EDDIE PALMIERI - TRAGUITO - Tribute to Luis Bunuel

Gold Diggers of 1933 [VHS] (1933)
Luis Buñuel L'AGE D'OR USED

Eddie Palmieri Molasses
Along with Willie Colon, brother Charlie Palmieri,
and other Fania and Tico label artists,
Eddie Palmieri helped forged the innovative mix of
salsa, boogaloo, jazz, soul, and rock
that helped define the New York-Latin sound of the
'70s and '80s. The '60s, though, found
Palmieri mostly focused on Cuban and Puerto Rican
music and jazz. A high point for
Palmieri during this fruitful period certainly must be his
Tico release Molasses: a fine record
that has salsa both frenetic ("Campesino (El Pregon de
la Montana)") and even keeled
("Tiradote Flores"), as well as percussion-heavy descargas
("Bombonsito de Pozo").
The set also includes evocations of important figures like
Palmieri's former boss and smooth,
Latin-big band leader Tito Rodriguez (the mid-tempo mambo
"Traguito") and salsa pioneer
Arsenio Rodriguez (the raw, Afro-Cuban vocal and percussion
attack of "Carnival en Camaguey").
And for even more variety, a straight pop rendition of the Andre
Previn standard "You're Gonna Hear
From Me" is included. Throughout the set, Palmieri shows
off his considerable, McCoy Tyner-inspired
piano chops. His band is equally impressive, especially
vocalist Ismael Quintana, percussionist
Manny Oquendo, and trombonists Barry Rogers and Jose
Rodrigues (the latter two being part of
Palmieri's signature two trombone and flute front line).
Molasses is one of the many excellent titles
in the Palmieri catalog and certainly one of the Latin master's
best recordings from the '60s. ~ Stephen Cook

Personnel:
Eddie Palmieri (piano);
Ismael Quintana (vocals);
George Castro (flute);
Jose Rodrigues, (trombone);
Barry Rogers (trombone);
David Perez (bass guitar);
Tommy Lopez (conga drum);
Manny Oquendo (bongos, timbales).

1.Melao Para el Sapo
2.Traguito
3.You're Gonna Hear From Me
4.Bomboncito de Pozo
5.Carnaval en Camaguey
6.Tirandote Flores
7.Campesino (El Pregon de la Montana)