Mario Ortiz All Star Band in its “55 Aniversario”

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Mario Ortiz, Jr.’s Salsa album “Mario Ortiz All Star Band, 55 Aniversario” is one of those rare recordings where love and talent intertwine to create a musical gem.

This album was recently nominated for the 2019 Latin Grammy for Best Salsa Album.

Note: I’m correcting myself as I mentioned in a previous blog (“Marc Anthony, Gilberto Santa Rosa Miss Latin Grammy 2019”) that this album was left out of the nomination. Marito contacted me to point my oversight.

This is Marito’s (Mario Jr.’s nickname) 3rd nomination for a Latin Grammy, and many of his colleagues and fans are wishing for this one to be the charm.

Concept of “55 Aniversario”

As with Marito’s previous two recordings, the concept behind “55 Aniversario” has a double purpose; one is to keep alive the memory and music of Marito’s father, the great trumpeter, arranger and bandleader Mario Ortiz. The other is a way for musicians to give their talent and a little time to honor the memory of whom was also a great man that contributed so much to our Latin music heritage.

As with Marito’s previous two recordings, the concept behind “55 Aniversario” has a double purpose; one is to keep alive the memory and music of Marito’s father, the great trumpeter, arranger, and bandleader Mario Ortiz. The other is a way for musicians to give their talent and a little time to honor the memory of whom was also a great man that contributed so much to our Latin music heritage.

As Marito told me recently, the genesis of this 3rd album came almost by serendipity. I like to think of it as Devine intervention; and as you will read below, this wasn’t the only time it happened during this musical project.

It turns out that Marito Ortiz participated as a guest at Gilberto Santa Rosa’s “40 y Contando” concert in the Coliseum of Puerto Rico in early 2018. As he talked to some of the other guest artists that participated in that concert (which you can watch on HBO), the thought came to him that he ought to do a 3rd album to honor the 55th anniversary of his father’s All-Star Band.

By then he had done two albums to honor his late father’s band; the “45 Aniversario” (2010) and the “50 Aniversario” (2014). As I mentioned above, both albums received Latin Grammy nominations in their respective years for Best Salsa Album. Until then he hadn’t given much thought to doing the 3rd album, but backstage that February night, the spark came that ignited this album.

Artists in “55 Aniversario”

As with his previous two recordings, the talent here is abundant. You can read the list of guests in the album cover art (see inserted photo).

Producing an album with all this talent could represent a logistical nightmare. It took a long time to get the album together and it barely made the deadline for this year’s Latin Grammy submissions for consideration.

For example, the song “Trucutú” was originally intended for Ruben Trillo, and “Avísale a Mi Contrario” was intended for Victor Manuelle. But Victor Manuelle had a personal situation that hindered his availability. Here’s where Devine intervention came into play once again.

As Marito told us, he remembered that Roberto Roena’s version of “Avísale a Mi Contrario” (arranged by his dad Mario Ortiz; as other songs in the album) had a duet at the beginning. So he daydreamed of having Ismael Miranda and Andy Montañez singing that duet. He talked to Andy Guzmán to see if it was even possible to get them. After a few months, they both confirmed.

However, God wasn’t done with his intervention in this project. Just as Ismael and Andy confirmed, Victor Manuelle reappeared to make himself available again. Mario told my wife and me how he had to nervously tell Victor Manuelle that he had just promised his song to Ismael and Andy.

“Don’t take it away from them…”, replied Victor, “…but do you have another song I can sing”?

Marito and Andy reshuffled the songs again and offered him “Trucutú“, a song written and performed by the great “sonero” Chamaco Ramirez. That in itself was a challenge. The song had been arranged by Mario Ortiz back in the 60’s for Tommy Olivencia. Luis “Perico” Ortiz updated the arrangement to Olivencia’s instrumentation for the album “Planté Bandera” (1975), which had trombones instead of the original saxophones. This time around, Andy Guzmán did a great update to the arrangement for Marito’s big band.

Music in “55 Aniversario”

In the end, it all comes down to the music. On that, “55 Aniversario” delivers some of the best Salsa you’ve heard.

Victor Manuelle is fantastic in his rendition of “Trucutú“, with great, savvy “soneos” that would have made Chamaco proud.

The other all-star singers also delivered in grand fashion. Salsa veteran stars Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, Andy Montañez and Ismael Miranda all shined in their respective songs.

Marito’s band singers did as good a job as their all-star guests. Venezuelan Ruben Trillo, Colombian Gio Beta, and Cuban-American Alain García demonstrated the great talent they have performing their respective songs.

Most songs in “55 Aniversario” were at some point either performed or arranged by the late Mario Ortiz. This goes for the previous two albums as well.

One of the exceptions was “Mas Bonita Que Ninguna”. As we talked with Marito while he waited for his sister, he mentioned that he included this song precisely because of her. His sister loved Rocío Durcal and this song in particular. It begins with a short clip of Rocío Durcal singing the original, which quickly gives way to the big band, in a beautiful arrangement by Andy Guzmán.

And talking of arrangements, these were done by Andy (3), Marito (4), Tito Rivera (1), Ernesto Sanchez (1), and Edy Martinez, yes, the veteran of songs like Barretto’s “Indestructible” (1). You can see the full list of album credits in the inserted photo.

The Salsa in “55 Aniversario” is thick and flavorful. The arrangements and music are aggressive, pushing the singers and requiring spicy solos. My favorite solos are of the ones in “Budo”, where the maestro Luis “Perico” Ortiz and Marito exchange solos; Jimmy Morales conga solo in “Avísale a Mi Contrario”; Andy Guzmán piano solo in “Festival de la Caña”, and Rigoberto Díaz timbal solo in “Soltando Chispas”.

Worthy of a Latin Grammy

Mario Ortiz’s Jr.’s “55 Aniversario” is a product of talent and love. Most of these musicians and other personnel that helped in the production of this album, understand the legacy that the late Mario Ortiz left us. They gratefully contributed their time and talent to this recording, each one giving their best with the intent to make this homage the best one yet.

As Mario told me, “if they would’ve charged me their normal fees, this album would’ve cost much more than it did to make.”

The result speaks for itself. This is an album with Salsa that swings, making it a delight for the dancer as well as the listener of good music.

Marito’s previous two albums were very strong ones, worthy of their Latin Grammy nominations. The musicians and people involved in those albums also poured their hearts into them.

And yet, “55 Aniversario” feels like a very special album. The enthusiasm is palpable; it’s real. You can almost hear the commitment of everyone involved united with the single purpose of making this the most remarkable recording of them all.

Mission accomplished!