Bronx River Parkway 'San Sebastian 152' album

Bronx River Parkway, New York's premier Latin-soul band, will release their full-length album San Sebastian 152 on July 29th. Backed by Truth & Soul as well as Candela Records, these 10 tracks of Latin funk and soul will be their first release since their 2005 7" single, which has heightened anticipation for a proper full length release.

San Sebastian 152 will be released on Truth & Soul, a Williamsburg-based modern vanguard of said genre, formed by Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman. They were house musicians for Soul Fire Records and came together to form Truth & Soul when Soul Fire dissolved in 2004. The pair are known for remaining faithful to the deep roots of the soul genre with artists like Bronx River Parkway, Black Velvet, Lee Fields & The Expressions, and Timothy McNealy on their roster. PrefixMag.com says of the of the label, "Such pure joy erases any commercial pretense about the label's efforts and demonstrates Truth & Soul's commitment to maintaining the legacy of independent music." Among the 20+ musicians of Bronx River Parkway is legendary lead singer, Sammy Ayala, an original member of Cortijo y Su Combo. He has been regarded as "The most consistent figure on Puerto Rico's musical journey from folk to popular," according to The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network. Ayala brings his trademark energy, stirringly passionate vocals, and floor-stomping performance to San Sebastian 152, which encourages engagement between the audience and performers in both live performances and through their recordings. This, in conjunction with the other talented souls of the orchestra, makes the album a force of nature: powerful, strong, and certain to make you move.

The Hispanic funk jams of San Sebastian 152 are the product of diverse influences and the musical dynamism of all involved. "La Valla" is a timeless groove that begs listeners to get down, while steamy tracks like "Nora Se Va" and "Agua Con Sal" slow things down while heating them up. With San Sebastian 152, Bronx River Parkway seek to reignite interest in music inspired by groups from the golden age of funk and soul like The Lebron Brothers, Apollo Sound, and Ocho. The myriad cultural influences and experiences of the group, combined with Ayala's golden voice, have made this album a mix of varying musical genres in a fresh and innovative way.

biography
This collective of musicians hailing from both New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico fuse seamlessly to create a flawless combination of Truth & Soul's classic soul rhythms with the sounds and emotion of indigenous Puerto Rican and Caribbean music. The Hispanic funk jams of Bronx River Parkway's upcoming album San Sebastian 152 are the perfect example of this synthesis: the record sets down timeless grooves that beg listeners to get down.

Bronx River Parkway was initially formed during an impromptu jam session at the Soul Fire studios in early 2002. Out of that jam session came their first single entitled "Quienes Que Resolverlo," which was released later that year on the Latin Express imprint of Soul Fire Records. They went on to release their second single with Truth & Soul: "Deixa Pra La," and have remained with the label since. In 2004, Pablo Rodriguez of Candela Records and visual artist Rostarr had a vision of merging the raw soul style of Truth & Soul with the traditional musical vocabulary of Puerto Rico. The way to see this though was to team up New York band Bronx River Parkway with a crew of legendary salsa musicians that made their home in San Juan. Some of the local musicians who contributed to the album have graced the stage with such legends as Roberta Roena, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ray Baretto, and Tito Rodriguez. Sammy Ayala, one the many vocalists featured on the album, was an original member of Cortijo y Su Combo. Cortijo y Su Combo was a group organized by legendary Puerto Rican percussionist and composer Rafael Cortijo. Fifty years ago, Sammy Ayala, along with Raphael Cortijo and Ismael Riviera, created a new blend of Salsa that incorporated the native rhythms of Puerto Rico with the Caribbean sounds from Cuba, The Dominican Republic and the West Indies. They were one of Puerto Rico's most successful musical groups, and one of Salsa's most famous groups across Latin America. It is this reputation and flair that Sammy Ayala brings to his new orchestra with Bronx River Parkway.

In February of 2005, original Bronx River Parkway members Leon Michels, Jeff Silverman, Quincy Bright, and Nick Movshon were flown to San Juan, Puerto Rico for eight days. Housed in a 200-year-old former ballet school that was once owned by Tego Calderon, BRP built a makeshift studio with carefully arranged bed mattresses and began recording what would eventually become the album, San Sebastian 152. What came of these recording sessions is a unique and inspired mix of the varying musical genres that have influenced both BRP and all the musicians involved. The American soul and R&B influences of BRP remain the basis of the sound while traditional Bomba, Salsa, and Rumba shine through to create something completely fresh.

Now Truth & Soul teams up with Candela Records to present the first full-length from their premier Latin soul outfit, Bronx River Parkway. With San Sebastian 152, Bronx River Parkway seeks to reignite interest in music inspired by groups like The Lebron Brothers, Apollo Sound, and Ocho.

meet the band
Initially formed in 2002, Bronx River Parkway is now a group of almost 20:

Sammy Ayala - Lead Singer
Tito Cruz - Vocals
Mari Mari - Vocals
Chris Mendoza - Vocals
Jose Parla - Vocals
Pupi Santiago - Vocals
Zoe Velez - Vocals
Nick Movshon - Drums
Quincy Bright - Bass
Toby Pazner - Keys
Leon Michels - Keys, Saxophone, Flute
Georgie Cruz - Saxophone, Flute
Diego Centeno - Timbales/Guiro/Vocals
Aaron Johnson - Trombone
Ernesto Abreu - Congas
Nicholas - Trumpet
Javier Rivera -Trumpet
Hector Calderon - Congas
Alfredo - Congas, Vocals

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Bronx River Parkway - San Sebastian 152