Osvaldo Chacon

The latest Cuban style to sweep the world is timba. Basically it's still a form of salsa but adds elements of funk, jazz and even hairier arrangements to the mix. It is extremely difficult to play successfully because the musicians have to be able to negotiate the complex structures and also groove hard…often at the same time. Consequently there are few timba bands on the Aussie latin dance scene. The best I've seen, the Canberra based group Mi Tierra have just released their first CD, so with a bit of luck I may be able to review it in the next update. The latest timba release to cross my desk is Voy A Entrar by Osvaldo Chacon (ARC Music).

Osvaldo is the former male vocalist with Bamboleo, the first timba band to bring the music to international attention in 1997 on their instant classic CD Te Gusto O Te Caigo Bien for which he also composed the title track (a virtual timba anthem) and other songs. Since then Osvaldo has lived in London bringing the fire of his music to frostier climes. Voy A Entrar assembles some of the UK's hottest Cuban and latino musicians as well as Polo Tamayo, flautist from the Afro-Cuban All-Stars. Chacon y Su Timba cover a broad terrain here, from romantic patches of salsa to salsa dura (hard salsa), soca, rap and touches of reggae. Every song builds up a very convincing head of steam as the timba beats and chorus kick in and the horns spit out funky commentary or swing over arrangements that turn on the head of a pin.

Osvaldo changes his hats, from husky crooner to hard-belting sonero with aplomb and genuine emotion. The two songs that break the timba mould are the effervescent soca of Socala and Forever Cha Cha Cha where Polo's flute chatters gleefully over the stately theme. Osvaldo takes the record out with his extroverted style of rap on Todo Llega a style of sonerismo that seems to elude the capabilities of all but the Cubans. Some people (myself included) have a tendency to be overly critical of anything that is created outside its source country. While this is a good general guide I can tell you that the pumping beats, swinging piano riffs and the contributions from all the musicians on Voy A Entrar are exceptional. They dispel any preconceived doubts in very quick time. RJ July 2003