Search - Rebeca Mauleon :: Descarga En California

The Best Yet

Michael Craghead | Sterling, VA United States | 07/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think "Descarga en California" is Rebeca's best solo effort to date. It's awesome! I have all of her CDs, but this one stays in my CD player on a regular basis since it was released. To be honest I'm not usually much of a Latin jazz fan, although I am drawn to her music. I'm much more of a timba fan day to day. However, the compositions and the quality of the musical work on "Descarga..." is one of the bests I've ever heard. I especially like the drums and timbales on "Suena tu timbal", Serenata rítmica", and "Califas".



To bad I couldn't make it to Yoshi's for the release performance. It was just a bit far from northern VA. I hope she keeps up the great work. I can hardly wait for the next CD."

Top Notch West Coast Latin Jazz

Frank | NY United States | 10/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rebecca is an exceptionally erudite as well as highly talented Latin musician, having (at least) two excellent books published on Salsa music.



This CD is one of the best recent additions to my Latin Jazz collection, enriched throughout by Rebecca's tasteful yet driving guajeos as well as her terrific piano solos (especially in the final track, Peruchineando).



The overall feel of the CD is that of a jam session, in keeping with the "descarga" nomenclature. However, it reflects its West Coast context, having more of a formal jazz ("self-conscious art") style than the typical nuyorican ("authentic folk") style. But, within its genre, it excels (thus the 5 star rating).



The singers and instrumentalists range from competent to excellent. But what makes this CD a standout to me are the arrangements and the percussionists -- particularly the brilliant conguero, Giovanni Hidalgo, and inimitable timbalero, Orestes Vilato.



The first cut, El Manisero, begins as the hackneyed tune from the early days of commercialized Latin American music, but then quickly transitions into one of the most exciting tracks this listener has heard in a very long time. (If, never having heard of Rebecca, I had just sampled the beginning of this first track, I never would have purchased the CD, thinking it was by some reincarnation of Xavier Cugat or Perez Prado. Maybe that's a word of caution to those who chose the track order for this CD.)



Bongocero highlights the immortal Armando Peraza on bongos while Siboney is easily the best version I've heard of this "ancient" piece. Suena tu timbal showcases Vilato on timbales, displaying his singular style which has made him one of my two all-time favorite timbaleros (Nicky Marrero being the other).



Cepeda Forever is a terrific Latin Jazz arrangement dedicated to the great ballplayer while Wolenche returns to the early Afro-Cuban roots of "Salsa," resembling something Mongo Santamaria might have cooked up for one of his Afro-Jazz albums. The singing (and recitative) on Wolenche is especially noteworthy. Serenata ritmica is indeed a serenade in rhythm, highlighting percussion, while Califas is a jazzed-inflected son montuno.



Songo-Changui and Peruchineando bring the CD to a resounding close. The former includes a turn by Vilato on bongos as well as an exciting solo by Hidalgo. But, to me, the definitive solo by Hidalgo is in the latter track.



All the tracks are superb and bear repeated listening to extract all their merits. In particular, I suggest that, however routine a track may start, stay with it and you'll likely be more than happy with its development. (The arrangers are to be applauded for this.) The trap I fell into is liking the early tracks so much that it took me a while to play the CD all the way through, finally discovering the great tracks that followed."