Search - Nestor Torres :: "Charanga Caliente En Descarga": Jules Sagna Presenta La Charanga 1980 Orchestra Rytmo Africa-Cubana Canta: Felo Barrios/Hector 'Tempo' Alomar

A SMOKING and CLASSIC Cuban Charanga sound that SWINGS and B

S. | 02/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This "Charanga Caliente En Descarga" Cd, released in 2003 by Envidia Records (Camaján), is actually a reissue of a 1979 recording originally titled: Jules Sagna Presenta La Charanga 1980 Orchestra Rytmo Africa-Cubana on an African label: (TKIOS MUSIQUE).

It was recorded for the African market at an era where there was still the Cuban Son-Montúno and Charanga craze in Africa and also in New York, which unfortunately, was only a rather short revival before this music ended up the way it did...





For this occasion, an all-star line-up of musicians from New York (a good majority of which were participating

at that precise time with Típica'73) were re-united for this very special recording which as they said in the descarga website, is "one of the great modern descarga (Jam-Session) records", and "a non-stop house wrecker". The Cd title also holds well to its description meaning in English: `Hot Charanga in Jam-Session'.

The reviews in descarga really sum up what I believe this album is all about as it is also an Alfredo De La Fé showcase because of his long and masterful electric-violin solos, without forgetting the tunes he wrote (songs 2, 3 and 5.)











The 1st Song Calletana is a Cuban Charanga CLASSIC written in the mid-50's by Orquesta América Violinist Antonio Sánchez "Musiquíta". It is an INTENSELY AWESOME and VERY WELL interpreted version of that tune! Think a bit of the Charanga Casino style of swing with better choruses, and just that little bit of extra Cuban Charanga musicality to it!...

I don't know what more could be asked from this version! It's got intensity, quality solos whether it's Nestor Torres on Flute, Alfredo De La Fé on a LONG and classy Electric-Violin solo recorded in 2 parts, or Nicky Marrero on background percussion on Timbales with the cymbals and soft tap-drums from time to time on this particular tune, giving extra energy, enthusiasm and BIGGER intensity!...

At (6:31 mins) this is THE shortest song from the album, and most probably my favourite too...







Pa'Que Lo Bailes (6:58 mins) is a smoother song with a very nice musicality perfect to tame things out a bit after the previous tune.

After 2:50 mins, there is a musical variety to the tune which definitely lifts things up a bit with extra swing and extra melody too!

Alfredo then takes his 2nd electric-violin solo before Nestor comes back `BURSTING' on Flute for a LOVELY musical finale to the tune for the last 2 mins...







Vámos Pa' Dakar (7:31 mins) starts with Nestor taking turns on Flute in between the choruses along with `Tempo' Alomár on vocals.

Alfredo De La Fé then comes back with his last electric-violin solo, as technical and full of effects as ever!...

Then, the `Típica'73 boys' charge back at you with an INTENSE QUALITY SWING with Timbale player Nicky Marrero back on cymbals, extremely intense vocals by `Tempo' Alomár in between the choruses again, and GREAT Flute work by Nestor to finish the last 2:20 mins of this tune IN SHEER BEAUTY!...

ANOTHER EXCELLENT TUNE!...







Electo Rosell `Chepín's CLASSIC Cuban song El Platanál De Bartólo (8:39 mins) begins here with a rather `Changüí-ish' Charlie Rodríguez Tres-guitar introduction.

The band then takes over with ANOTHER typical Cuban Charanga musicality, the choruses and the vocals from Felo Barrio and Nestor Torres on Flute with Charlie coming back to give us a nice `Montúno' feel with a long Tres-guitar solo. THE BEST is YET AGAIN to come with the SMOKING-HOT `Charanga Casino-ish' style of swing again, HOT Flute work by Nestor, with Nicky Marrero on cymbals giving high intensity and swing again! The tune also gets extended with 2 reprises JUST as intense, lasting about 2 more minutes of PURE MUSICAL PLEASURE when you don't want it to finish!...

Basically, it's ANOTHER of the HOTTEST tunes, and ANOTHER of MY personal favourites!...







Sabróso Pa' Bailár (8:20 mins) is a WONDERFUL and VERY complete tune that is divided in 3 parts. It begins with a sort of slower musicality that WILL remind you of the famous Guajíra Guantanaméra tune.

It then has a bit of Flute, vocals by `Felo' before Tipica'73 leader/founder/Pianist Sonny Bravo comes with an IMPRESSIVE Piano solo that is AMAZING technically as well as MUSICALLY! CHECK IT OUT!...

Then we're ready for the 2nd part with a LOVELY, melodic and musical session with a bit of choruses and then the Flute. For the 3rd part you get about an extra minute/20 secs. of typical `Cha-Cha-Charanga 2nd part of a Danzón' style of music... Anyway... WHAT a finale and WHAT a tune this is!...



This is the sort of QUALITY that PROPRE Cuban & Puerto-Ricans musicians FROM NEW YORK could give in this music's golden era!!...



That's all I've got left to say, finally!...











With 38.01 mins of total play-time, you could afford to not like one tune here, and it would STILL be of good value for your money!









(The other great news is that the sound quality is particularly good and not an issue at all! (I would be hard pressed if the 1992 version of this album [which does come with its original title/art cover] would sound better than this one.)









The next album "Mis Canciones Primeras" which is my next review is the follow up to this recording and is YET AGAIN, ANOTHER MASTERPIECE which you MUST OWN AT ALL COSTS! (It also includes extra songs from his 3rd recording)!









Musicians:



Néstor Torres: Flute

Alfredo De La Fé: Violin

Sonny Bravo: Piano

David `Dave' Pérez: Bass

Charlie Rodríguez: Tres-guitar

Nicky Marrero: Timbales

José `Joe' Grajáles: Conga-drums

Johnny `Dandy' Rodríguez Jr.: Güiro (Gourd-scraper)

Rafael `Felo' Barrio: Lead vocals, Choruses

Hector (Tempo) Alomár: Lead Vocals [on Song 3], Choruses





"