Baila Mi Gente: Salsa!

Performer: Poncho Sanchez
Engineer: Clark Germain; Keith Seppanen; Allen Sides; Phil Edwards
Producer: Chris Long; Frank Marrone; Carl Jefferson; John Burk; Larry Hathaway; Allen Farnham
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Poncho Sanchez (vocals, congas, bongos, cowbells, percussion); Pedro S�nchez (vocals, congas, bongos, cowbells, percussion); Dick Mitchell, Tom Casey, Scott Martin (flute, saxophone); Kenny Goldberg, Gene Burkert (flute); Justo Almario (alto saxophone); Stan "Be Bop" Martin (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone); Sal Cracchiolo, Steve Huffsteter (trumpet, flugelhorn); Art Valasco, Mark Levine , Andy Martin, Arturo Velasco, Alex Henderson, Bruce Paulson (trombone); David Torres, Charlie Otwell (piano); Ruben Estrada (vibraphone); Ramon Banda (drums, timbales, percussion); David Romero (congas); Jos� Papo Rodr�guez (bongos, percussion). Audio Remixer: Phil Edwards . Liner Note Authors: Chico Mendoza; Roy Daniels; Chuck Niles; Eddie Lopez; Helen Borgers; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Carlos Lando; Liz Tjader; Leonard Feather. Recording information: Ameraycan Studios, North Hollywood, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995); Capitol Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995); Group IV Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995); Ocean Way Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995); United Western Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995); United-Western Studios, Hollywood, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995); Yamaha Studios, Glendale, CA (08/20/1982-03/08/1995). Director: David Torres. Photographer: Bruce Burr. Although instrumental Latin jazz is Poncho Sanchez's forte, the L.A. percussionist usually included one or two salsa tunes with vocals on his Concord albums of the 1980s and 1990s. Focusing primarily on Sanchez's salsa recordings, this excellent 1996 compilation spans 1982-1995 and draws on eight of his Concord albums. Sanchez is best known for his work as a percussionist, but the fact that he's far from a bad singer is evident on his infectious original "Baila Mi Gente" and versions of Eddie Palmieri's "Cuidate Compai" and the classic "Co Co My My." One of the disc's best-known tracks is "Sonando," a catchy cha-cha based on Ray Barretto's major hit "Cocinando." The exuberant "Este Son" would have been a better choice than "Soul Sauce" -- not because Sanchez's Cal Tjader-influenced take on that Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo classic isn't enjoyable, but because "Este Son" is a better example of outright salsa. But despite that shortcoming, this is a highly rewarding CD that makes us wish Sanchez recorded salsa (as opposed to Latin jazz) a lot more. ~ Alex Henderson

Q (9/96, p.132) - 3 Stars - Good - "...The pick of the crop includes a spacy cha cha, `Sonando,' where a jagged piano chord provides the rhythmic backbone..."

The American-born percussionist Poncho Sanchez is one of the leading congueros in the world, and has mastered a dizzying number of styles and genres, including salsa, mambo, funk, and various gradations of jazz. He got his start in the 1960s, playing with vibraphonist Cal Tjader's outfit, and lending his zesty playing to countless albums, including those by Latin heavy-hitters Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria. Sanchez eventually started his own brass-heavy group, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band, whose recordings have garnered consistent critical praise and a Grammy in 2000.

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