Champagne

Performer: Eddie Palmieri
Producer: Pancho Cristal
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Eddie Palmieri (piano); Cynthia Ellis, Ismael "Pat" Quintana, Cheo Feliciano (vocals); Barry Rodgers (tres, trombone); Roy Roman, George Castro, Lew Soloff, Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros (trumpet); Jose Rodriguez (trombone); Israel "Cachao" Lopez (bass guitar); Luis Miranda , Ray Armando (congas); Nicky Marrero (timbales). With Champagne, Eddie Palmieri attempted to chart the changing waters of popular music circa 1968, and the results are as widely varying as the material. He veers from Latin soul to real champagne music to straight-ahead salsa, tries to jump-start a new crossover dance craze, but also looks back to adult-pop standards. And from the first few moments of the LP, it's clear a change-up is in order; over an elastic, funky bass line, a male voice asks incredulously: "Como?/Palmieri? Boogaloo?" The man leaps right into his response to the nascent boogaloo craze with "Ay Que Rico," an irresistibly swinging number with great playing from all involved, from a sprightly upright bass to the raucous brass section re-introduced periodically. Unfortunately, the rest of the crossover material doesn't sound quite this inspired; the very next track is a the chestnut "Here's That Rainy Day," taken at a snail's pace. "Cinturita" and "Palo de Mango" are solid straight-ahead salsa numbers, but "The African Twist" is another obvious commercial tester, a female-led popcorn anthem with a good groove and solid playing but not much else to recommend it. It's best to skip Champagne altogether, and find "Ay Que Rico" on a compilation like NuYorican Funk Experience: Salsa Caliente de Nu York!. ~ John Bush Champagne was a transitional album from 1968, one that retained tracks with the two-trombone Perfecta but had others that looked forward -- an off-center piano solo here, some blazing solo trumpet, a melody that is "Un Dia..." in embryo, a touch of proto-Latin-funk. ~ John Storm Roberts, Original Music

Born into a musical family in East Harlem, New York, Latin jazz pianist par excellence Eddie Palmieri grew up in a melting pot of Latin music styles. He has recorded extensively since his first groups became active in the 1960s; jazz influences began to appear in his work in the mid-'60s. He explored a compelling mix of Latin percussion, electronics, and jazz in the '70s, making him a seminal figure of this distinctive soul fusion.

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