There are few soneros out there who can claim the same level of pedigree that produced
Yumuri
. Born
Moises Valle
, alongside brothers
Orlando
(
Maraca
) and
Luis
, one can only imagine how musical that house must have been. He met the
salsa
world head on in 1984 when he joined the very popular
Elio Reve Orquesta
(which, incidentally, gave him the name
), affording him the opportunity to share the stage with such vocal greats as
Cheo Feliciano
,
Ruben Blades
Ismael Miranda
, and
Tito Nieves
. Known especially for his amazing range, comfort in the upper registers, and
improvisational
ability, it was not long before
split from
Reve
to pursue a solo career, backed by his famous brothers. Though his 2002 release
Tiene Bilongo
does not feature both of the other fabulous
Valles
does appear on the record), there's plenty of talent to go around. The record draws from Cuba's next-generation players, and was recorded for the island's premier record label,
Ahi Nama
.
still maintains a strong fan base in Cuba and around the world, and it's no surprise, after hearing his clear-as-a-bell voice and diesel-powered band.
is one solid
record. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez