Rating:
Genre:
Latin
Release Date: 12/06/2005
Dominican
bachata is hardly the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of
Fonovisa Records. Best known as a major player in regional Mexican music, the
Univision-affiliated powerhouse has never been closely identified with
bachata,
merengue, or
salsa (at least not as of early 2006). Generally speaking, the most
tropical Fonovisa usually gets is Mexican-style
cumbia (as opposed to the South American varieties of
cumbia) or some of the more experimental
banda artists when they incorporate
tropical influences. But there are exceptions to that rule, and
Michael Stevan's
Tributo a los Grandes de Puerto Rico (Tribute to the Puerto Rican Greats) is a definite exception. This is one
Fonovisa release that has nothing whatsoever to do with regional Mexican music; there isn't a trace of
banda,
norteño,
mariachi,
ranchera,
duranguense, or
grupero to be found on
Stevan's album, which is best described as
bachata romantica -- in other words, romantic
bachata. The Dominican vocalist takes a strong appreciation of the
Latin bolero tradition (even without a
bolero tempo) and applies it to
bachata, which has become an increasingly popular alternative to
merengue in the Dominican Republic just as
vallenato has been a popular alternative to
cumbia in Colombia. Some Dominican artists have been combining
bachata with everything from
hip-hop to
electronica, but on this CD,
Stevan favors a more classic sort of romanticism -- and that approach serves him well on
bachata arrangements of
Tito Curet Alonso's
"Brujería" ("Witchcraft"),
Emilio Quiñonez's
"Besos Inolvidables" ("Unforgettable Kisses"),
Plácido Acevedo's
"Un Imposible Amor" ("An Impossible Love"), and other songs associated with Puerto Rico.
Stevan has an intriguing vocal style; at times, he provides a little idea what
Jimmy Scott might sound like performing
bachata. It isn't what one ordinarily expects from
bachata, but it works well for
Stevan on this enjoyable disc.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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