Ponganse Duros/180g

Description

This is a faithful reissue of a highly sought-after rare album from the Ansonia archives originally released in 1971. Bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger Gilberto Cruz was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, but by the 1960s was active in the New York area performing gigs. He created the Gilberto Sextet, a vibraphone- and piano-led sextet, in the mold of the very popular Joe Cuba Sextet. For this album, the Gilberto Sextet brought in Lou Bartel for English vocals and harmonica, infusing the album with the boogaloo Latin soul of the era. The album was an experiment in cross-cultural grafting that worked in a "New York unique" melting pot way. Pónganse Duros literally means: "Harden Yourselves" or "Get Tough," but it is an idiomatic expression that is frequently encountered in Latin songs and is actually interpreted as "Get Ready" or "Prepare Yourselves" (to dance, jam and have a good time). In this case, get ready for a wild ride, as the Gilberto Sextet was about to "get loose" and get truly groovy.