Personnel: Isaac Delgado, Tony Cala (vocals), Jose Luis Cortes (flute), German Velazco (flute, clarinet, saxophone), Jose Crego, Elpidio Chapottin (trumpets), Rodolfo Argudin (piano), Miguel A. De Armas (keyboard), Feliciano Arango (bass), Giraldo Piloto (trap drums), Juan Nogueras (congas), Barbaro Argudin, Pablo Cortes (bongos).
Recorded at EGREM Studios, Havana, Cuba in December, 1989 and November, 1990.
All songs written by Jose Luis Cortes except "La Expressiva" (Fidel Morales), "Necesito Una Amiga" (D.R.), "Un Tipo Como Yo" (Sergio Esquivel), "Lo Que Siento Es Le Lo Ley" (Dagoberto Gonzalez).
NG la Banda was an all-star group of sorts, drawing members from the most important of pre-timba bands. Players and vocalists came from such influential artists as Pachito Alonso, Orquesta Revé, Irakere, and los Van Van, yet not taking too many members from any one place to be considered an off-shoot group. Similarly, their blend of rumba, son, rock, jazz, songo, and funk was an even enough split to be called something entirely new. The material on NG la Banda's QBAdisc release En la Calle comes from their early period, from about 1988 to 1992, a time known as "the birth of timba." Having recorded four vinyl records that were never released on CD, this is the only source for the group's formative material. Including radio hits like "La Expresiva" and "Los Sitios Eterno," En la Calle features ten strong tracks that would forge the way for Cuba's new musical voice. Having produced members who would go on to lead their own trailblazing groups, like Giraldo Piloto and Issac Delgado, the early years for NG la Banda were a period of incredible creativity and invention. For any timba enthusiast or Cuban music lover, En la Calle captures a pivotal moment in musical history. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez minimize