Cuban salsa by one of the leading voices of the new generation of Cuban vocalists.

10 MP3 Songs
LATIN: Cuban, LATIN: Salsa



Details:
One of the leading voices of the new generation of Cuban vocalists, Alberto Alberto was born in Matanzas, Cuba on November 11, 1972.

He began his musical career at the tender age of 5 when he performed in children's song festivals both nationally and internationally. After many years of devotion and intense training, Alberto graduated from the vocal studies program at the "Escuela de Superación Profesional Rafael Somavilla de Matanzas" in 1992.

Alberto's professional career began with a big break at the age of 17 by landing a position with the esteemed Cuban group Orquesta Pakasón led by Delio Cardoso. He went on to perform and record with many of Cubaâs finest musicians including: Horasio Gonzales, German Velazco, Manolito Simonet, Carlos Manuel & su Clan, Irakere, Chucho Valdés, Eliades Ochóa, Mayra Caridad Valdés among others.

Since moving to Canada in 1999, Alberto Alberto has lead the wave of Cuban musicians who have transformed Canada's latin music scene. He has toured internationally with Juno award winner and Grammy nominee Jane Bunnett, has recorded several albums with Juno award winning pianist Hilario Durán, and regularly joins Latino celebrities such as Oscar DeLeon, Rojitas and the Afro-Cuban All Stars on stage when they visit Toronto. In September of 2006 Alberto was called upon to tour the United States with Cuban bandleader extraordinaire 'Maraca'. In 2007 Alberto joined award winning Cuban rapera Telmary for concert dates in Canada and Spain, returned to the U.S. for a west coast tour with Maraca, and joined legendary bandleader Giraldo Piloto of Klimax for his Canadian tour.

"Traigo de Todo", an independent production recorded in Canada and Cuba, is Alberto's latest career accomplishment. A world-class vehicle for his talents as both a vocalist and composer, Alberto is joined by Grammy award winner Joaquin Betancourt who directed the production. With a variety of genres from Cuban salsa , lush ballads, and other contemporary latin styles, "Traigo de Todo" is an album with high potential for international success

A 'singers singer', with great range and dazzling improvisational skills - Alberto Alberto matches his considerable technique with an infectious personality and stage presence - making him the total package of entertainer, composer and gifted artist.


CD Review:

Alberto Alberto | Traigo de Todo
Independent release

Singer Alberto Alberto has gathered together some of the best Latin musicians in Toronto for his début CD, Traigo de Todo, along with Grammy award-winning musician, composer and arranger Joaquin Betancourt to provide the musical direction and write the arrangements. All of the pieces are originals, written by Alberto Alberto.

Traigo de Todo is obviously a labour of love with its heartfelt songs and danceable rhythms â a love of music, of singing, of life, people and even the love of this transplanted Cuban for his new city of Toronto. The first song however is a celebration of Cuba, its weather, women and of course its music. Alberto sings here of the land of the son montuno, adding a dash of rap to the Cuban style mix.

The title tune, âTraigo de Todoâ has that "the world is tremendous-itâs great to be aliveâ feel and puts me in mind of Adalberto Alvarez y su Son. Albertoâs singing and the interplay with the voices of the coro is so rhythmic it will make your body sway. It belongs firmly to the tradition of the Cuban soneros and even features a tres. Add to that a healthy dose of exciting percussion and brass and you have a tune to tempt even the most reticent of dancers and delight all others with enough going on musically for those who would rather just listen. âNada Que Verâ is also a richly layered piece, one of my favourites on the CD and great for dancing. âDime Lunaâ has the classic piano opening of many popular Cuban songs, a nice fat bass and the kind of chorus that can plant itself in your head for the day.

âConcédeme un Milagritoâ is interesting for its Brazilian flavour with what sounds like an accordion but must be a keyboard as there is no accordion credit in the booklet. (Could there be an undeclared Gordon Sheard on the CD?) âNo Quiero Estar Soloâ is a solid romantic song with more of a pop flavour and even a pinch of soul and R&B influence in the intro to my ear. It also features some very fine piano.

âTorontoâ is the first song I have heard that speaks of the vibrant Latin music scene in Toronto. Itâs about time someone sang about that. It starts with words along the lines of âno city compares with the grace of Caracas or the magic of Habana, but Toronto has something I like, something that enchants meâ. Alberto sings of the various clubs one might want to visit on a Friday night in Toronto such as Lula, Bamboo, Babalu, Revival or Cervejaria where you might want to stop a while and listen to Son Aché (a Toronto Latin band). Albertoâs voice soars here against a chorus of âde Toronto soyâ (I am from Toronto). Itâs Cuban salsa/timba with a little reggaeton tossed in and represents well the mixed flavours of Latin music in Toronto. âTù, Un Hotel y Yoâ returns us to Havana and is a quintessential modern Cuban salsa or timba perhaps â the boundaries blur.

The closing tune, "Amanda", is a touching poetic ballad Alberto wrote for his daughter. All of the lyrics to the songs are printed in the booklet that accompanies the CD (in Spanish only) as well as an entire page of thanks to friends and family.

The CD is well produced, in fact, almost a little too smooth. All in all, Traigo de Todo is an excellent début CD from the charismatic Alberto Alberto. To my ear, it stands up well with the best of the genre coming out of Cuba.

reviewed by Joyce Corbett â May 2007
The Live Music Report.


Alberto Alberto / Traigo De Todo
La Onda Tropica

Again thanks to Billy Bryans, a Cuban CD made the way to my mailbox. This time it's salsa, and it goes by the name of Alberto Alberto. Traigo de Todo is his first solo album, but he has an impressive background in several Cuban and Canadian salsa orchestras (read his bio at Mister Bryans' blog).__The title (meaning "I'm bringing it all") quite captures the album: Alberto does the singing, the composing, the improvising, and the gathering of a perfect-pitch band. Whether salsa, timba or ballad, you can hear this is a professional at work. Maybe the Grammy-winning producer Joaquin Betancourt has something to do with it, maybe it's Alberto's experience (both in legendary Cuban bands and in Toronto), but a fact is: this album sounds perfect.__Exactly that is my (only) point of criticism: it's too perfect, if you know what I mean. Especially the ballads lack a certain amount of fire and soul. If all tracks would be like "Tu Canción" - fiery, intense, energetic - this album would definitely be the best of 2007. More tips: "Concedeme un Milagrito", "Traigo de Todo" (the title track), and "Toronto". Still, Traigo de Todo is a promising album by a star in the making.

reviewed by Chapín - February 28, 2007
La Onda Tropical
An Exotic Musical Revolution.


Traigo De Todo
The Musicians:

Alberto Alberto â vocals
Alexander Abreu â trumpet & backup vocals
Alexis "AlexCuba" Puente â guitar & bass
Amaury Perez â trombone
Fito Blanko â reggaeton vocals
Jay Langley â guitar & tres
Jhoan Urbizo â rhythm programming
José Verdecia â guitar
Juan Carlos Cardenas â back-up vocals & guiro
Luisito Orbegoso â congas, back-up vocals & small percussion
Daniel Stone â bongo, cowbell & small percussion
Luis Mario Ochoa â guitar (solo in âAmandaâ)
Luis Guerra â piano & keyboards
Miguel Valdez â trumpet
Orlando Cardoso â piano & keyboards
Randy Stirtzinger â vibraphone
Rosendo (Chendi) Leon â drums, timbales & small percussion
Zunilda Remigio â back-up vocals