CD Review - Empezar de cero  by JG (EGREM 2011)
Review by Bill Tilford, All rights reserved

This is the debut Timba album by Juan Guillermo Almeida (or JG), who was previously a member of the group Gente de Zona, which he left in 2009 in order to start his own project.  He also obtained a law degree in 2010 (perhaps a battle of the bands between JG and Manolin could give us the Salsa Lawyer vs. the Salsa Doctor?)  He is also the son of prominent composer Juan Almeida Bosque. 

This is a solid, well-orchestrated and well-arranged Timba album with some high-powered guest artists including Alexander Abreu and Amaury Perez in the brass section throughout the recording. It is also an interesting example of the way that more than one record company is now used on many recordings - this was recorded primarily in EGREM's Estudios de 18 but mastered at ABDALA. 

Tracks:

La farándula
Me la llevo yo
Qué te a pasa a esa mujer
El jala'o 
Empezar de cero
Me enloqueció
Tu vida loca
Me gusta tu amiga
Si te preguntan
Tengo un amigo
Yo le cojo la vuelta
Gracias a la vida

Personnel in Empezar de cero