Jose Lugo Orchestra Guasabara CD

If one thought that the big band flavor of salsa music was dead, GUASABARA is one album that refutes that theory. With a full band assembled in Puerto Rico, tracks like "Mambo Valentin" cross generational lines, bringing an old-school feel to contemporary salsa not heard in many years. Alto saxophones and intricate piano arrangements inject a classy jazz element into performances like "Amnesia" and "Me Voy De Aquí," making GUASABARA as good for listening as it is to dance to.

Bebop may have signaled the end of the swing era, but keyboardist/arranger/producer Jose Lugo is bringing it back with a vengeance. The big band Latino style created by Machito and his Afro-Cubans is something that has disappeared from the scene since the heyday of the salsa era. Now along with the help of Puerto Rico's finest musicians, Lugo has put together this project. This contemporary CD features 14 tracks that restore the dynamic driving force to what is referred to today as Salsa. Also included is the participation of soneros including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Maunelle, Can Estremera, Isaac Delgado, and Herman Olivera. The DVD features the making of the album.