Diaz, Joaquin / Merengue Alegre
Album: Merengue Alegre   Collection:World
Artist:Diaz, Joaquin   Added:Jun 2002
Label:Arhoolie Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2002-08-05 Pull Date: 2002-10-07 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Sep 29 Sep 8
Airplays: 1 1

Recent Airplay
1. May 01, 2004: Morning Glory
Palo Bonito
4. Aug 27, 2002: At the Cafe Bohemian
Vamos a Bailar
2. Sep 24, 2002: At the Cafe Bohemian
Vamos a Bailar
5. Aug 20, 2002: No Cover, No Minimum
Palo Bonito
3. Sep 07, 2002: Morning Glory
Palo Bonito
6. Aug 12, 2002: Dollar Bin
Palo Bonito

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2002-07-25
JOAQUÍN DÍAZ – Merengue Alegre
Arhoolie, 2002

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – Hot dancin’ music! Diaz lives in Canada but don’t worry, this is the real thing. It’s perico ripiao, a traditional accordion-based merengue style with fast tempos and happy melodies.

Merengue, according to the notes, was rough and ready working-class music until it was dressed up by an image-conscious government in the 1940’s (it’s that more urbane stuff that most people today think of as merengue). REAL merengue occupies a place in Dominican culture much like bluegrass has in Nashville – popular but marginalized.

Anyway, what you got here is accordion, tambora drum, guiro, bass. Every song has three parts: an intro, sung verses, and then improvisation. Guaranteed to shake yo’ booty! Try it!

ALL GREAT! Fo’s Favorites: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12

01. 6:20 – fast & cute, with mad 2nd half
02. 4:11 – fast, lyrical bounce; nice
03. 3:34 – fast, really catchy; hot drums
04. 4:48 – fast but calmer, good breaks
05. 3:05 – uptempo, tinkly, and fun
06. 4:55 – uptempo; aggressive vocals
07. 4:27 – medium solo: kind of sexy
08. 5:17 – fast, bouncy; cool perc break!
09. 4:29 – med/up, with some emotion
10. 3:45 – relaxed, very folksy
11. 4:27 – fast, driving, hot vox near end
12. 5:18 – upbeat bounce, quite pleasant
13. 4:45 – upbeat and very melodic

[Fo] - 7/25/02

Track Listing
1. Vamos a Bailar   7. Navidad Sin Mi Madre
2. Una Manana De Abril   8. Los Ritmos Oficiales
3. Palo Bonito   9. Merengue Alegre
4. Autentico Merengue   10. Me La Pusieron Dificil
5. Bachata Sentimental   11. La Chiflera
6. Cana Brava   12. Las Tres Muchachas De Don Pa
  13. Homenaje a San Pedro