Search - Cheo Feliciano :: Una Voz... Mil Recuerdos

Smooth Operator

Tito de León | Miami | 07/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 1935, the sonero Cheo Feliciano is a living legend. In his song "El Cantante," another great sonero, Hector Lavoe improvised the following lyrics: "Mis saludos a Celia, Rivera, Feliciano, esos si son grandes cantores... escucha bien su cantar, aprende de los mejores." He paid homage to Cheo while putting him in some pretty fast company, namely Celia Cruz and Ismael Rivera. He's known as one of the greats for various reasons. Take your pick: an ability to improvise that ranks him with some of the nimblest vocalists in Afro-Latin music history; a streetwise flavor that put edges on many numbers; a poetic lyricism few romantic singers can match; a versatility unique even among soneros that enabled him to sing many different rhythms in many different formats; a creativity that spawned at least two classics written by him: "El Raton" and "Como Rien."



In this album, Una Voz...Mil Recuerdos, released back in 99', he pays tribute to some of the great singers who have passed. His interpretations are first class - full of sabor and feeling. It is great to hear him like this, full of verve and conviction, and his band is tight and tasty. Check out the tracks "Que Si Cantaban Bien", "Medley Bailando Plena/Karaka Tis-Ki/'Alo Quien", and "Todo Tiene Su Final". Yes, he can be compared to a Barry White!"