DAVE SANTIAGO & LATIN AFFAIR
By Vicki Sola', March 15, 2002 Dancers and listeners alike have long hungered for authentic, heavyduty, "phat" Salsa that remains true to its roots, while rocketing fullspeed into the future. Latin music connoisseurs need not despair Dave Santiago & Latin Affair, direct from "El Condado de la Salsa/The County of Salsa" (Da Bronx), have zoomed to their rescue, with a new production that' s guaranteed to bum holes in shoes and wear out dance floors. Bandleader/vocalist/percussionist Dave Santiago Sr.'s refreshing assemblage of proven young talent and veteran "warriors" truly supply us with a versatile mix of music traditional Cuban numbers like "La Botija de Abuelito," treated with Latin Affair's inimitable no nonsense, hard driving brand of swing, and also original compositions like the smash hit single that my listeners still can't get enough of, the number that put Latin Affair "on the map," creating legions of loyal fans for them, "La Peluca." Dave Santiago, Sr., who has worked with Rene' Grande y su combo New York, Bobby Quesada, Orquesta, Broadway, the late legend Jose' Fajardo, Joe Santiago, Carlos "Patato" Valdes, the late Virgilio Marti', Son Candela, Pete Pagan, Ifrain Rolon y la Impression, Cruz Control, Miri Benai, Angelo y su Conjunto Modelo, and many others, has built Latin Affair around his son, Dave Jr., who was hailed as a flute virtuoso at the tender age of 15. Dave Jr.'s playing, as you'll hear, is living proof of the success of Dave, Sr.'s self described mission of "preserving and passing down our heritage." What do you get when you add to the mix Johnny Pacheco and Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez veteran Louis "Carrasceao" Rodriguez (check out his magical Tres and Cuatro performance on "Descarga Cuatro y Tres," and his sparkling accompaniment of Elba Mercado's poem "De Las MontaKas/Tribute to Our Jibaro Ancestors"), accomplished sonero Luis "El Tirano" Rodriguez, dynamo vocalist Pete Pagan (singer for seven years with Los Hermanos Morenos), Musical DirectorRick Faulkner (the accomplished trombonist and bassist who arranged "La Peluca"), Tito Puente Orchestra veteran trumpet stars Ray Vega and John Walsh, the immensely talented brass players Edwin Gonzalez and Charlie Garcia, the very much sought after bassist Marino Solano (when Cuban bands visit the Apple, they make it a point to check him out), "spark plug" of Latin Affair, Danny Morales (his 'short list of credits includes Victor Paz, Louie Ramirez, Johnny Ray, Frankie Ruiz, and Michael Stewart), Jazz at Lincoln Center's sensational young bassist Carlos Henriquez (hailed by Wynton Marsalis as "a great young musician"), savy, mainstay" percussionists Harry Adomo and Papo Pepin, and, yes, pianists renowned players Edwin Sanchez and Willie Rodriguez, and a brand new talent from Japan, one who reminds Dave, Sr. of Papo Lucca, Chiemi Nakajima.
The result..? See why my respected Latin Beat Magazine colleague and friend, Max Salazar, listed Dave Santiago & Latin Affair on his "Top Ten Picks" in Latin Beat for the year 2001! Discover why Dj Jeff Stennett, of La Maganette and Copacabana fame, chose dave Santiago & Latin Affair as a "Hot Pick". Wherever the laser beam strikes, this CD is the real Deal! "Traditiona funk" as Dave Sr. says,"Latin Music with a New York Attitude! Vicki Sola 89.1 WFDU-FM radio host/producer of "Que viva la Musica" and columnist for Latin Beat Magazine
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