Borinquen Flame

RELEASE
1977
LABEL
Borinquen
GENRES
Latin, Salsa, Tropical
Bandleader Mario Ortiz made only two LPs during the '70s, and they received little airplay. This hard-to-find LP led to Ortiz's long, successful tenure in El Condado-area hotels as an orchestra leader. Also it is of historical significance -- one of legendary Cuban arranger René Hernández's final recordings and 14-year-old Gilberto Santa Rosa's professional recording debut. Watch young Santa Rosa in tunes like "Palo de Caña Brava" and his self-penned "Regálame Tu Amor" (is there any hint of Andy Montañez somewhere?). Mario Ortiz shines (he would drop the trombone lineup in later years) as always.
José A. Estévez, Jr., Rovi