YOMO TORO
CELEBREMOS NAVIDAD

Produced by Rachel Faro & Sammy Figueroa

WINNER ! – INDI Award Best Latin Record
WINNER !– Paoli Premio Best Christmas Album

"It's a classic..." New York Times

"Beautifully interwoven harmonies backing Jerry Medina's urgent phrasing and Toro's shimmering musicianship anchor piquant tales that alternate between witty tales of romantic mischief and moving hymns of a better future"  Billboard

The height of Puerto Rican musical culture is the intense celebration that occurs from mid-December through the first week of January, culminating on Three Kings Day on January 5^th.. Groups of musicians and singers go from house-to-house creating instant parties called parrandas, (or in New York, as asaltos, or “hold-ups”) eating and drinking, singing and dancing until daybreak. 

Master cuatro player Yomo Toro knows that you don’t have to be in Puerto Rico to enjoy a traditional Christmas.  Aluminun foil may replace banana leaves for the pasteles, buildings and streets may replace the mountains and countryside, but nothing replaces a tipico parranda of aguinaldos, bombas and plenas.

Over thirty years ago Yomo Toro, Hector Lavoe and Willie Colon urbanized the sound of Puerto Rican Christmas with their classic album Asalto Navideño, which fused the music of the traditional Puerto Rican Christmas troubadours with the wild urban salsa that was developing at the time.  Now, once again Yomo presents his original aguinaldos with a modern touch, combining traditional accompaniment with swinging jazz and salsa arrangements by Eric Figueroa and Nelson “Gazu” Jaime.  Recorded in New York and Puerto Rico, with an all-star ensemble, Celebremos Navidad is a jubilant tribute to this rich and joyful way of life.

Produced by the noted production team of Rachel Faro and Sammy Figueroa, the album features stellar performances by singers Jerry Medina and Dalia Silva, and musicians such as Eric Figueroa (piano), Joe Santiago (bass), Bobby Allende (congas), Cachete Maldonado (percussion), Ralph Irizarry (timbales), Papo Vasquez (trombone), Ray Vega (trumpet), Bobby Franceschini (saxophone), with Adalberto Santiago, Deborah Resto and the late great Nestor Sanchez on backing vocals.    And over everything, Yomo's lightning speed riffs and joyful jibaro spirit suffuse this album with joy and nostalgia.

TRACK LIST

El Lechón de Cachete	4:56
Fuikiti	5:05
Una Pena En La Navidad	4:50
El Viejo Medina	4:20
Sangre Boricua	5:05
Celebremos Navidad	4:47
Christmas Song	5:12
Me Quede Sin Na'	4:42
Salve Me Pueblo	4:16
La Cuesta de Josefina	6:15

Yomo Toro is the world's leading cuatro player.  He has had no less than three statues created in his honor: in the Bronx, in the Museum of Salsa and in his hometown of Guarnica.  His amazing artistry and sweet nature has won him accolades from several generations of fans.

THREE KINGS DAY PARADE   
JANUARY 5TH 2005

Filling the streets of Spanish Harlem with camels, sheep, donkeys, hoards of schoolchildren, men dressed as kings and Latin music, the Three Kings Day Parade is a thoroughly colorful and festive Christmas affair, Latin American-style.

In Latin America, as in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Spain, 6 January is the most festive day of the Nativity season.   It is traditionally a day of gift-giving and a special day for children.  

Yomo Toro will be leading the Three Kings Day Parade on January 5 from El Museo Del Barrio in New York City.  The parade begins at 10 AM at the corner of 106th Street and 5th Avenue, will follow its traditional route and terminate back at 106th Street and 5th Avenue at 1:30 AM.  For more information call 212 660 7144.