Johnny Pacheco Albums (28)
'Gran Pacheco Te Invita a Bailar'
Release Date 3/2/1999
Tracks 11
Label Fania
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Pacheco y Su Charanga, Vol. 2'
Release Date 1/1/1998
Tracks 10
Label Alegre
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Pacheco at the N.Y. World's Fair'
Release Date 2/15/1994
Tracks 12
Label Fania
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
"Engulfed in the aura of the unisphere," as the liner notes attest, Johnny Pacheco gave a concert as part of the New York World's Fair, with vocals by Pete "Conde" Rodriguez. The best songs here -- "Se Me Fue," "Soy del Monte," and "Goza Negro" -- alternate stinging lines from the brass section, a vocal chorus repeating the title, and Rodriguez vamping over the top. The album is a delight to hear and rarely fails despite the similarities between the 12 tracks. It surely doesn't sound like a live recording, however: The quality is above standard for Fania LPs, and any audience that may have witnessed the performance certainly wasn't captured anywhere here. Of course, the absence of applause makes absolutely no difference in determining the quality of the album, and Pacheco at the N.Y. World's Fair is uniformly excellent. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
With his eight-man "nuevo tumbao" in tow, flutist Johnny Pacheco saluted the music of Africa (where he'd toured twice before) with 1972's Viva Africa. Although only the liner notes bear the dateline of Africa, and the music betrays no hint of African influence (or even reference), it's still a vivid, energetic, swinging record, with vocalists Monguito and Chivirico Davila leading the chorus. Pride of place goes to the opener, "El Champolon (Bacalao)," a swift dance number, though the mid-tempo "A Moron" is close behind, boasting a brassy swing and great harmonizing. Unlike the majority of Latin LPs, Viva Africa doesn't have a weak track on it; the last, "El Mundo," is as brisk, creative, and catchy as the first. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
