Sammy Figueroa – Searching For A Memory (Busco tu Recuerdo), Featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Aymée Nuviola (Ashe Records, 2023)
Iconic percussion virtuoso Sammy Figueroa pays a heartfelt tribute to his late father with the captivating album Searching For A Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo). This Latin jazz work includes fabulous guests such as Grammy-winning Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the dynamic Latin Grammy winner, Cuban vocalist Aymée Nuviola. Guided by the masterful touch of producer Rachel Faro, Figueroa’s first musical offering in nearly a decade serves as a touching homage to the memory and melodic genius of his father, the romantic crooner, Charlie Figueroa.
The late Charlie Figueroa, a maestro of romantic boleros during the 1950s, left an indelible mark on the Hispanic music scene, with his records still resonating to this day. Despite his early departure, his musical legacy endures. Consequently, Sammy Figueroa inherited not only his father’s musical skill, but also his sense of humor.
Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Figueroa fondly shares, “My father Charlie Figueroa was a singer of romantic boleros back in the 1950s, one of the best, whose records still sell to this day. But he passed away as a young man, when I was just a little boy, a victim of his ‘Bohemian lifestyle’. But those who knew him, from Eddie Palmieri and Yomo Toro to Charlie’s sister, my Aunt Blanca, all say that I look like him, that I have the same sense of humor and that I inherited his musical talent.”
Charlie’s most beloved hit, “Busco Tu Recuerdo,” beautifully explores the quest for lost memories, only to uncover the ethereal realm of dreams. This theme resonates deeply with Sammy’s own journey.
Notably, the timeless melodies of Charlie’s boleros receive a modern Latin jazz transformation, embracing elements of son montuno, cha cha chá, plena, bomba, mariachi, samba, and Cuban rumba.
The album includes a perfectly balanced mix of instrumental tracks and emotionally charged vocal performances by Nuviola and Sammy himself. In a remarkable twist, Sammy rediscovers his own voice during the album’s creation, shining brilliantly on the title track, a rendition of his father’s most prominent hit.
The collaborative spirit continues with guest artists and contributing arrangers, including the MacArthur Genius Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenon; the multi-Grammy-winning arranger John Daversa on trumpet; the brilliant Cuban saxophonist Felipe LaMoglia; Cuban flutist Magalys Herrera; Puerto Rican bassist Ricardo Rodriguez; and the Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Munir Hossn.
Searching For A Memory allows Sammy Figueroa to transmute buried emotions into a breathtaking set of songs. This album is not merely a dedication to Charlie Figueroa, but a heartfelt tribute to all children who navigate life without their fathers.
This exceptional musical work was made possible through a Creative Residency Grant from the SouthArts Jazz Road initiative, adding another layer of significance to an already deeply moving project.
Buy Searching For A Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo).
Author: Iliana Cabrera
