Jimmy Delgado

Latin Beat Magazine, Sept, 2004 by Vicki Sola

The fiery and charismatic timbalero Jimmy Delgado released his very first CD as a leader, the 11-track Salsa Con Dulzura (JD Records), financed totally by Delgado, who chose all of the material contained in the production, as well as its arrangers and musicians.

On this album Delgado wore many hats. He played timbal, bongó, maracas and güiro, contributed to its arrangements, as well as to its soneos and choruses, and along with Orlando Ortiz, composed Los 4 Timbaleros, his tribute to the salsa musicians who influenced him when he was young--Miguel Collazo, Nicky Marrero, Orestes Vilató, Bobby Cruz, Ismael Quintana and Adalberto Santiago. Los 4 Timbaleros features Collazo, Marrero, Vilató, Cruz, Quintana, Santiago, John Walsh, and Delgado, who developed in the mid-'90s the often-imitated "Master Timbaleros" showcase, a concept that he characterizes as a "musical showstopper of epic proportions."

Delgado, who cites Little Ray Romero, Andy González, Manny Oquendo, Víctor Paz, Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez, Bobby "Big Daddy" Rodríguez, Ray Maldonado, and Joseph "Papy" Román as his mentors, indeed features some of Latín music's finest musicians on Salsa con Dulzura. In addition to the aforementioned giants performing on Los 4 Timbaleros, he is backed by bassist Andy González; pianists Lucho Cueto and Edwin Sánchez; trumpeters Bomberito Zarzuela, Raúl Agraz, Richie Viruet, Steve Gluzband, and Ite Erez; trombonists Reynaldo Jorge and Ozzie Meléndez, conguero George Delgado, lead singer Renzo Padilla, and coristas Julio Salgado and Willie Amadeo. Delgado co-arranged nine of the production's 11 numbers in conjunction with heavyweights José Madera, Angel Fernández, Nelson Jaime, Lucho Cueto and Louie Cruz. Delgado himself arranged Gracias Tito, where the timbalero recites a tributo to "El Rey" Tito Puente. Legendary Ray Santos arranged and orchestrated Así Soy Yo. Other orchestrations on the CD are by Madera, Fernández, Jaime, Cueto, and Cruz.

Delgado, whose professional and stellar career began early, at age 15 with Orquesta Cimarrón, advanced quickly at 18 years to play with Latin music's stars--Ray Barretto (with whom he recorded eight albums), Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Eddie Palmieri, Típica Novel, Ismael Quintana, Chino y su Conjunto Melao, and Típica '73. He has the distinction of being the only timbalero to have subbed for Orestes Vilató in Vilató group, Los Kimbos.

Delgado, who has been both student and instructor at Johnny Colón's East Harlem Music School, has recorded with the Fania All-Stars, Héctor Lavoe, Tito Puente, Larry Harlow, Celia Cruz, Louie Ramírez, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco, Chocolate Armenteros, Roberto Blades, The Bronx Horns and Steve Turré. And that's just a short list of his credits!

Jimmy Delgado is also known for his versatility; he's performed on two gold records, Kurtis Blow's Hip Hop anthem These are the Breaks, and Shaggy's Oh, Carolina, and he has toured with Harry Belafonte for five years, playing congas, timbal, bongó, and minor percussion. Salsa Con Dulzura is a dream production.