Nostalgia

Some may say that Manny Manuel is far too young to be releasing a record with a title and artistic vision like 2004's Nostalgia. What does a vocalist like him know about the sultry, emotive boleros of yesteryear? It is exactly his youth that makes the record sparkle. From his suave Sinatra-esque cover art to strong, confident vocal tone, Manuel is doing the "crooner of a bygone era" thing con ganas. True bolero fans are hindered primarily by the low production quality of its heyday, or with more contemporary releases, the aging of its performers. From the first bars of the title cut, Nostalgia is as refreshing a change as opening winter's front door to a crisp, sweet spring breeze. From the warm, languid arrangements to Eduardo Reyes' expert bandoneon performance, Manuel could not be better supported. Conversely, the RMM label could not have hoped for a finer cantante to put in front of the mic. Though he's always had a strong presence in the contemporary Latin scene, Manuel has never sounded so mature or at home. It's difficult, after just a few tracks, to imagine Manuel as anything but the new champion of romantic Latino balladry. Like the Harry Connick, Jr. of the salsa world, Manuel has mastered the music of yesterday, and performs it with such gusto that it has never sounded so vibrant, so new. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, Rovi