As part of the Real World Gold Series which “peels back the years to revisit and re-evaluate some most inspirational and beautiful music from the archives” Real World Records revisited La Candela Viva by Totó la Momposina in 2015, when they re-created and re-imagined the album. The resulting Tambolero was a Featured Album of the Month on FRUK which saw the line-up, which now included granddaughters, Maria Del Mar and Oriana Melissa, enter the Wood Room Studio at Real World to record new vocal choruses. Read the in-depth album review here.
The original album was recorded over two sessions, first by Phil Ramone and then John Hollis, almost a year apart in 91 and 92 became a significant release as it set her on the road to stardom, not only in her native Colombia but also around the world. It was also life-changing for John Hollis who, after her success accepted an invitation to work closely with her and relocated to Cartagena. There he fell in love with Totó’s daughter Euridice.
The newly released Tu Tambor track (available to stream and download here) celebrates Totó’s long-time musical collaborator and master tambor player Paulino ‘Batata’ Salgado.
“It’s good to hear my long-time friend and fellow traveller Batata again. He brought so much to my music; I have never come across a drummer since who plays the tambor like he did.” ~ Totó
To accompany the track, Real World have released a new video from their archives which captures the song as it was tracked during the legendary Wood Room sessions at Real World Studios in 1992.
Totó finishes her long run of live shows this weekend in the USA.
You can Stream or Download Tu Tmabor here: http://smarturl.it/RWS37