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In 1977 two virtuosos of
Salsa Music, pianist and arranger Charlie Palmieri born in New York in 1927 and
Meñique aka Pinkie singer-songwriter born in the City of Panama in 1933, came
together to produce this album.
A late date for the Cotique
label - but a cooker of a set from the time when the imprint was one of the
standout sources for salsa on the New York scene! Charlie Palmieri's united
here with legendary Panamanian singer Menique - in a batch of tracks that has
all the lively energy of Charlie's better-known albums from the 70s, but which
is much more obscure overall! Charlie produced, and plays piano and a bit of
percussion - and all lead vocals are by Menique, often with a slightly playful
feel that clearly reflects the joy he and Charlie had in the studio putting the
set together. Other players include Roy Roman and Lou Laurita on trumpets,
Keith O'Quinn and Tom Malone on trombone, and Bobby Nelson on saxes – and
titles include "Con Salsa Y Sabor", "El Amante", "Mi
Tierra Lejana", "De Panama A Borinquen", "Tributo A Pedro
Flores", and "Remordimiento". © Dusty Groove, Inc.
Unlike other tropical
bandleaders who are no longer with us, like Tito Puente or Ray Barretto, the
recorded output of Charlie Palmieri's was relatively small. This becomes
particularly painful considering that Charlie was the man that his younger
brother Eddie Palmieri referred to as "el verdadero rey de las blancas y
las negras" (the real king of the ivories). In effect, every one of
Charlie's recorded solos is a precious moment to enjoy. Every one of his
albums, a treasure. As part of the promotion of this record, Palmieri and
Meñique appeared on the infamous Puerto Rican TV show Noche de Gala performing
an electrifying version of "El Barón." A clip of this performance
(including a wonderfully dissonant, almost violent piano solo by Charlie) is
widely available on the Internet. Watching a young Meñique belting out this song
with his usual passion, framed by Charlie's piano and a ferocious salsa
orchestra, you can't help but fool yourself into believing, for a brief moment,
that the spirit of old school salsa is still alive and kicking in this day and
age. ~ by Ernesto
Lechner.
Cotique Records, LPS 88830,
1977
Recorded at Earth Sound
Studios, New York in 1977
Personnel:
Charlie Palmieri - Piano,
Percussion
Meñique [aka Pinkie] - Vocals
Roy Roman - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1,B3)
Lou Laurita - Trumpet
(#A1,A2,B1,B3)
José Merino - Trumpet
Nahum Mercedes - Trumpet
Keith O'Quinn - Trombone
(#A1,A2,B1,B3)
Tom Malone - Trombone
Bobby Nelson - Saxophone
Harry Viggiano - Guitar
Bobby Rodriguez - Bass
Johnny "Dandy"
Rodriguez - Congas (#A1,A2,B1,B3)
Manfrede Alfredo - Congas
John Jr. Papin - Bongos
(#A1,A2,B1,B3)
Willie Rodriguez - Bongo
Mike Collazo - Timbales
(#A1,A2,B1,B3)
Teddy Denoyer - Timbales
Adalberto Santiago. Néstor
Sánchez, Vitín Avilés - Backing Chorus
Track Listing:
A1. Con Salsa Y Sabor [Sauce
And Flavor] (4:08)
A2. El Amante [Lover] (3:14)
A3. Calor De Madre [Mother
Heat] (7:56)
A4. Mi Tierra Lejana [Distant
Land] (6:14)
B1. El Baron [The Baron]
(5:07)
B2. De Panama A Borinquen
[Panama To Borinquen] (5:16)
B3. Tributo A Pedroflores
[Tribute To Pedro Flores] (5:49)
B4. Remordimiento [Remorse]
(5:09)
Credits:
Producer - Charlie Palmieri
Engineer - Irv Greenbaum
Arrangements - Charlie
Palmieri, Rodolfo Manzano, José Merino, Jose Madera
Copyist - Alexis Juan Martínez
Original Album Cover and
Liner Photos - Mark Kozlowski
Original Album Design - Pam Lessero
