No comments about Amaral.

No comments about Coleccion de Oro.

No comments about Corridos: Coleccion de Oro.

No comments about Atrapados por la Copla, Vol. 1.

No comments about Coleccion de Oro.

No comments about Coleccion de Oro.

1 comments about Simply Latin.

1. Basically, if you're the kind of person who likes a lot of covers, and pretty short songs, this set is definitely meant for you. I was really excited for a lot of the music because I saw some good names on the back. When I listened though, I felt kind of ripped off because so many songs were just cheesy covers, and I just couldn't see why the originals couldn't be put on the CD instead. To top it off, many of the tracks were extremely short. I don't know if it's just because I'm used to listening to tracks that are 5+ minutes, but I still think a lot of the tracks should have been at least 3 minutes long. Personally, I would say that my favorite CD out of the set was the Havana Nights one. The songs are pretty good, but like I mentioned before, pretty short too. If you're looking for something that will expose you to more Latin rhythms, I don't really recommend this compilation.

3 comments about Colecao "Brasil de a A Z".

1. Nana Caymmi is a sensitive stylist of Brazilian song.
   Her records for Brazilian EMI label are possibly her best albums.
   This package consists of 3 of those albums:

   "Voz e Suor" (Voice nad Sweat) is her piano-voice collaboration with remarkable Cesar Camargo Mariano, one of the most inspired arrangers and pianists for singers in Brazil (refer to his works with Elis Regina). Here you'll find impecable repertoire in symbiosis of voice and piano which know exactly when each one takes a breath.

   "Nana Caymmi" is a diverse panel of contemporary Brazilian song, featuring Joao Donato's "Depois do Natal" among other beautiful renditions. "Amargura" and "Contrato de Separacao" are old forgotten songs with specially sensitive renditions. Arrangements by Dori Caymmi and Joao Donato.

   "Mudanca dos Ventos" is another set of contemporary songs with arrangements by Dori Caymmi and Gilson Peranzzetta. Here you'll specially find "Perola", a beautiful song by composer Sueli Costa. Also features the sad and beautiful ode to a friend who has gone "Meu Companheiro" plus the title song by Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins.

   This package is for a rather complete Nana Caymmi collection.




2. Nana Caymmi is a sensitive stylist of Brazilian song.
   Her records for Brazilian EMI label are possibly her best albums.
   This package consists of 3 albums, all sung in Portuguese:

   "Voz e Suor" (Voice nad Sweat) is her piano-voice collaboration with remarkable Cesar Camargo Mariano, one of the most inspired arrangers and pianists for singers in Brazil (refer to his works with Elis Regina). Here you'll find impecable repertoire in symbiosis of voice and piano. Camargo Mariano seems to know precisely when singers will take a breath thhroughout the bars.

   "Nana Caymmi" is a diverse panel album of contemporary Brazilian song, featuring Joao Donato's "Depois do Natal" among other beautiful renditions. "Amargura" and "Contrato de Separacao" are old forgotten songs with specially sensitive renditions. Arrangements by Dori Caymmi and Joao Donato.

   "Mudanca dos Ventos" is another set of contemporary songs with arrangements by Dori Caymmi and Gilson Peranzzetta. Here you'll specially find "Perola", a beautiful song by composer Sueli Costa. Also features the sad and beautiful ode to a friend who has gone "Meu Companheiro" plus the title song by Ivan Lins.




3. "Nana Caymmi" - 3 Stars.
   "Mudanca Dos Ventos" - 5 Stars. My favorite album of all time. Bar none. Every cut on the album of a piece. Every musician simpatico with every other. This defines "Samba Cancao" as best as I can tell. We've all known sadness. Insofar as sound coming out of speakers can be considered tangible, Nana makes it so.
   "Voz E Suor" - 4 Stars. Just her and Cesar Camargo Mariano on Yamaha Electric Grand.

1 comments about Fania Legends of Salsa Collection, Vol. 3.

1. How do you select 20 songs from "El Rey del Timbal," who has over 140 LPs & CDs to his credit? Fania has done a good job in this collection--but of course, it only skims the surface of the work of Latin Jazz genius Tito Puente. This CD has a varied selection of mambos, cha-chas, Latin Jazz, rumbas, Puerto Rican bombas, and boleros. The music is fantastic--intricate, lively, and danceable. For the price, I just wish it had more!!

   The booklet that comes with the CD has wonderful photographs of Tito throughout his career, along with photos of people he worked with--Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Charlie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Cheo Feliciano--his arch-rival, Tito Rodriguez--and more. Articles in English and Spanish document his life, his music, and his character. The discography lists his LPs--up to 104 in 1994, when the booklet was published.

   My one complaint is the poor documentation of the recordings. I would like to have information such as: when were these songs recorded? who were the musicians? who were the singers? etc. The singers--Celia Cruz, La Lupe, Santitos Colon, and Vicentico Valdes--are listed, but not which songs they sing!

   I've been able to figure some of them out--Vicentico Valdes sings "La Gloria Eres Tu." La Lupe emotes and wails "Que te pedi." Santitos Colon sings the tender boleros, "Mirame Mas," "Te Desafio," and "Ay, Carino." He also demonstrates his skills as a sonero on "Ban Ban Quere," "Mi Bomba Sono," and "Juventud del Presente." Celia Cruz is heard on "La Plena Bomba Me Llama." There are also some great instrumentals, "El Rey del Timbal," Picadillo, and "Fiesta a la King."

No comments about Best of Tango.