Over the past decade, Victor Manuelle has become one of the most talented performers on the tropical music scene. He possesses all that is necessary: image, a marvelous voice, and a love and passion for the music that is demonstrated by the fact that he writes the majority of his recording material. Now with the release of his new album “Travesia,” (Crossing) Victor is poised to conquer the rest of the universe of Latin pop music.

This album greatly expands Victor’s appeal from his dedicated and firm fan base. “Travesia”—an ambitious album that contains 12-track collaboration with producer Emilio Estefan recorded in the Cresent Moon Studios—is a landmark triumph for this artist. “We were trying to look for a way to reach other markets without forgetting the people who know and support my music all this time”, comments this performer. “I belileve my music shouldn’t be limited only to a segment of Latin America, I think that it is important that it is listened to equally in other markets in the international sphere.
”Travesia” is the most recent of his successful albums by Sony in the last 11 years. Works like “Justo a Tiempo” (Just in Time) (1993),” Solo Contigo” (Only With You ) (1994), “Victor Manuelle” (1996), “A Pesar de Todo” (1997) (In Spite of Everything),

“Ironias (Ironies) (1998), “Inconfundible” (Unmistakable) (1999), “Instinto y Deseo” (2001)(Instinct and Desire), and the last year’s “le Preguntaba a la Luna” (I ask the Moon) were instrumental in preserving the integrity of the genre that on many occasions hasn’t aged gracefully. The resurgence of Puerto Rican singers in this genre in the 90s demonstrated that the fans of salsa wanted more than a pretty face—they wanted quality, passion and originality. A protégé of one of the genre’s great voices of Puerto Rico, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Manuelle took the opportunity to perfect his craft in collaborating with artists like Domingo Quinones, Cheo Feliciano, Rey Ruiz, Pupy Santiago and Tito Allen.

His dedication to learning and mastering of his gifts of sonero (a lead vocalist of a salsa orchestra who must not only deliver the songs’ verses with precision, but also improvise on the main theme in the coro section) were and continue to be his greatest attributes. His improvisations, done in the traditional decima format, are legendary in his live appearances. They are what separates him from the run of the mill salsero.

The first single on his new album, “Travesia,” “Tengo Ganas” (I WANT)—salsa and a ballad version—promises to make a mark and leave a deep impression on Latin music. Co-written by Victor Manuelle and Emilio Estefan, Jr. the song demonstrates the maturity and force that the sonero developed as a composer and tells the story of how a lost love gets in the way of finding someone new. But “Tengo Ganas” is equally a demonstration of the driving arrangements put together by the brothers, Ricardo and Alberto Gaitan as well as the precision of a marvelous team of backup musicians that formed a part of this project.

“Crescent Moon is more than a company, it is a family, adds Victor. “They are people who give their all when they’re working with an artist, they give a lot of love, make you feel as if you were at home, and Emilio is an extraordinary human being. When he gives himself to a project, he puts his whole heart in it.”

In this new album, Manuelle and Estefan set out to combine his own style as a singer with elements of the pop and tropical ballad, with Brazilian rhythms and reggae-inflected pop. His great friend, Carlos Vives gave Manuelle the song, “Yo Te Dare” (I Will Give You) for this new musical project. “I had to get accustomed to the pop songs, I had to get immersed in them a little bit,” said Manuelle. “But I never felt forced and I’m super comfortable with the results.”

On “Travesia”, Manuelle has raised his interpretation of salsa to the highest level, from the folkloric feel of “Pero Quien” (But Who) to the contemprarary “Te Propongo” ( I Propose to You ) and finally, “Si Me Preguntan” (If They Ask Me) which has a feel of a Ruben Blades/Willie Colon 70’s classic. “On that song, we wanted to sound traditional,” said Manuelle. Our intention was to take people back to that era but at the same time add a touch of modern elements to the sound and the lyrics. Manuelle also collaborates with singer/songwriter Gian Marco in this new work. They both share composition credit in the song “Amarte Es” (To Love You Is) a new salsa and ballad version.

Victor Manelle, who has been recognized with mainstream and Latin Grammy nominations in 2003 and has gone multi platinum on the albums “Victor Manuelle, A Pesar de Todo e Ironias is truly on the brink of becoming an international star. His participation with Marc Anthony and Gloria Estefan in a tribute to Celia Cruz at last year’s Grammy awards show, and as a special guest at the White House as a part of Hispanic Heritage Month are a sign of his evident growth. With “Traversia”, Victor will reach even newer heights, but without leaving behind his roots.

“We always emphasize that my genre is salsa, but at the same time we wanted another audience to come to know my music. We were looking for the unexpected from the chorus. We wanted to mix together different colors, different feelings and surprise everyone.”

After listening to “Traversia,” the reasons are clear and there is no surprise that Victor Manuelle has become one of the most important artists of his generation.

Credit: imgartists.com