Chon Arauza y La Furia Colombiana
Dile
(Disa)

What Fito Olivares is to the Mexican tropical cumbia or Flaco Jimenez is to conjunto, Chon Arauza is to the vallenato cumbia. And Arauza with his accordion and crack seven-man band showcase those talents on the new CD. The first single, “Dile que Moriré,” percolates with such soulful horn power and blues sentiment that you might think you’re listening to Los Angeles Azules. Other standouts include “Me He Quedado Solo,” “Sin Tregua,” “Muévelo,” and “Pobre Diabla,” a rework of the reggaetón hit. Like Aniceto Molina, Arauza is a specialist in the fusion of Afro-Cuban salsa rhythms, percussion-driven cumbias and soulful boleros. Tribalistic and feverish, this witch’s brew is topped by Arauza’s bright accordion runs. (RB)