Biography
Greg Landau and Robert Leaver originally assembled Ritmo Y Candela solely to support a lone recording session and accompanying concert held in San Francisco during November 1994. The lineup centered on the legendary Cuban percussionists Carlos ‘Patato’ Valdés, Jose Luis ‘Changuito’ Quintana and Orestes Vilato, with additional contributions from Joe Santiago on bass, Rebeca Mauleon at the piano, Enrique Fernández handling saxophone and flute, plus assorted vocalists. Issued twelve months afterward under the title Rhythm At The Crossroads, that first session blended Cuban percussion workouts, Latin-jazz and funky salsa while incorporating a hint of calypso on a single track. The release earned strong reviews and captured the Grammy Award for Best Latin Dance Of 1995. African Crossroads, arriving in 1996, once more included Valdés, Quintana, Santiago and Fernández, now joined by new members such as pianist Ivan ‘Melon’ Gonzalez and veteran drummer Walfredo de los Reyes Snr. True to its name, the album expanded the sonic palette to embrace African influences, featuring US-based Senegalese multi-instrumentalist Abdou M’boup on several cuts and Zairian vocalist Samba Mapangala in prominent roles across two songs. Another critical favorite, African Crossroads headed numerous Latin and world-music critics’ Best Of 1996 lists.