Bombazo

Trombonist, composer, and arranger William Cepeda is a grandson of Don Rafael Cepeda, a composer, performer, and folklorist who dedicated his life to preserving the Afro-Puerto Rican styles of bomba y plena. In Bombazo, which is impeccably recorded and packaged with succinct but informative liner notes, the young Cepeda certainly does his part in maintaining the music. As he sets out to revisit the different variations within those styles, he creates a fascinating, thoroughly enjoyable travelogue. Check the irresistible groove of "San Tomas," the earthy "Yuba Medley," or the breathtaking "El Conde de Loiza," or "Meliton Tombe," featuring the seis corrido, a rhythm played at a breakneck pace. There are also subtle innovations, such as Cepeda's take on "Amalia" ("No Quiere Ir Ebozo"), a song popularized as a salsa tune by trombonist Willie Colon and the late singer Hector Lavoe. Bombazo is a tantalizing glimpse into a rich but little-known Afro-Caribbean tradition. --Fernando Gonzalez