98 degree una noche

November finds the Apple steaming despite the frost, still pulsating to the sounds of what many consider to be two of 98's hottest releases: Tito Puente's Live at Birdland Dancemania '99 (RMM) continues to garner acclaim. New York club DJ Jeff Stennett, who is spinning a lot of "cayuco" these days at La Maganette and the Copacabana, summed up my feelings when he stated, --The great thing about Dancemania 1999 is when you listen to it, you forget that it's a live recording." The other release scuffing up city dance floors, and being hailed by those welcoming what seems to be a long-awaited "back to real-Salsa" movement, is Eddie Palmieri'S El Rumbero del Piano (RMM).

Malague?¡Àa Salerosa is a much requested track, and more than several aficionados have commented to me that on this production, the voices of Wichy Camacho and Herman Olivera blend very well.

The name Eddie Palmieri, along with that of his brother Charlie, and those of others--Noro Morales, Peruch??n, Jorge Dalto, Eddie Cano, Joe Loco, Markolino Dimond, Joe "The Professor" Torres, and Larry Harlow, inspire reverence and excite the senses. We're lucky to have a few of them around, still making magic. These greats have, by their very existence, galvanized another generation of pianists. The New York area is fortunate to be home to many of them-Gilberto "Pulpo" Col??n, Jr., Oscar Hern??ndez, Ricky Gonz??lez, Isidro Infante, Hilton Ruiz, Sergio George, and Lucho Cueto. In this, and coming columns, I'll be presenting short sketches of members of the Apple's--new generation" of pianists who are making lasting marks in the Salsa and Latin jazz worlds.

Gilberto "Pulpo" Col??n, Jr. is a 16-year veteran of the late Hector Lavoc's orchestra, and perhaps one of the only pianists of his generation to be able to boast inclusion of Latin music's "three greats" on his resume. Col??n, whose artistry has camed him the nickname "Octopus," has played with Frank "Machito" Grillo's original Machito Orchestra, as well as with those of Tito Puente and Tito Rodr??guez. Colon is, (despite some errone??us reports to the contrary), the pianist of record, responsible for the breathtaking, extended piano solo on Hector Lavoe's Bandolera, on the classic 1978 Fama album, Comedia. Col??n recalls the December 15, 1977 recording session which took place in New York City. "[Producer and mixer] Willie Col??n aIways said if he didn't like a particular solo, he'd splice ??t out so seamiessly, that you'd never even know you'd done ??t." Suffice ??t to say that Willie Col??n liked this particular piano solo, as ??t remains, in its entirety, on the recording of the Jos?? Febles arrangement of Bandolera on Lavoe's Comedia.

These days, Gilberto "Pulpo' Col??n's tentacles are all over the Apple. He is the featured pianist with the current Machito Orchestra, under the direction of Mario Grillo, and he and his Latin jazz ensemble, Ensalada de Pulpo (Octopus Salad) are regulars at Tito Puente's Restaurant on City Island in the Bronx. In this ensemble, Col??n features bassist Ramon Mart??nez, conguero Francisco "Alambrito" Vald??s, Jr., who also performs percussion services for vocalist Vicki Sue Robinson, Ray Sep??lveda veteran Pablo "Chino" Nu?¡Àez on timbales, and bongocero Luis Mangual, of the "Mangual Dynasty." In addition to being an "in demand" studio musician, contributing to other artists' productions, Col??n also finds himself being the regularly featured pianist at Jimmy's; Bronx Cafe's piano bar.

Isidro Infante is another pianist who has been making an impact on today's scene, in the Apple and beyond. Besides being an "in demand" pianist, Infante is also a prolific producer and arranger, with over 2,500 arrangements under his belt. Infante is a well-studied individual. He began by taking lessons with renowned pianist Carmen Duclerc, in San Juan. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Puerto Rico, and holds a Master's in music from Temple University. Also a proud collector of gold and platinum records, Infante is considered, along with the late Louie Ram??rez, to have been a creator and pioneer of the "salsa romantica" period. The two co-produced that genre's first million-selling album. Infante himself has worked with Machito, Ismael Rivera, Cortijo, Hector Lavoe, Tito Puente, Grupo Niche, Oscar D'Leon, Johnny Pacheco, India, Jos?? Alberto "El Canario," and countless others, including Celia Cruz, whose latest CD (Mi Vida Es Cantar,) he has just produced.

Infante's own group, La Elite, has been on the charts with Licencia Para Enga?¡Àar, a production that has something for everyone--it's danceable, has a pinch of boogalu, features a ballad and some of that "romantic salsa." Wichy Camacho is featured, as well as a horn section that includes super-players David "Piro" Rodr??guez, Elias L??pez, Tommy Villariny, and "Cusi" Castillo. Santo Military Montuno, from Isidro Infante & La Elite 2 is a personal favorite of mine, as I feel the track showcases Infante's abilities, in terms of actual Playing.

I must note, with sadness, the passing of Cuban pianist, composer, and conductor Marco Rizo, at age 78, this past September 8th. Rizo was best known to the world as Desi Arnaz's musical conductor, and creator of the I Love Lucy television program theme. I recall, years ago, how when I'd sit in the countryard of my apartment complex, daily, at 6 p.m., the sound of the I Love Lucy theme would come blaring out of TV sets from all directions. I remember thinking how Lucille Ball must have had to be the most recognizable woman on the face of this planet. The exceptional Rizo, who played, early on in his career, with the groundbreaking Don Azpiazu Orchestra, will be very missed.

The Machito clan, started by the late Frank and Hilda Grillo, now includes a fourth generation. Machito grandson Anthony Sarrica is the proud father of Anthony Frank Sarrica, born August 3rd.

Tanga, the theme song for Machito & his Afro-Cubans, was among the selections performed by the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, during Jazz at Lincoln Center's recent season opener. I have a new hero... LCJO leader Wynton Marsalis himself sang the intro of the classic Mario Bauz?? composition, and sang it very well, con mucho coraz??n.

New Yorkers were recently treated to a 13 hour birthday broadcast celebrating the music of the late legend, Hector Lavoe. My radio colleagues Carlos Rosario and German Santana, who also regularly host Caribe Latino on (89.9) WKCR-FM, from 10 p.m. to 12 midnight on Monday nights, featured some rare five recordings.

Comebacks are happening in the Apple: Joe Bataan, whose last CD was cryptically entitled Last Album, Last Song (Bataan Music Rec.) has a new one, scheduled for release in the very near future. The Ordinary Guy will only comment that "it's a mystery... a surprise..."

Fans of percussionist Angel Justiano's classic "Nuyorican" band, The New Swing Sextet, will be delighted to hear that they are making the rounds again. The band, which enjoyed real popularity from the mid-60s through the late '70s, is scheduled to meet up with the Joe Cuba Sextet, for what promises to be a night of real bang, bang.

Bandleader Orlando Marin is working around town, steadily. Currently, he leads his own recording orchestra, and also a quartet. This smaller group, which is a mainstay at Tito Puente's Restaurant, features Orlando, Jr. on bass, Sergio Rivera (of Cruz Control fame) on piano, vocalist Monty Monta?¡Àez, and conguero Mito Fern??ndez. Marin is especially remembered for his '60s hits Se Te Quem?? La Casa and Que Chevere.

Speaking of Marin, he was a participant in a recent, spontaneous superjam witnessed by my LATIN BEAT colleague, Max Salazar. Salazar was present at a "Latin Wednesday Afterwork" at La Maganette, celebrating bandleader Joe Quijano's birthday, when Quijano, Marin, Joey Pastrana, and Leo V??squez leapt up onto the stage with pianist Steve Col??n's charanga Siglovente and illustrious violinist Pupi Legarreta. Salazar characterized what ensued as being "overwhelming", adding, "You had to be there!" I wish I had been!

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from The Apple, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) is featuring multi-cultural presentations, including Latin music offerings, presenting the likes of Jes??s "Chucho" Vald??s, and the Afro-Cuban All Stars. NJPAC, located on Newark's riverfront, is receiving credit for playing a large part in a long envisioned economic and artistic resurgence taking place in that city.

Also happening in the "Garden State" is an event billed as a "Battle of the Titans" that is, jazz great, drummer Max Roach, vs. Tito Puente. Roach has commented that he chose to play with Puente because he "is the only drummer who makes me want to go home and practice." The showdown is scheduled to take place at the John Harms Center for the Arts, in Englewood, New Jersey, on the evening of November 20th.