Fania Papo Luca piano Man Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on April 2, 1946, Enrique ‘Papo’ Lucca began playing the piano with his father’s band at age 11. Initially, La Ponceña performed covers of tropical hits of the moment by bands such as Cortijo y su Combo and La Sonora Matancera. In the late ’60s, Papo became La Ponceña’s musical director, beginning a deep transformation that would eventually establish the group as one of the most progressive outfits in the history of Afro-Caribbean music. Papo’s arrangements were daring and adventurous, experimenting with elements of Brazilian music, mainstream jazz and rock. Representing the authentic spirit of Puerto Rican salsa, his piano solos are velvety and funky, marked by their restrained, supremely elegant sense of swing. By the mid-’70s, La Ponceña was enjoying unprecedented critical and commercial success. The band recorded for the Inca label, which eventually became part of the Fania empire. Papo was called to arrange and play on sessions by some of the label’s biggest artists, including Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz and Cheo Feliciano. He was also invited to record and tour with the Fania All Stars. This compilation pays tribute to the artistry of Papo Lucca through 14 seminal tracks recorded between 1967 and 1981. Although Lucca has worked both as a solo artist and with a multitude of salsa stars, it is his work with La Ponceña that best distills his remarkable vision. This music is all about making people happy and ignite in them the desire to dance, says Lucca from his home in Puerto Rico. People will accept your music as long as it is danceable, no matter how complex it is. At the same time, salsa voices out the problems of the barrio and acts like an aural newspaper of sorts. Our journey begins with two early firecrackers from the Ponceña catalogue: “Hachero Pa’Un Palo” and “Fuego En El 23” are covers of songs by Cuban bandleader Arsenio Rodríguez. La Ponceña has always shown a weakness for Puerto Rican folklore, but it has also found plenty of inspiration in the golden era of Cuban music. The exact moment when La Ponceña becomes a mature tropical orchestra with complete control over its one-of-a-kind aesthetic can be heard on the six tracks culled from the albums Musical Conquest/Conquista Musical and El Gigante Del Sur. Released in 1976 and 1977 respectively, they represent the zenith of the salsa movement. These exhilarating tracks combine virtuoso musical dexterity with thoughtful lyrics and a healthy sense of humor. “Ñáñara Caí” is a hilarious narrative of sheer magical realism, describing a world where everything is upside down (my favorite line: “Yo vi a una vaca/Chocar con Pacheco”– “I saw a cow/Crashing against [Johnny] Pacheco). Also from Musical Conquest, “El Pío Pío” achieves the perfect cross between gritty Afro-Cuban vibe and hummable pop. This mega-hit is still an obligatory part of Ponceña’s live appearances wherever they go. The opening track of El Gigante Del Sur, “Boranda” delivers a salsified take on progressive rock. Its lyrics include a heavy sociopolitical message, and the sophistication of its arrangement is a slap on the face for anyone who thinks that this music is only good for dancing. “Soy Tan Feliz” combines a bolero mood with Papo’s electric piano solo, styled after the psychedelic jazz-rock sound of the ’70s. “Noche Como Boca ‘E Lobo” engineers a tasty collision of salsa fever and Brazilian rhythms. Lucca was not alone in his mission to reinvent the rules of Puerto Rican dance music. He benefited from the instrumental prowess of some of the best players in the island. And when it came to enlisting lead vocalists, his instinct was flawless. Some of the Ponceña singers featured on this compilation are the smoky voiced Tito Gómez, who would later become a salsa star with Colombia’s Grupo Niche; the inimitable Luigi Texidor, who added a feeling of bonhomie to every single song he ever performed; and Yolanda Rivera, who brought variety to the band’s songbook with her unique pitch and soulful interpretations. One of Rivera’s happiest moments with the band is included here: culled from the 1980 session Unchained Force, Johnny Ortiz’s “Borinquen” is a moving ode to Puerto Rico blessed with a sinuous melody and a silky instrumental arrangement– one of the most transcendental moments in the Ponceña canon. The golden days of salsa are nothing but a distant memory in the new millennium, but Papo Lucca continues to shine. Perhaps because he hasn’t stopped recording new music, he refused to idealize the past when I asked him about his all-time favorite Ponceña album. That would be the last one – the most recent one, he explained in his trademark gruff voice. All of the albums were very important for this orchestra, because they achieved what we set out to do with them: each one reaffirmed the one that came before it. That’s your mission when you attempt to maintain an orchestra that has been around for over 50 years. The maestro was a little more forthcoming when I asked him to mention his favorite Ponceña concerts. Probably my first concert with the Fania All Stars at the Madison Square Garden, around 1974, he said. Every single one of the Fania stars was still alive. A couple of years later we played in front of 47,000 people in Cali. My knees usually shake a little before every show, but this time they were really trembling. Fania Papo Luca piano Man Credit: Year Album Artist The Absolute 2013 Celia Cruz Composer Collection “Live” In Puerto 2012 Fania All-Stars Piano, Soloist Rico: June 11, 1994 Desde Nueva York a 2012 Eddie Montalvo Arreglos Puerto Rico 2012 Retro Marlow Rosado Primary Artist 2011 Aires de Navidad N’Klabe Featured Artist 2010 Instinto Grupo Gale Piano, Soloist 2010 Lo Esencial de Fania Primary Artist Ponte Duro: The Fania Composer, Piano, 2010 Fania All-Stars All Stars Story Vocals La Sonora 2009 55 Aniversario Composer Ponceña 55 Aniversario ¡En La Sonora 2009 Arreglos, Composer Vivo! Parte 1 Ponceña Tributo 45 2009 Mario E. Ortiz Piano, Soloist Aniversario Guest Artist, 2008 35 Aniversario Bobby Valentín Piano Beginner’s Guide to 2008 Arranger Salsa 2008 Featured Artist, 2008 Greatest Hits Celia Cruz Primary Artist Year Album Artist Arranger, Director, La Sonora 2008 Otra Navidad Criolla Executive Ponceña Producer, Mezcla, Piano, Synthesizer Piano, Primary 2008 Pa’Lante Willy Chirino Artist, Soloist 2008 Pulpo’s Hot Bread Pulpo Arranger Additional Personnel, Featured Artist, 2007 90 Millas Gloria Estefan Guest Artist, Piano, Primary Artist Essential Guide to 2007 Primary Artist Latin 2007 La Herencia Papo Lucca Primary Artist 2007 La Herencia Ismael Quintana Composer La Historia: The Hit Piano, Primary 2007 Willie Colón List Artist 2006 3 Zaperoko Arranger 2006 Cali Concert [DVD] Fania All-Stars Guest Artist Orquesta 2006 Guayacan Xtremo Piano, Soloist Guayacán Pasos Gigantes [Bonus Guest Artist, 2006 Pequeño Johnny DVD] Piano A Rough Guide to Main Personnel, 2005 Celia Cruz Celia Cruz Primary Artist Arranger, Guest 2005 Entre Amigos Johnny Pacheco Artist, Piano Year Album Artist Essential Guide to Musical Direction, 2005 Salsa Piano Riesling Lounge: 2005 Smooth Vibes for a Composer Lovely Atmosphere Strictly Ballroom, 2005 Composer Vol. 3 Tribute to Fania All 2005 Gerardo Rosales Arranger Stars (En Vivo) 2004 La Experiencia Celia Cruz Primary Artist Most Wanted: Mambo & 2004 Composer Salsa Salsa Legende: Best 2004 Primary Artist of Latin Jazz Quotes Researched 2003 Baila Contigo T.M.C. & Compiled Cuban All Jazz 2003 Piano [Tropical] Mis 30 Mejores 2003 Rey Ruiz Arranger Canciones Colleción De Oro: Gilberto Santa 2002 Arranger Perdoname…Exitos! Rosa Francisco 2002 Cubacan Composer Aguabella Luis “Perico” 2002 Jamming Piano Ortíz Humberto 2002 Paradise Piano Ramírez Que Pasa?: The Best 2002 Fania All-Stars Keyboards, Piano of Fania All-Stars Year Album Artist Ricardo Y 2001 Alberto Y Ricardo Arranger, Piano Alberto José “El 2001 El Canario Canario” Arranger, Piano Alberto 2001 Encore Roberto Blades Arranger, Piano 2001 La Negra Tiene Tumbao Celia Cruz Arranger, Piano Performer, Primary 2001 Legends of Salsa Celia Cruz Artist 2001 Pa’ los Treseros Nelson Gonzalez Piano Sembra Y Otros 2001 Favoritos Salsa Para Rubén Blades Piano Siempre La Sonora 2000 45 Aniversario Composer Ponceña Arranger, 2000 Alma Caribeña Gloria Estefan Arreglos, Guest Artist, Piano 2000 Fania Superhits Composer, Producer Latin Spectrum, Vol. 2000 Primary Artist 2 2000 Mas Libre Plena Libre Piano La Sonora 2000 Puro Sabor Composer Ponceña Top Latino 2000 [12 2000 Arranger Tracks] 2000 World of Latino Primary Artist Yuri 2000 Yo Soy Piano Buenaventura Gilberto Santa 1999 20th Anniversary Arranger Rosa Year Album Artist Afro-Cuban Grooves, 1999 Piano Vol. 4 [Melodie] 1999 Back to the Future Willie Rosario Guest Artist Giovanni 1999 Best Friends Arranger, Piano Hidalgo Cuban Jazz All Stars, 1999 Papo Lucca Primary Artist Vol. 1 El Sexteto Tipica de 1999 Papo Lucca Primary Artist Cuba Presents…Puerto Rico Humberto 1999 Guest Artist Jazz Jam Ramírez The Absolute Composer, Featured 1999 Celia Cruz Collection Artist 1998 Dance with Me Arranger Arranger, Audio La Sonora Production, 1998 On Target Ponceña Engineer, Mixing, Producer Afro Cuban Grooves, 1997 Primary Artist Vol. 2 1997 Bravo 97 Fania All-Stars Arranger, Piano 1997 Buena Hora Roberto Blades Arranger, Piano 1997 Greatest Hits Cheo Feliciano Arranger Nu Yorica 2!: Further Adventures in Latin 1997 Piano Music Chango in the New World Roberto Roena y Su 1997 Apollo Sound: Mi Roberto Roena Arranger, Piano Música