RAY SANTIAGO AFRO CUBA A LA NEW YORK CITY - LATIN UP (2008)
Julian
Llanos Lead vocals
Kenneth Burney Congas, coro
Felipe Llanos Coro
Nelson Burgos Güiro, bongos, cowbell, congas
Yagil Barras Contrabajo
Wataru Ochida Saxophone
Yaacov Mayman Sax solos
Rafi Malkiel
Trombone
Steve Gluzband Trompeta
Frank Morin Electric guitar
Ray Santiago Leader, piano, vibes, timbale solos
6 Amparame
8 Lacho
more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels
review by Bruce Polin - courtesy www.descarga.com
Take the tasty, hard-driving piano playing and earthy direction of Ray Santiago, add the seasoned voice of Julian Llanos [who sang with the likes of Arsenio Rodríguez, Cortijo, and Héctor Rivera] and you get a gritty, very New York Latin dance and jam band that could go all night. Ray is not afraid to mix it up, offering unexpected tempos and montuno variations. Listen to his near turbulent treatment of the standard "Besame Mucho" as it morphs into a jazzy descarga. In fact, most of Santiago's arrangements bear, at the very least, the suggestion of going descarga on you. Here are musicians who are trained to think on their toes, and, if the stars are aligned just right, the swing goes where it takes them. Listen to it happen on "Amparame," and on "Oya Diosa" too. There's almost a Senegalese feel to "Lucha Por lo Tuyo," the opening track, what with its extended montuno, gritty sax and luxurious electric guitar (Frank Morin) riffs. There was a time when, on any given Friday night, you might stumble upon small clubs featuring bands like Conjunto Libre, The Fort Apache Band, Cruz Control, or Wayne Gorbea. Ray Santiago's band fit right into that scenario. He exudes the best of what was more common back in the day, mixing up the colors of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Africa and the diaspora with nuances of jazz and improvisation. This is true, rootsy, down-home New York Latin club music. With Kenneth Burney (congas), Nelson Burgos (bongo, percussion), Wataru Ochida (Saxophone), Yagil Barras (bass), Steve Gluzband (trumpet) and others. Highly Recommended. (BP, 2008-01-03)
