La salsa es mi vida

Gerardo Rosales
The New York Album (Javaanse Jongens)

CD Reviewed by

Known to many a Latin Jazz disciple, Mr. Rosales decides to go head first into the salsa gorda market, and we are richer for it. This is what New York salsa sounded like in the past and should sound like today.

Recorded in the "Big apple", Gerardo hires some of the best session musicians from the New York area including Ralph Irizarry, Luisito Quintero and Ruben Rodríguez, to name a few.

Most of the cuts are sung by sonero Frankie Vázquez, and what a job he does. On the title track, Frankie narrates the origin of salsa and what it means to him. The term itself will always be a debatable topic. He gives a salute to all the soneros who have passed away, those that are still living and kicking it, and to all those countries that have embraced salsa as their religion. Smoking!

On the cut "Para el rey" (tribute to Tito Puente) Ralph Irizarry gives such a subtle and mellow solo on timbales, you can feel every hit on the skins, while Pedro Emilio Rodríguez (son of the late Pete Conde) does a piercing solo on his trumpet.

One major surprise is vocalist Astrid "La sorpresa holandesa." Yes, she is from Holland. This white girl puts to shame many of the so called salseras from this side of the Atlantic. She smokes on the Gerardo composition (he wrote most of the songs) "Sorpresa Holandesa." With such an expressive voice, she needs to record more.

To show that he hasn't forgotten his Latin Jazz roots, he closes the CD with a remake of Panamanian pianist Danilo Perez's song entitled "Friday morning." Here Gerardo showcases his virtuosity in percussion instruments. From Congas to bongos to cow bells ... this man smokes it.

No doubt about it, this CD should be in your collection!

Songs:
1. Guasacaca
2. Sorpresa Holandesa - Vocalist: Astrid
3. Una Salsa Para Amsterdam - Vocalist: Astrid
4. La Salsa Es Mi Vida - Vocalist: Frankie Vázquez
5. Para El Rey
6. Echándole - Vocalist: Frankie Vázquez
7. Caramba - Vocalist: Astrid
8. El Hijo De Sonero - Vocalist: Frankie Vázquez
9. Pajarillo & Bailen Joropo - Vocalist: Astrid
10. Friday Morning

Musicians:
Gerardo Rosales
Astrid "La Holandesa"
Frankie Vázquez
Ralph Irizarry
Robert Quintero
Luisito Quintero
Marlon Simón
Luis Perdomo
Rubén Rodríguez
Raúl Agraz
Pedro Emilio Rodríguez
Pablo Santaella
Nelson Hernández
Yosvany Terry Cabrera
Ray Viera

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This page was last updated on 04-Mar-2005