Ahi Nama Music
1998
Sonando!
About This Album
As the preeminent post-Johnny Pacheco flutist in Afro-Cuban music, Maraca has lofty expectations, and he lives up to them all on this incredible recording of Cuban and jazz-based instrumental and vocal music. The horn charts are invigorating on every cut, the singing authentic and vibrant. Maraca's flute positively dances. Maraca has able help from pianists Oswan Ponciano and Alfaro Garcia, saxophonists Luis and David Sanchez, altoist Pedro Valle, tenor Pedro Valle, trumpeters Angel Gonzalez and Alexander Brown, {Brown's} wife, flutist Celine, tres master Pancho Amat, percussionist Jesus Madera, 19-year-old prodigy Yaroldy Abreu, drummer El Peje, and world-class singers Compay Segundo, Lino Borges, Moises "Yumuri" Valle, Rolo Martinez, Aramis "El Nino," and Pio Leyva. The band comes out of the chute hot with three upbeat numbers -- the roaring instrumental melodicism of the title track sets the bar high; "Me Gusta Mas el Son" features Leyva and Martinez singing over a bed of Maraca's darting flute; and "Maraca's Tumbao" showcases some hot piano and horns. Ponciano's piano work on the first two cuts, and Garcia's on the third, is buoyant, substantive, and as clean as it gets.
Track List (try tracks 3,6,8,9,10 and 11)

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