When I talk to DJs from Spain to Poland, from Stockholm to Italy, they all lament the flood of very commercial and watered-down releases, especially in the bachata scene, or the constant repetition of countless Cuban timbas. These are desired by the audience on the one hand but leave little room for new releases on the other. In fact, not much spectacular has been released in the salsa scene in recent years.
However, a reliable source of innovation is Fabrizio Zoro, who, as a solo artist, producer, and with his band “La Maxima 79,” has been surprising us for many years with creative and intelligent salsa, continually releasing a series of hits, some of which are now considered classics of the genre.
Yesterday, the album "X" was released. Some may already be familiar with the pre-release track Alcaran. It is the fifth album after Regresando al Guaguancò, Joseito, Resilienza, and Un Nuevo Dia. The title "X" (Roman numeral for 10) marks the band’s 10th anniversary of releasing music, and this milestone is meant to be celebrated. Spoiler: It more than succeeded, as they not only honored themselves but also paid tribute to the genre of salsa and its wonderful and diverse roots.
The album surprised me after the first listen, and by now, I consider it the best release of the year. The album is an "anachronism" in the best sense of the word. It covers many styles of Latin music and delves deeply into its roots and origins. The 1970s also receive their due, all wrapped up in La Maxima 79's timeless and distinctive style.
La Huesped: A strong start. Energetic and superb, arranged by Rodolfo Guerra, a renowned Peruvian bassist with over 35 years of success as a musician. Many of the tracks, including this one, are sung by Donny Reyes, the “Florentine Matancero,” Maxima’s new singer. Special guest on brass: Michel Padron, a Cuban living in Bristol, UK. On trumpets: Gabriel Oscar Rosati and El Vikingo de La Salsa. Huge hit potential.
Paga El Guaguanco: This track was arranged by Fabrizio Zoro and sung by Donny Reyes (who also wrote the lyrics). At the piano is Maxima 79's new pianist, Andrea Giubilei, while Gabriel Oscar Rosati and El Vikingo de La Salsa once again play the brass instruments.
Traigo Salsa: The track jumps right in, featuring the signature La Gripe guitars playing a guaguancó theme, a hallmark of La Maxima 79, again performed by Xavi Masvidal, who was also heard on La Gripe and Mucho Guaguancó. The lyrics address the contrast between bachateros and salseros and the current trends in our scene, while this album stakes out a new position.
Apeate y Oye: A beautiful salsa track. Standout performances by Donny Reyes, Gabriel Oscar Rosati, El Vikingo de La Salsa, and Venezuelan Efren Iriarte on timbales with a fantastic solo. The trumpet solo recalls the era of La Maxima 79 with Jimmy Bosch. Very driving. The original was played by Agustin Arce Y Su Nuevo Sonido and written by the great Tite Curet Alonso, the Puerto Rican composer who wrote many of the most famous salsa tracks. He wrote for artists like Cheo Feliciano, Willie Colón, Ray Barretto, Ismael Rivera, Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, Pete Rodríguez, Rafael Cortijo, and many more.
Alcaran: A genre classic, covered many times. It likely dates back to the 1920s. Vocals by Yoris the Trinitarian. Jazzy, with a beautiful piano solo. It evokes the dance schools of Havana in the 1960s and 1970s.
Fa Bi Ca: Instrumental jazz-salsa, a descarga. A stark contrast to the commercialism of many contemporary releases. Music like this has essentially not been released for decades. Incredibly good. Congress-level! One of the album’s highlights for me. This is how I imagine the Palladium era of the 1950s and 60s.
Up to You: This song had been in the drawer since 2011. Now it’s brought back to life with an Afro-Cuban introduction and participation from Dany De Santis on piano.
Sun Sun Babae: A cover of Tito Rodriguez’s classic (composed by Rogelio Martinez Diaz), also performed by Eddie Palmieri, Oscar de León, and Tito Rodriguez. A familiar track for most listeners.
Plathos: A jazzy descarga with a timbales solo. It was released a few months ago but is presented here in a vintage version by Tuscan DJ Isaia Leoni.
Que se Prenda: A driving piece, perfect for show performances. This time, Matteo Salvatori from Rimini demonstrates his best skills on percussion (congas and timbales).
Guajirita: A classic guajira, perfect for a slow cha-cha, with many Cuban elements from the mid-20th century. The guitars and bongos are beautiful. The piece was a collaboration between Fabrizio Zoro and Giancarlo Pioli, aka El Rubio Loco, who also sings.
La Culpable: A Cuban son composed during the COVID period, arranged and played on piano by Dany De Santis and sung by El Guille, the former singer of La Maxima 79.
Indeleble: A beautiful salsa track that was originally intended for the previous album but fits better thematically here. Again, El Guille provides the vocals.
This album is a refreshing contrast to all the hastily produced, computer-generated tracks that try to chase current trends, especially in bachata. La Maxima pays homage to the genre and breathes new life into it. The album is a deliberate counterpoint and a strong statement. Salsa lives!
The cover artwork is by Argentine photographer Sergio Aldacor.
Links La Maxima 79:
- Instagram ILatin-Music, La Maxima 79
- Youtube: La Maxima 79
- Facebook La Maxima 79
- Interview mit Fabrizio Zoro
- WebSite ILatin Music
- La Maxima "Mucho Guaguancó"