Temba, Tumba y Timba - Juan Formell, Pedroso, Cesar
Eso Damelo a Mi
La Bomba Soy Yo - Juan Formell, Pedroso, Cesar
El Negro Esta Cocinando - Juan Formell, Pedroso, Cesar
Somos Cubanos - Juan Formell, Formell, Samuel
El Cheque - Juan Formell, Cardenas, Rodolfo
Quien No Ha Dicho Una Mentira
Mi Chocolate
Consuelate Como Yo - Juan Formell, Asencio, Gonzalo
Appapas del Calabar
Havana City
If you have any trouble jumpstarting the fun at your next party, throw on Llego... Van Van--or just about any other Los Van Van CD for that matter. This 15-piece ensemble is back celebrating its 30th anniversary of togethe... more »rness while packing another album with its signature high-energy Cuban salsa, mixing traditional Latin melodies into contemporary originals that wander into funk and jazz territory. Listeners can ever rely on Los Van Van for letting it all hang out in thriving timbales and percussion, blazing horn lines, flittering flute, and roaring vocals with infectious call-and-response chant. And this album is simply no exception. Leader Juan Formell puts forth such playful songs as "Temba, Tumba y Timba" and "Mi Chocolate" along with red-hot jams featuring luscious solos, as the piano, timbales, and trombone attest on "Consuelate Como Yo." There's also a glittering parade of singers here--including Roberto Hernandez, Mario Rivera, and Pedro Calvo--who seamlessly slide the mic back and forth to lead the rousing, throbbing festival, which, thankfully, lasts for a solid 60 minutes. --Karen Karleski« less
If you have any trouble jumpstarting the fun at your next party, throw on Llego... Van Van--or just about any other Los Van Van CD for that matter. This 15-piece ensemble is back celebrating its 30th anniversary of togetherness while packing another album with its signature high-energy Cuban salsa, mixing traditional Latin melodies into contemporary originals that wander into funk and jazz territory. Listeners can ever rely on Los Van Van for letting it all hang out in thriving timbales and percussion, blazing horn lines, flittering flute, and roaring vocals with infectious call-and-response chant. And this album is simply no exception. Leader Juan Formell puts forth such playful songs as "Temba, Tumba y Timba" and "Mi Chocolate" along with red-hot jams featuring luscious solos, as the piano, timbales, and trombone attest on "Consuelate Como Yo." There's also a glittering parade of singers here--including Roberto Hernandez, Mario Rivera, and Pedro Calvo--who seamlessly slide the mic back and forth to lead the rousing, throbbing festival, which, thankfully, lasts for a solid 60 minutes. --Karen Karleski
"This Grammy-winner album is by far Van Van's best timba album to date. The quality of the recording is excellent and captures their strong sound as if playing live. Mayito, Guayacan, and Pedrito Calvo are at their best. This is also the last recording Cesar Pedroso made with Van Van before starting his own band. The lyrics and "coros" are solid through out the album. If you like Van Van this CD is money-back guaranteed. There was an issue with the record company not giving this album the exposure it deserved, being it a Grammy winner and all... heartbreaking as tracks #1 through #9 could all be hit singles. I'm a die-hard salsa fan (70s-80s-90s) and this was the first timba album I bought. I have a 600+ CD/LP salsa collection and must say that together with Adalberto Alvarez's "Jugando con Candela" and Manolito y su Trabuco's "Se Rompieron los Termometros" this CD is the best contemporary Cuban timba/salsa I own."
Van Van Son Negros Muy Bien Cuidao-- Ten Cuidado!
Emilio D. Lia | 12/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mucha gente aqui estan confundiendo la musica con la politica. No me digas qu la musica del ano guacara es la verdadera musica cubana. Este grupo esta en Cuba AHORA y esta musica esta hecho por ellos. Entonces es verdadera musica cubana.
Ya. Dejame decir que este disco es poderosamente bello. Me encanta y tiene un espirito y fuerza que uno no puede describir con palabras."
Original Cuban Sound
Emilio D. Lia | 03/09/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you really really like salsa, you have to listen to this band and this CD. Salsa bands have different sounds, and los Van Van have a special style that you can recognize even if you don't know who is singing. This music is a great example of the simplicity and happiness of the true Cuban people, without mentioning anything related to politics or hidden political messages. This is Cuba's and the Caribean's flavor. The cd transports you to the caribean, and you can get a taste of its people and its culture just by listening to it."