Review: Chembo Corniel & Grupo Chaworo “Tenia Que Ser Asi”

I want to welcome Chembo Corniel & Grupo Chaworo to our NewGenSalsa.com family. Let me start by saying a bit about this outstanding percussionist from my home town Brooklyn and had the privilege and honor to study with such percussion luminaries as, Tommy Lopez Sr., “Little Ray” Romero, Louie Bauzo, and Cachete Maldonado. Wow!!! That’s just for starters he also went to The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts in New York, and also at the prestigious La Escuela Nacional de Arte in Havana, Cuba under the direction of the great Chucho Valdés. He recently was on tour with Larry Harlow’s Latin Legends Band and performed at The Tokyo Cotton Club. Chembo has toured with many major artists throughout Europe, Asia, North & South America, and the Caribbean. I took this quote from his Bio which describes what his music is about “A sprinkling of be-bop, a touch of swing with a dollop of bomba, rumba, tango and danzón topped with ‘un chin’ de charanga”.

The track I’m featuring “Tenia Que Ser Asi” from the CD “Blue Monk” is an amazing soft and sexy song that if you close your eyes it will take you almost anywhere you want to go. And when Ivan Renta starts blowing his sax as only he can you will feel chills running down your spine. Take a listen you will agree.