This is a lovely album.  A world renown pianist plays latin classics.  Smooth, warm inspiring and tranquil.

1. Flores Negras/Las Perlas de Tu Boca 
2. Cada Noche un Amor/Amor de Mis Amores 
3. Desvelo de Amor 
4. Mis Noches Sin Ti/Regalo de Amor 
5. Hoja Seca/Quinto Patio 
6. Gloria Eres Tu/Total 
7. En un Beso la Vida/Desesperadamente 
8. Amenonos/Ansiedad 
9. Noelia/Cartas Amarillas 
10. Por el Amor de Una Mujer/Manuela 
11. Si Tu Supieras 
12. Gracias a la Vida 

This is one of the best groups in Costa Rican music today. They played with Ruben Blades in his Grammy-winner CD "Tiempos", and they made most of the arrangements as well as played in all the tunes. If you want to know what "fusion" really is, you have to hear Decaduno. You will find classic jazz, latin jazz, new age, CR folk elements, classical, all mixed in one album. The first track, "Pasaje Abierto", is worth the whole album. Its tone is so optimistic and uplifting, that I use to hear it while I run, and the physical and emotional sensations are so pleasing, that you surely can feel your endorphins at work!!! I surely recommend it and I suggest you to find their other works: Ilusiones, InEditus, Dibujando memorias, Calle del Sol (another 5 stars!!) and Siempre.

"Tiempos": Soulful musical reflection of the latin heart, July 5, 2000 
Reviewer: y from Miami, Florida USA 

If you are looking for the young, get-up-and-dance, raucous, tongue-on-your cheek Ruben Blades, you will be better off purchasing one of his earlier releases. If you search, however, for the mature Ruben, the one that still loves his native Panama and his Continent but who is now willing to be more creative with the combination of sounds, you must buy "Tiempos" today!

Since every cut of this album has its own personality, I believe that the best achievement of Ruben and his team has been to keep it all together, with a sense of unity.

The opening track "Mar del Sur" (referring to the Pacific Ocean) sets the mood. Without words it "talks" about struggles, love, adventure, humidity.

On the other hand you may be, as I was, initially shocked by his observations on the realities and violence of urban life and drug-dealership on "Sicarios". After a while, though, you will come to realize that he is only telling it like it is - and he is using a magnificent arrangement at it!

Partly responsible for the special sound of "Tiempos" is the Costa Rican group, EDITUS, which gives Ruben's music and words a profound soulfulness and provide it with the different kind of sound that most people forget when they talk about Latin music.

"Tiempos" will speak to your heart, make you think, get you angry, and help you remember loved ones who are no longer with you. 

It is so rewarding to see an artist remain active in the spotlight and still be honest and reflective with his music that I am compelled to call "Tiempos" the "best album" from Ruben Blades ever. However, I know that when it comes to Ruben we may as well be saying the exact same thing after he releases his next production. I can't wait! 

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"Solo Para Ti"  -  Ottmar Liebert- A very relaxing album in general. Something to put on while entertaining guests.  While the general mood of this music is mellow there is some exciting instrumentation, especially with the dueling guitars of Ottmar Liebert and Carlos Santana on track 5

"Gypsy Soul"  New Flamenco-   Various Artists - Jazz -Fusion/World Fusion/ Various Artists - International - Flamenco

...What a joy it is to find so many wonderful artists playing some of their best music. From Al DiMeola to Strunz & Farrah, the best of the very best is in this collection. This is music to move to, to get lost in. For anyone with even a little 'gypsy' in their soul, this CD will bring it out. 

"Salsa Hits"  -   [Sony International] Various Artists 

Reviewer: Lesley D Grenville from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I must give credit where credit is due. J & N records are the masters of compilation music in the three most common tropical music categories: salsa, merengue and bachata. I own many compilation cds from this record label and they consistently produce compilation cds that display the best of the best in the category of music being offered. Salsa Hits 2002 is no exception. I bought the cd last week with hopes of enjoying at least half the songs however, it turned out to be complete enjoyment. I listened to the cd in completion without interruption because every song enhanced the cd in some way and was quite danceable. There is a variety of salsas offered in this one. Some are romantic salsas such as: "Quiero" by Jerry Rivera and Rey Ruiz's "No". Others are more commercial and danceable like "Comerte a besos" by Frankie Negron and "Amor asi" by Tito Nieves. There's a classic old style salsa which is totally a treat and a well known song "Cuero Na'ma" and one more in the category of a ballad is "Yo si me enamore" by Huey Dunbar. You can't go wrong with this cd. It will meet the needs of the most diverse salsa tastes. Be it fast, romantic, traditional or classic whatever you prefer there's a song or there are songs for you in this wonderful compilation cd. High recommendation given. This is another great one by J & N records. Other great compilations by this record label: Bachata hits 2001 & 2002, Merenhits 2000, 2001 & 2002. Do enjoy! 

Ruben Blades has long been a Latin music superstar, though this album confirms suspicions he may be feeling constrained by the expectations of the genre. While others have tried their hand at the transcultural "world music" soufflé Blades masterfully whips up here, few have achieved the inviting, warm results the Panamanian vet delivers on Mundo. But Blades wisely never loses sight that however far his musical curiosity takes him, he can still only filter the results through the prism of his own experience and traditions. Thus, there's an elegantly deceptive sense of the organic here, whether covering the Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays anthem "First Circle" (which showcases Brazil's Boca Livre and Costa Rica's Editus) or the traditional "Danny Boy" (which seamlessly fuses Celtic and Afro-Cuban influences with help from Lupa Mason and her soaring soprano). Blades also pays tribute to Brazilian songwriter Gilberto Gil with the glorious harmonies of "Consideración" (a passionate reworking of Gil's "Oriente") and infuses the Malian traditional "Jiri Son Bali" with mambo rhythms. But the album's most subtle cocktails issue from Blades' originals, from the gypsy homages "Parao" and "Bochinches" (the latter fueled by savory, Havana-meets-Tangier flourishes) to the reflective, jazzy "Ella" and "La Ruta," and the joyous Uilleann pipe-tinged "Sebastian" and the romping "A San Patricio." These are tracks illuminated by Blades' passionate humanism, a compelling musical argument that our cultural differences should only be the seasoning for our common dreams. –-Jerry McCulley 

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"Todo Historias"  -  Eros Ramazzotti

Reviewer: A music fan from Puerto Rico 
This is the best CD of all times. Once I heard this CD I started buying every CD Eros has made. I'm sure everybody will love it. 

Reviewer: A music fan from San Diego, California 
I loved this CD the first time I heard it. You don't have to understand the language to appreciate his music. Very relaxing and uplifting. 

Reviewer: A music fan from Montgomery, Alabama, USA 
Even though I'm not Spanish or Italian, I speak some of both languages. I don't understand all of the lyrics, but all of them are beautiful and romantic. Not to mention uplifting! I used to not like him, but now I've got the songs stuck in my head! 

Reviewer: A music fan from Lake Norman, NC USA 
This is true big band sound salsa, before the name salsa became popular. Originally released in 1958, You can go back and feel how great this music was back then and still feel the how great it still is today. This tells you this is a treasure chest of great music. Just enjoy and dance as if he is playing at the good old days at the Palladium Dance night, in NYC. The recordings allow you to hear clearly every instrument that was played and precise harmony of the full orchestra. Be careful playing this while driving in the car, you will be force to pull over and dance a few cuts. 

Reviewer: Joe Sixpack (see more about me) from Berkeley, CA United States 
One of Tito's tightest and most soulful albums, with sharp-sounding horn charts and funky rhythms galore. Recording with the full technical expertise of the RCA studios behind him, Puente's late '50s albums had much richer, better defined sound than competitors on smaller, independent labels, and the brass tones that distort into distorted shrillness on other albums are smooth and clear here. Great material, and a ton of tight session players who were the cream of the crop in the latin dance scene. Highly recommended! 

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The Best Of The Gipsy Kings

Hailing from the Reyes and Baliardo Gypsy families, this ensemble from the south of France has been playing "rumba flamenca" since the late 1980s. With  this 1995 compilation, the song writing talent and virtuosity this unique group possesses were gathered together in one comprehensive CD. Notable inclusions are the anthemic hit "Bamboleo," from their debut, Gipsy Kings; the slowly emotive "Trista Pena" the Italian cover "Volaré," from Mosaïque; and assorted live cuts that wonderfully capture the wild energy these players spark on-stage. In short, the Gipsy Kings are a celebratory bunch who know how to rock with a rhapsody of acoustic guitars, passionate vocals, and walls of congas, timbales, cabasas, and bongos. Check this caravan out. --Karen Karleski 

Next best thing to hearing them "live"   Talent, talent, talent. If you love Spanish guitar and romantic vocals, you'll want this CD for your collection. One listen, and you'll be hooked. 

The Gipsy Kings are excellent in form and fun. Exceptional mix of tempo and fun. You can help but dance or move with the rhythm of the beat. Excellent dinner party music to some tracks that could spice  up a dance party! 

Love & Liberte Gipsy Kings - Dirty Linen (6-7/94)  ...the rhythms come through just fine, the guitar work is superlative, and these Gipsies can still claim to be kings of their genre... 

Cantos De Amor- Gipsy Kings
Allegria- Gipsy Kings
Mosaique- Gipsy Kings

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