LEFTY PEREZ DELIVERS
WORKINGMAN'S SALSA By Frank Diaz
"The
best virtue you can have in life is patience,"
Lefty Perez told the crowd at Chicago's Excalibur
while his soundman made adjustments to equipment
after his first number.
Perez
knows about patience - he's been working hard
to keep his name and catchy dance sound on the
market as he waits for major stardom to catch
up to him.
His
performance at the Excalibur on February 27 was
an ideal platform for Perez to display his charm
and sharp sonido skills. Perez made the most of
the club's cozy side room, swinging with the crowd
of experienced dancers with the help of local
Orquesta Sabor.
Perez
and the orchestra bonded very well on "Ran Kan
Kan," the singer's tribute to the late Tito Puente,
and offered "Ella Es Como un Reloj" as a Cuban
alternative to the usual Puerto Rican salsa sound.
Perez
is a New York native but his family moved back
to Puerto Rico when he was a child. He began singing
as a teen with the support of his father Mirito,
a professional guitarist, now deceased. His first
recording efforts produced such hits as "Mentira,"
"Quiero Pedirte Perdon" and "Regresa."
But
as the 'salsa erotica' style took over the road,
Perez stayed on the sidewalk, despite his work
with salsa greats Johnny Pacheco and Isidro Infante.
"It all works in cycles, so salsa erotica went
through its high point already. Now the cycle
is coming back towards the dance club sound,"
Perez said during a pre-show interview at Chicago's
La Bruquena Restaurant.
Perez
told SalsaChicago.com he and his banda-show are
mainstays in the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale circuit.
Prior to arriving in Chicago for the Excalibur
gig, Perez performed in Houston and was scheduled
to work the Copacabana in New York City in early
March.
Perez
gets out on the road as much as he can, counting
on local promoters such as Chicago's Sounds &
Rhythm Entertainment for bookings. He seems disappointed
in not finding outlets for his show outside the
US, citing the weak economy and political unrest
in Colombia and Venezuela as examples of barriers
to opportunities elsewhere. Evidently those markets
are limited to presenting superstar acts, as happens
in cases where money is tight and production companies
won't take chances.
His
most recent production, "Soy Tuyo," includes dance-oriented
arrangements by veteran producers Cuto Soto and
Ramon Sanchez. Perez's next studio project is
due out in June and will include "Al Ruiz Senor,"
a tribute to the late Frankie Ruiz.
