The veteran, California-born Chicano conguero Poncho Sanchez proved you don't have to be Cuban or Puerto Rican to play authentic Afro-Cuban-derived music. On this CD, the Grammy-winning percussionist celebrates his 20-year anniversary as a bandleader, following his long stint with vibes master Cal Tjader. This collection combines two previously released recordings--the first nine tracks of 1988's Fuerte and several cuts from La Familia. On all the tracks, Sanchez's articulate and thunderous conga cross-rhythms bear the imprint of the great Mongo Santamaria, especially on the cha-cha-grooved "Ixtapa" and Clifford Brown's Cubop-coded "Daahoud." Like all good Latin musicians, Sanchez is equally at home playing dance music, as evidenced by his funny cover of the James Brown-boogaloo-influenced Dyke and the Blazers hit "Let a Woman Be a Woman, Let a Man Be a Man" and Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta classic "Cuidate Compai." This set shows that Poncho Sanchez is the real deal. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
Conga Caliente: La Familia/Fuerte,Poncho Sanchez,Concord Records,Afro-Cuban Jazz,Changui,Cuban Jazz,Jazz,Latin Jazz,Latin Music,Pop,United States of America
World Music:
- Depois Dos Temporais
- Die Grossen Deutschen Armeemarsche [Import]
- Dunhuang [Import]
- El Canto de Illapu [Import]
- Electric Africa
- Electric Eel Shock Go America! [Import]
- Eletrosamba [Import]
- Elias: The Prayer Cycle
- End of the World: Te Pito O Te Henua
- Endzeit Bunkertracks [Import]
World Music
The Very Best of Bonnie Tyler [Import]
Guitar Music from the Netherlands
Female Vocal Club Hits, Vol. 1 [Import]
Great Records of the Decade: 70's Hits Pop, Vol. 1
Doors - Greatest Hits [Import]
Getting Away With It: Live [Live]
Anne Sofie von Otter - Schubert Lieder (Ave Maria, Im Abendrot, Ständchen, etc.)