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Ismael Rivera: Traigo de Todo

By Richard J Salvucci
November 6, 2024
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Ismael Rivera

vocals
1931 - 1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Ismael Rivera (1931-1987) is one of the key figures of Puerto Rican salsa, an early exponent and pioneer, and so recognized on the island today, largely because of his sojourn in New York City. His career started in his late teens in Santurce while he was still employed as a laborer on the island, but he soon became established with

Rafael Cortijo

composer / conductor
1928 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Rafael Cortijo y su Combo in New York. He gained a reputation as a vocal improviser with the sobriquet, El Sonero Mayor. Like so many others of that generation, his involvement with drugs brought him a stint in the United States narcotics facility in Lexington, Kentucky, after which he returned to Puerto Rico. He died in Santurce (where there is a statue of him), but securely established both as a singer and composer as well as a figure supporting the rights of Black Puerto Ricans.

This recording, which dates from 1974, was considered something of a breakthrough both for its musical quality and its cultural contributions, embodied in a number of iconic songs.

One of them, "El Nazareno," is an homage to the Black Christ of Portobelo (Panama), a devotional shrine dating back to the eighteenth century and frequently associated with miracles. It is one of an entire genre of Black Christs found throughout Latin America. On the other hand, "Traigo de Todo" is a kind of celebration of life, of giving things of value to a community. It is very much a model of the genre.

It would be difficult to underestimate the significance of this recording to Puerto Rican salsa, or to the career of Rivera. It came at a time when he was recovering from his ostensible involvement with drugs, but also continued the Afro-Caribbean influences for which Rivera was known. He was certainly a star before Traigo de Todo, but the music, propelled by a powerful band, which included trumpet player

Chocolate Armenteros

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Chocolate Armenteros, cemented his presence and status within the Nuyorican salsa community. He sang "Yo No Quiero Piedras en Mi Camino" (I Want No Obstacles in My Way), but like his near contemporary

Héctor Lavoe

vocals
1946 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">H��ctor Lavoe, he found plenty of them, and they ultimately ended his life prematurely. It is a very good thing to have an audiophile vinyl on the fiftieth anniversary of the album's release.

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Track Listing

Satelite; Colobo; El Niche; Witinila; Orgullosa; El Nazareno; Que Te Pasa A Ti; Lagrimas Puras; Traigo De Todo; Yo No Quiero Piedras En Mi Camino.

Personnel

Ismael Rivera

vocals

Chocolate Armenteros

trumpet

Manuel Gonzalez

saxophone, alto

Harry D'Aguilar

trombone

Raimundo Vazquez

bass

Victor Gonzalez

congas

Carlos Malcon

percussion

Frankie Malabe

congas

Sammy Ayala

percussion

Javier Vazquez

piano

Adalberto Santiago

vocals

Vitin Aviles

vocals

Yayo El Indio Pequero

vocals

Additional Instrumentation

Vitor Gonzalez: bongos (5).

Album information

Title: Traigo de Todo | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Tico

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