Featured Album / Artist: Maña – Por Fin … Comenzó La Fiesta

Mana origins date back to a band called Sombrero Verde, whose members José Fernando (Fher) Olvera, voice, Gustavo Orozco, the electric guitar; and the Calleros brothers: Juan Diego, on bass, Ulysses, on electric guitar and Abraham, on drums came from Guadalajara. In 1975 they decided to get together to play different songs from groups they admired, including The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, The Police, among others. They were originally known as The Spies of the Green Hat, but soon the name was shortened to Green Hat and was eventually adapted into Spanish as Sombrero Verde, as the band wanted to rock in their own language. They were one of the first groups to venture out, composing their own songs even though rock in Spanish was not yet a trend. In 1981 they released their first album, Sombrero Verde, under the label Ariola, the singles were "Vampiro" (Vampire), "Profesor" (Professor), "Long Time" and "Depiértate" (Wake Up).

Maña – Por Fin … Comenzó La Fiesta

Latin | mp3 320 Kbps | 133 MB
RR 2007
“The Bronx-based band Maña were co-founded in 2001 by New York salsa stalwarts Ray Rosado and Victor Maldonado. Ray is the longtime composer, arranger, chorus singer and hand percussionist with the Bronx-based pianist and bandleader Wayne Gorbea and Victor has played percussion with the likes of Gene Hernández’ Orquesta Novedades, Yomo Toro, Tito Nieves, Miles Peña and Johnny Ray. “Maña’s mission is to continue the salsa dura tradition, doing their part to keep it alive, with original material as well as covers,” says Ray.

After a break of two days I listened to Por Fin for a third time, and discovered that “Azucaré” and ” Comenzó La Fiesta”, both written and arranged by Ray, had already insinuated themselves into my system. Then Ray’s re-working of the Arsenio Rodríguez classic “Monte Adentro” hit me! Ray is a cunning fox, because the album is real grower, and this is the knack of his arrangements. They imperceptibly get under your skin. Maña’s sound can be reminiscent of Wayne Gorbea, but that is no bad thing and not surprising in view of Ray’s creative input to Wayne’s bands over the years. Deep swing (to borrow Peter Watrous’s apt expression) pervades.

There should put an advisory sticker on the CD case saying “Guaranteed to be addictive after just three plays!!” I’m going to put it back on again…”

01. Azucaré

02. Comenzó La Fiesta

03. ¿Y Yo

04. Donde Está

05. Monte Adentro

06. No Hay Mal Que Por Bien No Venga

07. El Que No Sufre No Vive

08. Tu Bon Bón

09. Por Fin Llegó La Hora

10. Tremendo Coco

11. Con Maña Se Puede

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