Once exclusively the music of the rural working class, Bachata has risen to become the Dominican Republic’s dominant form of musical expression, and a cornerstone of Dominican national identity. Known as “El Duque” in Villa Mella, the Santo Domingo suburb from which he hails, Joan Soriano is an upstart bachatero who, despite his youth, plays in an unadorned style reminiscent of that of Bachata greats of an earlier generation, such as Juan Bautista and Augusto Santo. Soriano is a gifted guitarist and has spent years playing as an accompanist for more established Bachata stars such a Cherito and El Maestro Gomez. El Duque de la Bachata, Soriano’s first internationally distributed solo release, represents his chance to establish himself as a star in his own right. It's a goal Soriano could hardly be long in attaining if he continues to produce songs that match the sweet melancholy of album standouts such as “Vocales de Amor” and “Mal Pensado.”