:: Luisito Quintero - Percussion Maddness Revisited

Luisito Quintero

Luisito Quintero is a Venezuelan percussionist, a veritable master who has played with everyone in Latin music from Tito Puente to Herbie Hancock. ‘Percussion Maddness Revisited’ is, in short, a fantastic collection of new productions as well as remixes and retakes on his original Percussion Maddness release which dropped last year on Japanese imprint Pony Canyon and German label Rapster Records. Teaming up yet again with Grammy award winner Louie Vega’s own Vega Records imprint and, this time, also with respected British imprint BBE, this is one album you’ll have on high rotation the moment you get it and will go down particularly well during the Australian summer. As Louie Vega explains the idea for Percussion Maddness came out of a desire to make some of the original tunes more up-tempo. ‘I felt we had some more to do with Percussion Maddness, since the songs lend themselves so well to be dance friendly,’ he says. ‘It started with a few remixes, then some original tunes (new) came about naturally.’

Put simply, this is collection of beautiful Afro-Latin rhythms blended with jazz, up-tempo electronic touches and, of course, Quintero’s amazing percussion abilities. On production and remix duties is Vega himself who - under his Elements Of Life guise (of which Quintero forms an integral part) - adds that little bit of magic to everything he touches. ‘Music For Gong Gong’ starts the album with a bang. Featuring Yoruban singer Nina Rodriguez’s beautiful chant and Luisito and his son Anderson on background vocals, it is a beautiful mix of up-tempo horns and warm strings, all providing a great vibe and one which sets the scene for an all round great listen. As Louie Vega said in a recent interview discussing the release, ‘this is an album…based on a lead percussionist, now turned bandleader’ and he’s pretty spot on. While Vega’s sharp production and direction are all over this release, it is Quintero’s even sharper abilities as master percussionist that make this album stand out.

Elsewhere, ‘Skinny Papa’ is a fun affair featuring Chulius of Los Amigos Invisibles, Jose Mangual Jr. and Milton Cardona. Watch out for the vocal on this one; it will stay in your head! Likewise, ‘Our Love’ featuring fellow Vega Records artist Anane is fantastic, beginning with slightly melancholic keys and then developing with lush horns and a heartfelt, soulful vocal. On remix duties for this track is none other than Italian legend Nicola Conte; you get the idea. This is quality. Another standout on a standout album is the upbeat ‘Love Remains The Same’ featuring the vocals of Blaze. ‘Percussion Maddness Revisited’ sees Quintero stake a claim to that fabulously fertile middle ground where New York’s jazz, salsa and African – American dance traditions meet. As you’ll see upon listening, he’s done a quality job. Don’t sleep on this one.