Rumba Baby Rumba! is an album by the American band Bio Ritmo, released in 1998.[2][3] The band supported the album by touring with Squirrel Nut Zippers.[4]
| Rumba Baby Rumba! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1998 | |||
| Genre | Rumba, salsa | |||
| Label | Triloka/Mercury[1] | |||
| Producer | Jeffrey Lesser | |||
| Bio Ritmo chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production edit
Recorded at Sound of Music, in Richmond, Virginia, the album was produced by Jeffrey Lesser.[5][6] The music was written and arranged by band leader Rene Herrera in four weeks.[7][8] The band's record company encouraged them to incorporate more pop elements.[9] "Tequila" is a cover of the Champs' song.[5] "Night Music" is an interpretation of Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik.[10]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [11] |
| MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide | [12] |
Orlando Weekly wrote that, "like the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Bio Ritmo transcends rote revivalism by allowing their natural eccentricities and modern inclinations to strut."[13] Newsday stated: "Tongue well in cheek, Rumba Baby Rumba! is a joy... Bio Ritmo ably combines the energy of swing with the percussive flavor of salsa and son."[14] The Morning Call considered the album "loaded with lively, catchy numbers that sound as if they're coming straight out of Havana."[15]
The Orlando Sentinel thought that "original Herrera compositions such as 'Yo Soy la Rumba' and 'Sientate Ahi' are fine contributions to the Afro-Cuban repertoire."[16] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette determined that, "despite the Bio Ritmo's largely inauthentic origins, the band seems to have passed the credibility test."[17] The Philadelphia Inquirer opined that "the band's own humor-inflected, bilingual tunes mark the high point of its salsa madness."[18]
AllMusic called the album a "sensual and kinetic collection of contemporary Latin rhythms."[11]
Track listing edit
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Yo Soy la Rumba" | |
| 2. | "Call Me Up (644-7215)" | |
| 3. | "Bin Bin" | |
| 4. | "What I Want to Say" | |
| 5. | "You Killed My Love" | |
| 6. | "Tequila" | |
| 7. | "Ugly" | |
| 8. | "Un Carnaval en la Habana" | |
| 9. | "You Rule Over Me" | |
| 10. | "Una Palabra" | |
| 11. | "Sientate Ahi" | |
| 12. | "Night Music" |
References edit
- ^ "Rhythm & Views (August 13 – August 19, 1998)". Tucson Weekly.
- ^ "Bio Ritmo Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
- ^ Malkin, Nina (Aug 1998). "Music to move you". Mademoiselle. Vol. 104, no. 8. p. 134.
- ^ Reece, Doug (Aug 22, 1998). "Popular Uprisings". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 34. p. 14.
- ^ a b Harrison, Don (November 25, 2014). "The Salsa Machine". Richmond Magazine.
- ^ Verna, Paul (Aug 1, 1998). "Rumba Baby Rumba!". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 31. p. 18.
- ^ Shuster, Fred (23 July 1998). "Salsa: Hot Dance Bands Energize Latin Tradition". Los Angeles Daily News. p. L12.
- ^ Sculley, Alan (27 Nov 1998). "Struggling for Freedom and a Beat". Daily Press. p. C12.
- ^ Long, Colleen. "The national craze for all things Latino has cha-cha'd its way to Richmond". Style Weekly.
- ^ Warminsky, Joe (Aug 30, 1998). "Bio Ritmo delivers Latin lessons". Potomac News. p. E10.
- ^ a b "Rumba Baby Rumba". AllMusic.
- ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 84.
- ^ "Rumba Baby Rumba!". Orlando Weekly.
- ^ Torres, Richard (16 Aug 1998). "Spicing Up Swing and Flamenco". Newsday. p. D19.
- ^ Condran, Ed (24 Apr 1999). "Dance Band Bio Ritmo Doesn't Swing That Way". The Morning Call. p. A43.
- ^ Gettelman, Parry (9 Oct 1998). "Bio Ritmo – Maybe Call It 'Swalsa'". Calendar. Orlando Sentinel. p. 8.
- ^ Mervis, Scott (30 Oct 1998). "Ready to Rumba". Arts & Entertainment. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 24.
- ^ Beckley, Fred (27 Aug 1999). "On Rumba Baby Rumba! (Triloka), Bio Ritmo proves conclusively...". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 20.