Estrellas Caim: (1999)

Javier AQ Ortiz

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2001

JAQO's bohemian life eventually led to jazz...

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Published: May 1, 2002

When recordings label themselves as star-studded events, they better be! Such nomenclature should be meaningful. The Estrellas Caimán, or Caiman All Star series, nevertheless, does not belittle such a naming. All of their recordings are rare enjoyable meetings of legends, bandleaders, producers, arrangers, composers, and stars. Always digging into whatever amount of fun they can manage within their allotted studio time-space continuum, although it could be argued that these jams could be deeper, freer, and more extensive. A live in studio recording by them honoring Al Santiago, à la Alegre All Stars, would be memorable, although such masturbatory fantasies of mine might belong somewhere else. Either way, this album is worth your time, your attention, and its price.

Hard-edged sounds, sentient apt tumbaos, venerable singing, manifold genres, a bed of strings and improvisation keep you on top of the beat during this record. The psyche of Descarga Brava is New York’s jamming atmosphere. I know of no audience of this type of music in world that would not have a great time shaking their behinds to this music. The mix in “Bombonchara,” however, puts a cowbell and the clave on such an annoying high level that the rest of the percussion is obscured.

Track Listing: 1. El Verdadero Son 2. Mi Gallo 3. Tumbao Caim

Personnel: Backup vocals-Ada Chabrier, Milton Cardona, Hector Casanova, Jos

Record Label: Caiman Records
Style: Latin/World