Chaonda Herencia CD

The duo of flutist Gerardo Pena and violinist Gerardo Aguillon front a big band that plays a slightly kitschy but endearing blend of Latin pop and easy listening. The arrangements on Herencia feature an extremely prominent string section in exactly the same fashion that Esquivel and other pioneers of south-of-the-border fusion used orchestras: as a connection to familiar American musical forms to help demystify the unfamiliar Latin rhythms. Given that the average American music fan is far more familiar with Latin music forms of many different types than had been true at the dawn of the stereo age, Herencia sounds oddly old-fashioned to the contemporary listener, but in an appealing, non-ironic way. Chaonda are named for an Afro-Cuban form partially based on the folk music of Guinea, and there's a lightness of spirit on Herencia that it shares with much West African music, in the fleet acoustic guitar patterns and occasionally chant-like call-and-response vocals. A refreshing change of pace from what many Americans think of as Latin music, Herencia is an immediately appealing listen. ~ Stewart Mason

Chaonda is the brainchild of Cuban Violinist virtuoso Gerardo Aguillon and the excellent Dominican Flutist Gerardo Pena. The concept for Herencia was to honor the great Charanga Bands of the past, among them La Orquesta Aragon and they have achieved an incredible sound and quality in this recording. If you like dancing to Cuban Rhythms, this CD is for you. Incredibly happy music to keep your spirits going.

Personnel: Daniel Palacio (vocals); Jackson Fondeur (tamboura, congas, percussion); Gerardo Aguillon, Otto Avalos (violin); Gerardo Peña (flute); José Velásquez (acoustic bass); Daniel Berroa (congas, percussion).

Recording information: Los Estudios De Gerardo Pena (2006).