Today in Mambo, the 4th and final episode of the series about the Puerto Rican orchestra La Sonora Ponceňa. In this episode we will focus on the late 1970s, the 1980s and the 1990s.
The musical group, founded in 1958, wasn’t just popular in Puerto Rico, but in New York City as well. The singer that performed with La Sonora Ponceňa frequently was Yolanda Rivera.The woman’s singing was distinctive: somewhat tonal and somewhat hoarse, but she was mostly praised for her interpretation and improvisation.
Musical director Papo Lucca visited the Cuban capital Havana together with the Fania All Stars. That trip had a major impact on Papo Lucca, who became completely captivated by Cuban orchestra director and composer Adalberto Alvarez. La Sonora Ponceňa played compositions by Alvarez for years.
The orchestra certainly had a jazzy side too, as it played, among other things, a composition by Woody Shaw, that we will hear near the end of this hour.
Playlist
1 Ahora yo me Rio
La Sonora Ponceňa
2 Hasta que se Rompa el Cuero
La Sonora Ponceňa
3 Luz Negra
La Sonora Ponceňa
4 Ahora Si
La Sonora Ponceňa
5 Sonora Pal Bailador
La Sonora Ponceňa
6 Timbalero
La Sonora Ponceňa
7 Night in Tunisia
La Sonora Ponceňa
8 La Rumba Soy Yo
La Sonora Ponceňa
9 Woody’s Blues
La Sonora Ponceňa
10 Joldo
La Sonora Ponceňa
