Latin rhythms seduced the members of 3D and led them to record their first Latin album RITMO DE VIDA, a vibrant production filled with unforgettable melodies and kicking grooves.
Curiously enough, Michael Tate and Chris Amelar, the founding members of 3D, are not Latinos, and this fact makes the end result much more significant. I was both curious and intrigued when I was first approached about writing lyrics for their original songs, admits Lino Iglesias who wrote the lyrics for three of the songs included in the album. After listening to their music, I was pleasantly surprised. The melodies created by Michael and Chris are fluent, dynamic and contain a distinctive and progressive personality, influenced by R&B, Reggae, Soca and other Caribbean rhythms.
Tate and Amelar are the founders and the core of 3D. The band formed in 1999 has evolved from a unique cover band to a powerful ensemble. The band takes its name from three words beginning with the letter D: dynamic, diverse and danceable. Keyboardist Lenny Underwood joins them in live performances and on this recording. This is their second album, the first one entitled World Beat Dance featured R&B, Gospel, Soca and the sounds of New Orleans.
Drummer Michael Tate grew up in his native New York influenced by the music of Luther Vandross, The Meters, Tito Puente, The Eagles, Jose Feliciano, Beny More and Pedro Flores. His interest in the drums began at the early age of 6, when he traveled to the islands of St. Thomas and Barbados. At 12 he began to study music with significant mentors such as Yogi Horton and Bonny Bonaparte.
Playing with Kid Creole and the Coconuts moved him towards the rich sounds of West Indian, Afro Cuban music and R&B. These are his music precedents, but since I discovered Salsa with all of its percussion mixed with a great swing, I became a fan, he explains.
Chris Amelar was raised and still lives in the suburbs of New Jersey. He tried several instruments like the piano and trombone before eventually discovering the guitar at age 13. After high school Amelar attended and graduated from William Paterson University, studying with jazz greats Rufus Reid and Harry Leahey.
His early guitar influences were George Benson, Al DiMeola and Carlos Santana, but his composing spirit lies with strong melodic writers including the Beatles and Stevie Wonder. I became interested in Latin music after college and have since become a fan of Eddie Palmieri, Juan Luis Guerra and others. I used to listen to Santana and played his music in my teen years. Another sound that captured my attention was the sound of the Tres (Cuban guitar), which I heard for the first time on the record Mi Tierra by Gloria Estefan.RITMO DE VIDA is an album with 10 songs exceptionally composed which break the established mold of other musical genres. All the music that we write has a melody and lyric in mind. Many people are drawn to singing so we decided to create our first vocal arrangements to help introduce our music to a larger audience.
For this album 3D invited Herman Olivera, one of the finest singers and soneros (vocal improviser) in Latin music today. Olivera sings 3 of the songs on the album including Mi Amor tu Volverás, a dramatic salsa that tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman who leaves him, while he remains hopeful that she will be back. This track is the first single; the other two vocal pieces are Sobrevivir and the album title track Ritmo de Vida, which is a fusion of plena, merengue and other Caribbean rhythms.
Country Cubano is an instrumental arrangement where 3D paints a musical image that evokes a unique blend of the Old West, a Rumba party in Havana and a trip to a Baptist Church. Ray Vega adds an excellent trumpet solo.
Otra Vez, Guanta Rico, the salsoca Con las manos arriba and Latin jazz piece Eliana complete the track listing along with the instrumental versions of Mi Amor tu Volverás (My Love Will Return) and Sobrevivir (I´ll Get By).
With RITMO DE VIDA, 3D breaks away from old prejudices and rules to establish new styles with global character. Their audience can dance or just sit back, relax, and enjoy an unforgettable musical journey.
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