Who's Online?No members online
|
|
Celia, Johnny, Justo & Papo-Recordando El Ayer |
|
|
|
Written by Sizzla
|
|
Monday, 10 March 2008 |
Originally Released by Fania Records:
1976
Remastered by Emusica Records:
2007
What a gem of a recording! After listening to the CD for the
4th time, I found that there is simply not a song on the entire album
that I did not enjoy! So, "which shall I review," I asked myself as I
sat to write the review, with Ritmo, tambor y flores playing on the CD
player of my computer. When Papo Lucca's piano solo began, it
was then that I decided to write about Ritmo, tambor y
flores.
So, I restarted the track and the rhythmic introductory
trumpets of Luis "Perico" Ortiz and Héctor "Bomberito" Zarzuela established
the rhythm of the song from the outset and made it clear that this is a track
for the dancer. Then, Celia's unmistakable voice announces that she's
regando flores (watering flowers). Shortly thereafter, the melodious
and harmonious voices of la reina, Celia Cruz and
Justo Betancourt sing the first verse of the song and establish
its message of making miracles of love and smiles for the soul. This is a song
about happiness... about enjoying life... about grooving to a wonderful Salsa
beat!
As asserted by Ernesto Lechner, who wrote the
liner notes to the remastered CD, some of the tracks in Recordando El
Ayer were hits with the original La Matancera
and Ritmo, tambor y flores was one of them, having
been recorded during Celia's happiest and most fulfilling moments with
La Matancera.
One of the principal features that make this song such a
wonderful dance floor driver is Papo Lucca's piano solo. It is
during this part of the song that I envision the dancers' shoulder roll, the
vaivén (swing) of their hips, the elegant improvisational styling of
their footwork and a transfixed expression that communicates their place in
dance heaven!
Also contributing to the popular success of this song ,was the
futuristic and visionary drive of band leader, Johnny Pacheco.
Although he added contemporary nuances to the all the songs of this musical
masterpiece, he successfully maintained the prominent vaivén of the
'50s.
As I said from the outset, there is simply not a song on the
entire album that I did not enjoy. My other favorites on this CD, are:
Besito de coco, Sé que tú, Vamos a
guarachar, La equivocada, and Ahora
sí.
Yes indeed Salseros, this is one you cannot do
without!
Musicians:
Johnny Pacheco: Leader, Flute, Guiro,
Percussion
Celia Cruz, Justo Betancourt: Lead
Vocals
Papo Lucca: Piano
Luis Mangual: Bongos, Cowbell, Timbalitos
(Paila), solo ("Reina Rumba")
Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez:
Congas
Luis "Perico" Ortiz: Trumpet
Héctor "Bomberito" Zarzuela:
Trumpet
Charlie Rodríguez: Tres
Harry Viggiano: Tres
Víctor Venegas: Bass
Eddie "Guagua" Rivera: Bass
Ismael Quintana:
Maracas
© El
Caobo
This and all reviews that appear in our newsletters
are published here with expressed written consent of our contributors; to be
used in our newsletters only. Any other use is
prohibited.
Submitted by,
El Caobo
Chicago
|
|
|
