Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

MULENZE

Puerto Rican salsa band led by bassist/ producer Edwin Morales (b Santurce, PR; aka Edwin Mulenze). Their arrangements uniquely demonstrate how to marry jazz to clave (the rhythmic pulse of salsa) to create swing; and co- lead vocalist Pedro Brull (b Vega Baja, PR) not only has a magnificent voice, but timing which places him among the great soneros (extemporizing salsa singers). Brull was a member of Orquesta La Reforma '70--74, Orquesta Exodo '74--8 and Concepto Latino '78--9 before being recommended by bandleader Willie Rosario to Morales '79 as a replacement for Cano Estremera (who'd left to join Bobby Valentin's band). Albums released on PDC were Desde El Principio '79, Que Cambio '80, Creciendo '81 and Otra Vez '83; tracks were culled from these for compilations Lo Mejor de La Mulenze: Veneno '85, Lo Mejor de La Mulenze 2da Etapa: La Vida '86 and Que Diferencia '96; then they switched to Valentin's Bronco Records, beginning with the impressive Con Pocas Palabras Basta ('Just A Few Words Are Enough') '84. Brull provided lead vocals to the fabulous 'No Te Vayas Todavia', composed by Pedro Arroyo (b 9 Nov. '57, Mayag]auu[ez, PR), who had written eleven others for the band by '95. Co-lead vocalist Kenny Cruz left after the '84 album and later sang on Concepto Latino's De Cara Al Pueblo '88; also a band with a refined sound, their lineup incl. some ex-Mulenze sidemen. New co-lead singer Rafael 'Ito' Andino (b Toa Baja, PR; formally with Orquesta Opus and Conjunto Chaney) debuted on Te Damos Las Gracias '85. Puerto Rican composer Johnny Ortiz supplied the standout 'La Crianza' and the title track on the '85 album and 'Buscando Aventuras' and two others on Mulenze No. 7 '86, both sung by Brull. Grandes Exitos '90 is a worthwhile collection of the band's Bronco work. Mulenze changed labels to Hitt Makers for Toco Madera '88, the title song one of the year's biggest hits. Ex-Willie Rosario keyboardist/arranger Ricky Rodriguez joined on Extravagante '90 and arr. Arroyo's 'Quedate', again featuring Brull's gorgeous lead voice. In '90 Brull contributed to Don Perignon's La Puertorrique¤a project, a mini-galaxy of PR's current stars he convened for Festival De Soneros '90. Mulenze signed with Tony Moreno's Musical Productions; Morales (now calling himself Edwin Mulenze) and Brull made their debut on the label on MP All Stars '92. Released De Regreso '93 on Musical Productions' subsidiary NRT, incl. hit 'A Mi Me Heule', followed by Sabor y mas '95, adding vocalist Tony (Pupy Cantor) Torres (from Santurce) as third lead singer.