Music

The Grand 'Universo' of Alegria

By Marcos Bernal-Salas

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Super Tuesday, Fat Tuesday and NY Giants’ Ticker-Tape Tuesday and all the other calendar events are making this a fast-paced week. The celebrations are more than welcome – and needed – whether is to rejoice in decadence, political awareness, victory or the upcoming spring season – especially if Staten Island Chuck is accurate on this year’s prediction. With that in mind DJ Abel introduces, ALEGRIA: UNIVERSO, a double-CD set that will have you dancing until sunrise.

Disc One – Peak Hour Session, contains 12 tracks of incredible mixes – and these are not the thump-a-thump mixes that are easily put together and featured at any old club. These dance beats have been hand-picked by DJ Abel with a delightful idea in mind; to keep the bodies moving to the rhythm of the cha-cha. As he explains; “My success boils down to two words. Cha-cha. You gotta give them the cha-cha. Nothing gets the ass shaking more than Latin beats – and no one does the cha-cha better than me.” Add to that the essence of Alegria – the long-running party of the same name that will be celebrating its 8th Anniversary on February 17 – and the compilation in this disc is one to savor and replay many times. Artist such as Drew Tribe, La Lupe, Tamia and many more will have everyone on their feet in no time and with the magical touch of a Rosabel mix that no one can possibly resist.

Disc Two – After Sunrise Session is a 13 track of chilled and mellow music to keep things going but with a more serene beat or not. Because even vampires have to retreat back at some point or another Disc 2 offers an array of different beats. “Looking for Men” by Rosabel Feat. Tamara Wallace is to keep grinding away the dace floor but “The Whistle Song” by Frankie Knuckles is the chilled-out and classic version of the song. Perhaps the best song to end such a remarkable dancing event during the late hours and DJ Abel’s favorite time of the day. And for those of you attending Alegria for the first time he recommends, “…to start off slow, and pace yourself well! Only if you want to survive!” The beat is on and ALEGRIA: UNIVERSO is out today.