Prado…Vive!
Performed by Raul Guttierez and his Cuban Big Band
Listen Here…
Single CD/Digipak Full Price
Release Date: 2nd April 2021
Physical & Digital Distribution: NAXOS
Tracklisting
Mambo del papelero (Pérez Prado/arr: Tolly Ramírez); Que le pasa a Lupita (Pérez Prado/arr: Tolly Ramírez); Gateando (Pérez Prado/arr: Tolly Ramírez); Cerezo Rosa (Jacque Larue/Louis Guy/arr: Tolly Ramirez) ; Bonito y sabroso (Benny More/arr: Jose Quintana); Mambo Nr 5 (Pérez Prado/arr: Horacio González); Mambo en Sax (Pérez Prado/arr: Tolly Ramírez); Mambo a la Kenton (Pérez Prado/arr: Tolly Ramírez); Mambos Midley: Mambo Nr 8/Que rico Mambo (Pérez Prado/arr: Horacio González);
Caballo negro (Pérez Prado/arr: Horacio González)
Concept Overview
On this CD, saxophonist and bandleader Raul Guttierrez (IRAZU, AFRO CUBAN ALL STARS ORCHESTRA) - who has a strong interest in a variety of Cuban styles - pays homage to the king of mambo, Pérez Prado, backed by a line-up of highly skilled musicians – namely his Cuban Big Band. They recreate some of the immortal masterpieces, presented here in the versions by the arrangers Tolly Ramirez and Horacio González (director of the orchestra of the famous night club Tropicana in Havana.)
This is a recording that should be listened and danced to experience the full musical virtuosity and richness in details and nuances – a truly worthy tribute to PÉREZ PRADO, "The King of Mambo”!
Composer Information
Born 1917, Damaso Pérez Prado developed his musical skills from early childhood by studying classical piano with Rafael Somavilla and then later playing in a number of casino orchestras in Havana and working as pianist/arranger for Sonora Matancera and the Casino De La Playa Orchestra, Cuba‘s best-known ensembles at the time. In 1946, he formed his first own band which blended different styles like Cuban Dot, Rumba and Jazz and that gained him the respect and love of the audiences.
Leaving Cuba and moving to Mexico in 1949 proved the important career step for Prado. There he formed his own band, signed a contract with RCA Victor and soon specialized in mambo which should make him the famous ″king of mambo“.
He did not invent the mambo, an upbeat version of the Cuban danzón, but Prado‘s mambos stood out among the competition with their fiery brass riffs and strong saxophone counterpoints, and most of all, his trademark grunts. An explosive combination which became an international success with several hits across the globe. "Patricia" peaked at No. 1 on the Jockeys and Top 100 charts (both became the Billboard Hot 100 chart a week later) and also went to number one in Germany, and number eight in the UK, while the Italian film director Federico Fellini used it twice in his classic "La Dolce Vita". The famous
"Mambo No. 5" was a UK chart-topper for Lou Bega in 1999, and Prado's cha-cha-chá version of "Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)", originally composed by Louis Guy, held the US pole position for 10 consecutive weeks, sold over one million copies, and also went No.1 in the UK and in Germany.
Artist Information
Trumpets: Angel “el niño” Chapotin, Lázaro Oviedo; Edito O,farril; Trombones: Ulises Benavides, Carlitos “ Afrokan” Alvarez, Antonio Leal; Saxophones: Cristian Serrano (alto saxophone, lead)’ Oreste Valido (alto saxophone)’ Enrique Mora (tenor saxophone)’ Eliana Muller (tenor saxophone)’ Raúl Gutiérrez Villanueva (barítone saxophone); Piano: Miguel Farias; Bass: Marcelo Córdova; Drums: Alain Ortiz Samada; Bongos: Rolando “El Niño mentira” Salgado; Congas : Yordanis O‘farrill; Bongos & cow bell: Luis Hernández llorca; Chorus: Ernesto Perez, Eliana Delgado, Noila Carrazana (en Lupita); Singers: Jose Lusson Bueno, Jose Lusson Jr
Recorded & mastered by Eider Luis García Ávila; Mixed by Eider Luís García (Eider dj) & Raúl Cabrera León ( “El gallo”); Produced by Raúl Gutiérrez Villanueva; Coproduced by Nestor Proveyer
Recorded in Havana, Estudios JC records, Guines Mayabeque Cuba
Note for Editors & Journalists
This new CD will be fully serviced to key press/media. Please request a physical review copy or a link for digital files if preferred via email to john@musicandmediaconsulting.com – likewise for interview requests.