COMPOSERS: Various
LABELS: Nascente Back2Back
PERFORMER: Celia Cruz (vocal)
CATALOGUE NO: NSBTB002
Classic reissues and a few surprises this time. CELIA CRUZ made her name in Havana and for many years was New York’s queen of Cuban-American singing. Nascente’s CD combines two of her strongest Sixties albums – vinyl nostalgists sometimes forget the short measure on LPs.
Cruz’s bright tone and no-nonsense delivery power through most of the favourite dance styles, up-tempo and backed by punchy brass. The stereo is rather directional, but clarifies the percussion layers. The second half, La excitante, mixes the dance styles into some lively hybrids, including the once-popular ‘Boogaloo’, and finds Cruz a shade deeper in tone.