Reviews

I was mesmerized when I heard the first notes of Jose Aguirre's Cali Big Band in "Gente con Alma". It just got better from there. This album, nominated for Best Traditional Tropical Album at the 2021 Latin Grammy Awards, features a 23…

It's a song, a protest, a call for justice! And it's framed in the sound and history of the Marimba. "Mother of Song (Queen Marimba)" captures it all. As you know, I rarely write about singles, but this one merited an exception. I…

Carlos Henriquez, the talented Nuyorican bass player, released "The South Bronx Story" his third Latin Jazz album as a bandleader. Henriquez is the bassist for Winton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and presented this project…

After 9 years of recording silence, La Sonora Ponceña launched "Hegemonía Musical" which contains 8 songs of mostly classic Salsa music. "Hegemonía Musical" is the first recording after the passing of the band's founder Enrique…

Tito Rodriguez's "Live at the Palladium" gives you a front seat of a great performance recorded 60 years ago at this palace of Latin music. In 1960 Tito Rodriguez and his orchestra were still at the top of their game. They decided to…

The list of nominees for the Latin Grammy 2020 Best Latin Jazz Album is really good this year. There are three well-known artists and two not-so-popular, but they are just as good nonetheless. Best Latin Jazz Album 2020 To keep this short…

Of course, it's only my opinion, but to me, it's clear that "Bobby Valentin Presenta a el Cano Estremera" was Cano's best album of his career. Before Cano's First Solo Album Many of us loved many of the songs Cano Estremera recorded with…

In "Mil Años de Plena" Danny Rivera pays tribute to the late trumpeter and bandleader Cesar Concepcion with the backing of today's acclaimed trumpeter and bandleader Humberto Ramirez. Don Cesar, Danny & Humberto: the Beginnings Danny…

In "Colegas" Gilberto Santa Rosa achieves three goals; goes back to his roots in Salsa Dura, sings retro Salsa songs, and shares singing duties with colleagues he admires. This lengthy album was recorded over a period of two years, and…