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47th Annual GRAMMY Awards 2005 nominee
"Best Traditional Tropical" Category.
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4th Annual Independent Music Awards 2005 WINNER.
"Best Latin Album"
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"The ensemble clearly ranks among the country's most persuasive performers of bolero, rumba, merengue and other afro-Caribbean musical forms"
"The 911 band has achieved an elusive balance between a robust performance style and a high degree of ensemble precision"
Live concert Review by Howard Reich. Tribune Arts Critic. Published Jan 29th, 2005. For the full Concert review and opinion go to: www.laboriqua.com/talentbooking/911%20Mambo/jan30_05.htm

"It goes against my better judgment to recommend any group that performs in tuxedos, as this big band helmed by trombonist and arranger Angel Melendez frequently does, but there's nothing stiff and formal about the superb debut album Melendez and company released on Latin Street Music last year. Chicago has produced surprisingly few credible Afro-Cuban dance orchestras over the years, but the dynamic 911 Mambo Orchestra is one of the finest I've heard this side of New York City; stocked with some of the best musicians in town, including jazzers like trumpeter Tito Carrillo and alto saxophonist Pat Mallinger, it delivers punchy, vibrant readings of old favorites, some convincing originals composed in the classic mode . . . and a merengue version of "Havah Nagilah." For the most part they don't try anything fancy or particularly progressive, but they play with killer precision and vigor, interjecting concise, energizing solos."
Peter Margasak. Critic's Choice - The Chicago Reader. Friday July 8th, 2005
www.chicagoreader.com/music/treatment.html#ANGEL

"The Mambo Kings of the Midwest", "Chicago's reigning Latin dance band kings" CS Magazine (Chicago Social, a Modern Luxury Publication) October 2004.

"Classics such as Prado's Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White and Que Rico el mambo, Rafael Hernandez's El Cumbanchero, Puente's A Gozar Timbero and the immortal Besame Mucho, will have you dancing instantly. As for the original tracks Mambo a la Sandoval, Ven Pa' Que Goze and Chango, Melendez and orchestra let loose with explosive arrangements and a run away swing worthy of a super mambo machine. Their Merengue version of the international classic Havah Nagilah will definately blow you away."
Gilbert Rivera. Latin Beat Magazine. Oct 2004.

"Here's something you don't come across often -- a big band mambo orchestra. Complete with four trumpets and four trombones, this band, led by Angel Melendez harkens back to a time when Machito or Puente might have been headlining at the Palladium. With a big fat sound and well crafted arrangements, these tracks would work great at the dance clubs. Listen to the fiery "Changó" or the Pérez Prado tribute "Que Rico El Mambo." Most of the tracks are well-known covers with fresh interpretations, such as Puente's "A Gozar Timbero." It's great to hear these tracks done with the enthusiasm shown here. Recommended."
Editors's Pick. Descarga.com (BP, 2004-04-20)

"What would Glenn Miller have sounded like had he played cumbias, salsa and mambos? That's the question that trombone player and band leader Angel Meléndez and producer Andrés Meneses pose with this record. The answer, albeit a sacrilegious one: Meléndez and his tight 20-piece band would have blown Glenn Miller out of the water. Meléndez, with the help of veteran engineer Jon Fausty, delivers a tight, powerful, energetic album that embraces both listener and dancer. What's even more amazing is that Meléndez and his band recorded the entire album in three twelve-hour day sessions and yet it sounds as if they were playing right in your living room. Just listen to Tito Carrillo's smoldering trumpet solos smolder in "Que rico el mambo" and the merengue adaptation of "Havah Nagilah". They will simply blow you away".
Alejandro Riera. Arts and Entertainment - Hoy/Tribune Publishing.

"Esta producción sorprenderá a más de uno -- no solamente por su gran calidad, sino también porque los artistas son una orquesta de 20 músicos residentes en Chicago. ¿Una "Big Band" en Chicago? Sí, leyeron bien: Una gran Big Band en Chicago. Angel Meléndez y la 911 Mambo Orchestra exitosamente se unen al privilegiado grupo de orquestas grandes que han estado resurgiendo en estos últimos dos años. Esto, amigas y amigos, debe ser motivo de júbilo para todos nosotros. Esta magnífica producción recoge 12 números, algunos de los cuales son versiones nuevas de clásicos de la música latinoamericana. En particular, disfruté de sobremanera con "Changó", "El Cumbanchero", "A Gozar Timbero", y la cumbia "Si una vez". Todos estos números toman nueva vida con el orquestón de Angel Meléndez, que además de tener el sabor de las Big Bands, también tiene la fuerza de la salsa neoyorquina - una combinación formidable.
El sabor de las orquestas grandes nunca había estado en mejores manos. Y, lo curioso del caso, es que aquí casi no hay nombres conocidos. Posiblemente la única excepción sea el maestro Jon Fausty, que fue sabiamente contratado como ingeniero de sonido. Este tipo de grabaciones tienen mucho valor, pues nos dicen que nuestra música no morirá.
Eric Gonzalez. www.herencialatina.com/ReseDic/ResenasDic.htm Dec 2004

" Tu producción está tremenda, pues nos parece que al tocar Mambos, Chachacha, Cumbia, etc. en dicho trabajo, lo hiciste respetando la herencia que nos legaron las 'Big Band', creo que Pérez Prado, Tito Puente, Machito y Bauzá, si estuvieran vivos, te felicitarían por los arreglos modernos plasmados allí. Pienso que en este CD se recobra la música que había permanecido por tanto tiempo abandonada."
Lic. Pedro González Polo. Autor de "Música Afro Cubana como forma de comunicación" y profesor en la República de Panamá. Kontrol Stereo 89.5 FM. Jan 05.

About track #2: Chango..." Beautifully produced, arranged and performed by all. Strong playing from top to bottom, with special kudos for the drummer (great kick drum accents!), percussion and horn section. Vocals are sweet and smooth with an excellent blend on the harmonies. Sound quality is clear, well balanced and present. I can't say anything intelligent about the lyrics as I don't speak Spanish, but they flow nicely and sing very well. Horn arrangements are tasty, energetic and played with gusto. The section also plays beautifully in tune, often not a fait accompli! Cool conga solo with restrained, minimal accompaniment from the bass and piano. I found this to be an energetic, fun and highly skillful rendition of this tricky and satisfying groove and style."
TAXI "The World's Leading Independent A&R Company". Listener ID# 115. April 04

"this is hot stuff !!!"
Emily Hernandez - Latin Programmer, DMX MUSIC. Los Angeles, CA. April 04.

"20 piece power-glide drive... Mambo Machine!!!"
Dave Piszcz - WERU. East Orland, ME. April 04

"ANGEL MELENDEZ & THE 911 MAMBO ORCHESTRA from Chicago proceed to strut on stage with a gargantuan 20 piece Mambo machismo, reesembling a Latin Stan Kenton. This is no Fluffy Flies To Rio by any stretch. This is more Ricky Riccardo with six pak abs, pumping up with power, poise and definition. We played the exciting Perez Prado powerhouse pre rock & roll favorite "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" with enough bass trombone to shake the dust off the dance floor. Think about it, The twenty piece Angel Meléndez 911 Mambo Orchestra in your living room celebrating Cinco De Mayo with your friends. Call on 911! "
Dick Crockett. "STILL ANOTHER JAZZ SHOW", MONDAYS, 10 am & 10 pm. "The Voice" 88.7fm. Sacramento, CA. May 04.

"Sotto la magistrale direzione di Angel Melendez ben 20 orchestrali ( tra i quali 15 'metales' ) si cimentano in una rivisitazione in chiave moderna di grandi classici della musica latina. Dal cha al mambo, dalla rumba ( 'El Cumbasnchero') al bolero, dalla cumbia alla salsa, tutto viene rivisitato e reinterpretato con un sound carico e nel contempo raffinato aiutati dalla registrazione tecnica del veterano John Fausty. I brani salsa contenuti ( sui 12 totali ) sono tre: ' Changò', 'Hablame' ( successo del compositore Chein Garcia qui in chiave piu' aggressiva rispetto all'originale ) e ' Si una vez ' che parte in cumbia per svilupparsi e terminare in salsa. Da segnalare anche 'Mambo a la Sandoval' , il famoso 'Mambo Jambo' di Perez Prado e 'Navah Nagilah' qui arrangiato come orientaleggiante merengue. Le voci soliste sono di Mike Maldonado e Lina Marie Perez. Davvero un interessante produzione per i cultori della musica latina di oggi e di ieri."
DJ Rabbi Roberto. March 04. www.salsa.it, Bologna-Italia

"Angel Melendez has directed some what of a monster Orquesta. This 20 piece band really come out with some great explosive swing to these fine arrangements mostly by Angel Melendez. The Guaguanco number "CHANGO" Is a killer track with great brass & percussive swing. Mike Maldonado & Lina Marie Perez perform some smooth vocals accompanied with silky coros from Angel Melendez & Frankie Rodriguez."
DJ Dustin Anthony. March 04 www.salsamixmasters.com, Brisbane-Australia.

Published Articles on the band...

"911 Mambo Heats up and carries on" by Howard Reich. Published on The Chicago Tribune Jan 29th
www.laboriqua.com/talentbooking/911%20Mambo/jan30_05.htm

"911 Mambo Orchestra on CBS 2 News with Bill Zwecker". Aired on Jan 24th, 2005
www.kelimited.com/laboriqua/911_mambo.html

"Developing his groove Tropical band gets Grammy nomination" by Fernando Diaz. Published on the Daily Herald Jan 27th, 2005
www.laboriqua.com/talentbooking/911%20Mambo/jan27_05.htm

"Grammy nominee plays at VooDoo" by Myrna Petlicky. Published by Pioneer Press Jan 20th, 2005
www.laboriqua.com/talentbooking/911%20Mambo/jan20_05.htm

"Latin Band's Grammy nods speaks volumes" by Aaron Cohen. Published on The Chicago Tribune Jan 16th, 2005
www.laboriqua.com/talentbooking/911%20Mambo/jan16_05.htm

Angel Melendez' Bio go to their website link on the left hand side of this info.