Tributo A Los Grandes De Puerto Rico [12/6] *

Description

"Tributo a los Grandes de Puerto Rico" (12/06/2005) International Stevan, Michael, FonovisaDominican bachata is hardly the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of Fonovisa Records. Best known as a major player in regional Mexican music, the Univision-affiliated powerhouse has never been closely identified with bachata, merengue, or salsa (at least not as of early 2006). Generally speaking, the most tropical Fonovisa usually gets is Mexican-style cumbia (as opposed to the South American varieties of cumbia) or some of the more experimental banda artists when they incorporate tropical influences. But there are exceptions to that rule, and Michael Stevan's Tributo a los Grandes de Puerto Rico (Tribute to the Puerto Rican Greats) is a definite exception. This is one Fonovisa release that has nothing whatsoever to do with regional Mexican music; there isn't a trace of banda, norte?o, mariachi, ranchera, duranguense, or grupero to be found on Stevan's album, which is best described as bachata romantica -- in other words, romantic bachata. The Dominican vocalist takes a strong appreciation of the Latin bolero tradition (even without a bolero tempo) and applies it to bachata, which has become an increasingly popular alternative to merengue in the Dominican Republic just as vallenato has been a popular alternative to cumbia in Colombia. Some Dominican artists have been combining bachata with everything from hip-hop to electronica, but on this CD, Stevan favors a more classic sort of romanticism -- and that approach serves him well on bachata arrangements of Tito Curet Alonso's "Brujer¡a" ("Witchcraft"), Emilio Qui?onez's "Besos Inolvidables" ("Unforgettable Kisses"), Pl cido Acevedo's "Un Imposible Amor" ("An Impossible Love"), and other songs associated with Puerto Rico. Stevan has an intriguing vocal style; at times, he provides a little idea what Jimmy Scott might sound like performing bachata. It isn't what one ordinarily expects from bachata, but it works well for Stevan on this enjoyable disc. ~ Alex Henderson

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