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| Masterworks - Fania's Hidden Treasures Fania launched their newest collection, Masterworks. The series kicked off on March 3rd with Ray Barretto's Masterworks - Indestructible which includes "Jazz Guajira" and an instrumental take on "Yo Tengo Un Amor." The concept was born following the release of Siembra 30th Anniversary Edition - Willie Colon & Ruben Blades (10/21/2008). Following Emusica's acquisition of Fania Records, the company discovered more than 2, 000 multi-track tapes of original recordings. Many of these were previously unreleased- different versions of tracks, songs that didn't make the final album cut, etc. Emusica's A&R specialist, Dean Rudland, hand-selected marquee releases from the Fania labels to be re-issued with several bonus tracks selected from among the unreleased material. Masterworks - Vamonos Pa'l Monte (Eddie Palmieri) marks the second release in the series and hit the streets March 17th, 2009 with unreleased tracks. It's the only album where you will find the funky "VP Blues." Also upcoming are Masterworks versions of El Juicio & El Malo (Willie Colon), La Voz & Comedia (Hector Lavoe), Cheo (Cheo Feliciano), Asi Se Compone Un Son (Ismael Miranda), Metiendo Mano (Willie Colon & Ruben Blades), Cheetah (Fania All Stars), Maelo (Ismael Rivera) and Acid (Ray Barretto). The physical album is presented in a six panel digipak with extensive liner notes and exclusive photos. On the digital side many of the albums include additional previously unreleased bonus tracks. "As curators of the Fania archives, we are thrilled to be able to share these unreleased treasures with the fans, " said Giora Breil, CEO, Emusica Records, LLC. "Masterworks is an opportunity to delve into the vaults at Fania, and bring you a whole new perspective on some of the seminal albums in the history of salsa. It also allows fans and scholars of the music a unique opportunity to see how their heroes worked in the studio. It is a series that we are very proud of, " said Dean Rudland, Producer/A&R Specialist. The Fania label is the leading catalog of tropical music in existence and is a part of Emusica Records, LLC. Fania's catalog includes landmark recordings by Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto and Larry Harlow among many others. write your comments about the article :: © 2009 Jazz News :: home page |