Personnel: Héctor Lavoe (vocals); Hector "Bomberito" Zarzuela, Raymond Maldonado (trumpet); Tommy Malon, Jose Rodgrigues (trombone); Mark Dimond (piano); Eddie Rivera (bass guitar); Milton Cardona (conga drum); Jose Mangual Jr. (bongos); Nicky Marrero (timbales); Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, Willie Garcia (background vocals).
This 1975 album was the first of many that salsa king Hector Lavoe would make for the storied Fania label, and it's the one that kickstarted his solo career, generating two Latin hits in "El Todopoderoso" and "Mi Gente." Lavoe's sweet-but-strong voice soars above percolating production by his former boss Willie Colon. The all-star cast that backs Lavoe on his maiden voyage also includes Ruben Blades on backing vocals and legendary conguero Milton Cardona. LA VOZ is a piece of New York City salsa history that sounds fresh even decades after its original release.
The title of this album surely says it all. Anyone unfamiliar with this "Cantante de los Cantantes" will be left spellbound with the melted-butter quality of his voice. In the first track, "En Todopoderoso," within his first verse Héctor Lavoe sets himself far apart from all contemporaries by virtue of his angelic timbre, only to later outdo himself as he effortlessly soars over the coro. La Voz being Lavoe's first of nine solo records for the Fania label, he turned to labelmate and longtime collaborator Willie Colón to produce and arrange. From the graceful, sophisticated horn intro on "En Todopoderoso" to the blazing mambo section in "Paraiso de Dulzura," Colón's mark as arranger is indelible. Unlike fellow Fania artists like Rubén Blades and Colón (both of whom sing coro on this album), Lavoe keeps this record quite vocal-centric, omitting the fiery horn or percussion solos and long dance sections that became so characteristic of the genre. Though these elements are missed, Lavoe certainly keeps interest. In the final track, "Mi Gente," asserts himself as a master sonero. His own improvisational abilities went a long way to establishing his reputation in the first place, and he does not shy away from using them on this project. The experience created by La Voz is a warmth and refinement only achievable by the combination of two factors. The Fania label in its prime, and perhaps New York salsa's most distinctive voice to date. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez minimize