Another of those albums where the book talks about the importance of the band's lyrics. Given that I'm not much of a lyric person and I don't speak the language that the lyrics are in, I wasn't able to fully appreciate that aspect.
To a certain extent, I don't really need the lyrics though. This is justifiably the highest selling salsa album (or was at the time). It reads like an encyclopedia of salsa and Latin jazz sounds, and those sounds have been reproduced across the genres in the intervening years. There are complex funky danceable rhythms, and smooth laidback grooves; lush orchestration, through to stripped down arrangements; overt passion, and subtle emotion.
Both Willie and Ruben were accomplished in their own right, Willie was a composer for big jazz bands, Ruben was an activist, singer and actor and together they made something else altogether.
No comments:
Post a Comment