finetune artist: Oscar D'Leon

b. Oscar Emilio Le¢n Samoza, 11 July 1943, Ant¡mano, Caracas, Venezuela. Charismatic singer and bass player D'Le¢n, commonly known as "El Leon de la Salsa" (The Lion of Salsa), is one of the few contemporary salsa musicians to capitalize on the strengths of 40s and 50s Cuban big band arrangers, yet recognizably with a distinctive modern flavour. Drawing on Cuban classics and compositions by other prominent Latin composers as a vehicle for imaginative reinterpretations, he has accumulated an impressive body of work, from a country not typically associated with producing a world-class Latin artist. D'Le¢n possesses an exceptionally good voice, with a large range, very silky and playful yet emotionally impressive. The interplay of the harmonized lead vocals and nasal background singing (which is traditional to the Afro-Cuban form called son) perfectly complements and mirrors the brass arrangements, giving a rich dynamic texture. D'Le¢n's band is essentially a salsa orquesta with a line-up of the usual rhythm section of percussion, bass and piano augmented by varying numbers of brass instruments, particularly trombones. On stage, D'Le¢n is an exuberant, tongue-in-cheek showman, with an outstanding ability to involve the audience in his extended improvisations on his many hits and Latin music classics. Contrary to his reputation as a bass player, he concentrates his "live" performances only on singing and energetic dancing, unavoidably involving the audience.

Listen to Oscar D'Leon at Finetune.

LlorarÃ¡s
Me Voy Pa'Cali
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