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Mis Tres Hijos, meaning my three sons, is an independent release by percussionist Richie Gajate-Garcia, who penned much of the material in collaboration with his production partner Guillermo Guzman. Although recorded in Richie's modest home studio, the sound is startlingly hi-fi.
The opening cut, "Te Entrego El Corazon," denoting surrendering of the heart or spirit, sets the pace for the album. Lush and sometimes haunting textures form the backdrop. Richie's selection of instruments is pleasantly unpredictable and includes LP catalogue items as well as found objects. On this cut, Richie plays drums and percussion simultaneously. Incidentally, Richie has been doing this since 1975 when he toured with Frankie Vali; later he taught the method to Carlos Vega, who used it with James Taylor. Richie's juxtaposition of timbres is not stock and trade - except for the mounted cowbell struck with the left foot pedal using the LP Gajate Bracket.
"Sazon" (from "soson" meaning ingredients) turns from salsa to Cuban synth-funk, recalling Dave Grusin's rendition of "Oasis." Watch for duelling four-bar solos, synthesizer vs percussion.
"Mi Nena" ("my honey, my wife") features three batas and shakere on a mid-tempo groove, the snare waiting until four of each bar. The bridge, with its synthesized pan pipe, fretless bass, and ride cymbal, is Weather Report all the way.
Enough reverence! On "Roly Poly," Richie takes a turn for the profane. This is music for night clubs, complete with four-on-the-floor and stock synth lines. Mind you, for a moment, Justo Almario's sax solo, with bent-note ending, lifts us into the sacred.
Check out the djembes, conga, cowbell, and drums on "Guajira Papa Mi Papa." Richie tunes the lowest hand drum to the tonic, then puts it out front in the mix, precluding the need for a bass player. The song, with its simple, descending chord pattern, is another charmer.
"Udu Talk" pits sustaining Udu tones and horn against a synth backdrop, evoking thoughts of latter day Miles Davis. This is a nod to a time when Miles toured on a double-bill with Richie's group Hiroshima. John Fumo captures the right tone on trumpet.
To the title tune, "Mis Tres Hijos." This is the only tune obviously arranged in clave. True to form, it takes off into a mambo, complete with horn section and driving cowbell. Richie intuitively shadows Rique Pantoja's piano solo with accents on splash cymbals.
They are all strong pieces, but the last number, "Market of Dreams" is the showpiece. It leads with djembes and an Australian "tube Udu guiro" (!) ostinato panned in stereo against sustained tones on keyboard. A sampled vocal wail rises and falls, as if in an African marketplace
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| Great rhythmic number with some hot percussion by Gajate and a killer sax solo by Justo Almario | MP3.com CD: Mis Tres Hijos -  buy it!
CD: Mis Tres Hijos
Label: Pulpo
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| Instumentally yours from Ritchie who plays all percussion instuments |
CD: Mis Tres Hijos
Label: Pulpo Records
Credits: Rique Pantoja Pantoja Music (ASCAP) |
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| A lilting, haunting melody with a sweet percussive feel in the back holding it all together. If this isn't a moive theme, nothing is. |
CD: Mis Tres Hijos
Label: Pulpo Records
Credits: Richie Gajate and Guillermo Guzman |
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