That's the way of 'Flaco Navajas', a great performer, actor, poet, and singer who hosted and performed at The Loisaida Festival last Sunday. Salsa music is simply an excuse for this guy to go beyond, to something close to a Latino Rap, or Spoken Word with Salsa. A great level perfect for our times: tasty, strong, creative and danceable.
That scores high for the Latino Art, something that is on the stream of the Urban Poetry called "Spoken Word", and we see in artists as Urayoan Noel, Sheila Blanco, Nicolas Linares and the NY Poetry Jam. But the difference with Flaco Navajas is that classic old Salsa style that gets you while you dance.
Many dancers reacted impressed as his lyrics make a classic song like 'El Ratón', a poetry piece saying something beyond: "Did you heard what that guy just said?", said a lady after a dance turn.
It's not hip-hop, Calle 13, not strictly Salsa or Urban World, it's this artist, Flaco Navaja, born in The Bronx, Puerto Rican roots, habitual on the Lower East Side streets, related to the historic Nuyorican Poets' Cafe, an actor who has participated in several films.
He is a great singer, but he is also a great Salsa Singer, which means he has to improvise and do "soneo" after choruses, and he has the clarity and the creativity you don't see usually, even in well-known salsa singers. It reminds the very first days of Hector Lavoe, when he was a kid, naive, neat and fresh to bring new smart Salsa words. Well, not to complain, we have Flaco Navajas. Of course, Flaco speaks and sings with the power of conscience, so he can't be commercial and no easy to reach.
Cheers and thumbs up for the great work Flaco Navajas is doing. Great value for the Loisaida Festival and all Art Happening.
It's necessary to acknowledge the band with Flaco, The Razorblades: Camilo Molina, timbal; Charlie García, trombone; Carlos Cuevas, piano; Alex Ayala, bass; Gabriel Lugo, congas; Cris Sanchez, trumpet; and Martino Lopez, chorus.
NC
NYC, May 30th, 2018
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