Feb

26

Acapulco Holiday’ gives Delgado (Horst Wende) and his Orchestra the opportunity to work their exotica magic on Mexican repertoire, mostly traditional material in a feel-good mariachi style. As usual his soloists are in capable form, playfully riffing on the familiar themes while drummer Rolf Ahrens, in typically understated fashion, keeps things moving forward. There are nice reworkings of Perez Prado’s ‘Suby Universitario’ and Jose Morales maudlin ‘Ahora Y Siempre’; some of the other chestnuts - Amopola, Cielito Lindo, Estrellita, La Malaguena, La Bamba - are performed competently, but not con gusto by any means. Wende steps up with a couple of excellent new arrangements - ‘El Rascapetate’ ends side one in a flurry of marimbas and vibraphone, and the album finishes with a sprightly version ‘El Jarabe Tapatiom’, showing guitar wizard Ladi Geisler swapping choruses with Herb Geller on flute and Wende’s typically perky xylophone and piano. A reasonable entry in the Delgado catalogue.


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