Rafael Cortijo Verdejo was a visionary man. From his very beginnings, he never stopped experimenting, establishing himself as a perfectionist, a man overflowing with ideas. With his legendary Combo, Cortijo challenged the racial stereotypes of the time. In effect, he is one of the key artists in Latin music.

Sorongo was the first of three albums that Cortijo recorded with his “Bonche” group for Morris Levy's Tico Records. The second one was Ahí Na’ Ma! - Put It Here. Once he had distanced himself from Tico, Cortijo recorded a third album, Pa’ Los Caceríos, for a ghost imprint that Tite Curet Alonso found for him.

“El Bonche,” like he used to call his orchestra, brought a number of novel ideas to Latin music. One of the rare elements of this production is the opening of “Sorongo,” where you can hear the song's own composer, Tite Curet Alonso, singing “que Bonche es éste,” with the coro replying, "el de Cortijo/cómo lo saben/quién me lo dijo.”

Similarly, maestro Rafael Cortijo can be heard singing on the same track, showcasing his talent for inventive soneos and improvisation. Cortijo lacked any serious vocal power, but he had the wisdom and inspiration to sing well.

Another rarity that can be found on this production is the vocal interpretation of pianist and arranger Jorge Millet. The bolero "Sácame De Aquí" talks about the kind of marriage that has run out of steam - confronted with the lack of honest love, separation is the only way out. Millet's interpretation is superb.

An authentic barrio sonero, Pepe Rosario performs the opening track “Coje Pa’ La Cola,” with swinging work from the percussion section and vibrant vocal improvisations. Boogaloo was trendy at the time, and Cortijo recorded “Chinito Boogaloo,” a song that finds Pepe imitating a Chinese person speaking in Spanish. Curet Alonso's “Dominó” is marked by its aggressive mood and rhythmic precision.

“Boogaloo Pa’ Los Pollos” is a more commercial boogaloo by Jorge Millet, performed as a duet with Fe Cortijo, Rafael's niece, a clever combination of Spanish soneos and the dexterous improvisations in English of Pepe Rosario. In order to beckon dancers into the dancefloor, “Mini Falda” invites salseros to shake their bodies. Puerto Rican bomba is also present in the magnificent Tite Curet composition “Que Te Lleven Las Olas,” joined by the plena “El Prestamista.” Fe Cortijo performs "Tiempo de Amor” with a stunning brass section harmonized by Millet.

One of Sorongo's biggest hits was “Que Se Pare La Bola,” an infectious tune that mentions Puerto Rican baseball players from the big leagues: Peruchín Cepeda and the late Roberto Clemente, both of them present in the Copertown Hall of Fame.

Cortijo could always count with the artistic collaboration of his friend Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso, who wrote most of the songs on this album and supervised their recording. This remastered version of Sorongo is a tribute to the musical legacy of Rafael Cortijo Verdejo. It marked the beginnings of Jorge Millet and the successful sound that he would later solidify for the late vocalist Marvín Santiago.


For more information about this artist visit the wikipedia site by clicking here .

LESS >