"To the Sexteto Juventud of Venezuela: Marco Toro and his ensemble want to offer them this simple tribute by interpreting their music so that all the people keep on dancing".

So starts Recordando, a tribute to a legendary band by Marco Toro, one of modern salsa's top percussionists, recalling the soundtrack to his childhood.

Sexteto Juventud was founded in 1963. With their fusion of pop and salsa they quickly became one of the most important bands of Venezuela. They eskewed horns, but included drums and electric guitar, which made their sound quite unique. The role of percussionist-singer Carlos ‘Tabaco’ Quintana undoubtedly attributed to their huge appeal. This homage highlights several of his salsa urbana-songs, which became like anthems for the growing salsa community.

Percussionist and bandleader Marco Toro took the musical heritage of his youth to Europe and established himself in Amsterdam, where he endeavoured to include new soundscapes into his music, collaborating with outsiders to the latin scene: On this album, the godfather of the Dutch rap scene, Def P, puts his rhymes to two compositions of Tabaco. With his tough-edged 'Amsterdamnese' he captures the sense of “La Cárcel – The Jail” very well.

In this way, new musical traditions are being invented, just like in the 1960s and 1970s, the era of “The Youth Sextet” . With his new album, Marco Toro proves to be worthy of upholding the eternal promise of salsa, which is one of solidarity across frontiers, of youth and hope, as he reinvigorates the salsa of his parents’ generation with the never stopping heartbeat of latin soul.

Once a band-member of Sexteto Juventud, Javier Plaza's participation in this record incarnates the living connection between the Toro Ensamble and the legendary band they salute!

And after 10 songs dedicated to Sexteto Juventud, the 3 bonus tracks show another side of Toro’s musical interests. They provide great examples of Afrovenezuelan roots music, the kind of music out of which salsa venezuelan style eventually evolved. Here he uses traditional percussion instruments from the region of Barlovento.

Tracklist

1. Medley Juventud
2. Sandra Mora
3. Con Todas las Banderas
4. El Boogaloo
5. Pa'la Guaira Me Voy
6. Baila Mi Ritmo
7. La Carcel
8. Un Pato
9. Mi Calvario
10. Caramelo y Chocolate
11. Rumbero Me Llama
12. Pa'guatire
13. Culo' e Puya

Video: Toro Ensamble - Sandra Mora (Live at Onder de Stuwwal 2009)