You shouldn't be flamed at all for this post. I agree pretty much with what
you've stated. By the way: (1) yes I am LOVING Los Van Van; (2) it's _Elvis_
Crespo
In a message dated 12/12/2000 11:58:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,
abarcelo@indiana.edu writes:
<< I know I am really asking to be flamed by this, but. . .
On Thu, 7 Dec 2000, Stimp wrote:
> Of course, mindless drivel from pop drecks like the Crespos,
> Martin's, Lopez's, and Marc Anthony's also crawled out of the collective
> woodwork, but we won't go there (yeah, I think they suck, but that's
> just my opinion).
It is very unfair to put together such a heterogenous list of Latin
crossover artists as Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and the
Crespo guy whose firts name I do not remember. Except from Miss Lopez, who
is mainly an actress, they all have more or less long careers in Latin
music and the crossover music that most middle Americans can enjoy today
(smirk) is indeed a pop -ie watered down- version miles away from Cuba.
But if you look carefully to, for example, Marc Anthony's older catalog,
you will find some first class Salsa, indeed. As good as Buena Vista or
Afro Cuba All Stars. But it is SALSA indeed, not cuban Son (even though
they used to be the same and Celia Cruz still claims that they are the
same, they are NOT, at least not anymore). Salsa developed in the USA with
more American jazz influence than its Cuban counterpart. Of course, Buena
Vista and the like are bands that play son the old style, i.e. the stye
than influenced American music, Jazz and Salsa back in the days of old
Havana and Batista (argh!!!) That is why it sounds more familiar to
American ears (specially people familiar to Jazz and Latin Jazz, instead
of, say, Salsa) that current Cuban son, like Los Van Van (whom I jsut
ctached live again last week and blew me away AGAIN!!!).
Hope i did not banter too much
namaste
axel >>
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