Sexteto Habanero

Though the group dates back to 1920, and the oldest current member joined up in 1952, Septeto Habenero is anything but a museum piece. These masters of the Cuban son are experts in the art of generating excitement, pulling tricks like gradually increasing the tempo of a song until the intensity sneaks up on you, or piling on a call and response climax just when you thought a number was winding down. The presence of a trumpet among the tres guitar, bass, and bongo lineup may feel intially disconcerting, but trumpeter Barbaro Teuntor's parts are as economical as they are sharp, leaving ample space in several six-minute-plus numbers for tres guitarist Felipe Ferrer to chime out brightly. Led by hot ember of a vocalist Manuel Fure and a monster of a drummer, the septet comes up with one of the strongest releases in Corason's catalog. ~ Bob Tarte, All Music Guide