Todos Vuelven: Live

Photographers: Jerry Lacay; Lupita Valdés; Federico Galbraith; Andrés Schmidt.
This is tricky. This package includes two CDs and DVDs each of Rubén Blades y Seis del Solar's Todos Vuelven: Live concert. The music here, which was recorded as part of the 25th anniversary tour for Blades and his fine Seis de Solar, is without match for the era. Showcasing a wide-ranging retrospective of Blades' early, pre-, and Fania eras (with and apart from Willie Colón), through his Warner period and beyond. The band smokes; they're tight, fiery, and passionate. Blades is in absolutely spectacular voice throughout. The energy is infectious. The problem lies with the video. While the DVDs present the exact same material and the sound is fine, the visual production quality is somewhat lacking. It's grainy with some rough patches, as if the cameras were substandard. For those who already purchased the music, stick with what you have; for those who bought the videos, there isn't anything here you don't already own. The middling marks denote points off for the video. The musical presentation and sound are a solid four stars. ~ Thom Jurek