Mucho Talento

Ismael Quintana's collaboration with Papo Lucca features some of Sonora Ponceña's sidemen (bassist Efraín Hernández, conga player Vicente "Little Johnny" Rivero, bongo player Angel L. Hernández, and longtime timbalero Jessie Colón); arrangers Ray Santos, Louis García, and Louis Cruz; and a few of San Juan's most prolific session musicians to create one of the early '80s most solid salsa productions. Quintana's melancholy and Papo Lucca's nimble piano/arranging stylings make this effort worthwhile, especially in the agonizing salsa scene of the beginning of the decade. Recorded in San Juan. Sadly, this was Quintana's last solo recording until his reunions with the Fania All Stars and Eddie Palmieri.