Mi tumbao social
La Excelencia
(Handle with care)
CD Review by Omar Walker
I was one of the few who did not go crazy for La Excelencia's first recording "Salsa con conciencia". Then, one night a good friend of mine, video editor extraordinaire John Morales, took me to see them live and I was hooked. My only question was, "How can they bring that energy onstage into a studio recording?"
Well, the guys have answered my question with "Tumbao social" an in your face Tour de Force.
Their fast songs (there are no losers here) are on point, "Salsa dura" will make you sweat till you drop, "Aña, pa mi tambor" with its Willie Colón / Héctor Lavoe "Timbalero" inspiration shows you can channel old school without sounding like copycats. "Duelo de bongó" comes along with a unique story line of good vs. evil.
But the mid tempo cuts are the ones that will stay in your subconscious. "American sueño" with its slow son montuno, with trombone solos ripping your speakers apart and a story of a young man migrating to the U.S., sung with swagger by Edwin Pérez, letting you know these folks are in tune with what’s happening in the streets. "Por tu traición" comes in two versions, the salsa version has that smooth groove with Gilberto Velázquez on vocals, while the bolero version has both Edwin and Gilberto singing the song with such pain and humor, that unless you read the liner notes, you would think it was a totally different song.
Once in a while a song comes along that stays with you forever, that honor goes to "Ahora que te tengo aquí". If there ever was a perfect song, this is it! Great vocals by Gilberto, a groove that sticks to your ribs, lyrics about forgiveness and an awesome chorus bring you back to the early 80s when folks like Frankie Ruiz were dominating the airwaves.
If I had to describe this recording in a few words I would say, imagine if Willie Colón did an entire album with Héctor Lavoe and Ruben Blades in their prime ...that’s the type of energy this recording has. Just like Ray Viera's "Trombao", La Excelencia is showing New York salsa is alive and kicking. Just please, do not ask these guys to wear tuxedos, they might just hurt you. Ñoooo!
Songs:
- Salsa Dura
- Ahora que te tengo aquí
- Deja de criticar
- Por tu traición (salsa)
- Aña pa mi tambor
- American sueño
- Duelo de bongó
- Caminando
- Vendió su corazón
- Unidad
- Por tu traición (bolero)
Musicians:
Jorge Bringas, bass
Willy Rodríguez, piano
Charles Dilone, Bongo
José Vásquez-Confresí, Congas
Julian Silva, Timbales
Ronald Prokopez, Trombone
Tokunori Kajiwara, Trombone
Jack Davis, Trombone
Sam Hoyt, Trumpet
Jonathan Powell, Trumpet
Willie Oleneck, Trumpet
Edwin Pérez, vocalist
Gilberto Velázquez, vocalist
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