Gilberto Santa Rosa reveals the secrets of his new album “Debut y segunda tanda Vol. II”

Published on: Nov 28, 2024

By: Carlos Camargo

Gilberto Santa Rosa, the most recognized voice of romantic salsa, surprises us once again with the release of his new album, “Debut y segunda tanda Vol. II”. In this work, the Gentleman of Salsa invites us on a musical journey full of nostalgia and passion, reinterpreting salsa classics and presenting new songs that promise to become hymns.

The album, which is available on all music platforms, is a compendium of the songs that have marked Santa Rosa’s life. From the iconic “La marea” by Rubén Blades to unreleased songs. “Debut y segunda tanda Vol. II” is a celebration of music and a sample of the inexhaustible talent of the Puerto Rican singer, who spoke exclusively.

-Gilberto, in your new album “Debut y segunda tanda Vol. II”, you have mentioned that you have always had the desire to interpret certain songs. What criteria did you use to select the tracks that you finally included in this project?

-Well, the criteria is the same one I use for new songs. The theme, the energy and the rhythm that the song has within its nature. And above all, putting it in the context of my vocal resource. If I feel that I can sing the song with the resources that I have, then it is a good candidate and that is what I did. Also, the process has been longer. I simply listened to the songs along the way and said, I like this song, let me put it here next to it, maybe one day I can record it.

-The song “La marea” by Rubén Blades is a milestone in your career. How was the process of giving your own touch to such an iconic song and what emotions did you want to convey when performing it?

– That song, La Marea by Rubén Blades, I liked it since I heard it the first time, and since then I was planning to record it. In fact, I spoke to him many years ago and I said, Rubén, let me record La Marea, and he very, very gladly told me, record it. But I felt that I needed to add something to the original version to, well, to contribute something, because the original is too well done. So, over the years, I saw in this second-round vocal project an opportunity to include it, and I came up with this second chorus and this arrangement by maestro James Hernández that allows me to do that, to contribute something to the original version.

-You have collaborated with several arrangers on this album. How did you manage to balance their different styles and visions to create a cohesive sound that represents your musical essence?

– I understand that the key in all this is called Ramón Sánchez, who for me has been a musical architect. He’s been my go-to arranger for many years, since 1986. And others have come along, of course, with great success as well, but I think that the communion that exists between these arrangers, Ramón and my style, comes from the same career, it comes from the same previous projects, and it also comes from talking to them and saying, look, we want to maintain the essence of what we are, but we also want to refresh the sound. And they, well, those who are here, who are the ones we use, well, they understood it very well, and I think they show it in their work on “Debut and Second Tanda.”

-The “Auténtico” tour seems to be bringing a new energy to your career. What does this tour mean to you and how does it influence your creative process in the future?

-The tour is a new opportunity to meet up with an authentic audience. It has such an interesting energy that I’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve worked a lot on that tour, putting it together. Also, we started off on the right foot in Puerto Rico and we are still touring the United States, Latin America, and even Europe. So for me this tour means a lot right now, it is a commitment, or rather, reaffirming a commitment to my career and looking to the future.