Baltimore Salsa Blog

CD of the Month
Originally published by KayaDance (copied with permission)

By Antonio Delgado. "El Salsero"

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October 2010

The year was 1974 and Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound (the orchestra named after the famous Apollo  missions to the moon) released his 6th recording.  During that year Richard Nixon resigned, Herald Ford became president of the United States and Muhammad Ali knocks out George Foreman in the eighth round to regain the heavyweight crown in Zaire, and most importantly Roberto Roena, who was often criticized for his lack of musical training, began to received the respect from his peers that he categorically deserved. 
 
Ironically, Roberto Roena started his career as a dancer before Cortijo discovered him and took him under his wing as a percussionist.   During his time as a dancer he and his uncle, Anibal Vasquez, formed a dance duo called the Mambo Aces.  To their credit they were the first non-Caucasians to ever perform on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1957 and performed also at the prestigious Harvard University.  Anibal Vasquez is also well-known as the MC for the Fania All Stars. Furthermore, there is also an award given at the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress every for lifetime achievement called the Andy Vasquez Award.

The first song on the album “El Que Se Fue”, is a tribute to Tito Rodriguez who died the year before at the age of 50.  Tracion (Betrayal), with its super smooth soothing intro, is another song that is now one of the many classics that you will find on this excellent hit old school salsa album.  Sammy Gonzalez really proves his significance as a sonero in Parece Mentira, En Mis Rosales (one of my favorites because of its hard core danceable sound).  Que Se Sepa is another hit, especially with Roberto Roena’s use of an electric guitar in the song, and boy is it masterful.  I absolutely love the last hit on the album Herencia Rumbera for its use of a New Orleans style intro, electric guitar, and the way Elden Dueño goes throws down on the timbales.  See you at the Block Party!

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September 2010

Where do I even begin?  Containing 20 of the most rare, original recordings you’ll ever find, this CD is definitely not for the faint at heart.  If you consider yourself a salsa connoisseur, then it would be an absolute shame for The Best Of Orquesta Power, to be missing from your collection!  The cover is actually taken from their 1975 release, Alto Voltaje, literally translated as High Voltage – which could not be a better description of this CD’s essence. Pete Ortiz (former lead singer of New Swing Sextet in the late 60’s) on lead vocals he adds a unique, unmatched baritone flair that is hard to find in a sonero.  The arrangements are tightly woven together in the classic 70’s Puerto Rican street sound that defined the 70’s as the old school salsa era that we salseros love and adore so much, particularly on the dance floor.  Some of my personal favorites are El Bochinche, Sabio Salomón (I currently have this one on repeat), Todo Vuelven, Batallando El Son (A son montuno), Rumbero, Llanto Y Dolor, A Borinquen (a song about…the Mother Land – Puerto Rico), Tu Historia, Presentimiento and Dile A Tite Curet.  OK, so that was almost the whole CD, but you get the idea.  The Best of Orquesta Power IS that good.  We’ll play some of the songs at the next Salsa Block Party, and I will be posting some of their material on Facebook too.  See you at the Salsa Block Party!
 
***Disclaimer:  Due the extremely rare nature of this CD and the fact that it will be imported from outside of the U.S., you can expect the CD to arrive anywhere from a month to a month and a half.  If you consider yourself a collector this will be worth the wait, I guarantee it!

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July 2010

Ok folks, pop in Primo by Angel Lebron Y Su Sabor Latino, then sit back, relax, and close your eyes.  You’re gonna love this Palladium style CD, which consists of entirely classic salsa cover songs, which are geared to all you bailadores (street dancers).  This is New York salsa at its finest!  Lebron a Bronx native, whose grandfather, Antonio “El Mosquito” Camacho was a background singer for the legendary  Machito. He relocated to the California after a 30 year career on the east coast, and now has thee hottest band on the west coast.  I was hooked right off the bat with the first song, El Que Se Fue, a Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound classic.  Oh and his faithful interpretation of Tu Loco Loco and Avisale A Mi Constrario, also Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound classics, dare I say, rival that of the originals.  Sorry Tio Robert! Before I continue this review, can I just tell you that Angel Lebron Y Su Sabor Latino, as in the movie Jerry McGuire, “Had me at hello.” Okay, so anyway, back to the show.  You will also love the masterful true to the original feel of Tito Rodriguez’s, Sun Sun Babae and Mama Guela.  Also note worthy is Ran Kan Kan and Picadillo, off the cadenas Tito Puente Classics. This CD truly belongs in your library, and is a must have if you are a DJ.  See you at the Block Party!