Descarga Total

Maraca | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 30, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ahi Nama Music
• ASIN: B00004SVFJ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,597 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Known in Latin-jazz circles for his virtuoso flute playing, Orlando "Maraca" Valle has produced a party album that follows the time-tested formula for the best Cuban music: masterful musicianship and an infectious good-time spirit that will keep dancers moving from the first track to the last. Like Olympic athletes, the members of Maraca's group and his guest artists execute their expert moves with apparent ease, delivering a "total jam session" that segues smoothly from classic son, danzón, and mambo to Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban chanting, rumba, rap, and the hard-driving Cuban dance fusion called timba. Notable soloists include groundbreaking Cuban funk percussionist Changuito, formerly of Los Van Van. Singer Félix Valdés recalls the improvisational vocal stylings of the Cuban soneros of the Big Band era, contrasting with grittier salsa tracks sung by Wilfredo Campa. Maraca and his band follow in the footsteps of Cachao's Master Sessions and the seminal output of Chucho Valdés and Irakere, with whom the prodigious Maraca began his career at the age of 16. Like the recordings of those Cuban greats, Descarga Total celebrates the sheer joy of good music. --Judy Cantor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MARACA BLOWS HOT AND COOL ONCE MORE !, August 31, 2000

By 

Carlos Suarez (MIAMI,FL.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Descarga Total (Audio CD)

NEW 2000 RELEASE FROM MARACA, WHO'S LEADER ORLANDO "MARACA" VALLE IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE TOP FLUTE PLAYERS IN THE LATIN JAZZ GENRE. DESCARGA TOTAL ! IS AN EXCITING ALBUM THAT CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF THE CUBAN DESCARGA(CUBAN JAM SESSION) IN ALL IT'S GLORY. THIS RECORDING RUNS THE GAMUT OF CUBAN MUSIC BY SHOWCASING SUCH STYLES AS SON, GUAJIRA, MAMBO, CHA-CHA-CHA AND AFRO-CUBAN DESCARGA.SPECTACULAR SOLOS ARE TAKEN BY MARACA HIMSELF, ON FLUTE, CHANGUITO ON TIMBALES AND PANCHO AMAT ON TRES. VALLE HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF GREAT CUBAN GROUPS SUCH AS IRAKERE AND CUBANISMO.THERE ARE MANY SWINGING TRACKS ON THIS FINE RECORDING THAT STAND OUT , INCLUDING: THE TITLE TRACK, "PA' GOZAR PILON" AND "TUMBAO PA' CHANGUITO". DESCARGA TOTAL! WAS CREATED WHILE THE GROUP WAS SOAKING IN THE REACTION OF DANCERS THROUGHOUT IT'S WORLD TOURS AND DEFIES YOU TO SIT STILL WHILE LISTENING !

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Dancing, November 4, 2006

By 

Adolfo E. Almanza (San Pablo, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Descarga Total (Audio CD)

The first 4 songs are really good. It is worth your money. Josephine.

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!, May 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Descarga Total (Audio CD)

This is by far the most amazig CD that I own. Its jam packed with sensuous sounds, honoring traditional Cuban rythms with a modern twist. This is like no other CD I have heard in the last couple of years, by far these musicians are extremely talented and their sounds are very superior to those from other Carribbean islands. The energy and passion is sure to blow off your speakers. If you don't own this CD, you're really missing out! It will keep you dancing all night long!