SALSA AFROCUBANA 
by Osvaldo Chacón y su Timba

Available on line HERE

reviewed and translated by Jacira Castro 
(original in Spanish)

This CD is one of the best productions I've heard in the last few years and I am very surprised that Osvaldo Chacón has not been discovered by one of the major record labels and promoted at a global level.  Are you listening, Record Label Execs? This guy is GREAT!

Some of you may recognize the name and that's because he was one of the principal singers with Bamboleo.  Before that he sang with Manolín, el Médico de la Salsa when they had just started out, as well as having worked for a while with Paulito FG.

Tengo vicio, the first track on this album, begins by seducing you with a romantic voice, a tumbadora, a piano, and then turns into a sensual, soft salsa, with trumpets, saxophone and the tumba'o of a piano moving along.... all the way to the bank.  Why? Because this CD is going to sell LOTS of copies world-wide!  It is really awesome!  Suddenly the tune begins to take on other overtones, and your hips start moving without you realizing it.  It's got a bit of the flavor of "Salsa Dura", a touch of Timba, elements of Jazz, talented singers and inspired choruses.

Mi vicio no es de fumar, (my vice isn't smoking)
Mi vicio no es de tomar, (my vice isn't drinking)
Que se enteren, (just so you know)
Mi vicio son las mujeres! (my vice is women!)

Cumbia pa’ Colombia is the second track on this album.  I must admit to not being much of a fan of Cumbias, but this one is really lovely. The mix of the instruments was done by a master!

Segundas Partes is a tune that starts out soft, almost like salsa romántica, before taking on elements of Latin Jazz and then adding a touch of Timba with the piano and the chorus playing with the lead singer. Oh, and by the way, the piano player is outrageous! He's incredible!

Cintura, mami, cintura! 
A otro sueco, con esta talla!

I have a special place in my heart for Cha-cha-chás and this one,  Cha-cha-chá con moña, talks about a longing for times gone by when things were slower and one lived without so much hubbub in our lives.... please, take me there!

We return to melodic Timba, which is his specialty, and run up against the next track, Tramposo, an excellent Timba number!

And when you talk about love, the moon, fire and suffering, the antithesis and twin of love, life cycles and such, then you get to this tune, Como Nació, which caresses our ears with a saxophone, an electric guitar, vocal harmonies.... and if you close your eyes, the music will transport you to a more tranquil space.... this is where I want to sleep, wrapped in my lover's arms with this song playing in the background.

And to finish off the tour of musical tastes, the last number begins with a bit of hip-hop and then goes into a salsa with saxophone and Timba choruses.  What a great combination! A la buena sí leaves you with the desire to shout, “How could you possibly only put 8 tracks on this CD?"  Muchacho! How dare you! It has choruses that have rap, reggae and who knows what else, always wrapped up in salsa! 

Buy this CD now! Support this artist, he deserves it!

Musicians who participate on the CD:

Osvaldo Chacón - lead voice
Yaniel Matos (my friend in São Paulo!) - piano
Joel Dominguez Campos - bass and arrangements on all tracks
Joel Páez - percussion
Denis Savón (Mapacho) - congas
Rolando Marrón - trumpet #1
Pavel Díaz - trumpet #2
Geandelasis Bell - trombone
Inoidel González - tenor saxophone
José Espinosa - Pepe - smaller percussion instruments
Amed Medina Ayes - guitar
Marlon Ronald Infante - chorus

Musicians in the band in London:

Osvaldo Chacón (director and lead singer) Cuba
Ernesto Estruch (piano) Cuba
José Luís (Chino) Martel (congas) Cuba
Felix González (pailas) Cuba
Denny (Jimi) Martínez (bass) Cuba
Armando Rivas (bongos) Colombia
Davide Giovannina (drums) Italy
Peter Warren (sax) England
Simon Finch (trumpet) England
Darren Wall (trumpet) England
Bernovi (trombone) England
Marlon Ronald Infante (chorus) Cuba

Buy this CD online at HERE