A Classic for the Collectors
Lucumi | New York City | 10/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"These sessions were to become the inspiration for Al Santiago's Alegre All-Stars who predated the more famous Fania All-Stars. The formula? Get top rate musicians into a studio and let them wail!
Cachao's legendary sessions feature some of the greatest players of Latina/o music: Tata Guines, whose style served as a template for many other congeros to follow, most notably Giovanni Hidlago; Chocolate, who would later gain fame with Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta and then on his own; El Negro Vivar on trumpet: Victor Paz who was with the Tito Rodriguez orchestra at the time and who would also later play with Eddie Palmieri (who can forget his high flying notes on EP's "Puerto Rico"?) -- many more are featured in this album. Incidently, the date offers Cachao with different orchestras -- Tito Rodriguez among them.
This is a classic date for any interested in unadorned, raw, yet sublimely beautiful Latino/a music. Highly recommended."