Ruben Blades Y Son Del Solar...Live! CD

One year after the release of ANTECEDENTES, Ruben Blades and his Son Del Solar played to a packed, smoky Lone Star Roadhouse in Greenwich Village, New York, and LIVE! is the electrifying result. With its characteristic emphasis on keyboards and percussion rather than horns, Son Del Solar is at its best, making Blades' lyrical masterpieces groove hard with a tropi-pop luster. At the congas sits session man Marc Quinones who, only a few years later, would introduce Latin percussion into that Southern blues rock totem, the Allman Brothers Band.

The spirited rendition of "Decisiones" became a subsequent salsa club favorite, with the keen wit of its verses and fiercely catchy chorus. "El Padre Antonio" and "Buscando America" are each given long, hearty treatments, with Ruben calling out his stirring verses of Pan-American unity in epic fashion. An up-tempo "La Cancion Del Final Del Mundo" addresses the threat of nuclear war with deceptively good cheer, while 1978's "Pedro Navaja" slowly builds into a trombone-fueled anthem. Ruben's pithy banter with the audience makes the set a special treat for Spanish speakers.

Recorded live at The Lonestar Roadhouse, New York, New York on October 29 & 30, 1989.

Personnel: Rubén Blades (vocals, guitar); Marc Quiñones (acoustic guitar, congas); Leopoldo Pineda, Angel Papo Vasquez, Renaldo Jorge (trombone); Oscar Hernandez (piano); Arturo Ortiz (synthesizer); Robert Ameen (drums); Edwin Montalve (congas); Roger Paiz (bongos); Ralph Irizarry (timbales).

Audio Mixer: Jon Fausty.

Recording information: Lone Star Roadhouse, New York, NY (10/29/1989/10/30/1989).

Photographer: Frank Ockenfels.

Arranger: Rubén Blades.

Personnel: Ruben Blades; Angel "Papo" Vasquez, Reinaldo Jorge, Leopoldo Pineda (trombone); Oscar Hernandez (piano); Arturo Ortiz (synthesizer); Mike Vinas (bass); Robert Armeen (drums); Roger Paiz (bongos); Edwin "Eddy" Montalvo, Marc Quinones (congas); Ralph Irizarry (timbales).