“Charangano
y Yemaya”
-
Pachapo y El Super Tumbao
(Puerto Rico) |
When
this track picks up after a laid back intro, it's
unstoppeable. This little-known group from Puerto Rico has one re-issue on
cd. Buy
it here
|
“Toma
Jabon Pa’ Que Lave”
- Daniel Santos |
This
is a sweet funky quite unusual little pearl. Great vocals and original
instrumentation. |
"Ya
no hace falta"
- Bamboleo (Cuba) |
After
a slow unpromising start, it all changes when
the female singer gets warming. This track builds up beautifully and
soon the
groove becomes irresistible. Strange as it might sound, the suffering
of the
singer when refusing an old love which betrayed her, reminds me of
Hector
Lavoe. Some real cuban soul right here.
|
“Coco Seco”
– Ray Santiago (NY) |
Great sabor and feeling. Not the classic version of the tune, but this
grooves, and forces the dancers to “get down”. From
the album “Pa’ que nadie me olvide”.
|
“Esto
Esta”
– Maikel Blanco
(Cuba) |
Cuba’s
new upcoming
star, timbalero Maikel Blanco shows that he can make it swing. Has a
Van Van feeling to his style, without it being a copy. Like the coro
says: “esto esta pa’
comer, pa’ llevar” – this is ready to be
eaten, ready to be taken away. From
the 2006 album “Recoge y Vete”. Recommended. |
“No
Hablen Mas”
- Ray Roman
(Puerto Rico) |
Uptempo
swinging tune straight from Puerto Rico. Ray is telling the old critics
to get of his back and stop taking. Ray certenly lets his swing talk
for him! |
“Arenque”
- Alfredo Vargas y Ferdibu
(Puerto Rico) |
Swinging
70's salsa. A tribute to the dancer - they
sing about a great dancer called Arenque, el rey del
guaguanco.
|
“Tremendo
Problema”
–
Benedict y Su Magic Band
(Colombia) |
This
swinging band from Colombia
is back with another
kick-ass album. Check out more comments here. This
is a cover of the Orquesta Zodiac classic from the 70's.
|
"Mishungina
Mambo"
- La Plata Sextette
(Puerto Rico) |
Funky
mambo from La Plata! Must not be confused with the more famous, La
Playa Sextette. This track from the 1960's makes you feel like
James Brown hooked up with Cachao for a jam.
|
“Guarara”
– Monguito Santamaria
(Cuba/NY) |
From
the 1972 album “Blackout”. The son of the great
congero
Mongo Santamaria, Monguito was more known in the latin soul/boogaloo
scene, but he has some swinging salsa tunes as well. Available in great
re-issue. Sjekk ut denne plata - tilgjengelig for en billig penge i Platekompaniet. |
“Ay
Valeria”
- Ricardo Lemvo (Congo) |
The
title track fom the 2003 album by the great Ricardo Lemvo from Kongo.
Another
sweet swinging tune from the African master. Few bands today has such a
full
and rich sound as Mr. Lemvo. |
“Pa
Huele”
– Eddie Palmieri (NY) |
Wow,
que sabor! Once again from the maestro Eddie Palmieri. In this cha cha/
son
montuno he does the old time classic from Arsenio Rodriguez. This tune
has been
covered by many, but nobody cooks like EP. Definitely my favourite
version. From
the album “Superimposition” (1974).
|
"El
Vecino Se Mudo"
- Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso (Cuba) |
The
great Cuban pianist, former Van Van member, from the 2002 album
– "Pupy Y Los Que Son Son". Pupy
swings like only he can. A great feel to this tune. About what happens
when you move to a new building and coping with curious neighbours.
|
"Te
Vas A Arrepentir"
- Bobby Valentin (NY) |
Uptempo
tune for the hardcore rumberos from the master
Bobby Valentin. From the 1972 album "Soy
Boricua".
Great vocals by Marvin Santiago! El
Gran Combo has a more laid back version of this tune. This one
kicks ass!
|
"Un
poquito mas" -
Jimmy Bosch (NY) |
To
finish it of, Conjunto
Libre alumni
Jimmy Bosch, brings a deep descarga, where all the muscians show what
they got. The
groove is deep and makes you just keep diggin'. From the 1999 album
"Salsa Dura". Jimmy Bosch is one of the greatest examples today that
the flavour of the past is still possible. Go and get all of Mr.
Bosch's albums. For example by clicking here! |
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