Formula, Vol. 1

Personnel: Eric "Bori" Rivera (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, nylon-string guitar, requinto); Alexander "Chi Chi" Caba (requinto); Joaquin Diaz (keyboards); Guillermo Frias (bongos).
Audio Mixer: Ivan Chevere.
Recording information: EMG Studios, NY; Fight Klub Studios; Oceanway Recording, Los Angeles, CA; The Castle; Watersound Productions, Studio City, CA.
Photographer: Omar Cruz .
Arranger: Anthony "Romeo" Santos.
Formula, Vol. 1, the debut offering by Anthony "Romeo" Santos, former lead vocalist for Aventura, was preceded by two hit singles. First was the easy summertime groove of "You," followed by "Promise," a shimmering duet with Usher. Both tracks hit the top spot on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs and Tropical Songs charts. On this 15-track full-length set, Santos offers proof that the singles were merely teasers. Kept mainly to slow to midtempo ballads -- all of which he wrote or co-wrote -- Santos and his slippery tenor cross bachata, nuevo flamenco, and merengue, melded with just enough contemporary R&B, to create an intoxicating brew. Other standouts include "Soberbio," "La Bella y la Bestia," and "All Aboard," in collaboration with Lil Wayne. ~ Thom Jurek