February 5, 2003
FROM GLEN TO GLEN:
Salsa Conquistador (Richard Byrne, November 02, 2002, The Globalist)Since its explosion as a Latin musical force in the 1970s, salsa has become the sound sensation that conquered listeners all over the world. Almost 30 years after its initial triumph, one of salsa's biggest stars--Panamanian-born musician and actor Ruben Blades--has made a new album. Mundo explores many parts of the world where salsa has taken hold.Perhaps it is no accident that salsa has become one of the world's most favorite musical genres. Salsa finds its roots not in one country. Rather, it represents a collision of Cuba and Puerto Rico's musical traditions with New York's jazz orchestras in the 1960s and 1970s.
Pushed on by New York City's legendary Fania All Stars, the new up-tempo hybrid won fans in the United States--and then was exported all over the world.
Among salsa's most influential practitioners is Panamanian lawyer Ruben Blades, who moved to New York to pursue a musical career. Blades first came to prominence playing with salsa legend Willie Colon--and then struck out on his own with a group called Seis de Solar.
His music's popularity was so great that Blades eventually "crossed over" into acting as well. He starred in movies such as ?The Milagro Beanfield War? and "Mo' Better Blues."
Despite these successes, Blades never forgot his roots as a lawyer who graduated from Harvard Law School.
Irrespective of social justice, Harvardism, and a bit of "Would You Like to Fly in My Beautiful Balloon" sound, it's an enjoyable disc. And he scores big points for including a unique rendition of Danny Boy that's dedicated to the first responders and other victims of 9-11.
MORE:
Mundo Website
RUBEN BLADES: Speaking a new pop language (Ernesto Lechner, October 2002, Pulse)
-REVIEW: of Mundo (AGUSTIN GURZA, Los Angeles Times)
-REVIEW: of Mundo (Omar Walker, Salsa Power)
-REVIEW: of Mundo (George Graham, The Graham Weekly Album Review)