Sonora Poncena Future Inca Records (JMIS-1081) When Puerto Ricos most dynamic & popular tropical orchestra released this 1984 recording, salsa was slipping into darkness, opaqued in clubs & on radio by the merengue craze swept in with the wave of immigrants coming into New York & Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic. But you wouldnt know it from Sonora Poncenas Future. As if predicting the yet to come, the dynamic Papo Lucca & his Sonora Poncena gave us close to an hour of heavy hitting salsa gorda that breaks for a romantic bolero & a Latin-jazz, Woody Shaw rendition spotlighting the virtuoso Papo Lucca on a flugelhorn solo, a pause from his prolific piano playing. What stands the test of time with La Sonora Poncena is Papos creative yet tasty arrangements combined with his use of experimentation & improvisation. Add to all this the fact that Papos also a masterful multi-instrumentalist expert in trumpet, congas, timbales, bongo, & Bata as well vibes & keyboards. The harmonies he gets from his horns (a Sonora is basically a band with two trumpets or more, add the name of Luccas hometown for patriotic tribute & you have Sonora Poncena) fused with jazz influences from Chick Corea to McCoy Tyner make for lasting classics. Listen to the solo he does on El Amor on Fender Rhodes Electric Piano & note the Herbie Hancock signature. This recordings opening number Aqua A La Candela has town character Julian Burn down the house because of his annoying little habit of blazing before going to bed. When the chorus calls out for the fireman, the trumpets echo with a call to charge, Papos surprising but delightful synthesized violins ~~ making for the sound of hoses & water ~ is a creative touch to a lively tune that tells a tragically funny story about life in el solar. El Amor & the bolero Te Dire Muchas Cosas make me think that Papo may have been in love or in a very romantic mood as both these numbers are sentimental tributes to the heart. El Amor underlines a most bewitching chorus followed by some penetrating conga work by Little Johnny Rivero. A Fender Rhodes solo by Papo during the final mambo climaxes into the finale. Take me back to Cuba with El Dulcero, a son montuno tribute to the street merchants of our ancestors times. Calling out their wares, or pregoniando, these frontline grocers brought us everything from clothes, food to candy, as the song says. A playful number with spicy conga rolls & slaps joined by an instrumental interplay that turns heads. Woodys Blues takes us into our heads with a Latin-jazz take on this Woody Shaw number that has Papo open the tune on the flugelhorn, followed by the band that brings Papo back on keys. A great bass solo cuts through the dynamic playing with Papo featured on the horn throughout the piece. Como Te Quise Yo is a laid back guarachita that starts out trio style with harmonized voices that go straight into the grooved out rhythm & full brass section. Good number for dancers to shine. Yet the message here is clear: No one will love you like me. Papo, what are you doing to me! Interesting word play characterizes the lyrics of Yo A Ti, Y Tu A Mi. Playful, witty & coy this tune is upbeat & creative --- perfect for dancers. Te Dire Muchas Cosas is ushered in by a team of harmonized trumpets that herald in the lead singers voice. A beautifully romantic tune thats not too corny, this one will make you come-in-close. Sonora Poncena would always throw in a signature tune & on this one its Esta Es Sonora Poncena (as if we didnt know). Great harmonies on the coros with some wicked piano montunos that drive the horns while leading the percussion. No matter what they say about salsa, Papo & La Sonora Poncena will always invite you to dance. Enjoy! Side A 1. Aqua A La Candela 2. El Amor 3. El Dulcero 4. Woodys Blues Side B 1. Como Te Quise Yo 2. Yo A Ti, Y Tu A Mi 3. Te Dire Muchas Cosas 4. Esta Es Sonora Poncena Personnel: Quique Enrique Lucca: Leader Papo Lucca: Acoustic Piano, Fender Rhodes Electric Piano (A2), Flugelhorn (A4) Tony El Cordobes Rodriguez: Trumpet Delfin Perez: Trumpet Angelo Pocholo Velez: Trumpet Heriberto Santiago: Trumpet Antonio Tato Santaella: Ampeg Baby Bass Efrain Hernandez: Ampeg Baby Bass Vicente Little Johnny Rivero: Conga Angel L. Hernandez: Bongo, Cowbell Jesse Colon: Timbales Edwin Rosas: Guiro, Maracas Lead Vocals: Tonito Ledee Miguelito Ortiz Pichy Perez Coro: Tonito Ledee Migulito Ortiz Pichy Perez Papo Lucca Edwin Rosas Special Invited Guest Stars: Salvador Cuevas: Electric Fender Bass Eddie Gua Gua Rivera: Ampeg Baby Bass Musical Arrangements by: Papo Lucca Produced by: Papo Lucca Executive Producer: Jerry Masucci Recording Director: Quique Enrique Lucca Musical Director: Papo Lucca Album Cover Art & Design: Ron Levine Art Director: Louise Hilton Recording Engineer: Alan Manger Recorded @: Crescendo Recording Studios, San Juan, PR INCA RECORDS, 1984 A FANIA RECORDS PRODUCTION
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 03:51:40 +0000
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