{"id":3980,"date":"2013-04-19T19:10:46","date_gmt":"2013-04-19T23:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/?p=3980"},"modified":"2019-12-05T16:15:38","modified_gmt":"2019-12-05T20:15:38","slug":"plena-libre-corazon-cd-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinomusiccafe.com\/2013\/04\/19\/plena-libre-corazon-cd-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Plena Libre’s “Corazon” CD Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most energetic groups to listen and watch performing live, Plena Libre<\/a> launched its 15th recording in 19 years with the release of “Corazon”.<\/p>\n

This album was launched in December 2012 in Puerto Rico, and in February 2013 in the United States and internationally.<\/p>\n

I love Puerto Rican “plena” because it’s one of the most fun and energetic rhythmical genres in Latin music. And of course, i like it because I’m Puerto Rican \ud83d\ude42 . I remember that when Plena Libre came to the Latin music scene almost 20 years ago. Some critics predicted a short life for the group due to its “plena” repertoire. Others thought it would become another Christmas-only group.<\/p>\n

“Corazon” contains 9 songs, most of them “plenas” with the exception of two (2) Puerto Rican “bombas”. The album was produced by Gary Nu\u00f1ez himself, and distributed under the GN Musica record label.<\/p>\n

I had the opportunity to interview Gary Nu\u00f1ez and asked him why he named the album “Corazon”. Gary gave a very explicit response that I think is best for you to hear directly from him. Here (below) is a clip of my interview with Gary where he explains why he named the album “Corazon”!<\/p>\n

[Entrevista Gary Nunez – Como surge el nombre de Corazon<\/a>]<\/p>\n

What I Liked About “Corazon”<\/h3>\n
\"Plena<\/a>
Plena Libre released “Corazon” in February 2013 in the United States and internationally.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2022 It contains 9 energetic songs that will get your feet moving.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The 2 “bombas” are really good songs; one from the late Puerto Rican “bomba” legend Rafael Cepeda, and the other from the Cortijo y su Combo repertoire.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Great singing by Plena Libre vocalists Kalie Villanueva, Victor Velez, and Emanuel Santana. They are true “soneros” that sing with clave and “soneos” that make sense with the song theme.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Despite the personnel changes through the years, Plena Libre still maintains their “peppy” trombone-beat sound, and in “Corazon” Gary Nu\u00f1ez added a few “cameos” by keyboards and a marimba.<\/p>\n

\u2022 I liked the song themes in “Corazon”. There are a some love songs (“Algo Contigo”, “Bomba Pa’ Ti”), some classic “plena” and “bomba” songs (Mon Rivera’s “A Papa” also popularized by Celia Cruz with Willie Colon; and “Habla Cumb\u00e9” from the late legendary “bomba” maestro Don Rafael Cepeda) , and even some “tiraera” songs (“Huracan”, “Tira la Bola”) aimed at\u2026.someone Gary wouldn’t reveal in our conversation! “Al que le caiga el sayo, que se lo ponga” like they say in one of the songs.<\/p>\n

Here (below) is a video of Plena Libre performing the song “La Verdad”:<\/p>\n