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Bio Ritmo
Bio Ritmo
Bio Ritmo
Genres: Alternative Rock, International Music, Latin Music
 
  •  Track Listings (8) - Disc #1

Salsa and Latin music enthusiasts have often wondered what caused the music's extraordinary renaissance in the late 1960s and '70s to peter out. After a period of remarkable cross-fertilization and experimentation, when ol...  more »

     

CD Details

All Artists: Bio Ritmo
Title: Bio Ritmo
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Locutor
Release Date: 3/9/2004
Genres: Alternative Rock, International Music, Latin Music
Styles: Indie & Lo-Fi, Caribbean & Cuba, Cuba, Rhumba, Tropical, Salsa, Merengue
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 829757652825

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Salsa and Latin music enthusiasts have often wondered what caused the music's extraordinary renaissance in the late 1960s and '70s to peter out. After a period of remarkable cross-fertilization and experimentation, when old hands like Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaria played with funk beats, Eddie Palmieri plugged in an electric Fender Rhodes keyboard and bands like Santana and El Chicano injected rock with Latin swing (and vice versa), the musical climate shifted towards synthesizers, pop ballads and the sugary "salsa romantico" that dominates Latin radio today in the form of everyone from Marc Anthony to Ricky Martin. Bio Ritmo, a nine-piece self-described "classic" salsa band from Virginia, makes clear on their mostly smoking self-titled fourth release just what it is we've been missing all these years. Lead singer and songwriter Rei Alvarez brings his Puerto Rican roots to bear on material that more than anything echoes the thrilling sound of Palmieri's groundbreaking 1960s and '70s bands La Perfecta and Harlem River Drive. On "Atrevete" pianist Marlysse Simmons brings some serious salsa chops to bear on her funky Fender Rhodes solo while the band drops impressively into Brazilian samba, and "Fabula" shows off some high-energy playing from timbalero Giustino Riccio while the group goes from hard-driving salsa to an intense Afro-Cuban 6/8 groove. About the only blemish on this otherwise immaculate canvas is bassist Jon Sullivan's insistence on overusing envelope filter bass effects--whooshing science fiction sounds that come across as gratuitous, since the group's open-mindedness and willingness to experiment is obvious enough from the music. --Ezra Gale

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CD Reviews

ConTEMPO Vintage
03/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's all about the clave.
While the sound of Bio Ritmo is fresh, you can feel
that these musicians are rooted in salsa tradition.
They masterfully blend contemporary effects and
subjects with the fundamentals of classic salsa.
If you dance salsa...this album is a must have!"
Hot! Bio Ritmo is on Fire!
WorldDiscoveries.Net | 03/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"such talent and passion in their music! Very uptempo, full of energy and definitely a must buy cd. Well worth it! Makes you wanna salsa all night long!"
Salsa Foundations with a modern twist
WorldDiscoveries.Net | Petaluma, California | 11/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's too much 'cheesy' salsa on the market today - so maintains Guistino Riccio, leader of Bio Ritmo, and BIO RITMO seeks to eliminate the fluff from salsa with its lively, almost rocking salsa beat that just doesn't quit.

 Bio Ritmo attempts to capture the foundations of the classic salsa sound - but with a contemporary twist. If you listen hard, you can hear the rock and soul influence underlying Bio Ritmo's remakes of classic salsa - including occasional synthesizer and classic keyboard riffs.

"