artists to enhance our musical knowledge. You can give CD reviews, post your favorites songs or discuss anything else pertaining Artist's music. Please, no personal stuff. Just Salsa. :D

Let's start with:
Mon Rivera
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Johnny Pacheco

[borikenSalsero]

Lets start with a Johnny Pacheco overview...

Cofounder of Fania, Salsa most bestest and amazing Recording label...

First CD for Fania was Cañonazo. Mi neuvo tumbao...

Pacheco is Dominican, God, I forget what his first band was, but he did play with Charlie Palmieri during his early days, before moving on and creating his own band. His most renown lead singer, was Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez. His band became known as Pacheco Y Su Charanga.

Pacheco was truly never able to capitalize on the Salsa wave of the late 60s, 70s, and early 80s. During the early 60s he played Charangas, and Pachangas, until he started recreating old cuban classics in what is known as the period of Matanceando... God, I hope I remembered that correctly.

Pacheco is still with us, playing in night club in the city of New York. His birthday was actually 2 weeks ago, on a wednesday. I was there. :D

Pacheco being part of Fania, has played with just about every body, he is a maestro as well as a flutist, who never really any due credit for his skills, what a shame. Now days, he actually plays the guiro and does chorous for his band.

Pacheco has got some unbelievable music. If so you wish to hear what the man is about I suggest getting the CD titled "Lo Mejor" released in 2004. It is an absolute Gem. It gives me the chills just to hear the title... I hear that his "Lo Mejor De Pacheco" released in 1974 is even better, but I can't really comment since I don't have it, besides it is all charanga, perhaps if you love charanga that is the CD for you. Lo mejor has all geners of music, from salsa to son. Absolutely gorgeous CD. A must have...

God, just thinking about the flute riffs on this CD has me going crazy.

[peachexploration]

..God, just thinking about the flute riffs on this CD has me going crazy.

Gosh, I couldn't get to that CD, Boriken, :( but in my surfing travels, I did find Suav'ito by Pacheco y su Charanga on the Fania Label.
Very nice. My favorites on there are Recuerdo de Arcano (very nice piano on that one), Batachanga (Flute and Percussion really shine on this one). My first exposure to him was with Celia Cruz on her One Night of Salsa CD and thought it was awesome. But you're right, it's a shame he didn't have more exposure, he is truly amazing! :D

[sagitta]

I believe that Lo Mejor De Pacheco can be found at descarga.com and Lo Mejor can be found at w w w.songsearch.net :)

[JaneMas]

I say Jose Mangual Jr.

Here listen to a few songs from his latest release. Please come back and post to let me know what you think. http://salserosweb.com/JoseMangual.htm

http://salserosweb.com/ads/JoseMangualCD.jpg