NIno
Son de Hoy label
no numbering
This record is distributed by GB Records, the
largest Latin music distributor in New York. GB Records is located at 639 10th
Avenue in Manhattan, # 212 581 2468. Ask for Sergio Bofill.
After I sat down in a Greenwich Village spot
called the Blind Tiger the other day, I saw a familiar face and soon
found myself involved in heavy conversation about music with the gentleman. I
remembered him; I'd seen him playing the bass for a few Cuban bands at various
clubs in New York City. I remembered him for his unusual sound and unique style.
Mutual recognition prompted an interesting exchange on the state of music
affairs. He promptly pulled out a CD from his bag of tricks. It took me a week
to actually listen to the production and I am sorry I took so long.
Niño Torrento has put together a delightful
musical group that brings out pure Son Montuno with room to spare. With singer
Jainardo Batista who has become a staple as montuneros go in New York,
world-renowned percussionist Little Johnny Rivero in combination with conguero
Renato Thoms and sonero Chuito de Jesús among others, Torrento has surrounded
himself with incredible firing power to support eight original compositions and
two standards, resulting in a solid musical production that should be a part of
the collection of any fan of the Son Montuno.
The CD opens with the theme "Gózalo" which
means "Enjoy it". This cut might as well have been the title of the entire
production. It's a fine number composed by Torrento that has the musicians of
Son de Hoy transport you straight into the son of things. Another hot
tune, "El Son te Llama - The son is calling you", exemplifies the style and
musicality that is so fresh in this group. The rest of the production is more of
the same, a term that I use loosely because Son de Hoy belts out one
charged tune after another, in an album destined to become a classic for the
dance fan.
The sound here is tight and on time if you
know what I mean - on clave, solid. This is a highly danceable recording that,
although not being heavily marketed, is one of the best new productions of its
kind. The musicians are a classic mix of Cubans and Puerto Ricans that will make
the music fan reminisce about the pre-Castro days when the Cuban influx into New
York formed the vital base for the development of the Mambo era. We are living
in different times now but there is no stopping quality of which there is plenty
in this production. Son de Hoy is a definite throwback to the good old
days.
Most importantly, Son Montuno is the musical
base of everything considered Salsa today, the root of the Afro-Caribbean sound
as rediscovered through the efforts of Ry Cooder and the 'youngsters' from the
Buena Vista Social Club. Groups like Son de Hoy are bringing that
musical tradition back with force. You can regularly hear them play places like
Son Cubano, the Belle Epoque and Gonzalez & Gonzalez in New York City, but
they're also beginning to tour extensively. This group is part of a new movement
that is returning the essence of Afro-Caribbean music back to the fore. As
musicians say, "it's back to the future". With Son de Hoy which means
Son of Today, the future is now. To listen to Son Montuno, you no longer
have to go to Buena Vista - Son de Hoy will suffice. This group can make you
feel tropical really fast. When you see this CD, get it. I recommend it without
reservations.
Niño Torrente And Son De Hoy
CD (NT 4397), Released 2003;
Editor's Pick:
Even ten years ago, New York was filled with really fine bands like Son de Hoy,
house rocking little groups that played the neighborhood. The recording, with
the majority of tunes by Torrente, the bassist and leader, is local music at its
best, unpretentious with a profound love for the genre, which in this case is
the son. Powered by a tres, a couple of good singers and percussion, the whole
record powers ahead; it falls easily on the ears.
Recommended. (Peter Watrous, 2003-10-23)
Song titles include:
Gozalo 4:41
Bongocero 4:09
Lo Tengo Pa' Ti 4:46
Te Senti 3:46
El Son Te Llama 5:06
Tu Eres Nadie 2:28
Murio Valera 3:50
Compasion 5:37
Como Fue 4:15
En Mi Jardin 3:51
Musicians include:
Leonaro "Nino" Torrente Bass, lead vocals, coro, guitar
Jainardo Batista Lead vocal
Chuito De Jesus Lead vocals y maracas
Pablo Moya Tres
Igor Atalita Piano
Pablo Vergara Piano
Albert Leusink Trumpet
Oscar Oñoz Trumpet
Renato Thoms Congas
Vicente "Little Johnny" Rivero Congas
Gabriel Machado "Chinchilita" Congas
Maria Triana Violin
Roberto Pitre Flute
Vinny & Ray
Vinny & Ray “Only the Beginning” (Ardel Records)
Escuchar este álbum fue motivo de alegría para mí, no sólo por la calidad de su música, sino también porque puedo ver que hay elementos jóvenes que están dispuestos a mantener la tradición salsera de calidad, y, a la vez, brindar nuevas ideas. Y estos muchachos, originarios del Bronx, realmente entienden los ABC’s de la salsa, habiendo formado anteriormente la Orquesta Presión. De manera que no debe ser sorpresa que “Only the beginning”, su primera producción, demuestre que vienen con todo. Este álbum está hecho para satisfacer todos los gustos, desde los salseros de la mata, hasta los bailadores.
“Only the Beginning” tiene de todo un poco, representado en diez temas. El CD arranca con el clásico “Historia de un amor”, que abre románticamente al estilo Marc Anthony, pero cambia a una salsa brava. Le sigue una descarga al estilo Eddie Palmieri, de nombre “Rumba en el Barrio”. Esta pieza, por sí sola, vende el CD. No en vano fue declarado ganador del mejor tema en los Premios Independientes de Música 2004. Aquí tenemos buenas descargas de cueros, piano y saxofón. Se ofrecen dos deliciosos números de salsa cantada en inglés: “What You won’t do for love” y “Hello”. Energética y actualizada podemos describir su versión de “Mama Guela”, que también incluye descargas de piano y timbal. Además, tenemos el caliente merengue “La Fiesta”, que debo admitir me gustó, debido a que suena fresco, y las tamboras y saxofones se escuchan como debe ser. Este no es un techno merengue comercial que nos hacen digerir en la radio. El CD cierra con “En Mi viejo San Juan”, a manera de balada instrumental.
Estos hermanos gemelos, de sangre boricua, tienen talento de sobra. Vinny Pérez canta, y toca la trompeta y la flauta, y Ray Pérez toca toda la percusión. Dicen que están preparando una segunda producción, la que estaré esperando ansiosamente. “Only the Beginning” es precisamente eso, el comienzo de lo que puede ser una gran carrera.
Vinny y
Ray." de origen Puertorriqueño, el compacto es un excelente compendio
de sus facultades artisticas... talentos que son superiores a los que continuamente
promueven las grandes multinacionales..." - BUENA VISTA magazine.
"Las raíces Latinas salen a relucir dando marcha en la canción
""La Fiesta" (canción donde los pies se van solitos...
AH... la trompeta...) Por otro parte nos pueden demostrar el lado romántico..
bailando suavemente con tu pareja en la última canción "En
mi viejo San Juan" y ya verás si el sonido sexy de esa trompeta
no tiene efecto."
- Laritmo.com