Album

Most of the music on this album was arranged by the performer, Puerto Rican cellist Emilio Colón, for the combination of cello and piano; only the cellist's own Armando's Waltz is presented in its original form. Yet it doesn't show any strain from the transcription. The music of several composers here—Ernesto Lecuona, Astor Piazzolla, and the creators of the Puerto Rican piano dances grouped under the heading "Danzas célebres puertorriqueñas"—has often proven adaptable to new instrumentation, and even the more formal Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2 (1937), of Alberto Ginastera are beautifully arranged, with the cello serving to highlight Ginastera's creole rhythms in a context already marked by a good deal of dissonance. Best of all, Colón's recording does what a good recital should: it not only shows off his own nice cantabile and the sensitive accompanimental skills of pianist Nariaki Sugiura, but also draws connections for the listener to think about. Colón explores the territory indicated by the blurred line between popular and classical in Latin America, beginning right on the line (Lecuona) and moving in one direction (the Puerto Rican danzas) or the other (Ginastera, who even at this young age carved out an adventurous style even as he showed French and American influences). He concludes with wonderful performances of five of Piazzolla's famous tangos, which have continued to blur the popular/classical line in an age that has seemed bent on reasserting and clarifying it. This is a fine hour of melodically and rhythmically vital music that seems more and more essential with each passing year.

© James Manheim, All Music Guide

CD 1
Ernesto Lecuona Composer Danzas afro-cubanos, suite for piano Work 16:09 Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
1	La Conga de Media Noche	2:46			$0.99
2	Danza Negra	2:29			$0.99
3	!... Y la Negra Bailaba!	2:44			$0.99
4	Danza de los Ñanigos	2:54			$0.99
5	Danza Lucumi	2:56			$0.99
6	La Comparsa	2:20			$0.99
Alberto Ginastera Composer 3 Danzas argentinas, Op.2 Work 8:45 Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
7	1.Danza del fiejo boyero (Dance of the Old Herdsman)	1:29			$0.99
8	2.Danza de la moza donosa (Dance of the Graceful Maiden)	3:57			$0.99
9	3.Danza del gaucho matrero (Dance of the Intrepid Cowboy)	3:19			$0.99
Emilio Colón Composer Armando's Waltz, for cello & piano Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
10	Armando's Waltz, for cello & piano	3:25			$0.99
Juan Morel Campos Composer Danzas Puertorriqueñas, for piano: Felices Dias Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
11	Danzas Puertorriqueñas, for piano: Felices Dias	3:37			$0.99
Angel Mislán Composer Tu y yo, danza Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
12	Tu y yo, danza	4:04			$0.99
Luis R. Miranda Composer Impromptu, Op.10 Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
13	Impromptu, Op.10	3:23			$0.99
Astor Piazzolla Composer Oblivion, tango for chamber ensemble Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
14	Oblivion, tango for chamber ensemble (arr. cello and piano)	3:46			$0.99
Astor Piazzolla Composer Tzigane tango, tango for chamber ensemble Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
15	Tzigane tango, tango for chamber ensemble	3:55			$0.99
Astor Piazzolla Composer Escualo, tango for chamber ensemble Work Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
16	Escualo, tango for chamber ensemble	3:39			$0.99
Astor Piazzolla Composer Ángel series, tangos for chamber ensemble Work 9:14 Nariaki Sugiura Piano, Emilio Colón Cello
17	2.Milonga del angel	5:38			$0.99
18	1.La muerte del angel	3:36			$0.99