''Azúcar'' is an album by the Cuban band Los Van Van. It was released in the United States in 1994, the band's first album in eight years to be widely distributed. Due to the U.S. embargo, the band did not tour behind the album until 1996.

Production

The album was recorded in 1992. Los Van Van constituted 15 members, including three trombonists and three violinists. Piano player

César Pedroso César "Pupy" Pedroso (born César de las Mercedes Pedroso Fernández; 24 September 1946 – 17 July 2022)

contributed to the songwriting.

Critical reception

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'' called the album "vibrant dance music, a furious stew of trombones and violins, timbales, congas, keyboards and rousing vocals." '' The Guardian'' deemed it "old-fashioned, high class, salsa from Cuba's foremost band." '' The Boston Globe'' praised the "bright, hot dance tunes, played with extraordinary verve, punchy horns jumping out from a powerhouse rhythm section." ''

The Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America, North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. ...

'' determined that Los Van Van "takes the humble son into another dimension through splashes of modem influences and highly charged, energetic performances." The ''

Boston Herald The ''Boston Herald'' is an American daily newspaper whose primary market is Boston, Massachusetts, and its surrounding area. It was founded in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States. It has been awarded eight Pulit ...

'' stated that the sound "hinges on the interplay between charismatic singer Pedro Clavo and the chorus, an explosive percussion battery and the driving electric bass lines of band founder Juan Formell." AllMusic wrote that "most of the CD consists of straight-ahead Afro-Cuban salsa; however, it also contains a few cuts that are essentially Latin pop with Afro-Cuban elements." '' The Nation'' included the album in its article on 1994's notable releases.

Track listing

References

{{reflist 1992 albums Albums by Cuban artists