Album Notes

Direct Latin Influence is back, to the delight of loyal Latin music aficionados everywhere, with a sizzling second production: DLI II. Whether Dave Chamberlain's DLI offers up conjunto or charanga styles, guaracha, cha cha, bomba, merengue, or bolero, you can count on this: the music is authentic, and it swings!

DLI has just celebrated it's second anniversary performing as a quintet at the prestigious Rainbow Room, and is proud to champion the traditional style and promote the composers of the past (the architects of the music).

DLI, an acronym for the first names of leader/trombonist Dave Chamberlain, vocalist Luisito Ayala, and pianist Igor Atalita, is synonymous with virtuosity and versatility. Chamberlain arranges the tunes and allows the group to change from conjunto to charanga style by playing trombone, flute, and bass trumpet. Ayala began his career as a drummer. His vocals have a rhythmic intensity, and he is able to play various percussion instruments (including campana) while singing. Check out other singers and you will see how rare that is today! He is a true sonero, another dying art. Igor Atalita is a true pianist (not just electric keyboards) and has experience as a soloist and in musical theater. The group is rounded out by one of the world's great bass players, Ray Martinez, swinging conguero/bongocero Walter Reyes, Edwin Vega on timbales, and Marshall Gilkes on trombone. Ray and Walter also contribute outstanding coro voices.

Over the years, I've been asked many times which CDs I wish had washed ashore with me , were I shipwrecked and stranded on a desert island? Which CDs would I grab as, God forbid, I fled a burning house? In a heartbeat, I'll say that my DLI II CD would sure be one of them!

Check out DLI II and you'll discover that it's scintillating rhythms and scorching arrangements fire up your soul and give you goose bumps, forcing you to move!

Notes by Vicki Sola
Host/producer of Que Viva la Musica
89.1 WFDU-FM http://www.wfdu.fm
and columnist Latin Beat Magazine