Black Sugar Sextet Estamos Azucar...! Lucho Cueto Presents Black Sugar Sextet CD (Latin Sound Records 18234), Released 2007; Editor's Pick: High expectations percolated for months before the release of "Estamos Azucar...!," the debut release of the New York based Black Sugar Sextet led by veteran salsa pianist Lucho Cueto, whose phone-book sized resume lists names like Azuquita, Jimmy Delgado, Imagen and Junior Gonzalez. The project turned out to be a dynamic vibes-based salsa and Latin jazz project that, at times, conjures the spirit of Son Boricua, another band that Cueto has been a part of. Son Boricua's founder, Jos? Mangual Jr., is one of the many vocalists with Black Sugar, some of the others being Tito Allen, Willie Amadeo, Joe King and Maximo Rodriguez. There are special guests too: vibes/marimba player Dave Samuels, flautist Dave Valentin, and singer Kim De Los Santos who does a fine job on the title track "Estamos Azucar." Mike Freeman does a superb job on vibes, and the heavy-duty percussion parts are driven by Luisito Quintero (timbales), Roberto Quintero (congas, bat?) and bongocero Carlito Soto. Listen to them go to task on "Pa' Colombia Entera," and the jazzy Roberto Quintero composition "Descarga Azucar." The band also takes on the classic Fania All Star's "Anacaona" (Tite Curet Alonso), one of two bonus tracks. Also with bassist Jose Tabares. Highly Recommended. (BP, 2007-10-26) Song titles include: Copacabana Naci Moreno Pa' Colombia Entera El Mu?eco De La Ciudad El Condor Pasa La Hija De Lola My Funny Zule (And Her 28 Friends) Estamos Azucar Descarga Azucar Scape Copacabana (English Version) Bonus Tracks: Anacaona Decidete Musicians include: Lucho Cueto Piano, keyboard, leader Jose Tabares Baby bass Carlito Soto Bongo, cowbell Luis Quintero Timbal Roberto Quintero Conga, percusion minor, bat? Mike Freeman Vibes Dave Samuels Vibes, marimba Dave Valentin Flute Tito Allen Vocals Jos? Mangual Jr. Vocals Willie Amadeo Vocals Joe King Vocals Pocho Bracamonte Vocals Maximo Rodriguez Vocals Yoco Rodriguez Vocals Pablo Branda Villanueva "Melcochita" Vocals Kim De Los Santos Vocals Category: Salsa/Son => Salsa
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