Fuzionado

AMG Review of Fuzionado

Evan C. Gutierrez
All Music Guide

Like many salsa greats before him, including the likes of Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, and Ray Barretto, Oscar d'León boldly leaps into the deep end of Latin fusion pool. Like a hybrid between Andy Montańez' recent crossover record Salsaton 2005 and Blades' world traveling Mundo, d'León boldly explores a variety of styles and Latino musical expressions on his 2006 release Fuzionado. He not only expands on the geography that his music covers, but also the timeline. New influences are added from a variety of Latin cultures, including the emerging world of Latino youth. As the album title implies, d'León and friends fuse together their native salsa with musics from all over the Spanish speaking world, including flamenco ("La Canto"), Latin rock ("Me Fallaste") plena ("Usted Senor"). and plenty of eggaeton. For fans of the typically traditional bandleader, fear not. Some stylistic things have changed, but there are some things one can always count on. D'León continues to be one of the finest bandleaders recording and performing today. The quality of the arrangements and performances are worthy of the name that they bear. Similarly, his collaborators are truly top-notch, and included Gilberto Santa Rosa, Zona 7, Barullo, Tego Calderón, and more. Take note, future crossover salseros. Oscar d'León y Su Orquesta have set the bar pretty high.