Customer Reviews

Willie Bobo's Finest Hour

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

 

 

A Great Yet Incomplete Collection of Willie Bobo... How could the producers of this alblum not include Lisa, Black Coffee, and other great songs. It has other classics: Fried Neckbones & Some Homefries, Evil Ways, & Grazing in the Grass. And, It has several more great songs: Sham TIme, Juicy, and some Afro-Cuban & Acid Jazz tunes. (Ones that you can't find on his albums or on a single disk.)

But, simply how could they not include one of Latin Jazz's greatest songs: Lisa.

This is the very best of Willie Bobo. It was like yesterday, with both the excitement and quality of today.

If you're a fan of the kind of rhythms that permeated Gloria Estefan's Spanish-speaking albums (La Tierra, Abriendo Puertas,) but especially a song from Miami Sound Machine's platinum "Primitive Love" album from 1986 entitled "Mucho Money," you are in for a sweet treat with "Willie Bobo's Finest Hour!"

He tears through some really percussive and nicely done remakes of Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual," Carlos Santana's "Evil Ways," and Hugh Masakela's "Grazing in the Grass" (not in this order) by infusing them with a nice, warm, tropical undercurrent of Latino flair. Also included is a good rendition of "La Bamba."

Somehow, summer comes to mind with this collection and it would/could so generously complement a cookout, luau or any other kind of summer "outing" that would feature music. It's really a fun CD!

Willies a fine percussionist & there no doubting theres some choice cuts on this record (Spanish Grease, La Descarga Del Bobo)but if you like authentic Latin/Salsa/roots, this is not your pick. Cheesy song selection, strings & pop covers make this more akin to lounge music for the white shoe brigade or crisp fried Miami matriachs & their cheap suit toy boys. Best avoided in my opinion unless your planning a 60's themed Go-Go party.