Afro-Latin Music Thread 2010: La Resurrección (salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton, cumbia, etc.)

Bio Ritmo side project Miramar does nice boleros and such on the sampler I got.

van van documentary a hit

http://www.twominutenews.com/2010/world/us-world/baby-rasta-shot-and-seriosly-injured-4316.html

Police further informed that more than one hundred shots were fired since there were countless bullet casings discovered at the scene and the singer reportedly received bullets all over his body i.e. the abdomen, back, right leg and right arm.

So this wasn't just a random mugging or something. . .

New Grupo Fantasma album coming soon. Guests include Larry Harlow and x-Minute Puppets guitarist Curt Kirkwood (together for the first time?):

http://hangout.altsounds.com/news/115597-grupo-fantasma-to-release-el-existential-on-may-11th-2010-a.html

I still think Sonidos Gold was one of the best albums of 2008.

(2010 continues to seem like it's going to end up being an especially good year for music, not particular the music normally discussed on this thread, but music (or at least popular music) in general.)

I didn't really expect Grupo Fantasma to put anything out this year.

e-mail press release I received :

The LOS TRES TOUR features Marco Antonio Solis, Joan Sebastian and Alejandro Fernandez in one of the most exciting couplings of Latin music in years. The three superstars will be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of People en Español.

Not my thing, I do not think. I know I do not like Solis, do the others do melodramatic ballads as well.

Yeah, none for me, thanks.

The new Grupo Fantasma tracks up on their myspace seem a bit weak. I'm sure they'd be fine in live performance and everything, but I don't hear much in the way of a song underlying them. Plus what happened to the guitar? Did they lose their guitarist, or is he just way back in the mix?

The percussion and horns are upfront for track "El Consejo" plus that little keyboard riff

It just sounds a bit lackluster to me, and I guess I specifically liked the combination of horns with electric guitar. You would think they would pick the strongest couple tracks from the forthcoming album to put up on their myspace, and if these are the strongest, I'm worried.

Bruce Polin's (I thought it was to l's) son's "fine art prints" that descarga.com is selling are embarrassingly awful: http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/23925.00?r3r5JotX;;391

I just noticed my typo: x-Minute Puppets. Haha, good name for an 80s punk revival band.

March 18, 2010 (SOLD OUT)
Gianmarco
The Salsa Room

Did not realize Peruvian Gian Marco was that popular. Not sure if he's someone I wanna hear though (based on his bio), although if someone thinks otherwise let me know.

I don't know him.

Ned Sublette, author of Cuba and Its Music, has these upcoming events (cut and pasted from his e-mail):

March 11-13, Los Angeles: UCLA "Ports of Call -- Cultures of Exchange"
conference. My talk is this Saturday (the 13th) at noon. I'll get to talk
about my longtime favorite subject, the dancing girls of Cádiz, in the
context of postmamboist Braudelianism. Conference schedule at
http://s1.webstarts.com/portsofcall/uploads/Ports_of_Call--Program2_copy.pdf
Looking forward to hanging in L.A. a bit -- it's been a long time.

March 18: I'll be moderating a seminar at Hostos Community College with
panelists David García and René López:
La Gente del Bronx:
Arsenio Rodríguez, a "People's Musician"
Thurs, March 18, 5:30 p.m. | Art Gallery, 450 Grand Concourse

This seminar takes its name and theme from one of Arsenio Rodríguez's most
beloved tunes which is an ode to the community - the South Bronx - where
Arsenio performed in working-class social clubs during the 40's and the 50's
for audience that rarely frequented downtown establishments. It will focus
on the típico and Afro-centric nature of Arsenio's music which contrasted
with the music of such contemporaries as Títo Puente and Títo Rodríguez.

This seminar is related to what promises to be a memorable concert:

March 20: "Yo nací del Africa" -- Grupo Folklórico y Experimental performing
the music of Arsenio Rodríguez.
http://www.hostos.cuny.edu/culturearts/events.html

An e-mail from afropop worldwide:

On air this weekend is “Reggaeton Roundup: New Moves in Latin Youth Music.” We travel to Puerto Rico, the birthplace of reggaeton, and talk to players from the music's early underground scene and then take the pulse of today's pan-Latin phenomenon. Frankly, a lot of people dismiss reaggaeton as boring but this show will give you a fresh listen. The show was produced by Marlon Bishop, who most recently cycled across Central America, recording music along the way, of course. Stay tuned for that audio adventure.

Sabado 20 de Marzo
VICTOR MANUELLE
"YO MISMO"
US TOUR 2010

GALAXY NIGHT CLUB
2031 University Blvd East
Hyatsville, Maryland
301.439.6666

Age(s): 21+
Dress to Impress

It's a rule, whenever he comes to the DC area, I am busy with my son or something. I'd like to see him (and I know or I think Rudipherous has some issues with him)

On first inadequate listen, J Alvarez's El Dueño Del Sistema (Special Edition) is not bad (I like it better than most other stuff I'm hearing along these lines anyway), and seems to continue in the vein of Casa de Leones. I assume it has some of the same people involved and maybe he himself was part of that, though I don't recognize his name.

I see via a Yahoo e-mail thread that one of Cuban singer Pupy's members somehow left for the US last year and he's now gonna do a one-show out in Oakland on March 19th

Pepito
Gómez
Bay Area Return!
Cubadisco
Winner José "Pepito" Gómez former Pupy Y Los Que Son Son Lead Singer with
Guest Musicians fromNYC!

featuring DJ WaltDigz
and Ariacne Trujillo on the piano-now famous in the bay :)
Club Anton is not that big

Wait, so has he defected? I knew he was leaving Pupy y Los Que Son Son. He was the guy I liked the most in the band. Last time I tried to listen to Pupy's last album (which still includes Pepito) I was not into it at all. The many little things which annoyed me originally just came back in force. I don't care for the other main vocalist on it, and not really into Pepito's part either at this point.

I feel a little sad saying it, but the further away I get from regularly going out Latin dancing, the less I feel a real burning need to keep up with this stuff; which is not to say it's only valuable in a dance context, but dancing sort of primes me for it. As a listener, I am pretty content at the moment to drift into eclecticism. This year I am discovering music from Great Britain. Did you know they had music in Great Britain? I thought they only had music in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and Saudi Arabia and Iran.

This is not bad at all:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYXwkegTt70

I spent time last night listening to and reading up on Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Alexis y Fido who are appearing outside DC at Fast Eddie's in Alexandria tonight. I then drafted a quick blog post about it for the Washington City Paper (that will likely be their only local DC area English language media coverage). They're pals with Wisin y Yandel, and like W y Y, they now go for a straightforward danceclub reggaeton sound w/ touches of T-Pain style r'n'b, cumbia, and dancehall. It's ok but not awesome. Interestingly enough, like salsa, I bet this feels better booming in a club then at home over my computer's speakers.

They're pals with Wisin y Yandel, and like W y Y, they now go for a straightforward danceclub reggaeton sound

I'm not sure what this means (and the part I cut out doesn't help any). If Wisin y Yandel's style has changed any in recent years it's been to move away from a straightforward danceclub reggaeton sound to a straightforward danceclub house sound, but maybe that's sort of what you meant? I don't know how you can talk about how their sound has shifted lately without mentioning (very generic) house, however. (Not that I care a whole lot.)

Yes, as you guessed, I meant that their beats are now more generic house-inspired. And not soulful old-school Chicago house either.

Does anyone on ilx other than fauxmarc and me to an extent care about reggaeton in 2010? Unperson?

I wouldn't say I care that much, but I do listen to W&Y for pleasure, and I just reviewed a CD by another duo, Dyland & Lenny, who do the same thing only even softer and with occasional acoustic-guitar-driven ballads that straight-up suck (and which, rather inexplicably, have been the singles).

Rakim y Ken-y are coming through DC on Friday. I may try find time to research them further and blog about the show for the City Paper. Not sure they'll wow me.

I don't recall any of you folks raving about them, but their names keep popping up elsewhere

Changing gears....I wonder how the new Julieta Venegas album is?

Really good. Sort of a bridge between the more alt-rock stuff she did on her first two records and the poppier material of the last two. Still mostly upbeat and happy, but there's a hint of the moodiness of the early albums. I like it a lot.

Does anyone on ilx other than fauxmarc and me to an extent care about reggaeton in 2010?

Wait, I didn't say anything about caring about reggaeton in general, I meant specifically about W&Y and what they sound like.

But I had actually started to make a sweeping statement about reggaeton that I ended up deleting, which was to the effect that I expected to be drifting away from it. I'm still checking new reggaeton releases out, however. I'm finding it harder to ignore the whole hip-hop like ethos around reggaeton, which is starting to bug me more (but probably wouldn't be if the music coming out were as exciting to me as the stuff from a few years back). I'm tired of "yo my nigga" and shawty this and shawty that, and videos where hands are being waved in my face. I still like the rhythms.

Anyway, Rakim y Ken-y are not anyone I've ever cared about within reggaeton.

I did just say I liked last year's J Alvarez release El Dueño Del Sistema (Special Edition) a little.

I like the bachaton Que Lo Que. As usual, video not actually worth watching:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-i_ukCYJLw

"Ese Dolar " on the Bloque 53 CD is on repeat play right now, and the new Hansel & Rual CD "33" is really cool, nothing new but a good modern update of their classic tough charanga mixed with pop melodies and vocals.

What's really knocked me over is the new Dante Vargas CD "Mis Raices". This one is HOT. Excellent tough heavy production, great songs, inventive, sounds 2010 but keeps the old sound we love alive. I'm not sure if anyone here enjoyed the Bannakumbi CD but IMHO this will hit the same spot, maybe better.

I'm not sure if anyone here enjoyed the Bannakumbi CD but IMHO this will hit the same spot, maybe better.

The first part is sarcasm (or you just can't keep track of who likes what at the various sites you post to)? As for the second part: no way. This Dante Vargas album is going for much more of a retro mambo sound, regardless of the standard-issue Colombian salsa style rapping (at least that's what I've heard so far). This is much more formulaic and doesn't do the unusual things Bannakumbi does by creating vocal layers which are all different. Bannakumbi also doesn't tend to default to the same familiar melodic moves, IMO. In terms of sheer voice power, the lead vocalists on this are probably stronger than Bannakumbi. But wow, does a lot of this stuff sound really familiar already; lots of reshuffling of familiar tropes going on here. And the Colombian salsa approach to rapping tends to get almost as corny as timba. Anyway, I don't see much basis for comparing it to Bannakumbi.

That said, I'm willing to say it's better than the recent average and I might get to like it. I'd probably be more forgiving of this (and lots of other recent salsa) if I actually heard it on the dance floor.

I was eyeing that Hansel & Raul CD, but whenever I buy charanga it tends to sit of my shelf. But if I were going to buy a recent charanga CD, that would be the one.

The (sung) vocals on this Dante Vargas thing are more satisfying than the horn parts which seem really slack and typical, like basically the sort of thing you could hear on any Gilberto Santa Rosa release, or any GSR-involved super group project, etc.

(Remind me to compare some new CD to Bannakumbi's Un Nueva Dia = not the best way to get me to give it a chance. I don't really get why people make that type of rhetorical move to begin with. I remember someone I worked with who knew I liked Steve Reich and wanted me to check out some Arvo Pärt, so he's all "Well, I think you'll find that Pärt has much more substantial musical ideas than Reich," or whatever.)

(Of course that assumes that you care enough about persuading me that you can be bothered to think in terms of rhetoric, which is pretty unlikely. I generally find it more satisfying to just throw my opinions out there without trying to think of how best to convince people of anything (especially when it comes to something of marginal importance like music).)

I thought one of those Dante Vargas singers sound like a former Niche-ite, and it turns out Charlie Cardona was indeed in Grupo Niche (and may be back?), which I should have memorized, but at any rate I recognize the voice, and its a powerful one. (I'm still not sold on the band's overall sound throughout the album.)

I know next to nothing about vallenato, but this LA vallenato band, Very Be Careful, sounds good to me:

http://barbesrecords.com/VBC.html

On the Dante Vargas album, I'd say "Soy La Luz" (with Charlie Cardona), "La Guarapachanga" (with Issac Delgado), and "Los Ratones Forman Fiesta" (not sure who this is singing) are all pretty strong. Maybe "Mirame."

New El Gran Combo album coming out shortly, and here's one of the cuts:

http://soundcloud.com/dj-ramirez/el-gran-combo-sin-salsa-no-hay-paraiso

Now I'm not going to say this sounds particularly new, but it sounds good to me.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0032Y8XKA/ref=dp_image_z_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music

The Very Be Careful cover is worth hotlinking to:

http://barbesrecords.com/images/VBC_EscapeRoom.coverweb.jpg

Uh. . .

http://barbesrecords.com/images/VBC_EscapeRoom.coverweb.jpg

Will have to listen to the above soon. Just thought I'd mention for anyone in NYC the following reminder from Ned Sublette's e-mail:

i'll be moderating a panel at 5:30 today at hostos community college in the
bronx, about arsenio rodríguez, whose music will be featured in the grupo
folklórico y experimental nuevayorquino concert this saturday at hostos.
the panel will feature rené lópez and david garcía, along with four
musicians who worked with arsenio. highly recommended, and don't miss the
concert on saturday if you're in town.

* * *
HOSTOS CENTER FOR THE ARTS & CULTURE presents GRUPO FOLKLORICO y
EXPERIMENTAL NUEVAYORQUINO PERFORMING THE MUSIC OF THE LEGENDARY ARSENIO
RODRIGUEZ

Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture will present, by popular demand, the
return of one of Latin music’s most important alliances, the groundbreaking
GRUPO FOLKLORICO y EXPERIMENTAL NUEVAYORQUINO, on Saturday, March 20, 2010
at 7:30pm in a gala concert paying homage to a true musical genius, the
legendary ARSENIO RODRIGUEZ, considered by many musicologists to be the
greatest composer/musician of Afro-Cuban music of the 20th century

This descarga.com description of an earlier Dante Vargas CD unintentionally throws up a lot of warning signals:

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/22900.10

The sound is something like what was happening in New York in the 40s and 50s at venues like the Palladium, but with the speed, crispness and humor of Fruko and Carruseles, and a little bit of the musical Grease and even some tango and Broadway flash thrown in for good measure.

Not saying that's exactly what all of this new album sounds like, but there's still a strong whiff of retro about the whole thing.

I can't really listen to that Very Be Careful stuff. The accordion is too much of a downer. (I don't necessarily mind accordion but find it dull here.)

This is from last year. Just checking the album out now. I mostly like Sixto Llorenete ("El Indio") as a vocalist, and the album this is from hardly sounds Cuban at all to me. Sounds more like straight up Puerto Rican salsa. I think I'm getting to like the title track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W8xRxVVdWU

Don't worry about the old Dante Vargas being any representation of the new, they're miles apart. That's one reason I was so shocked when I heard this new CD. You're right about the horns, they could be stronger, but that's really the only fault I could find. The vocals are tough throughout.

I was being a touch flippant mentioning Bannakumbi but I really enjoyed this as much if not more. I also think it's a fair comparison, Dante Vargas is trying something new with what they do though maybe with not as much innovation as Bannakumbi. Sorry if it sounded like I was trying to force you to check it out. Two great CDs but IMO the tunes on Dante Vargas are better, and that's probably the deal breaker for me.