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ARTIST
TITLE
Tomate Y Alandette
FORMAT
LP
LABEL
CATALOG #
VAMPI 233LP
VAMPI 233LP
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
7/16/2021
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Vampisoul present a first-time reissue of La Pesada's Tomate Y Alandette, issued in 1978. Tomate Y Alandette by La Pesada is one of the best tropical records released by Codiscos. The album was a "one off" by an all-star ensemble of musicians and singers, many of whom had played with Fruko y sus Tesos, Los Hermanos Martelo, and other Colombian orchestras. The album showcases a diverse and eclectic range of stylistic modes and genres. There is cumbia, salsa, bolero, son montuno, descarga, and even calypso. The arrangements and instrumentation range from flute and violin charanga in a "típico" Cuban mode (augmented by a trombone section) to Colombian percussion-heavy cumbia, and from the Willie Colón style of brash Nuyorican trombone salsa to the more Cuban conjunto trumpet sound like La Sonora Matancera. Through it all, the jazzy arrangements keep things fresh and swinging. Colombian artists were absorbing all sorts of influences, both old and new, from Cuba, the US and Puerto Rico, but putting their stamp on the music with a different perspective coming from their own background, and La Pesada is a prime example of this intriguing tendency. The vocals were handled by the excellent Afro-Colombian sonero Hugo "Sabor" Alandette who had been in Los Seven Del Swing, and would go on to join Los Chicos Malos and then form Grupo Melao in the 1980s. In addition, Mike Char, who was a good friend of many people at Discos Fuentes and wrote quite a few hits for Fruko, joined as an invited guest, contributing the groove-heavy yet bittersweet "La Sigo Queriendo" and singing lead on "Ángel Sonando". A number of the songs sound like classic '70s Fruko y sus Tesos, but filtered through a charanga lens with a heavy Conjunto Libre influence. "Cumbia Y Tambó (En La Lluvia)" has been an international dance floor staple for many years. However, the real salsa bomb is "Hojas Secas". The upbeat calypso is a fun version of Alan O'Day's funky 1977 hit "Undercover Angel" retitled "Ángel Soñando". Another cover is "El Paso De Encarnación", first made famous by Orquesta Aragon and then Larry Harlow, done here in a faithful charanga típica rendition. La Pesada also took Mexican heart throb crooner Juan Gabriel's 1974 mariachi hit, "Lágrimas Y Lluvia" and turned it into a super hot "salsa con charanga". The album closes with a fantastic guaguancó dedicated to Cali, the city that loves to salsa, where La Pesada channels Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe to great effect. Remastered sound.
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