Manteca

I am Nuyorican. Born to Puerto Rican parents in the greatest city in the world. I speak, read, and write in Spanish, but not as well as I would like. I cannot roll my r's and to the chagrin of my mother I do not eat pasteles. The level of my authenticity would depend on who you ask. My genetic composition could not make me anymore Puerto Rican but geographically speaking I was robbed of my heritage. But the congas tell a different story. I have always found solace in music but salsa (music) speaks to me on a molecular level. That somewhere deep in my dna lies dormant the soul a Taino Indian who comes alive with the sound of the congas. A spiritual connection to my roots by way of the music. Which has become increasingly important given my current geographic location. Living in Los Angeles I am as far away from growing up Puerto Rican as I could possibly get. But when the music plays my heart makes a resounding declaration, "Yo soy Boricua y mi amor es Puerto Rico," as Charlie Aponte did in Pico Pico by El Gran Combo.  So I comprised a playlist for those times when I miss growing up Nuyorican. A journey into the mean streets of 1970's New York. Abounding with amazing instrumentals and raw vocals, salsa dura was born. I call it manteca, Spanish for fat, because if New York was a roasted pig then salsa was the manteca that provided all the flavor. 

Manteca (listen here on Spotify)

Mikey enters the shooting gallery - Kip Hanrahan

Traición - Roberto Roena 

La Piragua - Dimensión Latina

El Paso de Encarnación - Orchestra Harlow

Canto al Amor - Sonora Ponceña

Panameña - Willie Colón

Watergate - Típica 73

Exterior New York Night - Kip Hanrahan

Calle Luna Calle Sol - Willie Colón

Guaguanco del Adiós - Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound

Así Se Compone un Son - Ismael Miranda

El Negro Bembón - Cortijo y su Combo

Nañara Caí - Sonora Ponceña

Arrepiéntete - Ray Barretto

Adonde Vas - Típica 73

La Cartera - Orchestra Harlow

Consolación - Roberto Roena

Tú Lo Sientes? - Joe Cuba

El Guiro de Macorina - Johnny Pacheco

Mi Ritmo te Llama - Ray Barretto

Mi Querida Bomba - Johnny Colón

Vámonos Pa'l Monte - Eddie Palmieri

Anacaona - Cheo Feliciano

Alternate takes

Music is defined as an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.*  To me music is life. It is as much a part of my life as the air I breathe. It continually plays in the background like the soundtrack of my life. My favorite form of music is jazz. The very name of this blog is an homáge to my favorite song and artist.  I even have my very own theme song, Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters, which turbo charges my confidence. Bob Marley transports me from behind the wheel during rush hour traffic to a warm sandy beach in the Caribbean. Public Enemy provides that pre workout fire while Frank Sinatra calms the savage beast. My love of music began at a young age. As far back I could remember my dad would spend hours listening to his record player. It wasn't long before I too would spend countless hours lost in music. Many of nights were spent drawing while music fueled my creativity. Recently I decided to write about my musical journey through life, how my taste in music has become so eclectic and the profound impact music has had in my life.

Alternate takes is defined as various takes of a song recorded in a single session. I felt the name would help demonstrate how different listeners interpret the same piece of music. Music is different things to different people for different reasons. So follow me as I walk through the hallowed halls of music both past and present and explore all that music has given us. 

 *music definition provided by dictionary.com