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TIERRA TRIUMPHS WITH “WELCOME TO
CAFÉ EAST L.A.”
 Tierra,
the Chicano band that sizzled on the charts with
“City Nights”, and their mega hit “Together” in
the eighties, has hit paydirt with “WECOME TO
CAFÉ EAST L.A.”
Tierra, who won “Best R&B New Artist” in 1981,
and was featured on the “American Music Awards”,
has gone back to it’s R&B and Latin roots that
took them to the top of the Pop and R&B charts.
With 12 new songs, WELCOME TO CAFÉ EAST L.A. is
a blend of R&B, Latin Jazz, and Rock, or the
“Chicano Sound”, which Tierra helped to create,
and is Tierra’s best work to date.
The title cut is a high energy, fun,
foot stomping boogie woogie swing number that is
guaranteed to make you wanna “jitterbug”, like
they did in the 40’s and early 50’s (WELCOME TO
CAFÉ EAST L.A. will also be the title of a
musical about Chicano music coming soon).
“It Feels So Good, To Be Loved So Bad”, is
Tierra’s tribute to the legendary group, The
Manhattans, as Tierra adds their magic touch to
this R&B classic, and gives it a contemporary
flair through the incredible vocal stylings of
Billy Mondragon.
Billy also electrifies listeners on original
ballads “Gotta Move On” and “Tell Me You Love
Me”. And shows his vocal versatility with his
silky, smooth “Old School Jamz”, and “I Miss You
So”.
This CD has something for everybody, from R&B
tinged ballads to high energy latin dance
grooves, like “Sex The Night”, a sensuous “in
your face” jam that will probably raise the room
temperature.
Tierra’s tribute to Selena Quintanilla, on “Ojos
Negros” shows their Latin Rock side, with a
haunting vocal by Rudy Salas’ daughter, Rita in
the intro.
Rudy Salas’ blazing guitar riffs throughout the
CD keeps that patented “Tierra sound” alive, and
the horns of victor Cisneros, Rudy “Bub” Villa,
and Jeff Lewis are just the right sauce to the
Tierra musical feast. Veteran drummer
Aaron Ballesteros and percussionist Dale
Villavicencio, along with bassist Steve Falomir
create the rhythm pulse for this legendary group
with fiery grooves on “Chiquita” and “Marrano
Beach Mambo”, and Rudy Salas makes a social
statement from a salsa-gospel approach, on his
conscientious contribution, “Oh God (Save Us
From Ourselves)”. Listen to keyboardist’s Roger
Rivas’ great work on this track.
Rudy Moreno, (Latino comic of the year) makes a
hilarious cameo appearance on “Marrano Beach
Mambo”, and Sal Rodriguez from the legendary
group WAR does a smoking solo on the same track.
Mr. Capon-e, Don Abusivo, and Mike Alonzo,
rappers extraordinaire, do their thing on “My
Chiquita and Old School Jamz” respectively.
So, come on in, welcome to Café East L.A., now
just kick back, take off your “chanclas”, and
check out the “firme rolas” on this great CD. |
