Album Notes

A powerful singing and songwriting debut by trombone heavyweight Braily Ramos. The album features an all-star cast of Miami's top players. What's interesting here is that he's already well established as a world-class trombonist. Braily's work with Celia Cruz, Albita, Cachao, Alejandro Sanz, Manolín "El Médico", CTA (Cuban Timba All-Stars), Gloria Estefan, Willy Chirino, and many others, continues to earn him critical acclaim. With the help of his also mutli-talented brother, Bayron Ramos, Braily now launches himself as a singer/songwriter - surprising many with a voice few knew he had.

A salsa album at its core, 'Disco Duro' features super swinging horn mambos, obviously due to the fact that both Braily and Bayron are hot-shot trombone players. The timba influence on the aggressive piano tumbaos and vocal phrasing of the coro-pregón sections is undeniable. The cubano flavor is also evident with the use of the báta drums on the opening track "Tu Me Enseñaste" and the chékere on the guaguancó verses of "Me Moriría Sin Ti".

The album has other surprises. The first is the power-pop ballad "Perdido En MI Dolor" with a real sticky bridge and sweet coros provided by singer Olga Lidia. The title track "Disco Duro" is a merengue reminiscent of Juan Luis Guerra. "Encuentro" is a cha-cha that really showcases Bayron's talents as a recording engineer, composer and arranger. Clearly the sleeper hit is "Mírala Como Se Marea" a timba-ton (for lack of a better term) duet with singer Carlos Manuel, another rising star on the Miami map. This tune just begs for an extended club version. Tailor made for the climax of the night, the trombones on this tune alone call for those looking for a hot dance floor grind.

Músicos y Créditos en 'Disco Duro' de Braily Ramos:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Musical Directors, Composers: Braily & Bayron Ramos
Producer, Arranger, Programmer, Engineer, Mixer: Bayron Ramos
Recorded at BMB Bros Studios, Miami, Florida, U.S.A.

Executive Producer, Mastering, Graphic Design: Michael P. Lazarus
Mastered at the Estrella Mastering Suite (EMS), California, U.S.A.

TRACK 1: Tu Me Enseñaste (salsa)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Bayron Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Bass: Victoriano Nápoles
Timbales & Campana: Hilario Bell
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Batá: Aruán Torres
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo

TRACK 2: Me Moriría Sin Ti (timba)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily Ramos
Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Piano: Javier Concepción
Bass: Yorgis Goiricelaya
Timbales & Campana: Robert Vilera
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Rap: Aruán Torres
Coro: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo


TRACK 3: Disco Duro (merengue/calypso)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily Ramos
Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Piano: Javier Concepción
Bass: Juan ‘Memo’ Fernández
Timbales: Raymer Olalde
Congas: Raymer Olalde
Percussion: Reinier Guerra & Bayron Ramos
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Saxophone: Yainer Horta
Coro: Elain Morales
Coro: Braily Ramos

TRACK 4: Mi Verdad (salsa)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Bass: Edward Magdariaga
Timbales: Robert Vilera
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo

TRACK 5: Mírala Como Se Marea (timbatón)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Voz Solista: Carlos Manuel
Words & Music: Bayron Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Bass: Victoriano Nápoles
Timbales & Campana: Hilario Bell
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Batá & Rap: Aruán Torres
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo

TRACK 6: Perdido en Mi Dolor (balada)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily & Bayron Ramos
Programming: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Olga Lidia

TRACK 7: Encuentro (cha-cha-cha)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Bayron Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Bass: Edward Magdariaga
Tres: Julio Martínez
Timbales: Reinier Guerra
Congas: Danny Barrios
Bongo & Campana: Danny Barrios
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Elain Morales

TRACK 8: Niña (salsa)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Bass: Yorgis Goiricelaya
Timbales & Campana: Robert Vilera
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra & Bayron Ramos
Timbales: Hilario Bell
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo

TRACK 9: Llegarás Tarde (salsa)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Guitar: Julio Martínez
Bass: Yorgis Goiricelaya
Timbales: Robert Vilera
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone & Coro: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Lilian García
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo

TRACK 10: Trampas Del Destino (salsa)
Voz Solista: Braily Ramos
Words & Music: Braily Ramos
Piano & Keyboards: Bayron Ramos
Bass: Yorgis Goiricelaya
Slap Bass: Michael P. Lazarus
Timbales: Robert Vilera
Congas: Tomás ‘Tomasito’ Cruz
Percussion: Reinier Guerra
Trumpet: Raúl Rodríguez
Trombone & Coro: Bayron Ramos
Coro: Olga Lidia
Coro: Alfredo ‘Freddy’ Lugo