Fuzionado (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Oscar D'León (programming); Dan Warner (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Antonio Cortes (flamenco guitar); Pedro Alfonso (violin); Andrés Diaz, Luis Marquez, Dante Vargas (trumpet); Jorge Doval, Alberto Rodriguez (trombone); Milton Sesenton, Leonardo Medina (piano); Omar Hernandez (electric piano, programming); Douglas Guevara, Richard Bravo, Daniel Berroa (percussion); Yasmil Marrufo (programming).

Recording information: Castle Recording Studio, Falcon Studio, Miami, FL.

Photographer: Mariella Sosa.

Arrangers: Oscar D'León; Yasmil Marrufo.

On his 2006 album, FUZIONANDO, Venezuelan salsa luminary Oscar D'Leon presents a bold, lively set that blends the style's vibrant traditional sound with touches of contemporary Latin pop. While "Llamame," an energetic track featuring reggaeton star Tego Calderon, is easily one of the high points of the outing, more understated numbers such as the swaying "Corazon Gitano" prove that D'Leon can deftly balance modern and classic takes on salsa.

Like many salsa greats before him, including the likes of Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, and Ray Barretto, Oscar d'León boldly leaps into the deep end of Latin fusion pool. Like a hybrid between Andy Montañez' recent crossover record Salsaton 2005 and Blades' world traveling Mundo, d'León boldly explores a variety of styles and Latino musical expressions on his 2006 release Fuzionado. He not only expands on the geography that his music covers, but also the timeline. New influences are added from a variety of Latin cultures, including the emerging world of Latino youth. As the album title implies, d'León and friends fuse together their native salsa with musics from all over the Spanish speaking world, including flamenco ("La Canto"), Latin rock ("Me Fallaste") plena ("Usted Senor"). and plenty of reggaeton. For fans of the typically traditional bandleader, fear not. Some stylistic things have changed, but there are some things one can always count on. D'León continues to be one of the finest bandleaders recording and performing today. The quality of the arrangements and performances are worthy of the name that they bear. Similarly, his collaborators are truly top-notch, and included Gilberto Santa Rosa, Zona 7, Barullo, Tego Calderón, and more. Take note, future crossover salseros. Oscar d'León y Su Orquesta have set the bar pretty high. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez minimize