Here are this week's notable new releases.
If you like drama and passion in your music, you probably love Antonio Carmona - or you will. Carmona was the lead singer of flamenco fusion group Ketama until he branched off to try for a solo career, with the help of producer Gustavo Santaolalla.
Vengo Venenoso is his debut album and, if you're familiar with the salsa version from Issac Delgado's
En Primera Plana, all I can say is Carmona puts a different spin on the familiar number.
Lovers of Cuban son can look forward to a new album by former Afro-Cuban AllStar Felix Baloy. If you're a fan of the Buena Vista Social Club singers, Baloy will probably be right up your alley.
Puerto Rican reggaeton duo and Luny Tune collaborators Angel Y Khris release their sophmore album, following the successful debut of
Los MVP.
A tribute album to slain Mexican banda singer, Valentin Elizalde, this release comes with both a CD and DVD.
La Maquinaria Nortena's music is heavy on the sax and a bit more contemporary than some of the norteno groups. This is their second album, following their self-titled debut in 2007.
Chill out music has always been big in South America. Maybe it's the frenetic dancing pace often demanded of Latin music on the club floor. In any case, here's an album of electronic chill tunes from Colombia.
Compilation albums can be hit and miss, but this looks like it might be rewarding. These salsa duets include "Dos Huellas" with Celia Cruz and Willie Colon, "Mi Primera Rumba" with India and Eddie Palmieri, a couple of songs by Oscar D'Leon and Jose Alberto and the popular "Vivir Lo Nuestro" with Marc Anthony and India.
There's no one quite like Ruben Blades. Starting out as a salsa singer, he replaced Hector Lavoe when Lavoe and Willie Colon split; in fact, he wrote "El Cantante" for Lavoe. Then he moved on act on the stage and screen, a master's degree from Harvard Law, politics and came back to music, although this time his music, unique in its own right, wasn't salsa. This remastered album is a compilation of greatest hits from his Fanis days.
I can't think of a finer Latin jazz pianist than Dr. Eddie Palmieri. He started during the golden age of salsa and is still going strong. This is a remaster of his 1965 album.
