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RAUL GUTIERREZ AND HIS CUBAN BIG BAND PRADO…VIVE!
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CUGATE CLASSICOS LATINOS CLL006 [35.04]
Musicians
Trumpets:
Angel Chapotin “el nino”
Lazaro Oviedo
Edito O,farril
Trombones:
Ulises Benavides
Carlitos “Afrokan” Alvarez
Antonio Leal
Saxophones:
Cristian Serrano, Alto lead
Oreste Valido, Alto
Enrique Mora, Tenor
Eliana Muller, Tenor
Raul Gutierrez Villanueva, Baritone
Piano: Miguel Farias
Bass: Marcelo Cordova
Drums: Alain Ortiz Samada
Bongos: Rolando Salgado “El nino mentira”
Congas: Yordanis O’farrill
Chorus: Ernesto Perez, Eliana Delgado, Noila Carrazana
Singers: Jose Lusson Bueno, Jose Lusson Jr.
Bongos & cowbell: Luis Hernandez Ilorca
1. Mambo del papeiero By Perez Prado, Arr. Tolly Ramirez [02:34]
2. Que le pasa a Lupita By Perez Prado, Arr. Tolly Ramirez [02:55]
3. Gateando By Perez Prado, Arr.Tolly Ramirez [03:42]
4. Cerezo Rosa By Jacque Larue/Louis Guy, Arr. Tolly Ramirez [02.55]
5. Bonito y sabroso By Benny More, Arr. Jose Quintana [05:25]
6. Mambo Nr 5 By Perez Prado, Arr. Horacio Gonzalez [02:32]
7. Mambo en Sax By Perez Prado, Arr. Tolly Ramirez [02:35]
8. Mambo a la Kenton By Perez Prado, Arr. Tolly Ramirez [02.58]
9. Mambo Midley (Mambo Nr 8 Que rico Mambo)
By Perez Prado, Arr. Horacio Gonzalez [04:58]
10. Caballo negro By Perez Prado, Arr. Horacio Gonzalez [04:30]
Damaso Perez Prado (1916-1989) was a Cuban classical pianist and music arranger who became a leading figure in the newly-developed musical style of Mambo in 1946 with his own band, blending jazz and rumba and adding drums, bongos, congas, maracas and cowbells. He led a successful big band throughout the 1950’s that became very popular in Cuba and New York, and appeared in several Hollywood movies. Raul Guiterrez is a Chilean-born saxophonist and leader of the Cuban Big Band, a 17- member group of highly skilled instrumentalists that also features 5 vocalists. This disc features the Cuban Big Band performing ten of Prado’s most popular numbers, including eight of his many compositions.
Mambos are a lot of fun and tailor-made for dancing, and most of the tunes on this disc really move. Gateando has a quick punchy trumpet melody, syncopated rhythm from the bongos and congas, plus piano and saxophone riffs, while the chorus joins in, chanting “Gateando…Meow!”
Prado composed so many mambos that he ran out of names, so he began giving them numbers. Mambo Nr 5 is one of his most popular tunes, and Horacio Gonzalez provides a beautiful arrangement for the band with short, melodic trumpet lines, bold counterpoints from the saxophone section, and trombone riffs that add up to a kaleidoscope of harmonies.Cerezo Rosa is a cha-cha version of Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White, originally composed in 1950 by Louiguy (pen name for Louis Guglielmi). This delightful tune is highlighted by a graceful trumpet solo which carries the melody through another well-balanced arrangement. The longest tune on this disc is Bonito y sabroso, composed by Cuban music legend Benny More. It’s a simple, joyful vocal number with a lot going on; the lead singers are accompanied by the chorus singing off-measure, while each instrument section plays short riffs and countermelodies around and on top of each other, producing a harmonic cornucopia that really works. The band members also provide assorted screams, shouts and bird calls, while a tight percussion section hold the whole package together.
This disc was originally released in 2012 on the Caribe label in Havana. The music was recorded and mastered at Estudios JC records by Eider Luis Garcia Avila and mixed by Raul Cabrera Leon. The sound quality is excellent. A 6-page booklet is included with photos and commentary in Spanish and English.
Bruce McCollum