“El Yuma” is Cuban slang for the United States. For Mamborama’s
second album, Grammy-nominated producer/songwriter Bill Wolfer traveled between “El Yuma” and Havana, Cuba to record with three different configurations of all star Cuban musicians.


Wolfer co-wrote two songs with legend-ary singer, Sixto »El Indio« Terry, the powerful voice of Manolito Y Su Trabuco. El Indio sings three songs on the album, backed by Wolfer’s piano, and his compadres from Trabuco’s power house rhythm section. Manolito Simonet him-
self contributes a blazing piano solo to the Charanga flavored descarga “Esperando La Luz”, along with Trabuco flautista David Bencomo. Other guest appearances include ex-Van Van pianist César »Pupy« Pedroso and jazz trumpeter Julio Padrón.


On the title track, the band is mostly made up of musicians from the innovative Cuban Timba group Klimax, including that group’s leader, Giraldo Piloto on drums. Back in El Yuma, more specifically, Los Angeles, the regular members of Mamborama recorded another five tracks.

Jimmy Branly, originally from Havana, where he played with NG La Banda, Issac Delgado and Gonzalo Rubalcaba co-produced the percussion tracks with Bill. Jimmy and fellow Habanero Conrado »Coky« Garcia created a dense palette of smoking Cuban rhythms with Jimmy on timbales and drums, and Coky on congas, bongo and other percussion. Rigoberto Lopez, a recent arrival from Havana, where he played with Adalberto Alvarez, provided a deep-grooving bass.

The horns were done by trumpeter Luis Eric, another Haberno who played with Paulito FG U Su Elite, and trombonist Francisco Torrez from Poncho Sanchez’ band. Art Webb of Ray Barreto/Tito Puente fame and Rod Kokolj added flute solos.

Some of the finest Cuban musicians in the world come together on this album to create a fiery blend of Timba, Son, and Salsa spiced with American R&B and Jazz. Eleven songs of unrelenting rhythm that never let up as the listener travels “Entre La Habana Y El Yuma”.