Jesusito - El Gigante Del Timbal (2007)

This is a delightful charanga album that jams with descarga abandon. The cast led by Jesusito (Jesús Rafael Pérez Cos, aka "El Gigante del Timba)l," is made up of seasoned Cuban musicians, such as flautist J.J. Oliveros, bassist Jorge Machado, and pianist Marcos Jorrin. From start to finish, this album cooks up an 11-song repertoire of classics and originals into a sizzling feast of dancehall gusto. The title track and Jesús Pérez are two originals written by Luis A. Dominguez and J.L. Uriarte that pay tribute to Jesusito and feature his tasteful timbal licks. The Rafaet Hernández piece, Buchipluma Na'Ma'–a powerful tune in the early 1960s for Charlie Palmieri y su Duboney–is an upbeat rendering with an insatiable caliber that creates a pleasant revival.
Listening to Pérez take solo after solo with great facility, taste and expertise, makes you wonder where he has been. A native of Santiago de Cuba, he started on güiro before moving on to the pailas. He studied with Daniel Díaz (of Ritmo Oriental) and others who helped him hone a style and sound all his own. Today, he is part of the
Barbarito Diez Orchestra and La Sublime, and also leads his own band. If you dig the sounds of José Fajardo y Sus Estrellas, you will dig this CD, as it parallels, in a contemporary format, the superb fusion of charanga and descarga! ¡Viva Jesusito! (JV)