Descarga Total
Known in Latin-jazz circles for his virtuoso flute playing,  Orlando "Maraca" Valle has produced a party album that follows the  time-tested formula for the best Cuban music: masterful musicianship  and an infectious good-time spirit that will keep dancers moving from  the first track to the last. Like Olympic athletes, the members of  Maraca's group and his guest artists execute their expert moves with  apparent ease, delivering a "total jam session" that segues smoothly  from classicson,danzón, and mambo to Latin jazz,  Afro-Cuban chanting, rumba, rap, and the hard-driving Cuban dance fusion  calledtimba. Notable soloists include groundbreaking Cuban funk  percussionistChanguito, formerly ofLos Van Van. Singer  Félix Valdés recalls the improvisational vocal stylings  of the Cubansonerosof the Big Band era, contrasting with  grittier salsa tracks sung by Wilfredo Campa. Maraca and his band  follow in the footsteps of Cachao'sMaster Sessionsand  the seminal output ofChucho ValdésandIrakere, with whom  the prodigious Maraca began his career at the age of 16. Like the  recordings of those Cuban greats,Descarga Totalcelebrates the  sheer joy of good music.--Judy Cantor