Orestes Vilató - It's About Time (CD)

All Music Guide

Orestes Vilató isn't a huge name in salsa/AfroCuban music; most salseros won't recognize his name as quickly as they recognize names like Eddie Palmieri, Tito Rodriguez, Celia Cruz, Héctor Lavoe, Oscar D'León and Tito Puente. Nonetheless, the Cuban percussionist has some impressive credentials; his résumé includes associations with the Fania All Stars, Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco and Cachao, among many others. Vilató has spent much of his career as a sideman, but It's About Time gives listeners a chance to hear him performing as a leader. With pianist Rebeca Mauleón serving as producer, Vilató delivers a salsaoriented album that is dominated by vocal offerings but occasionally detours into instrumental Latin jazz. Nothing groundbreaking occurs, but all of the performances are solid and inspiredand Adonis Puentes (the album's main lead singer) brings a lot of passion to "Consuélate Como Yo," "Olvido," "Toca Vilató and other energetic offerings. Another noteworthy track is "Remembering ...Ray," a jazzinfluenced chacha written in memory of the late Ray Barretto; the tune recalls "Cocinando" (one of Barretto's major hits for Fania Records) as well as "Oye Como Va," the Tito Puente classic that, in 1970, received the Latin rock treatment from Carlos Santanawho Vilató, by the way, has played with. It's About Time was recorded in 2008 in Los Angeles, a city that, historically, hasn't had nearly as many salsa/AfroCuban recording sessions as New York City or Miami. Los Angeles, one of the biggest hotbeds of Mexican culture, is a place where one is more likely to hear mariachi, banda, norteño or duranguense in a recording studio than salsa/AfroCuban music. But It's About Time is most definitely a salsa/AfroCuban album, and it is an album that Vilató can easily be proud of. - Alex Henderson, All Music Guide Read more Less