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Originally Posted by garmenteros  Juan Luis Guerra's Bachata Rosa is a great album and has some very good lines. Dont know if its a good place to start but it is a good album to listen to. |
That album is a great example, but at the time it was released (1991) the overall style was very different. One of the main differences: The 5-string bass wasn't the norm. Los Hermanos Rosario was the first band I remember using notes lower than the open E on their music's basslines (in the early 90s), but Kinito Méndez was the artist who rewrote the way the Merengue should be played. It happened in the mid 90's and his album called "El Hombre Merengue" was the first notable album that reflected such change. You can hear the low B string's rumble on almost every measure. Fills and glissandos became more elaborated as well.
Of course, I'm talking based on how that evolution was received in my country. Maybe it happened earlier, maybe other artists were involved, but I received that stylistic change the way I'm telling it above.
So you have two basic Merengue styles to listen. For the old one, check the classic tunes recorded by Wilfrido Vargas, Juan Luis Guerra, Johnny Ventura, Bonny Cepeda, Los Hermanos Rosario, Coco Band, Los Vecinos, Sergio Vargas and Jossie Esteban & La Patrulla 15.
For the new style, check music from Kinito Méndez, Rikarena, Elvis Crespo, K-libre, Eddy Herrera, Tulile and Los Sabrosos Del Merengue.
Unfortunately for the genre (and in my humble opinion), Juan Luis Guerra is the ONLY Merengue artist that keeps making quality music. The only old-school bands that have been able to keep their relevance after the stylistic change (and embraced it) as for today are his and Sergio Vargas', but Sergio Vargas still relies on his old hits. His most recent music is nothing special to me.
The rest... well, they are great live bands with terrific musicians, but their music is totally disposable IMO. Anyway, for an example of a terrific live band, check
this Sergio Vargas recording.
Finally, I'd like to share three live videos of my tropical music band playing some Merengue medleys. Not that great, but anyway hope you'll find them enjoyable:
Medley from Los Hermanos Rosario music. Medley from Sergio Vargas music. Medley from Jossie Esteban, Bonny Cepeda and Johnny Ventura music.
Let us know if you need further assistance. Hope this helps.
..this guy does Exactly what he should do.. no more. no less. here u go. carlos vives - 
