Maestra Vida: Primera Parte (Remastered 2025) Ruben Blades

• 1 Prólogo (Remastered 2025) 06:31
• 2 Manuela (Remastered 2025) 05:43
• 3 Carmelo: Parte I (Remastered 2025) 01:05
• 4 Como Tú / Carmelo: Parte II (Remastered 2025) 04:16
• 5 Yo Soy una Mujer (Remastered 2025) 02:23
• 6 La Fiesta (Remastered 2025) 06:56
• 7 El Nacimiento de Ramiro (Remastered 2025) 07:52
• 8 Déjenme Reír (Para No Llorar) (Remastered 2025) 04:47
• Total Runtime 39:33

Info zu Maestra Vida: Primera Parte (Remastered 2025)

Rubén Blades, with Puerto Rican musician Willie Colon, presented in the 1980s the two-part epic ‘Maestra Vida’, where music and drama are linked, narrated like nowhere else. It is one of the first (and only) salsa operas. The work introduced the characters, Carmelo and Manuela, a couple whose story, as the narration suggests, could be the story of countless descendants of the musicians featured here. The five-minute ‘Prologue’ introduces the story with an orchestral fanfare and an opening narration that places the characters in context. This LP is the ultimate sum of Blades' dramatic vision and Colón's expressive musical skills; it is ambitious, carefree and celebratory.

"By 1980, Rubén Blades had been a working-class hero for nigh on ten years, singing of everyday life in classics like "Pedro Navaja," but with help from Willie Colón, the two-part epic Maestra Vida ties music and narrated drama like nothing else in his catalog. One of the first (and only) salsa operas, Maestra Vida introduced the characters Carmelo and Manuela, a couple whose story, as the narration suggests, could be the story of innumerable descendants of the musicians who appear here. The five-minute "Prólogo" introduces the story with an orchestral fanfare and a beginning narration that places the characters in their context. "Manuela" is the closest the entire LP comes to straight-ahead salsa, followed by themes for Carmelo the husband and then Manuela the wife, Blades' own mother, Anoland Diaz, taking the vocals for Manuela (who joins her son in a warm duet). "La Fiesta" provides some light comedy (it's an instrumental, but with reveling voices in the background) before the couple's son Ramiro is born. The ultimate summation of Blades' dramatic vision with Colón's expressive musical abilities, Maestra Vida is ambitious, freewheeling, and celebratory -- not an immediate success, but a rewarding listen for those who've heard the six-minute snapshots from Blades' earlier recordings and want to hear the full-length treatment." (John Bush, AMG)

Johnny Andrews, timbales
Anoland Diaz, vocals
Rubén Blades, vocals, chorus, voices, acoustic guitar, maracas, percussion
Milton Cardona, vocals, chorus, claves, quinto, tumbadora
Willie Colón, vocals, chorus, bass trumpet
Salvador Cuevas, bass
Jose Torres, piano
Guillermo Ledezma, vocals
Harold Hohon´s String Ensemble
Reinaldo Jorge, trombone
Lewis Kahn, trombone
Kelvin Zambrana, percussion
Jose Mangual Jr., bongos, vocals, chorus
Leopoldo Pineda, trombone
José Rodríguez, trombone
Cesar Miguel Rondon, narrator, text, voices
Louie Cruz, orchestration
Marty Sheller, orchestration
Carlos Franzetti, orchestration
Javier Vazquez, orchestration

Digitally remastered

Rubén Blades
is a prominent Panamanian musician, singer, songwriter, and actor known for revolutionizing salsa music through his innovative compositions that merge diverse musical influences with socially and politically conscious lyrics. Born in Panama City to a musically inclined family, he was exposed to a variety of genres during his upbringing. Blades first gained recognition in the 1970s as a part of the influential salsa movement, particularly through his collaborations with trombonist Willie Colón, which produced a style known as salsa consciente that addresses critical social issues. His notable songs, such as "Plástico" and "Pedro Navaja," showcase his unique storytelling ability and musical experimentation. In addition to his music career, Blades has pursued law, served as Panama's Minister of Tourism, and even ran for president. His impactful work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year award in 2021. Blades continues to release music, blending genres and pushing artistic boundaries, while also influencing a new generation of Latin musicians. His legacy is marked by a commitment to addressing social issues through the art of music.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet