Craft Latino celebrates Latin and Salsa music across a host of subgenres, with eight new LP reissues, many of which have been long out of print. Featuring three albums that are continuing the centennial celebration of "The Queen of Salsa," Celia Cruz; percussionist extraordinaire Ray Barretto's 1975 self-titled album; a pair of albums from salsa singer Héctor Lavoe; and a pair of albums from Latin bandleader Willie Colón, one also featuring Hector Lavoe, and the other with singer Ruben Blades. All albums were remastered from the original master tapes by Dave Polster and Clint Holley at Well Made Music, and were pressed on 180 gram LPs at Memphis Record Pressing. The LPs were beautifully pressed, and were really glossy with no surface scuffs or scratches, and most arrived inserted into rice-paper inner sleeves. The heavy jackets appeared to be perfect facsimiles of the originals, with crisp artwork; the Ray Barretto title even features the original fold-out die-cut panel—how's that for perfection? All can be ordered directly from Craft's web store, from the record label web stores (and often in cool, colored vinyl variants!), or they can also be found at brick-and-mortar locations, like your favorite independent record store.
Amazingly, the last batch of these LPs—six of them, that arrived on a day where the heat index here was 117 degrees(!)—were all perfectly flat, though they were hot to the touch! The sound quality of these reissues really impressed me across the board; hats off to Dave Polster and Clint Holley for giving us such magnificent transfers from the analog master tapes. I think many listeners would probably dismiss most Latino record labels as being fairly low-budget affairs, without too much concern for any particular album's sonics. These excellent LPs from Tico, Fania, and Vaya tell a completely different story, with wide, spacious soundstages and a level of realism I wouldn't have expected. This is easily the best sound these albums have ever been offered in, and fans of the artists and enthusiasts of Salsa and Latin music won't be disappointed. And for those who've gone mostly digital for music playback, high-quality digital downloads are also available at really attractive prices.
Celia Cruz, Son Con Guaguancó. 180 gram Tico Records LP, MSRP $30.
Craft Latino is celebrating the centenary of Cuban singer Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso, or simply Celia Cruz as she was commonly known. Cruz rose to fame in her native Cuba during the 1950's as a singer of guarachas, a Cuban form of song that features rapid tempos and often comic or picaresque lyrics. That earned her the nickname La Guarachera de Cuba, but in the decades that followed, she became known internationally as the Queen of Salsa due to her prolific contributions to Latin music. She has sold over 10 million records, making her one of the best-selling Latin music artists of her generation.
Celia Cruz's music fused multiple genres, and Son Con Guaguancó's title even combined the names of the popular Afro-Cuban son montuno and the faster-paced guaguancó style. The album was produced by the legendary Al Santiago, and featured a star-studded line-up of arrangers, including Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri, Bobby Valentín and Louie Ramirez. The singer was backed by some of the best musicians in the genre, all members of the Alegre All Stars, including the composers listed above, along with notable performers like Victor Paz, Kako, Bobby Rodriguez, Puchi, and Mario Rivera among others. Album highlights include "Bemba colorá," "Son con guaguanco," and the lighthearted "Oye mi consejo" (Hear My Advice). While songs like the breakneck guaracha mambo "Se me perdio la cartera" ("I Lost My Purse") are about the frustrations of rebuilding her life as an immigrant. You can order a copy of Son Con Guaguanco HERE.
Celia Cruz with Johnny Pacheco, Tremendo caché. 180 gram Vaya Records LP, MSRP $30.
Tremendo caché is one of salsa music's most essential albums, and features two of the genre's most dynamic performers, Celia Cruz and Johnny Pacheco. The 1975 album was the second of several popular collaborations between the artists and includes such classic hits as "La sopa en botella," "Tres dias de Carnaval," and the chart-topping favorite, "Cúcala." Cruz and Pacheco were joined in the studio by an all-star cast of musicians, including pianist Papo Lucca; percussionists Johnny and Charlie Rodriguez, Ismael Quintana, Louie Mangual, and Miguel Gutierrez; trumpeters Hector "Bomberito" Zarzuela and Luis Ortiz; bass player Victor Venegas; and background vocals from Johnny Pacheco, Justo Betancourt, and Roberto Torres.
Many years later, bandleader Johnny Pacheco offered his reflections on the classic album: "My dreams became reality when Celia and I recorded together for the first time. I was honored that she chose me. I never thought I would be that lucky again when we did Tremendo caché… Recording with Celia was like going to a carnival. From the moment she arrived at the studio, I could feel her positive energy, and immediately our minds began working in unison. We had a special chemistry, but above all, we had enormous professional respect and immense affection for each other." You can order a copy of the 50th anniversary edition of Tremendo caché HERE.
Celia Cruz with Willie Colón, Celia y Willie. 180 gram Vaya Records LP, MSRP $32.
1981's Celia y Willie offers another timeless collaboration between Celia Cruz and legendary bandleader Willie Colón, and marked the second of three albums the pair of superstar performers recorded. Celia y Willie again proved their amazing chemistry, and more than four decades after its release, the LP remains a classic of the salsa genre. In addition to Willie Colón's bass trumpet, the cast of players included Professor Jose Torres on piano; Jose Rodrigues, Leopoldo Pinedo, and Lewis Kahn on trombones; Sal Cuevas on bass; and percussionists Milton Cordona, Jose Mangual, and Johnny Almendra.
Alex Henderson of AllMusic declared that a Cruz/Colón collaboration "is to salseros what a Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell duet is to soul lovers or an Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong project is to jazz enthusiasts; in other words, you're bringing together two of the best artists that the genre has to offer. When Cruz and Colón get together, the sparks usually fly—and Celia y Willie is no exception." Among the album's many highlights are fan favorites such as "Dos jueyes," "Latinos en Estados Unidos," and "Cucurucucú paloma." And "Mi caso" offers a powerful (and empowering) treatise that proclaims multiple reasons why a woman wouldn't necessarily want (or need) to get married. You can order a copy of Celia y Willie HERE.
Ray Barretto, Barretto. 180 gram Fania Records LP, MSRP $30.
When legendary conguero and bandleader Ray Barretto released 1975's Barretto, the Grammy-nominated album instantly became a genre-defining salsa classic. It now returns to vinyl for the first time since its 1975 release, making this reissue a 50th anniversary edition. Barretto was his first recording to feature renowned vocalists Rubén Blades and Tito Gómez, and includes such enduring hits as "Guararé," "Ban Ban Queré," and "Canto Abacuá." Craft's reissue is housed in a replica of its original LP jacket, including the die-cut flap on the front cover that opens up to reveal the album credits and the original liner notes written by Pablo "Yoruba" Guzman. Craft went the extra mile to ensure this classic reissue maintained its authenticity!
Ray Barretto had become the go-to conguero in New York City, playing alongside the likes of jazz giants like Wes Montgomery, Cal Tjader, Kenny Burrell, and Dizzy Gillespie. But he'd already achieved stardom as a bandleader in his own right following the success of his 1963 hit "El Watusi." The cast he assembled for the recordings for Barretto not only included singers Rubén Blades and Tito Gómez—who both would become breakout stars soon in their own right—but also featured pianist Gil Lopez, flautist Artie Webb, and additional percussionists "Little" Ray Romero and Tony Fuentes. The session also featured a trio of trumpeters, including Roberto Rodriguez, "Papy" Roman, and Ite Erez; Louie Colón played bass, and Adalberto Santiago and Tito Allen provided background vocals. Writer Pablo Guzman covered the recording sessions, but said that he had a hard time writing everything down, because he was so wrapped up in the astonishing performances by the musicians present! You can order a 50th anniversary copy of Ray Barretto's Barretto HERE.
Héctor Lavoe, El Sabio. 180 gram Fania Records LP, MSRP $30.
Salsa singer Héctor "El Cantante" Lavoe gets a 45th-anniversary reissue of his classic sixth solo album, 1980's El Sabio, which has been out of print as an LP since its original release. The longtime fan-favorite album includes such tracks as "Lloré," "Noche de Farra" and "Plazos Traicioneros." Lavoe is considered by many to be the greatest male interpreter of salsa music, and was instrumental in popularizing the genre from the 1960s and throughout the 1980s. He was known for his impeccable diction, the brightness of his vocal style, his seamless phrasing, and his frequently ad-libbed anecdotes, all of which earned him the nickname "El Cantante" (The Singer). Rubén Blades penned the 1978 song of the same name especially for Lavoe, and the moniker followed the influential Puerto Rican singer for the rest of his life.
Willie Colón produced El Sabio, and he surrounded Héctor Lavoe with a talented group of musicians, including brothers José and Luis Mangual on the bongos; pianist Professor Jose Torres, and keyboardist Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón. A robust brass section featured Puchi Boulong and Ray Maldonado on trumpets; trombonists Papo Vázquez, Reynaldo Jorge, and Willie Colón; and the percussion players featured Eddie Montalvo, Luis Mongual, and Edgar Reyes. Eddie "Gua-Gua" Rivera and Santi Gonzalez played bass, and Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Milton Cardona, and Jose Mangual provided backing vocals. The album also sports a pair of instrumental tracks, a rumba version of Lee Morgan's classic ballad, "Ceora," and a mamboized rendition of the Cuban classic, "Para Ochun." You can order a copy of Héctor Lavoe's El Sabio HERE.
Héctor Lavoe, Strikes Back. 180 gram Fania Records LP, MSRP $30.
Craft Latino's LP marks the first-ever vinyl reissue of Héctor Lavoe's 1987 album Strikes Back, which was the journeyman salsa singer's Grammy-nominated 10th solo record. Strikes Back would also end up being Lavoe's final album, and includes expressively emotional tracks like "Ella mintió," "Escarcha" and the salsa hit "Loco." Willie Colón once again served as Lavoe's producer, and as usual, surrounded him with an all-star band that included Jose Arturo Ortiz on keyboards, Leopoldo Pineda and Lewis Kahn on trombones, and Oscar Cartaya on bass. Percussionists Raymond Colón, Bobby Allende, and Marc Quiñonez, rounded out the instrumentation, while Justo Betancourt, Tito Allen and Milton Cardona joined Willie Colón on backing vocals.
Strikes Back was released in an era of almost unbearable personal tragedy for Lavoe amidst his deepening struggles with addiction, and would prove to be one of his most poignant recordings. The album's biggest hit, the deeply personal "Loco," penned by Tommy Sánchez, offered Lavoe's response to feeling judged by the public, while also questioning his life choices. But from Lavoe's pain came one of the most powerful albums of his career, and the emotion he poured into Strikes Back resonated deeply with fans and critics alike. Héctor Lavoe's untimely death came a few years later at only age 46; you can order a copy of Strikes Back HERE.
Willie Colón with Héctor Lavoe, Guisando: Doing a Job. 180 gram Fania Records LP, MSRP $30.
1969's Guisando: Doing a Job was the third collaboration between pioneering salsa duo Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe. The album featured the classic tracks "No Me Den Candela," the instrumental "I Wish I Had a Watermelon" (which was Willie Colón's response to Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man"), and "Guisando." Guisando roughly translates into "making money quickly in a less than legitimate fashion," so the resulting album was literally "down-and-dirty." In 1967, Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe were only 21 and 16 years old (respectively) when Fania Records co-founder and musical director Johnny Pacheco decided to pair them in the studio, and their collaboration spanned eleven albums over the next two decades. The music they made together for Fania defined one of the most exciting periods of Latin music. Guisando: Doing a Job is a classic salsa recording that's been out of print on vinyl for over fifty years, and fans of Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe's music will rejoice at its return!
Journalist Jaime Torres-Torres wrote that Guisando: Doing a Job was "the first salsa album by a duo," adding that Colón and Lavoe "Present a rebellious, aggressive and irreverent style of making music." Colón and Lavoe's music fused elements of son, guajira, bomba, guaguancó, and more, and a crack team of musicians was assembled for the recording sessions. Richie Bonilla, who wrote the album's liner notes, said the following: "Willie Colón's singer, Héctor Lavoe, is the calm after the storm. His easy going singing style and smooth delivery has earned him the distinction of being among the best Latin singers…Héctor Lavoe has never given a disappointing performance, and this album bears me out." You can order a copy of Guisando: Doing a Job HERE.
Willie Colón with Ruben Blades, Metiendo mano! 180 gram Fania Records LP, MSRP $30.
Willie Colón and Rubén Blades first collaborated on 1977's Metiendo mano!, and its influence on Latin music can't be overstated. The album placed bestselling bandleader, producer, and trumpeter Willie Colón alongside Panamanian singer-songwriter Rubén Blades; together, they forged an innovative musical partnership. It blended Blades' socio-political lyricism with Colón's groundbreaking approach to salsa music, resulting in what would become known as "conscious salsa." The pair honed their approach over the course of four albums; the first, Metiendo mano!, changed the Latin music landscape with thought-provoking tracks like "Pablo Pueblo," "Plantación adentro" and "Según el color." The LP has long been out of print in the US.
12-time Grammy and Latin Grammy winner Rubén Blades began his singing career in his native Panama, but upon relocating to New York City, took a job in Fania Records' mailroom. That led to collaborations with many of the label's biggest stars, including Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, and Willie Colón; in no time at all, he was fronting Colón's orchestra, replacing Héctor Lavoe. In his comments about Blades' place in Willie Colón's orchestra, journalist Jaime Torres-Torres stated that Rubén Blades offered "…a fresh approach to salsa. Anchoring his musical identity on salsa narratives, he revealed to the world the vicissitudes, dreams, thoughts, and struggles of people in Latin American cities." The top-tier ensemble of musicians assembled for the recordings included Yomo Toro on cuatro and acoustic guitar; percussionists Milton Cardona, Jose Mangual Jr., and Nicky Marrero; pianist Sonny Bravo; and a brass section that boasted the likes of Tom Malone on tuba and trombonists Leopoldo Pineda, Lewis Kahn, and Papo Vasquez. You can order a copy of Metiendo mano! HERE.
Craft's continued support of Latino music is admirable in our current reality
Critiquing Latin recordings obviously isn't my forte, and I don't speak the language—but that hasn't presented any barriers to my enjoyment of the sheer spectacle of these performances. I have a great admiration for the music, and for Craft's continued support of Latino heritage by preserving these classic performances and recordings despite our almost surreal political environment. Thanks again to Jacob Kossak of Craft Recordings and Craft Latino for his consideration and assistance. All of these LPs come very highly recommended; I've been continually amazed by their goodness of sound, and by the vivid mix of genres and narratives that are not only spirited and flamboyant, but often evocatively emotional.
Craft Recordings
All images courtesy of Craft Recordings.
