Güito y Su Conjunto featuring the Al Gonzalez Trio- El Rumbon (196?)

Hello my people. Today's offering is a real cooker. I can imagine my grandfather in '65 or so, nervous, navigating his way into a downtown record store and timidly asking the clerk if he had anything spicy that would help him to practice his cha cha with the wife. Well my friend- this is just the thing.

Likely your salsa does not lack spice, or soul, or funk, because we are the lucky beneficiaries of a generation or two of hep cats separating the wheat from the chaff. This album, however, hearkens back to a time when most everything marketed towards the English-speaking market was drenched in cheese. This is one of those rare exceptions.

First of all, the band is smoking. Everyone on this record is feeling it. Just listen to the percussion intro on Tombola, listen to how everyone switches things up midway through No Me Molesto, listen to the soulful vocal (and the satisfying lyrical twist) on Intención Cobarde. Don't get me started on the eponymous "jam session" El Rumbon. Timbales, congas, flutes, a güiro- and in case the standard Afro-Caribbean fare isn't enough for you- clarinets, barnyard animals, and a celesta! (or a clavichord? or some other kind of tiny piano?).

I'm not Margaret, but I wish I were, because I'm sure Mr. Gonzalez is a tender, rhythmic lover.

Cha cha cha!


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[Original Liner Notes]

There's something about free-wheeling music that grabs and tickles and thrills. Most often the joy comes from the sound and the sensitivity of musicians relating in ad lib fashion to eash others' messages and passages. It's the incredible pleasure that comes from a RUMBON (it was called a jam-session in jazz circles) where the fury of performance is unchecked. It's that kind of pleasure that comes from the combination of sounds and rhythms, melodies and tempos in this first album from Guito y Su Conjunto, featuring the Al Gonzalez Trio.

There is a collection of new song and familiar one presented here. There is a wide variety of approach to each. The title song, Rumbon Session, is a complete improvisation which happened during recording. It's all included here in its very natural result, unpolished, unstained, uninhibited. The musicians are anonymous.

Granada is performed here with a definite and simple beat. Guantanamera is played by the group in guajira tempo with a modern touch. Listen to La Comadrita. It is typical music from Puerto Rico and if you are ever down there you'll hear and see it performed at all the country dances. Add another happy sound. This one is called Tombola. It swings to a mixture of Latin and Rock rhythms.

There are other songs and sounds and stirrings. There is a hum and buzz and brightness that reaches a fine standard of achievement. Guito's vocals and the pulsating beat behind him will keep you dancing.

EL RUMBON...he aquí una complilación de melodías, ritmos y sonidos a cargo de Güito y su Conjunto con el trio de Al Gonzalez. No dudamos que cada una de las selecciones musicales en éste álbum brindarán recuerdos pasados además de momentos alegres en el presente; melodias revestidas simple y diferentemente...una colección de antiguas pero bien conocidas canciones tales como Guantanamera, Granada, Vereda Tropical, todas interpretadas en forma sencilla.

Güito y su Conjunto demuestran su versatilidad al interpretar EL RUMBON por ser éste tema en el cual se destacan todos y cada uno de los miembros de esta agrupación en forma arrolladora y exitante.

Lewdisc Internacional orgullosamente les invita a bailar con éste disco de larfa duración que llamamos...EL RUMBON.

A RALPH SEIJO PRODUCTION

LADO A
Guantanamera- 2:28
Granada (A. Lara)- 3:13
Como Se Baila- 2:52
Paisaje (A. Gonzalez)- 3:31
El Parrandero (A. Gonzalez)- 2:49
Tombola- 2:41

LADO B
No Me Molestes- 3:20
Vereda Tropical (G. Curiel)- 2:36
Intención Cobarde (A. Gonzalez) Vocal: Alicia de Cordova- 3:32
La Comadrita (A. Gonzalez)- 2:59
El Rumbon (Ralph Seijo)- 5:00