For Y'all Ray Barretto 1979 La Cuna

Producer Creed Taylor has inspired everything from praise to anger with jazz fans. His operate has been bright at times, detrimental at others (his worst flaw existence a style to overproduce). Taylor plays a by too large positive business office on La Cuna, a jazz-oriented endeavour uniting Ray Barretto with such first-class talent equally Tito Puente (timbales) too the belatedly Joe Farrell (tenor & soprano sax, flute). As slick equally things instruct at times on La Cuna (originally released on vinyl past times Taylor's CTI label too reissued on CD inward 1995), Taylor wisely gives the players room to blow on everything from the haunting "Doloroso" too the driving "Cocinando" (a slice past times Carlos Franzetti that shouldn't travel confused with Barretto's major salsa/cha-cha hit) to a somewhat Gato Barbieri-ish accept on Mussorgsky's "The Old Castle." Barretto successfully moves into mortal territory on Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" (which rapper Coolio recast equally his hitting "Gangsta's Paradise" inward 1994). Barretto may loathe the term "Latin jazz," but brand no mistake: La Cuna is 1 of his close memorable contributions to that genre. All Music

For those looking for Salsa this tape volition dissapoint. In fact Ray Barretto offers us a supreme endeavour past times to a greater extent than or less of the finest musicians of the fourth dimension too the effect is inward my regard to a greater extent than or less of the best latin jazz funk ever recorded. In many ways this is to a greater extent than exciting too adventurous music than the salsa hits that Barretto tin flame gain on a whim. Any wonder that "Pastime Paradise" too "The Old Castle" consistently brand the close saught-after latin jazz too rare funk compilations too dj playlists? In fact these tunes boast white hot guitar past times a bright John Tropea, Charlie Palmieri's tasty pianoforte on "La Cuna" & "Pastime Paradise" Tito Puente swingin' on "Cocinando" too Joe Farell on sax reminiscent of Gato Barbieri, equally exciting equally it is melodic too passionate, simply banking concern fit out "The Old Castle". I'll ride this lift whatever time!!!  By Michael Saltiel

I bought the vinyl album version when it offset came out dorsum inward '81 (I think). I was overseas on a armed services base of operations too with to a greater extent than or less friends, played latin music on our fourth dimension off. When nosotros got our hands on this at the BX, nosotros went nuts equally Barretto is 1 of the greatest congueros ever. The music on hither is simply incredible - it ranges from a soft, melancholy ballad, to an uptempo furious educate that volition instruct out you lot drenched inward sweat. It too contains an fantabulous comprehend of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" with Willy Torres doing a overnice project on vocals. "Cocinando" on the CD was non on the vinyl album - it's a bonus runway - too what a bonus! H5N1 real uptempo too furious jam session - if you lot similar to play congas or percussion inward general, you lot volition beloved this runway - it volition instruct out your hands raw. As to a greater extent than or less other reviewer noted, this is non the same runway equally Ray's salsa vocal past times the same name. For those of you lot looking for Salsa, this CD IS NOT IT! It's Latin Jazz - too fantabulous Latin Jazz at that with to a greater extent than or less of the best Jazz musicians around. With a lineup of Joe Farrell, Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri, Jeremy Wall, John Tropea, Steve Gadd, too others, this is a classic, period. Enjoy. By NYCSteeler  

An all star crew: Barretto (master conga histrion too truthful pioneer); Puente (the Rex of latin music, best timbalero ever too swell musical conductor), Tropea (I e'er enjoyed his solos inward Deodato's albums); Steve Gadd (a boot donkey drummer, the white version of Lenny White); Joe Farrell (a fantastic flute too sax player; a classic studio instrumentalist who I enjoyed when playing with Corea); and, Charlie Palmieri (a tremendous pianoforte histrion with identical genes of his blood brother Eddie). "La Cuna" - spanish for The Cradle. It figures... Great album. Que VIVA Barretto!.  By Alberto Rodriguez.

Track listing:

1     La Cuna     5:08
2     Doloroso     5:55
3     Mambotango     5:57
4     The Old Castle     8:40
5     Pastime Paradise     8:31

Personnel:

Ray Barretto (congas, percussion);
Willy Torres (vocals);
Joe Farrell (tenor & soprano saxophones, flute);
Carlos Franzetti (piano);
Charlie Palmieri (piano, percussion);
Jeremy Wall, Suzanne Ciani (synthesizers);
John Tropea (guitar);
Francisco Centeno (bass);
Steve Gadd, Mark Craney (drums);
Tito Puente (timbales).