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 El Viernes Social - The Echo Park Project (Echo Park Project Productions)
The Echo Park Project first featured on the world stage in 2006 with their debut CD "Retro New York Salsa", a collection of 1970s salsa dura covers which was well recieved by critics, DJs and dancers alike. New York percussionist Carlo Lopez, now based in Los Angeles, is back with a new self-financed release for 2009 and it is even better than its predecessor! The band still swing hard and there are once again some tasty re-works of classic songs by composers such as Jose Lebron, Jose Mangual Jnr and Tito Curet Alonzo. However, the songs written by band members and local musicians, in particular West Coast Cuban legend Orlando "Mazacote"Lopez, are just as impressive. The production on this release sounds so much crisper than the first release, both in the club and at home. The band has a fat brass sound featuring trumpets, trombones and saxophones, in particular a baritone which boots up the bottom end. All the musicians are top-grade and they have two special invited guests on the CD - flute legend Artie Webb and Spanish Harlem Orchestra pianist/leader Oscar Hernandez.
The variety of songs is much broader than the first CD. Medium/up-tempo salsa dura hits like "Mi Salsa Tiene Raices" (My Salsa Has Roots), and "Canto La Caridad" will save any DJ looking at an empty dancefloor. The title track "El Viernes Social" is one of several swinging slower tempo salsa tracks that start laid back but pick up energy in the montuno sections. A masterclass in no-nonsense salsa groove that will hook any dancer whatever level they are at. "Hector Lavoe" is a nice tribute to the great sonero whilst "Falsa Moneda" is an interesting salsa re-work of a traditional Spanish flamenco song, featuring special guest Oscar Hernandez on piano. "Danzon De Aaron" is an interesting Cuban danzon and good change of tempo, and the CD ends with a heavy instrumental latin jazz workout called "EPP Theme" which should have the mambo jazz fraternity drooling.
Overall I think this is tasty modern salsa CD by a great band from the West Coast of the USA. If grading it, I would say 4 out of 5. A diverse and interesting repetoire, good arrangements, great playing, nice crisp production, a mix of dancefloor and listening tracks. Carlo Lopez and the guys have pulled off a great second release, proving once again that the most interesting salsa music being made today is in the independent sector.
Lubi Jovanovic
http://www,myspace.com/djlubi
CD compiler : Fania Records/Nascente Records/Freestyle Records
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