Salsa Releases - 2006

[HothouseSalsero]

I still haven't listened to it real closely, but I like Guayacan Orquesta's X Tremo. Nothing groundbreaking here, but very danceable salsa. Some of the songs start off with kind of rinky-dink sounding keyboard, but they improve as they go on. I think a lot of these songs will be especially good for out-door summer dancing. As far as I know, I've never even liked any of their songs before, but this is nice stuff.

(This CD may have come out in 05, but right at the tail end of it.)

[HothouseSalsero]

Feel free to add others! I know it's still early, but I thought we could put them all on one thread as the year goes on, unless there are some real stand-outs that deserve their own threads. Not that I am in charge or a moderator or anything. Just a friendly suggestion.

So who's due to put out CDs this year? I assume the one Victor Manuelle is working on (with the cameo, or maybe more, from Eddie Palmieri) will come out this year. I'm hoping Sonora Poncena will release something. Jose Alberto? He's about due for a full CD worth of solo material. I've really gotten to like his distinctive vocal timbre, though I don't always like the type of songs he recrds (especially on his solo recordings).

Libertad Records is going to put out a follow-up to Lost Classics of Salsa Vol. 1 (cleverly called Lost Classics of Salsa Vol. 2), as well as a new Zaperoko CD.

I'd like to hear a really good solo CD from Luisito Carrion. (Okay, this is turning into a wish list.)

[MacMoto]

So who's due to put out CDs this year?
Spanish Harlem Orchestra are recording a new album this year, and Jimmy Bosch's doing his too.

[HothouseSalsero]

(Note--I am copying some of this from messages I posted elsewhere.)

A couple new Andy Montañez projects (assuming these are both by the same Andy Montañez I'm thinking of):

Salsa Con Reggaeton

Andy Montañez has already collaborated with some reggaeton figures (including Daddy Yankee, I think, but also others). I think he has the capacity to work within a salsaton framework without dumbing down his singing and without coming off as ridiculous.

Líneas Paralelas - Andy Montañez & Pablo Milanes

Descarga.com says: Highly anticipated collaborative project by two giants: Puerto Rico's Andy Montañez and Cuba's Pablo Milanes. Rich salsa and lush ballads too. It's Milanes's first shot at salsa - and he gets high marks here. This pair prove to be perfect partners in harmony. I loved the tres-driven son-salsa number "Alllá En La Altura" and the title track, "Líneas Paralelas" — with Papo Lucca on piano — will be an eventual classic.

I have to admit though, my enthusiasm for Andy Montañez is based more on the one time I saw him live. On recordings, he doesn't always hit my ear right. I am almost sure the problem is with me though, because he was so great live (and because he recorded for a while with El Gran Combo, and probably must be on some of their songs that I like).

Also, there's a new Yuri Buenaventura CD, but I consider him very uneven. However, it sounds like there might be at least a couple strong tracks on it.

Stuff I've heard:

Isidro Infante: Dancemania Con Isidro Infante

This has some good tracks on it, but it's not so great as an overall album, and it has some baffling choice of covers. (Why Domingo Quiñones covering a song Celia Cruz originally did with Tito Puente about herself and El Rey de Timbal?) But I like José Alberto's take on "Pegaso" (and the doumbeks work well) and I like Herman Olivera's "El Pito."

I've heard the new La India album, and I think I heard the new Tito Nieves too. I don't like either one. La India has a strong voice but I don't really feel anything much from her singing. There's something oddly boring about the whole thing. I kind of like "Bugarron" though. And Tito Nieves certainly has a lot of talent, but I don't think he's been making the most of it.

Stuff I haven't heard:

I've only heard clips of the new Gilberto Santa Rosa. I think I might buy a download of "Isle del Encanto" and forget the rest. It doesn't sound promising. Again, given his great voice and talent, I don't think he's doing much with it.

Michael Stuart: Back to Da' Barrio. I've only heard clips from this. This could end up being okay as summer dancing music, but I have my doubts. I know Michael Stuart can sing, since I've heard him live, but his recordings have always left me cold. This might actually be an improvement, but it's kind of an odd idea to record salsa covers of reggaeton songs (without really bringing in a reggaeton beat). It's not as if reggaeton's strength lies in its song-writing is it? Why take weak melodies from reggaeton songs and bring them into salsa (aside from the fact that they will be familiar and reggaeton fans might want to hear them that way)? I think salsaton is a better way to go than doing salsa covers of reggaeton.

[HothouseSalsero]

Actually, I might end up giving that Michael Stuart thing a try anyway.

[cjb]

So who's due to put out CDs this year?
Spanish Harlem Orchestra are recording a new album this year, and Jimmy Bosch's doing his too.

Both of which will be instant buys. Manny Oquendo y Libre should have a new one this year too. Can't wait.

[HothouseSalsero]

So who's due to put out CDs this year?
Spanish Harlem Orchestra are recording a new album this year, and Jimmy Bosch's doing his too.

Both of which will be instant buys.

Not for me. The last Jimmy Bosch CD did nothing for me. Across 110th is good, but aside from "Cuando Te Vea," nothing much really hits me there. Plus I've heard so much of the SHO spin-off sound on the uninspiring albums by George Delgado and Chin Nunez that I can't get to excited about a new SHO album per se.

[cjb]

So who's due to put out CDs this year?
Spanish Harlem Orchestra are recording a new album this year, and Jimmy Bosch's doing his too.

Both of which will be instant buys.

Not for me. The last Jimmy Bosch CD did nothing for me. Across 110th is good, but aside from "Cuando Te Vea," nothing much really hits me there. Plus I've heard so much of the SHO spin-off sound on the uninspiring albums by George Delgado and Chin Nunez that I can't get to excited about a new SHO album per se.

Got to disagree. El Embajador is a great track, and there's plenty more to like on the album. Cuando te Vea is my favourite on the second SHO album, too, but the first four tracks are all pretty good.

Of what will be on the new albums, JB's promise of a album of descarga sounds great to me - I think it might suit him. I don't know whether it will get any play in the clubs though. For SHO, I've heard "Llego la Orquesta" at concerts, and I'm not convinced, but I'm interested to hear their "Arinanara", and I've got to give them a try based on the strength of their first two albums.

[HothouseSalsero]

A couple new releases that look interesting:

Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound: Sr. Bongó

Raquel Zozaya: Cubaneando Con... Raquel Zozaya

[Diego Gale is involved with that one.]

I'm not into timba, but I wouldn't mind at least hearing that Paulito Y Su Elite (Paulo Fg): Un Poquito De To'. If nothing else, he has a good voice.