Group Name: Cuatro Rosas Cd Title: Dos Caras Del Destino Hello my good friends. I am back with a brand new cd review. Today we will focus our attention on the Debut cd of Cuatro Rosas. This is basically an All-Star band of conjunto artists, getting together to make a tribute cd to Conjunto King Tony De La Rosa. In a year so far where there has been many great conjunto cd releases, this one is at the top of the heap. The vocals or Greg Paredez and Tony "Tigre" Saenz are unmatched. Oziel Garza on accordion shows why he is one of the best accordionists around, and Coco Vasquez brings back that tight Tony DLR beat on the drums. I enjoyed all the songs on the cd. Highlites for me were "Corrido Del Chicano", "Esta Noche Voy A Ver La", and "Dos Caras Del Destino". I really hope there will be a volume 2 to this project in the future. It is a cd i would recomend to all you conjunto lovers out there. Final GradeA+
Thanks carnalito we really hope u all liked it.actually yes there is going to be a volume2 pretty soon.GREGG PAREDES,TONY SAENZ,COCO VASQUEZ,AND ME OZIEL GARZA we are very happy with the results of this cd.It was an honor having this men with me on the studio and lets not forget that also BAJO SEXTO LEGEND DANY FLORES (PARNA) also recorded there with us.He also has a great history in conjunto cause he played with DON TONY DE LA ROSA FOR A LONG TIME AND WITH HIS BROTHER DON ANGEL FLORES.Lets get something clear when we got together for this project it was with one goal and that was to honor EL DON, TONY DE LA ROSA.We did not do this for publicity nor for monetery componsation or to give competition to any one who is playing TONYS music.And now that i remember there was someone who made a post some time ago that there were already alot of people trying to sound like TONY.Well my friend I didnt say nothing then but now I will say it the only difference between this group and the rest is that all this musicians not including me, had the honor of being on stage with TONY DE LA ROSA performing in front of alot of people.Now if I left any doubt on u look who recorded the bass and vocals that name says it all
GREGG PAREDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE MANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just wanted to say that cd is badass it deserves the A+, Oziel your right when you say Greg P is THE MAN! He is a lving legend and one of the greatest musicans in conjunto history. He is an A+ Vocalist, A+ Bass Player, and A+ Bajo Sexto Player, puro Triple Crown!
Dear 76er. Your right, this project by Los Quatro Rosas was very well put together. Greg P. & Tony S. brought back lots of memories. As for a second volume, that would be a bit inappropriate. Since the time of his death [Tony De La Rosa] many groups have made tribute albums to pay their respects for the biggest Conjunto Legend of our time & once they have done that they go back to what they were doing. Greg Paderes & Tony Tigere have their own style of music going on currently & should not change a thing. If they continue with a second album then it would just be Ex Musicians that played with him trying to capitalize Financially and thats somewhat disrespectful to El Don. Tony De La Rosa. I too have shared the stage with the legend & during the last part of his life and it was awesome. Many will agree or disagree but in Tonys words not mine, Los D Boyz are my blood & should continue my workafter my time is done. I personally know Lo Quatro Rosas & they very good friends of mine and wish them the very best.
I agree with you somewhat Fender, but i have to say and i mean no disrespect to the D Boyz because they are a very talented conjunto in their own right but if everyone else gets away from doing alot of Tony's songs so should they. They way i see it is if you got the songs with the original (Tony) where buy it with someone else trying to copy the same songs? One or 2 Tony songs sometimes is ok but anything with 5 or more is a little to much, unless it is just going to be a one-time thing like Cuatro Rosas. I don't mean to offend anyone just stating my thoughts on this subject. Thank you.
Laredo, Yout talking about groups that don't know any better. These guys are already establishied in thier own right, anything else from them would be going down a road already run.
I don't think it matters how estblished a group is.If it's a one time deal ok, that's fine but once a group starts recording 5 or more Tony songs a cd than it's going over the top and proving that they don't want to work hard to learn new material. Look at Conjunto Con Todo their first cd was mostly originals and it did great for them. That's the model that conjunto's should follow. I will say again one or 2 Tony song's for a cd is cool. Even a popurri to honor is cool too, as long as groups don't get carried away trying to be Tony. There was only one Tony and Que En Paz Descanse.
I totally agree with you Laredo. Five or more is too much. Thats why I applaud the D Boyz. Their tribute album was all Tony but the new one has ½ & ½. Keep in mind Freddy Records is the boss when it comes to the studio. Hacienda on the other hand is, just looking out for there own pocket. Freddy is looking out for the D Boys by introducing them with original material as they go.
I disagree with Freddie looking out for groups carnal. I mean when you say Hacendia only looks out for their own pockets why dont you consider Freddie only limiting their artists to recording songs registered under mafre? I mean come on look at most of the work their artists have done. It's all Freddie registered material. If that is not looking out for their own pockets i don't know what is. Look i am not talking bad about anyone just trying to have a nice civil discussion about conjunto music, so i hope i am not pissing you off or anything. Those are not my intentions. Yes Freddie does have a great studio, but for Conjunto music no one is close to the Hacendia studios. Freddie is great for my bands like Norteno or Tejano.
I have to side with Laredo on this one too. Maknig a deal with Freddie is like making a deal with the deal. Example #1 look at the latest cd of Los Prefedidos. They were an awesome conjunto, until Freddie messed with their style and now listen to them. They sound 1/2 norteno 1/2 tejano. Their studios are great, but i would never work for them again. Ask Los Chamachos about Freddie and see what response you get.
Oziel the cd is great my friend, great job. One the other subject, i think Fender is wrong in some respects. The groups take the deals the labels offer them, it's a business and if the group takes the deal and feels they are getting screwed will it's their own fault no one puts a gun to their head and makes them record. You made your bed lay in it.
Not at all Laredo. I can have a civil discussion after all this message board has turned out to be an opinion page by Canasta & its viewers, witch by the way, thanks Carlos!!! Yes your right, Freddy has its own publishing name, why not. That is a blessing for all groups no matter what music you play, the sooner we can realize this then the sooner groups can start earning money for recordings. All Hacienda wants is 70.00 an hour for SOMETIMES a poor quality mix & if you have ever recorded at 70.00 an hour, it turns into a lot of money for groups to take a gamble at their expense.
Fender 4, thanks for the kind comments. I encourge you all the discuss any issues you all have here in a respectful manner. There is alot of issues to discuss so please feel free to express your opions, as long as they are respectful for others.
I got to say thanks to Carlos and Canasta for providing a forum to discuss our views as well. It's interesting to see what other conjunto fans think on certian subjects. It's even awesome to see what other conjunto's themselves think about certian things. No one is right or wrong it's all a matter of opion. It's great to have a place to come and talk to others in the industry. Excellent discussion we are having by the way.
Thanks Laredo. I am glad you enjoy it here. I will add my 2 cents to the subject, i my personal opinion i think that what Freddie does with their publishing company is a great idea. It makes alot of buisness sense, it works out well for the label and the artists themselves if they wrote the songs they keep the royalties in house, but as in everything in life there can be a downside as well. Sometimes if a label uses the same group of writers for all their artists you could end up with alot of music with similar themes and ideas giving a very familar sound to alot of their artists. It's a fine line that the artist and lable have to walk to make sure that does not happen. In the end most of the time (not always) the final say of the material that is chosen for the cd is decided by who ever paid for the recording wheter it be the Artist or the Label.
Good observation Carlos, i just want to add something to the discussion. I think that if a label has a bunch of writers geared toward Tejano/Norteno music it's alot to ask of them to tailor those songs they wrote for a conjunto. It's not fair to the artist either to have to adapt to another style of songs. I think each label should specialize in one or 2 genres of music if not you start to spread your engineers and writes and producers to thin.
I want to add something aswell. If you got engineers that are good for norteno and try to make them good at conjunto it's not gonig to happen. It's not fair to them to ask them to be great at ever genre. Very few people are that gifted, i agree with the poster that said a label should focus their resoures on 1 or 2 styles of music. When the recording engineers arent used to a certian style of music it shows in their work. You can have a multi-million dollar studio but if you don't know what is required to produce a certian genre of music everyone suffers. It's like have a 2008 Mercedes but not having a license to drive.
I have to say i see Javier's point of view. If your guys are used to handling nothing but say Tejano bands and then you want them to do conjunto's it's not a smart idea. I have heard some of the work that Freddie has done with conjunto's and i am not a fan of it. They do excellent work with their tejano groups but they got ways to go to make their conjunto work excellent.
Your welcome Carlos. Record labels will continue to do what they do & thats make a commercial product that people like Canasta can sell. All Im saying is, Groups need to try to spread it out as far as material goes. Conjunto is becoming a dying breed. If all the groups play Tony then we are asking for it Greg has Groupo Badd, witch reflects some of what we knew as volcals simulating Bernal but with its own twist. Tony has Tony Tigere A bit Nortenio with Tejano. There are groups out there that are starting to simulate Los Dos Gilbertos & thats needs to continue. Ricky Naranjo took his Fathers style and it seems to be working well with it, because its his right Los D Boyz have earned that right when it comes to playing Tony De La Rosa material, After all, some of you may not know it but, Tony Tigere fills in at just about all The D Boys gigs. Some of the Conjuntos that have not yet made it to mainstream may need to begin to explore with other types of sounds already established by our Pioneers if we want to keep our Coltura srong.
Very Well said my friend, you bring up alot of great points. We all want conjunto music to flourish and to become stronger. Things are getting better, i see alot of young conjunto's starting to rise. It's about time too haha. We just have to remember that we in the conjunto industry are all familia. Our conjunto music creates a strong bond to one another. By working together we can take this music to heights unseen before. I like what i am starting to see, we the fans are starting to show our true passion for something we truly love and keep dear to our hearts. We all stand together and those that just want to start conflicts get the hell out of way! We ain't stopping till we reach the mountian top!
Conjunto is my music! There are many genres, but Conjunto is true. Conjunto runs through my veins; I must protect it and genocide all genres which insult its integrity.Without its defenders, Conjunto will fade; Without Conjunto, I will fade.I must carry the truth of the prophecy.I must honor its name from those trying to kill the tradition.Before Conjunto legends I swear to this creed; I do!
Conjunto and its defenders are equal in spirit.Conjunto will overthrow those genres contaminating minds with false music and spirits, for we are true.So it will be!Until Conjunto reigns the world. Amen.
i wonder who was c.w.a. bass player winner was edgar vasquezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz the greates best bass player for conjunto music if you didn't know. the record speak for them selfs
Conjunto fan I think you posted on the wrong topic.Greg Paredez Is the Best Bass Player AND the record speaks for itself and a better vocalist.As for Freddie Records,Tony Saenz gave D-Boyz two songs that he composed himself and he had his own publishing company and Freddie just went ahead and registered Tony's songs under MAFRE without Tony Saenz consent.And Cuatro Rosas can record as many more Tony D's tributes as long as they want.Theyre are fewer haters than true fans.These little Haters cant stop us LOL!
