Live In Caracas

Oscar D'Leon is a natural born showman. As soon as he's on the stage he's burning down the house. As an energetic dynamic singer, bassist, mischievous and humorous entertainer, the man known best for his shaggy moustache and shaved head turns every concert into a wild dance party, it's guaranteed! Music fans can hear a perfect example of his 'salsa sauce' contagiousness on the classic Live album recorded by the Venezuelan in his hometown of Caracas. It starts with the 1940's Beny-Moré classic Mata Siguaraya which leaves the 20-man orchestra and audience shaking and wet with sweat. A É, one of Oscar D'Leon and Victor Mendozas' co-authored titles is just as intense. The show is a clockwork driven, energetic non-stop dance party and the audience never pause for breath. D'Leons' plays his sultry composition Detalles detail followed by his biggest hit, LLORARAS, concert-goers would never leave the stage without this one and by now the show is really cooking. Next up Mi Bajo y Yo by Victor Mendoza from Mexico, a faculty member at the Berkeley College of Music, it's full of sprit and emotion. Everything slows down for the romantic duet Reconciliación, which deals with the reconciliation of an estranged couple, followed by the evergreen Frenesi the likes of which Linda Ronstadt, Cliff Richard, Frank Sinatra, Caterina Valente and Perez Prado have used in their repertoire. There is a brief moment to catch some breath before the final hectic sprint with the popular ranchera titled Cielito lindo My beautiful darling from 1882, and Tito Puentes' Cha-Cha-Cha Oye Como Va Carlos Santana on the album Abraxas recorded the world famous Latin rock version so that finally the last bit of energy from the crowd has been squeezed out. Whew! From start to finish this is a hot salsa affair!