Me Quité – Héctor Valentin
Héctor Valentín Larrondo Ricardo, better known as Héctor Valentín, presents his most recent album Me Quité. The album, which was supported by the prestigious British label Tumi Music. El Valiente, as Valentín is also known, is a native of Havana and has been part of the Orquesta Reve, La Familia and the Adalberto Álvarez y Su Son group, before forming his band in 1992.
Me Quité had the musical production of Manolito Simonet, with a contribution from Adalberto Alvarez; and the compositions, for the most part, by Alberto Tamayo González, as well as songs by Adalberto Alvarez (Tu Fiel Trovador), Alberto Cardenas (Oshun), Ricardo Amaray (Yo Te Amo) and Ernesto Duarte (Bajate de esa Nube).
The phonogram opens with the piece Opening. A theme that breathes Cuban identity and builds bridges with the Conga rhythm. The number that gives the production its title is highly crafted and intimate, shedding light on the artist’s life and some paths he would never want to go down again, it also highlights guitarist Lino Lores. Quisiera ser tu Pintor, a song that was released as a single in 2020, captivates us with a poetic text. Sin Clave No Se puede is very contagious and pays homage to Cuban music – like that, with capital letters – and some of its great exponents. Tu Fiel Trovador, Adalberto Alvarez’s classic number, highlights the great performance of Valentín in the vocal part, as well as the piano solo of Adalberto’s own daughter, Dorgelis Alvarez. The explosive Oshun by Alberto Cardenas invites percussionist Adonis Panter. The emotional Homenaje A Mi Familia, a theme in which Valentín pays tribute to his relatives – especially his mother -, presents an introduction of Rumba (Guaguanco) that highlights the executions of Bárbaro Crespo “Machito” -the very Osain Del Monte- and Adonis Panter on the congas. The romantic, but no less tasty, Yo Te Amo, continues the sound journey focused on the dancer, before stepping on bolero terrain with the cut Bajate De Esa Nube. Amor Libre defies the standards of married life. Ni Contigo Ni Conmigo highlights the vocal duo put together by Ricardo Amaray and Valentín himself. Carola, an arrangement by Diusvel Morales “Metra” – the only number that Manolito Simonet did not arrange -.
QUE ALARDE !!! he came with everything….
Tracks: Opening; Me Quité; Quisiera Ser Tu Pintor; Sin Clave No Se Puede; Tu Fiel Trovador; Oshun; Homenaje A MI Familia; Yo Te Amo; Bajate De Esa Nube; Amor Libre; Ni Contigo Ni Conmigo; Carola.
Héctor Valentín – vocals; Manolito Simonet y Roger Rizo – piano; Ernesto Leandro Sánchez – bass; Evelio Delfín – tumblers; Héctor Randy Olmos – drum; Jorge Luìs Guerra – guiro y maracas; Carlos Frank Iraola – trumpet; Eulises Benavides y Osley Antonio Patridge – trombone; Rubén Rodríguez, Gabriel Rodríguez, David Bencomo – chorus: Carolina Rodríguez de Armas – cello; Ana Karla Sarmiento – viola; Jelyem Baso y Amanda Michelle – fiddle;
Guests: Adalberto Alvarez, Ricardo Amaray – vocals; Jairon – rap; Dorgelis Álvarez – piano; Lino Lores – guitar; Adonis Panter – cajon, shekere, congas & tres; Bárbaro Crespo “Machito” (Osaín del Monte) – tumbler
Recording studio: Manolito Simonet’s Studios, Vedado, La Habana Musical Production: Manolito Simonet Recording Engineer: Josdan Coímbra Mixing and Mastering: Osvaldo Padrón & Manolito Simonet Attendees: Jorge Daniel Rivero, Mireya Herrera, Yolanda González, Héctor Díaz, Ángel Román & René Herrera Executive Producer: Sergio Hernández & Gabriel López A&R & Pos Production: Mo Fini.
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