Vivencias en Clave Cubana

Cuban sounds of joy are delivered by Kiki Valera, who plays cuatro, guitar and percussion as he features the bel canto voice of Coco Freeman and a snappy team of Alex Baro/tp, Jose Alayo-Yanill Nario/b, Pedro Vargas/perc and guest vocalists Carlos Cascante, Joshuah De Jesus and Steve Guasch. The tunes are mostly composed by Valera and Freeman and are sizzling affairs with rich grooves and bright trumpet solos on pieces like "Mi Son" and Berenjena Y Quimbombo." Valera's relentless rhythms create foundation for the percolating percussion as on the peppy "Homenaje A Panchita" and upbeat "Desenfreno," but the team can also let the flames burn low with Freeman giving a romantic aria on "Dejame Al Menos." This one cooks like fried rice!