CD Review: De Nuevo En El Solar by Nabori (Salsaneo Records 2013)
Review by Bill Tilford, All rights reserved

(This review was originally prepared for our Nuestros Primos Musicales section, which covers music of interest to our readers that may not always fall under a strict definition of Cuban music)

Nabori is a rising regional Salsa powerhouse based in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor. In addition to a growing calendar of regional performances in the Midwest, the band has earned a reputation as a go-to group for pickup musicians as needed by visiting stars - if a major act comes into town needing substitute musicians, the odds are quite good that some of Nabori will turn up in the brass or rhythm section for the date.  

De Nuevo En El Solar is the group's second CD (their first was 2008's Historias Del Barrio), and all of the songs are originals by lead singer Robert Figueroa.   Robert calls the group's style Salsa Brava, and although it is always a hazardous sport to compare today's Salsa bands to the ones that came before, this writer is going to steal a page from sites that sell these recordings and suggest that this music would especially appeal to fans of some of the more atmospheric Boricua Salsa groups of the 1970s like Mark Dimond or Angel Canales. Certainly that vibe is there, and there is a lush brass and reed section complete with baritone sax. There is also a spiritual element in the recording in the song Camina Contigo.   One public note to whomever wrote the liner notes - a number of fine guest artists appear in this recording, but the liner notes don't specify which tracks they played in. That item really should have been clearer, particularly for a group that is just building its discography.  However, this does not take away from the music itself, which is very well-done and quite danceable.   This is a solid recording that is a worthy addition to the collection of fans of Salsa Brava, Salsa Dura, and the 70's style of the music before "Salsa Romantica" began to flood the market. 

Nabori's website (you can already purchase the CD at their concerts) is http://naborisalsa.com

Tracks: 
Quien Te Raspo?
Salsipuedes
Linda Cubana
Camina Conmigo
Salao
Mi Chele Cumbae
Laberinto
Encuentro

Personnel for De Nuevo En El Solar