Here are a couple of Latin-tinged albums that missed catching our radar the first time around…
Al DeLory plays piano and keyboards with his big band team that mixes originals with compositions by traditional material arranged by Hilario Duran. The flavors are spicey for “Salsa Canon” which features a nice solo by DeLory and trumpeter Bernie Walker, while trombonist Bill Huber safely slides home on the slithering “Chanchullo. A middle eastern cadence works well for vocalist Donna DeLory on “Amor” . The horns are fextive on the upbeat and brassy “Salsa Mode” while the team is folksy on the more traditional “La Pegadita” with Jimmy Bonilla’s impassioned vocals. A street fest.
Ruben Estrada plays vibes, percussion and piano while singing along with tenor saxist Henry, percussionist Bob, drummer Cougar and a rotating rhythm, guitar, string and horn team on these fourteen tunes ranging from standards to originals. Things get kinetic with vibes and percussion between brothers on “Spanish Grease” with all four brothers chiming in, and Cougar even hitting the 88s with the power of a V8. The pulse is upbeat on “Tanya” and a take of Dave Brubeck’s “In Your Own Sweet Way” has a nice picante flavor. Cougar drives hard on “All The Things You Are” and the team hums like a 57 Chevy on “Look To The Sky”. Family values for the ears.