Search - Tipica 73 :: Charangueando Con La Tipica 73

A classic tribute to the charanga sound from Tipica 73.

Justo Roteta | Los Angeles, California United States | 04/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I've said previously, Tipica 73 seemed to get better with each new release and this one was no exception. This is a glorious and majestic tribute to the classic Cuban charanga sounds of the 1950s and early 1960s which remains timeless. Despite their having been disbanded by 1983 Tipica 73's music shall FOREVER remain among the very best Salsa ever recorded. Any fan or student of this music owes it to him/herself to buy and enjoy ALL of Tipica 73's 1973-81 albums (all are now on CD)."

A VERY successful CLASSIC Charanga album, PROPERLY adapted t

S. | 09/06/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1980 Tipica'73 release (originally recorded in 1978) is a GREAT typical/classic Charanga album with tunes that were originally recorded in the 1950's/60's.



The tunes here are PROPERLY adapted to a 1970's style of sound which sounds refreshing and with new life, as well absolutely traditional!





This MUST-HAVE recording can also serve to show us how great a fusion between a Brass section (more associated to the format of a "Salsa" band) can work with a Charanga orchestration, particularly if the quality of the music/musicians is TOP-NOTCH, as it's the case here!





[*B.T.W, Charanga is a Cuban form of music with usually 3 violins following up rhythmically in the background the piano and the percussion, with one Flute soloing/improvising constantly in between the choruses.]







1.Búsco Una Chiquíta, 3.Cachíta, 4.Yo No Camíno Más, and 7.Calletana are ALL GREAT WONDERFUL and CLASSIC Charanga-Cha-Cha-Chá style of tunes with LOVELY MELODICAL musicalities and GREAT typical Charanga style of choruses.



The other GREAT thing the 8 tunes have in common, is the musical varieties through the change of different choruses and musical passages within the songs, as well as ALL the BIG spaces for soloing that the pianist, the violinist, the horn players, and the percussionists have!...







Tito Puente's Adónde Vás (2) is quite different as it's basically a jazzy and instrumental Cha-Cha-Chá piece with the typical Charanga Chorus + LOTS of spaces for the horn soloists to get jamming again!

It also includes a Piano intro, a FINE CLASSY Piano solo by Sonny Bravo in the middle, and an intense musically Cuban Cha-Cha-Chá ending to the tune as bonus!







With Side B's opening, there are a few more musical diversities in the sound of the tunes with Túnas (5), which has a Cuban Changüí sort of musicality along with Trumpet and Baritone Sax solos around the beginning, another piano solo by Sonny Bravo in the middle, and then a traditionally more typical Charanga follow up to the tune...





Chanchúllo (6), by Israel López `Cachao' (may he Rest In Peace) was originally a Latin Jam-Session.

For me, it has a typical 1960's musical feel (think maybe in terms of Tito Puente with Oye como Va, or possibly even Carlos Santana, as somebody who's not into Salsa said to me...)

Anyway, what I know for a fact is that Alfredo De La Fé takes a technically superb classy violin style of solo rather modern and electric in sound, and that the 2nd part of the tune becomes once again very instrumental with a great (Yényere María, Yenyere!) chorus variation, a rather jazzy flugelhorn solo, and then percussion solo interplays between Nicky Marrero on Timbales, Joe Grajales on Conga-Drums and Johnny `Dandy' Rodríguez Jr. (Tipica'73 Co-founder) on Bongos!

DEFINITELY a VERY interesting tune for the listener, as well as for the dancer!





(8) Comparsas is a VERY "carnavalesque" fast-paced "1930's" Conga rhythmed tune with the use of trap drums.

It includes a "Siento un bómbo, mamíta me está llamándo" horn arrangement and chorus + a "Hay carnavál, De Oriente me voy" chorus along with more chorus variations, and Quinto and Conga-Drum solos too...



I personally I don't listen to this tune, BUT, it would be great to challenge a top dancer, to dance with a woman, or even to watch a pretty Brazilian belly dancer (FOR EXAMPLE) move to it!...

So just for that, it's PURE Bonus!...







Otherwise, I've also reviewed the original band's 2nd 1974 album which has NOTHING to envy to this one, as it is at least as good, but with just a few little imperfections which I did mention; anyway, the point is: G-E-T T-H-E-M B-O-T-H !!! (They BOTH are GREAT MUST-HAVE ESSENTIAL CLASSICS!!)







Total play-time: 41.08 Mins.



(You could afford to not like a maximum of 2 songs here, and you'd still be guaranteed your ½ hour of music, meaning: G.V.F.M!!!)





Cd Remastered 2006 By: Bob Katz-Digital Domain. A high 8/10. Very good volume, and FINE clearness of sound. Not an issue!...







Musicians:



Jose Alberto "El Canario": Lead vocals

Sonny Bravo: Piano, Producer, Leader, Director, Arranger and Choruses

Alfredo De La Fe: 5 string violin

Jose Grajales: Conga-Drums

Rene Lopez: Lead trumpet

Nicky Marrero: Timbales

Dick `Taco' Meza: Tenor sax, flute

Dave Perez: Bass

Mario Rivera: Baritone sax

Johnny `Dandy' Rodriguez Jr.: Bongos, guiro

Leonel Sanchez: Trumpet

Rafael `Felo' Barrio (From Orquesta Broadway): Choruses

Roberto Rodriguez (Ex-Ray Barretto and Orquesta Broadway Trumpetist): Choruses



Invited Guests:

Milton Cardona: Quinto-Drum (8)

Mike Collazo: Trap Drums (8)

Angel "Cachete" Maldonado: Batá and Conga-Drums

Leopoldo Pineda: Trombone



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