CD yeb-7730-2

DEEP RUMBA "A CALM IN THE FIRE OF DANCES RUMBA PROFUNDA / ALTA EN LA FIEBRE DE LA RUMBA" EL NEGRO HORACIO HERNANDEZ, ROBBY AMEEN, XIOMARA LAUGART, ANDY GONZALEZ, CHARLES NEVILLE, PUNTILLA ORLANDO RIOS, RICHIE FLORES, PAOLI MEJIAS, ALFREDO TRIFF, GIOVANNI HIDALGO, AMADITO VALDEZ, HAILA MONPIE, ROMAN DIAZ, PEDRO MARTINEZ, CHARLIE FLORES, ABRAHAM RODRIGUEZ,VELIBOR PEDEVSKI, KIP HANRAHAN Produced by Kip Hanrahan Recorded December 1999 through April 2000 released October 2000 AMCL 1030

"One can appreciate this recording on three levels. First, the amazing focused intensity of the percussion -- which offers density and detail without clouding over or wandering off track. (Credit Horacio El Negro Hernandez and Robby Ameen for anchoring the drums on Alto...) Second, the organic melodic flavor -- largely derived form the warm vocals fo Xiomara Laugart and Orlando Puntilla Rios, as well as the full-bodied tenor saxophone of Charles Neville. And third, the vocal celebration of rhythm, love, and life ... One does not have to speak the language to understand the deeper statement communicated by these artists. They speak a musical dialect with universal appeal, offering a message that bears repeated listening - and, on occasion, compels one to get up and shake a little booty."
Nils Jacobson, All About Jazz

This is it. Yep, no doubt about it. You wanted afro-cuban music taken to the next level? ...Well, this is it. ...This is real intense, trust me.... When they mean deep, they mean deep... Give it a shot. I did, and have not been the same since!"
EG, Oasis, Salsero, Album of the Month (10/01)

"... here is a new perspective of the Afro-Cuban musical sound and future, remarkable in it's quality and it's playing, the feeling of adventure."
Francisco Cruz, Le Monde de Musique (France)