This month's new releases offer a spectrum of music from the old (Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe songs) to the novel with Houston's Chingo Bling and L.A.'s Salsa Kids. In between there's some banda, hip hop, jazz and bachata.
If I had to pick a hit album from this list, it would be Ricardo Arjona's new one, Quien Dijo Ayer.
If I had to pick a hit album from this list, it would be Ricardo Arjona's new one, Quien Dijo Ayer.
Domingo Quinones - Quien Mato A Hector Lavoe?(7/31)
Courtesy Universal Music Latino
It's a shame Hector Lavoe is not around to personally enjoy the upsurge in popularity he's getting with the release of El Cantante on Aug. 3rd. Quien Mato A Hector Lavoe? (Who Killed Hector Lavoe?) found success in the late 1990's in an off-Broadway production starring Domingo Quinones. It was also the working title of the current film, El Cantante.
The original cast recording was released in 1999. That album is still available and might be a better bet. It's cheaper and has 28 tracks to the new CD's 17. On the other hand, I haven't heard the new one, so maybe it's worth taking a look at.
Quien Mato A Hector Lavoe? (1999 Cast Recording) Compare Prices
Vargas / Amargue - 2 Grandes Voces Internacionales de la Bachata (7/31)
The voices are Luis Vargas and Luis Miguel de Amarque, two popular Dominican bachateros. The songs take the form of the "music of bitterness", the bachata. Sounds like a winning combo, especially if you enjoy this upstart genre.Paquito D'Rivera / Chano Dominguez - Quartier Latin (DVD) (7/31)
Courtesy Naxos
Here's one for you Latin jazz fans. Cuban reed player Paquito D'Rivera joins Spanish pianist Chano Dominguez for some swinging Latin jazz. The DVD Quartier Latin might end up being a favorite as Afro-Cuban rhythms join Spanish flamenco - and then they jazz it all up.
Kat Deluna - 9 lives (8/7)
Courtesy Epic Records
Dominican New Yorker Kat Deluna serves up a spicy blend of pop and hip hop, but you can often hear a background of merengue/bachata instrumentation from her homeland. 9 Lives is her debut album, but you've probably already heard the album's single "Whine Up" - it's the theme song for WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event.
If you want to learn more about Kat and the album, watch the following video clip where she talks about recording "Cut Off Time" with Omarion and Timbaland.
Watch Video
If you want to learn more about Kat and the album, watch the following video clip where she talks about recording "Cut Off Time" with Omarion and Timbaland.
Watch Video
Banda Jerez - Mujeres y Mentiras (8/7)
Courtesy Fonovisa
Grupo Niche - Una Aventura - La Historia (8/7)
Courtesy Sony BMG Latin
A new Grupo Niche album release is always a time for Colombian salsa fans to rejoice. Looking at the track list, though, I'm not sure there's anything new on this compilation disk of old favorites.
Chingo Bling - They Can't Deport Us All (8/14)
Courtesy Big Chile Enterprises
Parody loving, cross-dressing (cowboy to rapper) Mexican-American Chingo Bling is at it again. They Can't Deport Us All follows 2006's They All Want Him, But Who Can Afford Him?. Given these last two album titles, you can expect comparable lyrics from his new hip hop album.
They Can't Deport Us All - Edited Edition Compare Prices
They Can't Deport Us All - Limited Edition Compare Prices
They Can't Deport Us All - Edited Edition Compare Prices
They Can't Deport Us All - Limited Edition Compare Prices
Ricardo Arjona - Quien Dijo Ayer (8/21)
Guatemalan Ricardo Arjona's last album, Adentro, was omnipresent everywhere through Latin American last year. Surprisingly, there's been little advance publicity for Quien Dijo Ayer, but that shouldn't stop the music loving public from grabbing the new one from a man who has been called a "musical poet".Salsa Kids - Baila Conmigo (8/21)
The Salsa Kids are a non-profit group from Los Angeles that takes children between the ages of 11 - 23, teaches them to sing and groove to Caribbean rhythms. They've performed at quite a number of functions and are gaining popularity with their charming brand of Latin music and dance.If you're not familiar with the group, you might try watching some of their videos to see whether this is a group you'd enjoy hearing - or, enjoy joining!
Watch Salsa Kids Videos
Willie Colon - The Hit List - La Historia (8/21)
Since the Fania label - via EMusica - has been remastering most of their catalogue, there have been a lot of Willie Colon albums made available for lucky salsa fans. The Hit List - La Historia is an album that takes his biggest hits and puts them into one collectable CD.If you have a lot of the early Willie Colon, this album might not be of interest. If not, this is a wonderful place to start.
