Search - Roberto Roena :: Apollo Sound 5

A classic now reissued...with liner notes even!

William Jones | Punta Santiago, PR United States | 12/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first six or seven by Roena and the Apollo Sound are all classics. now Fania will be reissuing them. Hopefully all of them. Especially volumes 4 and 6. Volume 5 is also at the top of the list, with several especially strong tunes.



Here's what John Child, latin music historian, had to say about it:



"Roberto Roena and Apollo Sound developed into one of salsa's more progressive and sophisticated outfits with their own highly distinctive style. For 1973's Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 5, regarded as one of the band's very best, they were joined by singer Sammy González, trombonist Julio "Gunda" Merced and innovative pianist / arranger Jorge Millet. One of the high points is the explosive descarga "Ponte Duro", in which for nearly nine and half minutes, solo upon solo build to a climax of blasting horns. Highly recommended."



Musicians:



Mario Cora 2nd trumpet

Dario Morales 1st trumpet

Miguel Rodriguez Tenor sax & flute

Gunda Merced Trombone

Jorge Millet Piano

Jappy Castro Bass

Papo Clemente Conga

Julito Morales Timbales

Tito Cruz Vocals

Sammy Gonzalez Vocals

Frankie Calderon Vocals

Roberto Roena Leader"

Que Se Sepa that this is a hell of an album

M. Centeno | Jersey CIty, NJ | 09/20/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Yo naci con mi bin-bin y tengo mi bon-bon-bon... Que Se Sepa (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-laa)!"Roena is back after a not-so-great fourth album. What was lacking in the previous effort in terms of take-your-girl-on-the-dancefloor tracks, he makes up for 10 times over with this effort.Starting with the opening cut, Cui Cui is both humorous and traditional salsa groove (of the time) at it's best. The next cut "Oriza Eh" brings us back to the Islands wearing loin cloth's, dancing around the campfire and "alabando a los santos." [For an interesting comparison of style and rhythm, check out Celia & Johnny's "Tremendo Cache." They do the same exact song about a year or two later.]But my favorite cut on this album is "Que Se Sepa." A soul filled 70's type intro followed by hard-core salsa at it's very best. Plus the lyrical play on words is typical of the sonero's of the day. Excellent! All other tracks on the album go upward from here. Nuff said."

Fabulosos

salvador font | omaha, ne United States | 06/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I grew up listening to Roena's music; it is great to dance and to listen to.But, you guys are selling his music at rather high prices."