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Orquesta Novel (originally called Orquesta Típica Novel), a swinging charanga band noted for their rich harmonies and tight arrangements, were formed in New York in the 1960s. Led by Afro-Cuban pianist, arranger, composer and vocalist Willie Ellis, Típica Novel made six albums for the Fonseca and TR labels between circa 1967 and 1975. When the flute and violins-led charanga sound made a comeback in the mid-’70s during the brass dominated New York salsa boom, renamed Orquesta Novel, the band switched to Fania Records for series of eight albums between 1976 and 1989. Novel augmented their lineup with trombonist Barry Rogers and trumpeter Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros for their last TR album With A Touch Of Brass (1975). They continued to include brass on their Fania recordings, using Rogers on their 1976 label debut Salsamania and trumpeter Ray Maldonado and trombonists Papo Vásquez and Jimmy Bosch on subsequent recordings. Rogers shines on "Moñoño", arranged by Louie Ramírez, the producer of Salsamania, who co-wrote the song with co-lead vocalist Marco Motroni (1945-2001). Sadly, Marco perished in Tower 1 of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Longstanding member, violinist and arranger Eddie Drennon, produced Novel’s three 1980-1 Fania albums. Returning to the name Orquesta Típica Novel, a new version of the band made a comeback in 2000 under the leadership of flautist Mauricio Smith Jr. – John Child
