Search - Patato & Totico :: Patato & Totico (Dig)

Old School and hard to find Soneros

VMORGADO.com | New Jersey, USA | 01/26/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In an age when Salsa music is almost in extinction, Where could we get a gleamse from the source?. I heard this record as I was researching ideas to write bomba songs, (in the 4oo years afro-puerto rican tradition.) When I heard Patato and Totico, I had flash backs, as a young man in Puerto Rico, dreaming to hear the perfect Huauanco, a so called 'Sonero' style that became famous with people like Ismael Rivera. That was the 1960s. That perfect "Huauanco", became like the holy grail. Many succesful Salsa personalities came now and then with records that would include perhaps one old fashion huauanco, a sonero improvising in a street-wise style. The style of barriadas. But of course, that "low class" style was a taboo. so Salsa continue in the commercial rat race with other rhythms. Little by little the Sonero went out of style. The perfect huauanco of my youth became a broken dream. I thought I would never find it; just like we wouldn't find the holy grail.



Now as I turned 50 years old, I come across these fabulous collection of authentic huauancos! It made me believe in dreams again!



These two 'Soneros', are like the last two Mohicans. And what is amazing is that they are still alive!!!.

This record for me is the Holy grail. There isn't one cut that is not a profound huauanco, surfing over waves of tight conga beats. Old School as old could get. It should be part of a latin fan collection, at least as a reference. For those who are more serious about music, the drummers with soul out there.

Man, this is a good record to listen to for a long time. Study it like a book of secret knowledge. The root of your future."

5 STARS and 3 THUMBS UP!!

Canuco | New York City | 10/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""One of the great 'Rumbero' recordings of all time with Patato, the Cadiavieco brothers, and Juan 'Curva' Dreke. The bassist here is Cachao, and playing the tres is none other than Arsenio Rodriguez. I believe this is the only recording where you find Patato, Arsenio and Cachao together. (Raul Fernandez 98/99 Catalog). When I was learning to play conga in the late '60s, participating in the rumbas which were common then, in the neighborhood, in the park, or at the beach...this was the record. All the rumberos knew it, and I had most of it memorized and under the cap as well--especially Totico's vocals. It's not pure rumba because it's beefed up with Arsenio Rodríguez's tres and Cachao's bass, but it can definitely be considered one of the best recordings in the genre. The drumming is excellent, as are the vocal performances by Totico, Virgilio Marti, and Juan 'Curba' Dreke. Very authentic, very melodic, and very well executed; it belongs in everyone's collection--particularly drum aficionados." (Henry Fiol 98/99 Catalog)

"The seminal Afro-Cuban recording. Featuring both Cachao AND Arsenio Rodriguez, in addition to the other masters. This is a definite 'must have.'" (Alan James Geik 98/99 Catalog)

"What am I going to say that hasn't been said before? A true classic, which we are lucky to be able to share in as listeners and as learners." (Chuck Silverman 96/97 Catalog)

"A percussion and voice group that should not turn off anyone due to the melodic content of the tunes whereas Los Muñequitos and Grupo Guaguanco Matancero would be too pure and authentic for non-Hispanic palates. P and T are a joy...happy music...and also original." (Al Santiago 94/95 Descarga Catalog)

"

Awesome Combo

Christopher M. Montes | Santa Barbara, California | 04/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my first Patato album purchased and i was not disappointed. Great conga playing, like always, and Toticos vocals are amazing. Truely a great combination."