Search - Ismael Miranda :: En Fa Menor

Vaya Ismael

Hector Reyes-erazo | 01/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Following on the heals of his successful 1973 release "Así Se Compone Un Son," Ismael Miranda breaks out of the sound room with "Borinquen Tiene Montuno," a declarative montuno that puts listeners on notice that Puerto Rico has its own flavor of montuno. Nelson Gónzalez licks the mambo with his inimitable tres, atendido por el repicao del bongó, la tumbadora, y el corriete de la trompeta, guarantees that you'll happily concede while swinging your caderas. The interpretive ballads ("La Cama Vacía" and "Nervios Acero") are in the hands of a bolerista inigualable who intones in the tradition of the late Felipe Rodríguez and Beny Moré. My favorites are "A Beny Moré," Miranda's pen tribute to the late and legendary Cuban singer, "Homenaje A Rafael" a tune that entreats "el cumbanchero" Rafael Hernández at his celestial repose to listen to Miranda's homage. One of Puerto Rico's most prolific composers, Rafael is a cornerstones of Cuban and Puerto Rican Son having musically straddled both islands composing favorites like Lamento Borincano, Cachita and Puche y Pluma to name a few. Inspired by his musical largess, Ismael delivers a swinging tune that is bound to stir you to dance, and lastly, Las Esquinas Son, by the then poco conocido Rubén Blades. The production attests to Ismael Miranda's enduring musical presence in the corridors of Cuban music especially in light of the recording's date, which continues to topple many of today's repetitive and pseudo pop salsa recordings. I highly recommend "En Fa Minor" for its enduring swing and classic issue of 1970s New York salsa. Gracias maestros Johnny Pacheco, Louis Ramirez, donde quiera que tu estas, Marty Sheller and Louie Cruz for the arrangements and direction."