Before joining
Prince
's band during the 1980s as
Sheila E
,
Sheila Escovedo
spent almost a decade as a session and touring percussionist. She played with everyone, from her father
Pete Escovedo
's Afro-Latin jazz band to
George Duke
Herbie Hancock
Billy Cobham
Flora Purim
Con Funk Shun
the Blackbyrds
, and
the Crusaders
. During and after her tenure with
Escovedo
released a clutch of fine solo albums including 2017's
Iconic: Message 4 America
. Despite the fact she's been playing salsa most of her life,
Bailar
is her debut album in the genre.
It was recorded in Miami and at several California studios. The program includes six originals, killer covers, and a star-studded studio cast. Opening number "Anacaona," by famed Puerto Rican composer
Catalina Alonso
, was arranged by
Ramon Sanchez
and features
Rubén Blades
on lead vocals. A burning salsa, the percussion interplay between
Tony Succar
Diego Camacho
under
Blades
' soaring, soulful vocal and a backing chorus is breathtaking. The horn section offers excellent contrapuntal engagement with
Livan Mesa
's piano. The title track walks the invisible border between Cuban son and vintage Nuyorican salsa with vocalist
Luis Enrique
(though
inserts a completely unexpected rap breakdown near its close). The frenetic drumming and horn exchanges are underscored by fiery piano montunos and a strident, anthemic chorus of singers and chanters. Single "Bemba Colora" is a classic son associated with Cuban vocal icon
Celia Cruz
. Its three-part lead vocal is offered by
Mimy Succar
Gloria Estefan
. The latter's rippling conga solo is one of the set's brightest moments. The reading of
Tito Puente
's "El Rey del Timbal" features salsero
Gilberto Santa Rosa
up front. Passionate, fiery, and hooky,
's galloping timbales solo is framed by driving montunos and swinging horns. Her own songs on this set include "Gente Buena" with
Victor Manuelle
on vocals. The happiest track here, it's a key playlist component for a beach or dance party. Her "The Way You Do," featuring
Jean Rodriguez
on lead vocals, is a gorgeous fusion of Latin soul, funk, and salsa. "Mi Amor" is a vehicle for
.'s lead vocals and
Mykal Gabriel
's Spanish guitar playing. It melds bolero, son, soul, and funk with hard-swinging horns and backing vocals. She takes another lead on the co-written "Playa Tequila," wedding Latin soul, funk, tropical, and salsa underscored by a transcendent vocal chorus. "Descarga" is an Afro-Latin jam that includes dad
Pete
, mom
Juanita Escovedo
, and Dominican salsa legend
José Alberto "El Canario."
Son, montuno, guaracha, and rhumba envelope one another as horns engage drums and chanting to close it out.
The exceptional playing, arranging, songwriting, and joyous performances on
easily register this album as an exceptional
Sheila E.
outing, certainly, but also one of the year's finest salsa albums. ~ Thom Jurek