Album Notes

Madrugada Habanera, literally Havana in the hours before sunrise, is a Caribbean nocturne that journeys through songs of love, breakup, heartache, longing, exotic places, social commentary, and joyful dancing. It begins with E.G.T.S. (Esos Gringos Tienen Swing), a jazz-mambo dedicated to non-Latino performers of Latin music. It continues with A Donde Se Fue El Fuego, which asks, “where did the fire go?” Next, Echate Pa’ Ya (Step Back) begins as a bolero and develops into a driving guajira with a touch of reggae. La United Fruit Co. refers to a poem by Pablo Neruda about imperialism, corporate greed, and dictatorship in Latin America. Samba De Aviação and Duas Caipirinhas take us briefly to the southeastern coast of Brazil. Un Jibarito Cantando Son explores the musical relationship between Cuba and Puerto Rico. Esos Labios No Son Tuyos (Those Lips Don’t Belong to You) is a beautiful bolero. Ya Se Fue (She’s Gone) fuses Latin jazz, funk and salsa. Finally the morning arrives with el ritmo de amanecer, the rhythm of the sunrise.