Sonando in Bloomington, MN

As the preeminent post-
Johnny Pacheco
flutist in Afro-Cuban music,
Maraca
has lofty expectations, and he lives up to them all on this incredible recording of Cuban and jazz-based instrumental and vocal music. The horn charts are invigorating on every cut, the singing authentic and vibrant.
's flute positively dances.
has able help from pianists
Oswan Ponciano
and
Alfaro Garcia
, saxophonists
Luis
David Sanchez
, altoist
Pedro Valle
, tenor
, trumpeters
Angel Gonzalez
Alexander Brown
,
Brown
's wife, flutist
Celine
, tres master
Pancho Amat
, percussionist
Jesus Madera
, 19-year-old prodigy
Yaroldy Abreu
, drummer
El Peje
, and world-class singers
Compay Segundo
Lino Borges
Moises "Yumuri" Valle
Rolo Martinez
Aramis "El Nino"
, and
Pio Leyva
. The band comes out of the chute hot with three upbeat numbers -- the roaring instrumental melodicism of the title track sets the bar high;
"Me Gusta Mas el Son"
features
Leyva
Martinez
singing over a bed of
's darting flute; and
"Maraca's Tumbao"
showcases some hot piano and horns.
Ponciano
's piano work on the first two cuts, and
Garcia
's on the third, is buoyant, substantive, and as clean as it gets. Things get hotter near the end of the CD, on the straight clave
"Ven Vamo' a Bailar,"
with
Yumuri
singing and
jamming in incessant midtempo fashion. The instrumental
"OK Santo Domingo"
is funkier, with complex horns and ringing piano chords leading into a wonderfully bright flute melody.
Segundo
sing the more romantic
"Quiero a Mi Guajira,"
while the famous
"Vale Todo"
is sung by
El Nino
. The most jazzed-up number,
"Mambo Jazz Plaza,"
finds
locked in a tenor flute intro battle. The middle of the recording features some very pleasant group vocals, on
"La Bomba,"
the slower
"Ven Aqui a la Realidad,"
"Los Tamalitos."
"Selva"
concludes at a 6/8 funk pacing, with heavy, happy horns. Very highly recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos