January 18, 2011 - Show #70

After Christmas holiday break, Latin Soul starts off new and fresh in 2011! Here you may have the first playlist and album review for the new year. Enjoy, and thanks for listening!


Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

The oracle – Louie Ramírez – Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampi Soul

Andalucía – Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica – The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel – Self-produced album: www.orchestrotica.com

Mini Skirt – Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica – The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel –
Self-produced album: www.orchestrotica.com

Squeech me – Mambo Zombies – MZ3 – Self-produced album: MamboZombies.com

Descarga en blue – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – To Here From There – Patois
Records

If I only had a brain – Kermit Ruffins – Happy Talk – Basin Street Records

Fiesta – Gato Barbieri – Caliente! – A&M Records

Watermelon man – Poncho Sánchez – Latin Soul – Concord Picante

Corcovado – Vince Guaraldi – The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi – Fantasy Records

Summer samba – Walter Wanderley – Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – Music Records/eMIN/WEA

Água de beber/Mais que nada – Carmen Lamarque – Live in Lima – Self-produced album: www.carmenlamarque.com

Voce e linda – Caetano Veloso – Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – Music Records/eMIN/WEA

De que vale ter tudo na vida – Jose Augusto – Música Contemporánea en Portugués
Intérpretes Brasileros – Rhino Records

O qué será – Chico Buarque – Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – Music Records/eMIN/WEA

A felicidade – Tom Jobim – Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – Music Records/eMIN/WEA

Garota de Ipanema – Nara Lead – Los Años Maravillosos del Brasil – Music Records/eMIN/WEA

Sancochao – Richie Zellón – Landología – Songosaurus Music

El norte – Gabriel Alegría – Wayruro – Rhino Records

Cántelo usted – Yuri Juárez – Afroperuano – Saponegro Records

Ánimo y aliento – Los hijos del sol: Álex Acuña & Eva Ayllón – To y Country – Nido Enterteinment, LLC



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul has aired a new release tonight: Mr. Ho´s Orchestrotica The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel. Two tracks have been played as it could have been the whole album, as so cool it is!




'The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel' is an album released at the end of 2010. It is an 11 track album by the intriguing name of Mr. Ho's Orchestrotica devoted to versions of compositions by the Mexican conductor and composer Juan García Esquivel. Esquivel, as he was known in the music business, was sometimes called “The King of Space Age Pop”, as he was the most representative musicians who explored the possibilities of the easy listening or instrumental pop of late 50´s and early 60´s know as the “Space Age bachelor pad music”. Today, that style lives a renaissance with the so called “lounge music”. At the time, the stereophonic system was invented, making Esquivel a curious explorer of the possibilities of the system, as he recorded tunes with two different orchestras, remixing later as to have the stereo sound effect noticeable in the listening. His glamourous and sophisticated orchestrations shaped the music of an era. Today, a number of compilations may be found, as well as his original recordings, among which “Latin-Esque”, “Infinity in Sound, vol. 1 and vol. 2”, or “Cabaret Tragico” are remarkable.

Under the pseudonym of Mr. Ho, the Boston-based musician, percussionist and vibraphonist Brian O'Neill has put together the Orchestrotica to honor renditions to classics of Esquivel. The result is so good that if you aren´t familiar with Esquivel´s music, you would believe these tunes are originals by the so called Mr. Ho. The arrangements, the musicianship, the overall quality of sound is exquisite, really bringing you to the times of Space Age pop music. Especially interesting the tracks Andalucía and Mini Skirt. Frenesí or the in-crescendo Dancing in the Dark are also highlights from this album. Sumarizing, an exquisite jewel revering old-time “exotica”, or nowadays “lounge”. The artwork of the album is another little gem honoring the aesthetics of Space Age.