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Ortiz features Tony Vega, Milly Quezada, Johnny Rivera, Gerardo Rivas, Henry Santiago, Yturvides Vílchez, Néstor Torres, Charlie Sepúlveda and Antonio Luis Orta.

The new production of the Puerto Rican trumpeter Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Sigo entre amigos comes to us with the same energy as always.  We trust this is a foretaste of what is to come because as the genius of musical production, Julio Gunda Merced, says: “We must continue to create”.

Sigo entre amigos begins by modernizing what would otherwise keep us in the nostalgia of the unforgettable production, Entre amigos.  The also masterful 1983 production featured Rafael Ithier, Rubén Blades, and Roberto Lugo, as well as the same Conjunto Quisqueya that for years dominated the danceable musical genre known as merengue.  In this new arrival, Sigo entre amigos, “Perico” continues with his trumpet and the rumba is back to form. In this renewed Sigo entre amigos, cut that gives title to this impeccable production, we find the voices of: Tony Vega, Milly Quezada, Johnny Rivera, and Gerardo Rivas. The legendary backing vocalist Henry Santiago also stands out, with the vocal power to which we are accustomed.

Beginning in the third minute of what has become the promotional cut, the unmistakable trumpet of the usual Luis “Perico” Ortiz stars in the notes of the arrangement until he joins in calm and saucy harmony the melodic wind collective formed by Yturvides Vilchez, Antonio Luis Orta, Jesus Rafael “Rafy” Torres, Eliut Cintrón, Randy Román, Miguel Rivera and Danny Fuentes in a masterful closing.

The second cut of this production, De mi para ti, features the crystalline voice of Johnny Rivera.  The song is a composition and arrangement by “Perico”.

The chorus that says: “Mi tributo es para ti, gracias al salón de baile” (My tribute is for you, thanks to the dance hall) enters in a tune that my ear associates to the style that stands out in the Orquesta Puertorriqueña del maestro Don Perignon.  I’m not saying that’s the way it is, I just think that’s what my ear appreciates.  I love it, by the way.

Johnny’s soneos bring nostalgia to the affair without abandoning the innovative touch of the arrangement.  This dichotomy of keeping the foundation constantly evolving has been very well achieved, highlighting New York as “the supreme soul of the art”.  Somewhat later in the song, the touting style that Johnny adds to “si tú quieres que yo cante, canto; y si tú quieres que yo baile, bailo” shows the malleability and mastery with which “Perico” manages to weave the classic with avant-garde expertise. Bravo!

After Johnny’s characteristic war cry in the fourth minute of the song, I recommend listening to what follows the “¡Vayaaa!” anticipating the forcefulness of Gadwin Vargas’ tumbadora. That, for the sake of highlighting my favorite special effect.

How can I say no, if it is a song inspired by the affection and respect that this avant-garde school obviously expresses for women.  It is about a gentleman who “sees lights” for a lady who approaches him cautiously and without haste.  Finally, the gentleman succeeds in making the lady fall in love and confesses to her that the wait was worth it, even though at first he did not even dare to ask her for a kiss.  In short, this composition by “Perico” himself is far from the lyrics that some fire-eating feminists condemned as misogynistic, in that past that this team of artists led by “Perico” were never part of.  In a way, this song repairs the damage caused by others.

In the vocal part, it distinguishes the duet between Gerardo Rivas, guest of this production, and “Perico” himself, who also interprets through the trumpet.

Musically, the arrangement of this song is easy to listen to, although I imagine that the arranger processed all the complication to make it simple for our inexperienced ears. The rhythmic changes within the salsa sound of this song have interesting transitions, the kind that make the dancer get active even if his dancing shoes are not well tied.

In the vocal part of Detente, the duet between Tony Vega, guest of this production, and “Perico” shines.  Detente lightens the speed compared to the rest of the songs in the production, so the dancer must be in good shape before trying to dance to it.  This fact shows us the versatility in the interpretative ability of Tony Vega whom we are used to hearing singing romantic and slower songs.  It is, without a doubt, refreshing to see how the performer’s horizons can be expanded by way of these artistic combinations of seemingly simple variations. Of course, a pioneer of these effects is “Perico” and this invention that I attribute to “Perico” is due to him having the necessary experience to achieve exceptional results with the usual performers.  At the 2 minutes and a half mark, the correspondence between the bass played by Jorge Rivera and the piano played by Carlos García; they reach a rhythmic transition, which makes this arrangement a remarkable one within the list of songs that compile this production.  Almost entering the fourth minute, we reach the social message that the song delivers to the listener as a chorus: “Persigue lo bueno…”.  The chorus and the pregones are framed within the tastiness of a trombone full of positivism.  The fifth minute gives way to the conversation between the trumpet of “Perico” and the voice of Tony Vega, affirming a message of love and truth.

Days after listening to the track, I can still hear Henry Santiago’s voice echoing, “chase the good…”

The intro of the track Solo tuya seré features “Perico’s” trumpet playing what appears to be a fragment of the Puerto Rican national anthem.  “Perico” demonstrates masterful mastery in the harmony of the aforementioned notes conjugating them with the vocal entrance of Milly Quezada.  The song’s lyrics are sweet and romantic with lots of melody and rhyme.  However, this does not limit the arrangement to a simple one.  On the contrary, it is one of those arrangements that conquers by its complexity and fluidity.

Before reaching the 2 minute mark, the leather beats come in, anticipating Milly’s proclamation, confirming in multiple ways the chorus that says: “solo tuyo siempre yo seré” (only yours I will always be).  The mambo goes on, while Milly continues to splash the feeling summarized in the confession she makes while singing in her characteristic color: “eres mi mejor canción, eres tú mi melodía” (you are my best song, you are my melody).  By 3:33, the arrangement returns to the undisputed sound of “Perico”.  This composition, also by “Perico” pays homage to patient love, good love that swears: “te amaré toda la vida” (I will love you all my life).  As you can see, it is possible to coordinate romance with a musical arrangement that is at once melodic, danceable and heavy.  Now, the question I have to ask myself is: Did “Perico”‘s return to his homeland after living in New York for about two decades inspire his pen? Is that the reason for the intro with the overlapping resemblance to the national anthem?  That is the question that leads me to: “Eres tú lo que soñé, eras tú mi fantasía” (You are what I dreamed of, you were my fantasy).

On Señores que se sepa, Henry Santiago’s unmistakable voice stands out again in the coros, backing up “Perico’s” vocal performance.  Shortly after 2:30 minutes, the trumpet leads the melodic development of the winds.  Well into the third minute, the association of bass and piano precede Jorge David Marcano’s timbal until the trombone and tumbadora begin to dominate by the fourth minute.  In the fifth minute, a trumpet-led mozambique takes over.  When the mozambique goes down, the piano seems to embrace the trumpet.  As can be seen, the development of the theme is one with modern overtones of undeniable Afro-descendence, without departing from the classic fundamental sound.

On Tres grandes amigos, Henry Santiago sings with his usual strength.  The melody benefits from a sound that I imagine was inspired by Puente, Rodríguez and Machito, since the saxophones stand out in that typical playfulness of the three Palladium greats.  It would seem that the composition and arrangement -both by “Perico”- are in tune with the upcoming reunion of those whom I affectionately call “Los herederos del Mambo” (The heirs of the Mambo).  I associate it, since on March 5, 2022 begins the reunion tour of Tito Rodriguez, Jr., Mario Grillo (Machito, Jr.) and Tito Puente, Jr. in the concert: The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra.  The reunion will be held at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in New York, under the concept called “The Big 3”; this time titled Palladium in the New Millennium.  On the other hand, on June 19, 2022, Tito Rodríguez, Jr. will be at the Centro de Bellas Artes de Puerto Rico performing as a tribute to “El Inolvidable”: his father, Tito Rodríguez.

Without wanting to compete with the theme performed live with the three timbaleros heirs of the Mambo: Tito Rodriguez, Jr., Mario Grillo (Machito, Jr.) and Tito Puente, Jr. backing the voices of Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cheo Feliciano, Henry Santiago and Osvaldo Román, I invite us to take a closer look at the presentation I am referring to, within the 6th Jazz Festival in Carolina, Puerto Rico.  The performance of this song closed the aforementioned festival and is on YouTube for the delight of those who could not make it there.  Click on the link, https://youtu.be/4jZLEnpaRCo you won’t regret it.  It gave me a more complete perspective of the song and its interpretation.  The arrangement of the song performed that night in Carolina is by Luis “Perico” Ortiz himself.  Highlights of the August 2010 performance included: Carolina Mayor José Carlos Aponte Dalmau, Mario Grillo, Tito Rodríguez, Jr., Tito Puente, Jr. and Luis “Perico” Ortiz.  On the vocal front, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Cheo Feliciano, Henry Santiago and Osvaldo Román stood out.  Of course, I can’t leave out Sammy Velez on baritone saxophone.

It is true that: “We are fortunate to have had three great teachers, three great friends…” and it is also true that Henry Santiago ate it. What a hurricane, that voice that sweeps!  Now what we have left is the appetite to enjoy this year’s concerts.  It’s coming, we are waiting for it.

In Yturvides & Perico, the characteristic speed of the other songs contained in the production is changed and the tempo of classic Jazz with the Latin touch that characterizes the master Luis “Perico” Ortiz stands out.  At minute 3:30, the arrangement is skipped for approximately thirty seconds to return to a soft minute of the undisputed Soñando con Puerto Rico.  The slow tempo is skipped again until the end of the song.  This arrangement is for connoisseurs only.  You know, those who know, know, and those who don’t, learn.  The last minute is pure trumpet accompanied by an orchestra that does not get in the way.  The percussion is complementary and sends the children to school.

As promised on the compact disc’s laminated cover, this song is a fusion of Osvaldo Farrés’ Tres palabras and Bobby Capó’s Soñando con Puerto Rico in a masterful arrangement by “Perico” that accommodates an exceptional performance by Yturvides Vílchez.  Simply exceptional.

In the song Warming Up, which closes this production, stand out:  Charlie Sepúlveda, Néstor Torres and Antonio Luis Orta.  The instrumental segment sounds like a big band, as it is.  The piano dominates and seems to direct the saxophones from the first minute, besides conversing in constant playfulness with the bongo played by Richard Carrasco.  The trumpets have a leading role entering and leaving in orderly shifts with the coros.  Distinguished among the coros is one of my favorite voices; not only for his vocal power but also because he can subtly balance that power with his unequaled melodic command.  That’s Henry Santiago, but that’s my preference.

Anyway, I love this production.  If you don’t have it, get it.  If you do, enjoy it.

Facebook: Luis Perico Ortiz

Article of Interest: Ray Barretto Giant Force y A Conguero’s Conguero

By: Bella Martinez “The Irreverent Salsa Writer”

Puerto Rico

The most progressive arranger and innovator of New York Salsa in the 70s and 80s.

Music often requires characters who are always backstage and support with their talent the work of singers and performers, who are eventually the ones who “come forward” and assume the popularity. Sometimes, though, these anonymous characters shot to fame in order to be able to perform their own work and even become more popular than any fashion singer.

In the case of Pop, this character is named Quincy Jones, who was said to be the arranger for Frank Sinatra and the producer for Michael Jackson. A “nonentity”. In the case of Salsa, these characters have been symbolized by the emulator of Jones, a guy named Louie Ramirez who has done everything with everyone.

An afternoon in 1994, Ramirez was driving his car on the highway that took him to Variety Studios in New York. It was going to be a quick session because he only lacked one track to complete his 20th album as a bandleader. Perhaps this is why he was nervous and full of anxiety. Minutes later, he could not resist the feeling and had to stop the car. He had not finished doing it when a heart attack ended his life.

Introducing Louie Ramirez

Louie Ramirez was a genius. The one to whom all run for advice and solutions to their problems. It did not matter if they were young or old musicians. The fact was that Louie had the answer and visiting him was like rubbing Aladdin’s lamp. That was a characteristic that always accompanied him, from the first recording “Meet Louie Ramirez” in 1963.

He was 20 years old back then and had a good record with regard to composing some pachangas and arranging for the orchestras of Pete and Tito Rodriguez. Commentator Dick Sugar introduced him like this: Ramirez breaks through the image of a bandleader who uses the talents of other composers and becomes a follower of a rhythm. No, Louie Ramirez is a creator in his genre.

Louie Ramirez Ali Baba

That talent did not go unnoticed by the new Czar of Latin music in New York, Jerry Masucci, who hired him as a star of Fania Records and at the same time, as an arranger for the orchestras and ensembles that belonged to the record company. Ramirez was soon wrapped up in work and could only record two albums during the 1960s, “Good news” and “Alí Babá”.

The last album included the hit that allowed him to be a famous artist, El Títere, a true Salsa classic. The song was performed by Rudy Calzado, the third of the soneros Louie had used without finding the right one. It was a ballast that stayed with him as a director during the 1970s, when he used singers such as Pete Bonet, Tito Allen, Jimmy Sabater, “Azuquita” Rodríguez, Adalberto Santiago, and even Rubén Blades.

Louie Ramirez y Sus Amigos

It was precisely Blades that he made an anthological album with, “Louie Ramirez y sus amigos”, which included the song Paula C, with an arrangement of those that deserve to be admired. By then, Ramirez was already considered as the most progressive arranger of Salsa in New York, thanks to the brilliant works done for the Fania All Stars. An excellent work had been the instrumental arrangement for Juan Pachanga, to be performed by Blades, from Canta for a performance by Cheo Feliciano, and of the entire album “Algo nuevo” performed by Tito Rodriguez with Louie’s orchestra.

Noche Caliente

The peak of Ramírez’s career was in 1980 when Joni Figueras, a representative of the K-Tel International label, hired him to maka arrangements for the ballads Todo se derrumbó and Estar enamorado by Manuel Alejandro. The album, which included these and other songs, was released two years later under the title “Noche caliente” and was recorded by Louie’s orchestra.

Ballad-salsa or romantic salsa was born as a result of a work Ramírez did until his death, making occasional attempts in Latin Jazz, which he loved. That is why he recorded a tribute album to Cal Tjader in which Louie was the director, producer, composer and arranger. Apart from that, he played the timbales and his favorite instrument: the vibraphone.

Louie Ramirez was a genius of arrangements, in a career that included Guantanamera and Isadora for Celia Cruz, El Guiro de Macorina for Johnny Pacheco and El Caminante for Roberto Torres.

The Cesta All-Stars Vol. 1

Further to that, there are his works for La Alegre and the Cesta All-Stars. Regarding this Ramírez’s profile, critic Eleazar López defined it very well.

“It is not easy to arrange for a dance orchestra, especially when it is a group that cultivates the hot tropical genre. Many musicians feel influenced by Jazz and the result of their orchestrations leaves a vacuum in the dancer”.

Others arrange in a simple way, but it is so simple that they repeat and copy themselves, and the result is tired music, without any degree of creativity: music that says nothing, that leaves nothing. Louie Ramirez has found the perfect balance… that’s why he always stays relevant.

Article of Interest: Bobby Valentin, the King of Bass at the Fania All-Stars Machinery

#ISMPublicity

Noticias Con Sabor in the month of January

We leave this year with the loss of giants in the Latin Music who have joined the ancestors that include the recent loss of the legendary Mexican star Vicente Fernandez, Panamanian powerhouse sonero Meñique and Paquito Guzman who was known for both his boleros and Salsa tunes.  This year we have also lost legends and great musicians such as Johnny Pacheco, Roberto Roena, Chick Corea, Larry Harlow, Adalberto Alvarez, Johnny Ventura, Ralph Irrizary, Tommy Villariny and at the end of 2020, Tito Rojas.  We are lucky that these artists have left us with their legacies of music that will continue to entertain people for years to come.  Rest in Power!

Spanish Harlem Orchestra conquered Monterey with two explosive sets at a special show this past Saturday, Dec. 11th at the Monterey Conference Center. SHO played a few new tunes from their upcoming 2022 release, their repertoire of hits and Christmas salsa music much to the crowd’s delight. I had the pleasure of emceeing the show as well as playing music as the event’s DJ. SHO who were on fire all night and the dance floor was packed all night long. The crowd roared their approval with a standing ovation at the end of the night.  SHO responded with an infectious danceable Christmas song with a crowd sing-a-long which ended the festive evening. Thanks to producer Luis Mendoza and Montuno Productions for inviting me to be a part of this event. Thanks to the great crowd in Monterey who are salseros all the way!

During the COVID19 pandemic, it seemed that all live music stopped being played in public.  However, there were a few places, mostly outdoor cafes, farmer’s markets and restaurants with outdoor dining that offered live Latin Jazz during these dark times.  One of the unsung heroes who continued to play when the pandemic was at its height is veteran pianist-bandleader Gary Flores who formed Salsa Caliente in SF in 1976.  The group has had a lot of prominent musicians including vocalists Paquito Acosta and Angelo Pagan who continued to see their careers thrive in Puerto Rico and Los Angeles.  He disbanded Salsa Caliente in the late 90’s to concentrate on a smaller Latin Jazz group.  Flores along with ex Franco Brothers bassist/vocalist Carlitos Franco and a revolving lineup of all-star percussionists including Santana timbalero Karl Perazo and former Avance bongocero Oscar Soltero kept the live music going during the pandemic at different venues.  Flores was able to continue to play Latin Jazz and Salsa in stripped down format as a trio due to rearranging Salsa tunes as all the members sang coros and vocalized horn lines behind Franco,   Now that live music has made a comeback of sorts and some venues are now booking bigger bands, Flores is revitalizing a bigger version of Salsa Caliente featuring Franco and Perazo.  Flores has been writing new music and plans to record new music with the group.  His last recording “Descarga Caliente: A New Beginning” came out in 2005.  Gary Flores is a veteran and a survivor of the San Francisco Salsa Scene who deserves a big shout out for keeping Latin music alive in the age of COVID!  Pa’lante Gary!!

Reopening will be later

Some scenes are not reopening for 2022 until February or later.  One of those venues affected is Space 550 at 550 Barneveld St. in San Francisco who will reopen in February due to concerns regarding the current surge in COVID cases and the situation with the new variant of the disease.  I also spoke with Adrian Goddard of Jaffe Events who told me that he will continue to book events but later in the first quarter of 2022,  For some event producers, January isn’t a good month to book Latin Music.

However that’s not stopping Grammy Award winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra who will play their annual January dates at Yoshi’s, Jack London Square on Friday, January 7 and Saturday, January 8th.  Get ready to enjoy and dance to swinging Mambo, Salsa and Latin Jazz from this awesome all-star 20 piece band led by pianist Christian Tumalan and trumpeter Steffen Kuehn. This SF based band is scheduled to play at Europe’s prestigious Tempo Latino Festival in late July. Tickets are now available for these upcoming January dates at Yoshi’s. For more information,  visit www.yoshis.com.

The Cigar Bar, 850 Montgomery St. in SF is starting 2022 with a calendar of great acts coming to this fine venue where you can dine, dance and smoke a fine cigar if you choose to do so. The schedule includes Orquesta La Original w/Alexis Jan 7, Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble Jan 8, The Latin Rhythm Boys Jan 14, Edgardo y Candela Jan 15, N’Rumba Jan 21, La Clave Del Blanco Jan 22, Julio Bravo Y Salsabor Jan 28 and Manteca Jan 29

The Seahorse in Sausalito continues to feature explosive music from the following acts in January on Saturday and Sunday including La Clave Del Blanco Jan 2, Gary Flores and Salsa Caliente featuring Karl Perazo of Santana Jan 8, Edgardo Cambon y Candela Jan 9, Carlos Xavier Salsa Band Jan. 15, Louie Romero and Mazacote Jan 16, Braulio Barrera and Somos El Son, Jan 22,  Orquesta Bembe featuring Christian Pepin on Jan. 23 and Rumbache on Jan. 29.  DJ Jose Ruiz from KPOO/KPFA Radio will also be behind the decks for your dancing pleasure. Check out their fine Italian cuisine and selection of beer and wine.

The Ramp, 855 Terry Francois in SF continues to offer Salsa under their all-weather tent during the month of January.  Their line up includes N’Rumba Jan 8, Louie Romero & Mazacote Jan. 15, Manny Martinez y La Rebeldia, Jan 22 and Orquesta Borinquen on January 29th. DJ Mendy is providing the music in-between sets and from 9 to 11 pm.  The music starts at 5 pm on Saturdays.

Cascal, 400 Castro in Mountain View will be featuring the explosive sounds of Edgardo Cambon and LaTiDo on Fridays, January 7th and 21st starting at 7:30 pm. There is no cover. Cascal continues to offer their tasty menu of Spanish cuisine, Tapas and fine drinks.

The following recordings kept me going during the second year of COVID19: Ruben Blades “Salswing”, El Gran Combo “En Cuarentena” and their Xmas cd “De Trulla Con El Combo”, Gilberto Santa Rosa’s all-star studded “Colegas”, Sonora Ponceña “Hegemonia Musical”, Mel Martinez “Asi Escribe Un Sonero”, Los Generales De La Salsa featuring Van Lester, a 1996 all-star session finally seeing the light of day, Tromboranga “Salsa Terapia”, Los Van Van “Mi Songo”, Various Artists “El Son De Caballero-Homenaje A Adalberto Alvarez and “Son Para Un Sonero”, Sounds Of Cuba “Los Titanes De La Timba”, Alexander Abreu/Havana d’Primera, Various Artists “En Barranquilla Me Quedo-Homenaje a Joe Arroyo, Dorance Lorza’s Sexteto Cafe “20 Aniversario”,  Luis Perico Ortiz “Sigo Entre Amigos”, Charlie Donato’s Son Ideal “De Vuelta Al Barrio, Eduardo Zayas Y Su EZ La Banda “Huerto De Soneros” and his latest “Sabor Y Sandunga”, Alain Perez, Issac Delgado & Orquesta Aragon “Cha Cha Cha: Homenaje A Lo Tradicional”  and Orquesta Failde “Joyas Ineditas”.  There are a flood of singles that did the job as well from Julito Alvarado’s maxi single “Lo Que No Se Escucha (Descarga De Soneros), Don Pergiñon Y La Puertorriqueña, Marc Anthony, Wilito Otero, Josean Rivera, Monsi Y Su Salsa , Mariana Y Su Makynaria, Julito Albino y Secreto De Voces and VibraSON.  These recordings are some of my picks for the Best of 2021.

And…if that wasn’t enough, my program Con Sabor, Saturday nights 9 to 11 PM PST on KPFA 94.1 FM will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary year on January 1, 2022!  Time flies when you’re having fun!!  I’m also on “Sabiduria Con Tumbao” every Wednesday night 5 to 7 PM PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com.

That’s it for this time.  Ciao 4 now!!

This is the report last month: Noticias con Sabor by Luis Medina

BY LUIS MEDINA, PRODUCER AND HOST OF CON SABOR ON KPFA 94.1 FM AND SABIDURIA CON TUMBAO ON WORLD SALSA RADIO.COM

Album covers can express the technological and social advances of different epochs through indirect means.

“Salsa Fantasy” is a term coined by journalist Pablo Yglesias to describe a concept that artist and illustrator Ron Levine wanted to implement when he started creating various album covers for Latin music in the 70s.  He was primarily intended to propose a style that could compete directly with the creations of the prosperous American industry.

This article presents the reasons why Ron Levine decided to set out on on that journey. To that end, we have drawn on an interview conducted by Pablo Yglesias in 2011 in which, in addition to his interesting anecdotes, we are being offered a glimpse of a retrospect of all his work, going through his work with the Sonora Ponceña in which he had the opportunity to develop his style.

Album cover design, Fania Records, illustration, Pop Art, La Sonora Ponceña.

Introduction

Album covers can express the technological and social advances of different epochs through indirect means (Rondón, C., 2008), (Figueredo, M., 2010). The interesting thing about this is that the relative precarious situation in which salsa album covers were designed and the marginality expressed in many cases by the lack of resources with which they were created.

Jerry Masucci’s Fania Records was really focused on supporting that nascent number of singers of Latin origin.

Many of those covers created were concepts on which certain issues closely related to the songs or what the singer wished to express were handled.

In most cases, staging and photography were resorted to express certain ideas related to migration of Latinos in the U.S. and others of social order that prevailed in the lyrics of the songs (Yglesias, P. E., 2005).

In this way, various artists became directly or indirectly involved in the making of their album covers; one example of this are Eddie Palmieri’s album covers where a set of simple but forceful photos and the good mastering of typography can be appreciated (Yglesias, P. E. ,2005).

Although there existed a number of non-Latin graphic designers and artists who engaged in Latin music in the United States during the 70s and 80s, the team formed by Ron Levine and Marshall Lee was the most visible of Salsa in New York.

The two artists, both iconic and revered, worked for Jerry Masucci at Fania Records where Levine created many of Fania’s best known and appreciated covers.

Salsa wonderful photos of Lee would be part of a comprehensive separate study, what interests us in this article is to show the work developed in Ron Levine’s work as a graphic designer and artist.

Throughout his career he played an important role in carrying on the legacy of high quality in the design of album covers initiated by Izzy Sanabria, Walter Velez, Charlie Rosario and other artists and illustrators in the 60s and early 70s.

Below is a review of Ron Levine’s work and some aspects that led him to develop a style so particular that, still today, is applauded by many designers, artists and illustrators who have been involved in the art of creating album covers.

Levine’s childhood: from drawing horses to Ronald Stuart art school Levine was born in 1947 in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Long Island at six years old. His maternal grandparents were Scottish Protestants; his maternal grandmother was Theodore Roosevelt’s nurse in a moment of her life (“She was a big burly woman with hair like sheep,” recalls Levine)

Her paternal grandparents were Jews from Poland and Russia. Her mother, who was born in Glasgow, converted to Judaism when she married her father. She attended art school and, besides being a housewife, she used to work in a professional photo studio and was an expert in dyeing and painting backgrounds oil colors in black and white photographs for weddings.

Her father worked in a textile store and had a knack for textile marketing and fashion in Manhattan.

Levine spent his childhood playing with drums, Jewish folk dances and horse riding. Drawing horses fascinated him and he was obsessed with science fiction illustrations such as Flash Gordon, Disney cartoons, superhero comics, horror and fantasy.

By the age of eight, he was longing to work for Walt Disney; at school he was irreverent in art classes, preferring to draw horses, fantasy characters or Flash Gordon, rather than those boring still life, fruit bowls and colour cards that were classroom exercises.

He motivated himself by drawing fantasy and beautiful horses. Despite his poor grades, his parents knew he had talent, so they encouraged his artistic skills knowing that his career in the arts may not be very financially feasible.

To him, music was a passion almost be likened to painting. Levine formed a band called “The tensions” in which he played drums. He was also the lead vocalist of another band called “The New Rock Workshop” and its members toured and recorded for several years in the 60s.

In addition to playing and singing in those bands, Levine began studying at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, where he took classes in a 4-year programme. There he reclaimed his passion for drawing the human figure.

At the age of 20 Levine settled permanently in Manhattan anstarted his professional career as an artist.  He could not finish the last quarter of his studies, but through a professor he was able to make contact high-profile graphic artists such as Paul Davis, Milton Glaser, Chwast Seymour and Lubalin Herb. After a while he landed a job making magazine covers and also with the famous creative director Tony Palladino with whom he learned various tools of the trade.

In these early works, as may be noted, photography was used as an element of graphic expression, combining some illustration and staging. It was a work concluded between Levine and Lee.

After the first six years, Levine was already doing most of the work for Fania All-Stars together with Lee.

At the same time, Sanabria was occupied with Latin NY magazine, which was a very influential publication for Nuyorican popular culture.

Levine comments that he felt part of The Good, The Bad And The Ugly and Lo Mato.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly

Jhonny Pacheco had respect for his illustrations because Levine also knew about music.

However, he says he took an intensive course and went from not knowing anything about Latin music to witnessing its history and evolution in the front row.

After that, he worked for some albums by Rubén Blades in which he began experimenting with portrait photography, which was a realistic interpretation from photography.

Lo Mato

Despite the pleasant working atmosphere, Levine had some conceptual discussions with Masucci in relation to logos and title text sizes in typographies, resulting in controversial results in some cases.

Since Latin music was marginalized for many years, the designs of the 60s and 70s used a shoestring budget, considering that Fania All-Stars was neither Columbia nor Atlantic Records, for many of the typographies almost everything had to be created manually and with basic techniques such as the use of masks, photocopies, adhesive tape and rubber cement.

In this way, there was a lot of handmade work in which Levine’s photos were taken to the extreme. All the lines were done by hand and then tinted with rapidograph pens. Levine says that some of the typographies created had no concept behind them, however, illustration to produce a quality product take a long time.

Creativity was blooming as was humor. Many musicians used to dress up in costumes and pose with girls.

Subsequently, he was called to work in the covers of La Sonora Ponceña given that the aesthetics of this orchestra’s pieces were in line with his expectations about fantasy illustrations.

La Sonora Ponceña.

Many of the covers created by Levine and Lee challenged the concept of the Latin identity’s representation, this can be better seen in the LP’s created for La Sonora Ponceña from Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The record label Fania Records offered that differentiation to new musicians, giving them the opportunity to say something interestingusing their covers. Sanabria had already begun to develop a concept, but were at the hands of Lee and Levine that a classic representation of the style based on comic-inspired illustrations, some humor and Pop Art was truly shown.

Ruben Blades.

Ruben Blades With Strings

This is how contextualized ideas and stories were developed; an example of this is a cover where a representation of the conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon in full body armor (something incongruous with the use of a sweater), a guitar on his shoulder, a maraca in one hand and a parchment in the other one.

When Levine took charge, there was some controversy concerning how the group should be represented; however, Levine was quite good in the eyes of the fans.

Given that they felt the story needed to be told in some way and the problems and artistic freedom so important to salsa in the 70s were illustrated with authencity through his creations.

These creations that came out from an initial idea of Juan Ponce de León’s representation mutated and became the issue of many album covers that not only told fantastic fictional stories related to music, but also changed the traditional image of the Latin album.

Sonora Ponceña albums (Musical Conquest – Back to work).

Sonora Ponceña Musical Conquest

Despite the success of Levine’s work with the public, Sanabria, who always tried to remain within the limits of Latin culture, criticized him precisely for distorting music and its culture.

Sonora Ponceña Back to work

However, Levine defended his idea by saying that Latin music and its artists very good music), had not received before the support as is provided to American music and artists. Given that Levine had been linked to the creation of covers for rock bands, he always felt that the quality of Latin music covers was very poor due to the low budget.

 Sonora Ponceña albums (Determination – Night Rider).

Sonora Ponceña Determination

In this way with his fiction proposal, Levine put Latin music on a par with some American artists who had recognition (Boston, ELO, Earth, Wind, Fire, Kiss and Yes).

Levine believed the covers should reflect the image of success. Fortunately, he had the support of Masucci, who, motivated by Levine, invested more money in the covers using the same premise.

Sonora Ponceña Night Rider

With his proposal for the covers, Levine wanted to show that Latin music was part of one of the biggest music scenes in the world.

He remarked that each of the covers had the same standard of treatment as a work of art; it was worked with great care and detail.

Finally, the last cover created by Levine for La Sonora Ponceña was made in the digital age – On Target (1998). There is a kind of hybrid between samurai and barbarian, with certain influences of the aesthetics of video games, fast-moving typography management with a flatter illustration but with a three-dimensional look.

The CD was released the year after the death of Masucci.

Sonora Ponceña On Target.

Conclusion

The concept proposed by Ron Levine allowed to explore from creation not only the various ways of making known a musical group, but also the establishment of a style that spread among the public to such an extent that his work on each cover is recognized as a work of art at present.

Mongo Santamaria

On the other hand, he was a pioneer of a style with which Latin music was not initially identified in its beginnings (fiction illustration, Pop Art, humor.) Yet, despite economic constraints, he designed several album covers with the best quality, they are even on the same level as those created on American record labels with higher budgets.

Notes

1 Member of the Research Group Camaleón.

2 Member of the Research Group Palo de Mango.

3 Music festival, art and Hippie congregation; held on 15, 16, 17 and the early morning of 18 August 1969, in Sullivan Country, New York.

References

Figueredo, M. (2010).

Album cover design in the 1970s.

Creation and Production in Design and Communication [works of students and Graduates] Nº 35 (2010). pp 99-102 ISSN 1668-5229 99

Rondón, C. (2008).

The Book of Salsa: A Chronicle of Urban Music from the Caribbean to New York City The University of North Carolina Press.

Cocinando. Fifty Years of Latin Album Cover Art.

New York: Pricenton Architectural Press.

Received: June 30/ Approved: November 28, 2013.

For Santa Maria’s bongo album Afro-Indio, Levine produced a masterful watercolor of ritual imagery focused on African culture.

https://nexus.univalle.edu.co/index.php/nexus/article/view/747/870

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Ron Levine