Customer Reviews

Cuna

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought the vinyl album version when it first came out back in '81 (I think). I was overseas on a military base and with some friends, played latin music on our time off. When we got our hands on this at the BX, we went nuts as Barretto is one of the greatest congueros ever. The music on here is just incredible - it ranges from a soft, melancholy ballad, to an uptempo furious set that will leave you drenched in sweat. It also contains an excellent cover of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise" with Willy Torres doing a nice job on vocals. "Cocinando" on the CD was not on the vinyl album - it's a bonus track - and what a bonus! A very uptempo and furious jam session - if you like to play congas or percussion in general, you will love this track - it will leave your hands raw. As another reviewer noted, this is not the same track as Ray's salsa song by the same name. For those of you looking for Salsa, this CD IS NOT IT! It's Latin Jazz - and excellent Latin Jazz at that with some of the best Jazz musicians around. With a lineup of Joe Farrell, Tito Puente, Charlie Palmieri, Jeremy Wall, John Tropea, Steve Gadd, and others, this is a classic, period. Enjoy.

For those looking for Salsa this record will dissapoint. In fact Ray Barretto offers us a supreme effort by some of the finest musicians of the time and the result is in my opinion some of the best latin jazz funk ever recorded. In many ways this is more exciting and adventurous music than the salsa hits that Barretto can produce on a whim. Any wonder that "Pastime Paradise" and "The Old Castle" consistently make the most saught-after latin jazz and rare funk compilations and dj playlists? In fact these tunes boast white hot guitar by a brilliant John Tropea, Charlie Palmieri's tasty piano on "La Cuna" & "Pastime Paradise" Tito Puente swingin' on "Cocinando" and Joe Farell on sax reminiscent of Gato Barbieri, as exciting as it is melodic and passionate, just check out "The Old Castle". I'll ride this elevator any time!!!

The only thing elevating this one is the lineup-but just barely. There are some good moments (how could there not be with Charlie Palmieri on keyboards?), but there's not much to recommend with this late seventies release. No tracks stand out.

Ray Barretto got a chance to make an album for a big label in 1979 (Columbia). He had an all-star band: Charlie Palmieri (piano), Tito Puente (timbales), Steve Gadd (Drums), and many others. "Pasttime Paradise", a Stevie Wonder tune, is done in salsa style (Coolio would have better luck making it a rap tune called "Gangsta's Paradise"). This is the catchiest melody on the CD. "Cocinando" is NOT the same song that Ray Barretto recorded on his Que Viva la Musica album, though it has the same name. Too bad, because hearing such a great band perform that classic tune was the main reason I bought this.