Juan Pablo Díaz – Fase Dos (Juanpi Música, 2016)
Vocalist, songwriter and actor Juan Pablo Díaz is one of the rising talents of Puerto Rican salsa. Fase Dos showcases his talent as a singer and songwriter. The songs on Fase dos feature a wide range of salsa arrangements, from irresistible dance numbers inspired by classic salsa, Cuban son and rumba and Puerto Rican folk music to timeless, nostalgic boleros with lush strings.
It’s not easy anymore to break into the salsa field. Major labels and corporate stations are pushing tiresome commercially-driven reggaeton and hip hop in Puerto Rico so new talents like Juan Pablo Díaz are a welcome addition to the music scene in the Caribbean island.
As a songwriter, Juan Pablo Díaz has demonstrated he’s one of the best lyricists in new salsa as well. He covers topics that range from love to social conscience issues like greed and migration. His delivery reminds me of the great salsa maestro Rubén Blades.
The album features a large cast of superb musicians, including formidable percussion and brass sections.
Fase Dos is a superb salsa album featuring the exceptionally expressive and memorable vocals of Juan Pablo Díaz.
Buy Fase Dos
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
