I was touring beautiful Switzerland again in May. On the tours I always come across a lot of inspiration and I would like to share it with you. Salsa- DJ Pepe, very popular in Switzerland, recommended an album for my CD review for June: Conjunto Salsometro - a project of the Cuban Luisito Aballe who lives in Lausanne.

 
He started to play music at the age of 11, studied percussion in his home town Holguín and has been around. His stops on his way to his own band were popular bands like Bamboleo (Cuba), Mercado Negro (Switzerland) and for many years the orchestra of Alfredo De La Fe.

 
Cuba is HIP in Switzerland! Unfortunately in the mind of many people now Cuban music is limited to Timba - but there is much more! Going back to the roots - we find the Son. "El Son es la esencia de la Salsa" - said Issac Delgado. Regrettably people often forget this, even though they dance to it. At conferences and festivals! Because a lot of what is regarded nowadays as "true Salsa" of the seventies is not really true and authentic! At that time they also happily nicked music and served themselves to the old Cubans. But since it was politically incorrect in the US (royalties would have to be paid to Cuba), the actual composers were not mentioned on the records and instead a shameful D.R. (derechos reservados) was put in place of the composer's name. And many of the borrowed compositions that today are seen as true Salsa were originally Son. By the way, a true master in rearranging Cuban Son compositions of that time was the founder of Fania, Johnny Pacheco.

 
But Son - isn't that music for old men? Is it still up to date today? My answer is: yes, yes!! Son is a timeless style and doesn't have to be presented as quaintly as the Bueno Vista Social Club, so successful with a mass audience when it came out.

The proof that authentic Son in a modern interpretation can be a mega sucess on the Salsa dancefloors was presented by for example Cubanoson, they had a huge dancefloor hit in 2006 with Recordando A Cuba. Or by Conjunto Massalia from Marseille with Messie Felipe - a title that many Berliners want me to play till today. And Calle Real from Sweden hit the dancefloors with Ya No Se - a pure Son hit - and the hearts of the Salseros.
And I think this production by Conjunto Salsometro is one of these candidates. Not a rearrangement of old stuff - but freshly composed songs! This is what keeps Son, Salsa, Mambo and Cha Cha alive! On this CD you only find original compositions.

The title song Para Que Bailes Mi Son is one of my recommendations for songs to play. Full dancefloor guaranteed. After a nice Bongo intro this Son goes off with the force of a speed train. A force that is driven by a clearly accented campana (cow bell). But the Conga is also played with verve and the quick change of rhythm in the middle of the piece towards the Boogaloo is funny.

 
Yes, the compositions on the CD are all about Son - the titles are telling such as Son Bongo, Son Mentiroso, Son Pa Ti ... but also about dancing - of course: Para Que Bailes Mi Son! However, a Guajira is also included on the CD ( you can dance Cha Cha Cha to it, too). In Sorpresas De La Vida you can hear the virtuoso top-class guest musician Alfredo De La Fe - a musician friend of Luisito's from the old days! Of course he can play a fantastic solo. Interestingly Alfredo De La Fe was not present when they recorded in the studio in Switzerland. He recorded his part in New York. Files with the recordings were exchanged and details were discussed on the telephone (see interview below). Great - this is one of the positive effects of globalization.

I also really liked the melodious title Son De Los Que Son, sung by 2nd lead singer Josbel Rodriguez. It's a real hit on the dancefloors in Berlin at the moment. Josbel sings with a very high voice and still hits the right notes. Many people (including me) think it is a woman singing when they hear the song for the first time. Incredible! In Son De Los Que Son the campana also places nice accents and in the short conga solo Luisito shows how he can get down to it. Candela! To me it is the most powerful piece on the CD.

Does it have to be mentioned: Of course the recording and the mixing of the self-produced CD is excellent Swiss quality - how could it be any different!

 
Conclusion: Son is alive and stronger than ever!

 

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