HENRY FIOL — Fe Esperanza Y Caridad (review)

HENRY FIOL — Fe Esperanza Y Caridad album cover

Album · 1980 · Afro-Cuban Jazz

5/5 · 2011-02-18
Matt

"Sar Productions" was a record label that specialised in Latin Music and one that was distinctly Cuban with a sound that only this label seemed to produce. "Roberto Torres" was the man behind the scenes and he originally came out of "Sonora Mantancera" the famous Cuban Conjunto. On the album "Fe Esperanza y Caridad" ( Faith,Hope and Charity") he plays "Maracas, Guiro and of course Claves" as well as producing this Cuban Son/Jazz masterpiece by "Henry Fiol". Henry was born in New York and first played flute but soon found vocals was his best area. Charanga was what he had been up to during the sixties with a love for "Cortijo", "Ray Barretto" and "Eddie Palmieri" but it was the great "Johnny Pacheco" that not only influenced his flute and charanga style, it was when he heard that first conjunto that Johnny had with that soaring trumpet and that pure Cuban Son sound. "Arsenio Rodriquez is Henry's influence but not the boleros it was Arsenio's Son that is the driver to Henry's approach as there is not a bolero in sight on this album. We have the usual Sar suspects for the band with one of my favourite Cuban style piano players being "Alfredo Valdes Jr", "Chocolate Arnenteros" playing that soaring trumpet of his with assistance from "Lionel Sanchez" and one other band member that needs a special mention is "Charlie Rodriguez" playing the best "Tres". Worried that this may be a little to Cuban well it is but the solos and that sleazy played rythmn will have you gyrating with the best.

Six tracks of latin magic are within and we start with "Ahora Me Da Pena" which is a son montuno with the neccesary repitition but with the soaring trumpet of Chocolate it is pure Cuba and you are transported under that Palm or Coconut tree on the beach with some sublime stuff with vocals from the coros and Henry."Ven Y Baila Mi Son" is more son with Chocolate really putting down the tune at the intro and Henry's vocals when he comes in have a really relaxed as if his all day with singing them and of course the coros are spot on. The best bit though is "Charlie Rodriguez" laying down one wicked solo with his Tres. More son with stunning solos follow but we come to track four "Oriente" a Guijara is mixed with the Son this time which was a composition from the great Cuban son singer "Cheo Marquetti", "who you say?" well sure he did not really make it big time back then but as that old Jazz saying goes'"He was ahead of his time" which he was and today when you hear those old mid 1950's recordings he recorded you will quickly come to that conclusion as well. Alfredo opens with some great Cuban piano and then it's the band with Chocolate's trumpet just providing that sound that is distinctive in Latin music. Henry's vocals are relaxed which just only seems to intensify the groove and when the coros sing "Oriente" you will being joining in with them. "Alfredo Valdes" also puts down a lesson on how to play Cuban piano with one beautiful solo later in the tune and that trumpet is always bringing the whole thing back. Two more stunners being "El Guateque De Ciprian" and "Caridad" to finish off this Afro Cuban masterpiece.

Hardcore you bet and Latin music with a style I love, pure, distinct and groove with more groove. It really does not get much better with what was made in music at "Sar Productions" when they were up and going and this one is a prime example.Henry Fiol also did the art for the cover which looks like he may be as talented in art as he is music.