Latin Album / Keith Lockhart, Boston Pops Orchestra CD

This album was nominated for the 2001 Latin Grammy award for Best Pop Instrumental Albmum.
Personnel: Jaime Rodriquez (vocals, charango); Israel Gálvez Molina, Mack Ruíz (vocals, violin); Jon Finn (guitar); Amnon Levy, Vyacheslav Uritsky, Ronald Knudsen, Clayton Hoener, Ronan Lefkowitz, Valerie Kuchment, Elita Kang (violin); Joel Moerschel, Owen Young, Andrew Pearce (cello); Elizabeth Ostling (flute); Bob Winter (accordion, piano, celesta); Scott Andrews (clarinet); Laura Ahlbeck (oboe); Richard Ranti, Suzanne Nelson (bassoon); Anthony Kadleck, Bruce Hall , Peter Chapman (trumpet); Douglas Yeo (bass trombone); Chester Schmitz (tuba); Jay Wadenpfuhl, Jonathan Menkis (horns); David Buda (electric bass); Timothy Genis (timpani); Pat Hollenbeck, Ernesto Diaz, Fred Buda, Ricardo Monzon (percussion).
Recording information: Symphony Hall, Boston, MA (06/09/2000-06/13/2000).
Conducted by Keith Lockhart, this BPO release is a mix of classical, Afro-Cuban, and mariachi music featuring guest appearances by Boston-based Andean group Inca Son and American favorites Mariachi Cobre, who add to the Latin American feel. Hot on the heels of the late-'90s fascination with Latin music, this album has lots of appeal, particularly to those who still know how to do the Macarena. The Latin Album features "El Salon Mexico" by renowned American composer Aaron Copland, as well as two pieces written for the orchestra by Latin American composers Ginastera and Fernandez. Although sweeping and really quite beautiful, The Latin Album fails to capture the fiery essence of authentic Latin American music. ~ Zac Johnson
THE LATIN ALBUM finds the venerable Boston Pops Orchestra entering the 21st century with high spirits and a bit of a retro feel, as they revisit material that was popular in their heyday with Arthur Fiedler, going back to the 1940s for a dreamy arrangement of 'Perfidia' and the infectious 'Mambo Jambo' of mambo king Perez Prado, while adding some more contemporary twists, such as the bittersweet 'Oblivion' of Argentine tango master Astor Piazzolla. A few light classics such as Alberto Ginastera's 'Malambo' and Aaron Copland's 'El Salon Mexico' are given rousing performances under the baton of Keith Lockhart, along with traditional favorites from Brazil, Chile, Peru and Mexico, several of them given additional spice with contributions from the Mariachi Cobre and Inca Son ensembles.