Cheo Feliciano Felicidades Vaya Records (VS-23) The joy of Christmas, with its cultural richness and the diversity of festive and gastronomic traditions, pulses to the utmost level of expression on this 10 - song - long historical album by Jose Cheo Feliciano, Felicidades. Its an enormous pleasure to write, 33 years after its original release, about an album this humble collector and connoisseur considers one of the five best Christmas albums of all times, along with both volumes of Willie Colons Asalto Navideno with Hector Lavoe & Yomo Toro. Felicidades, the third phrase of Tite Curet Alonsos Cheo Feliciano Project that he conceived to resume Cheos career rehabilitation program, is a gift of happiness. Its unavoidable to imagine the old times parranderos travel through the starry December nights to visit their good friends with music and wishes of health and wealth each time one listens to this album. Listening to this album brings out the flavors of lechon asado (roasted pork), arroz con gandules, gandinga, morcillas, coquito and pittorro. Its about the nostalgia of lost times where people treated each other with kindness, and where families shared together in material of friendship, God loving and respect to life. With the help of Tite Curet Alonso, Cheo Feliciano captures the magic and the joy of years prettiest time. And these ten songs, written by Tite, Raul Marrero and Wito Gonzalez, were done with the Latin American dancer in mind and with the signature of the Fania All Stars explosive, pounding and overwhelming musical accompaniment, as Cheo is joined in this unprecedented Christmas salsa explosion by the likes of Ray Barretto, Bobby Valentin, Roberto Roena and Nicky Marerro, just to name a few! The musicality and swing of Barry Rogers trombone is palpable on each cut. His solo on Comadrita is worth to be transcribed for many years of analyzing how Christmas traditions and comradeship can be translated into music. The fusion of Puerto Rico seis chorreao and mapaye with Cuban son, as exemplified on Mapaye, and it features Puerto Rican virtuoso Cuatro King Yomo Toro, is still Cheos Christmas salute to the Pan-American countries. Me La Gozo Entera, with hints of invitation to forget old worries by dancing and partying with friends. Felicidades, perennial wishes of worldly health, peace and prosperity, is another vehicle for melting down your shoes heels dancing. On Aleluya De Los Compos Cheo transports us to those campesino dawns surrounded by fog and dew cushioning. Pa La Gente Panamena, with Puerto Rican decima jibara lines intercalated with the chorus, his homage to the hospitality of the brotherly country. Mañana Boricua is a catchy Puerto Rican bomba evoking the countryside and the campesinos agricultural tasks. La Fiesta and El Parrandero elevate the adrenaline and furor to unsuspected heights, to keep on dancing whether it rains, thunders or theres lighting. Dawn to the furious beats of rhumba and comparsa, A Las Alegres Campanas is a chant of peace and the joy of drawn to the world on Christmas Eve with the birth of our Lord and Savior in Bethlehem. Felicidades is a master work. Scenes of the Three Wise Kings, cockfights, the dawn at a batay jibaro, the festive solemnity of the Misas de Aguinaldo, and the flavors of good arroz con dulce and other typical dishes are stripped down into this masterful recording. Cheo Felicianos legacy for Puerto Rico and the world. Enjoy! Side A 1. Mapaye * 2. Me La Gozo Entera ** 3. Comadrita ** 4. Felicidades ** 5. Aleluya De Los Compos * Side B 1. Pa La Gente Panamena ** 2. Mañana Boricua ** 3. La Fiesta * 4. El Parrandero ** 5. A Las Alegres Campanas * Personnel: Ray Barretto: Conga ** Tony Jimenez: Conga * Larry Harlow: Acoustic Grand Piano Roberto Roena: Bongo, Cowbell Bobby Valentin: Electric Fender Bass Nicky Marrero: Timbales Barry Rogers: Trombone Jon Faddis: Trumpet Larry Spencer: Trumpet ** Luis Perico Ortiz: Trumpet * Ismael Quintana: Maracas Yomo Toro: Cuatro Lead Vocals: Cheo Feliciano Coro: Adalberto Santiago Tite Curet Alonso Johnny Pacheco Heny Alvarez Justo Betancourt Hector Lavoe Ismael Miranda Ismael Quintana Musical Arrangements by: Bobby Valentin Produced by: Tite Curet Alonso & Jerry Masucci Recording Director: Johnny Pacheco Album Cover & Liner Photos: Maurice Seymour Album Cover Design: WE-2 Graphics Recording Engineer: Jon Fausty Recorded @: Good Vibrations Sound Studios, NYC VAYA RECORDS, 1973 A FANIA RECORDS PRODUCTION
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:00:40 +0000
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