Latin — In Stock — LPs  

Great work by one of the grooviest groups on the LA 60s scene! The Afro Blues Quintet have a blend of soul jazz and Latin styles that's similar to the best 60s work by Cal Tjader, or to records by small combos like the Quartette Tres Bien or The Latin Jazz Quintet. Lots of grooves have a nice... read more

Excellent compilation of some of the best tracks recorded by the Alegre All Stars. One of the greatest recording projects in Latin music, the Alegre All Stars was a loose collective of great talents like Charlie Palmieri, Bobby Rodriguez, Chombo, Jo Quijano, Kako, Johnny Pacheco, and lots of... read more

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Amazing work from Gato Barbieri's legendary exploration of Latin American sounds for Impulse Records – a set that's heavy on Cuban influences, thanks to arrangements from the mighty Chico O'Farrill! The sound is sublime – a bit fuller than some of Gato's other albums in the run, but... read more

A great little album from Ray – even if it is a bit different than some of his other work from earlier years. The feel is kind of 70s R&B, with a jazzy touch, and if you're not looking for straight Latin stuff, this is actually a pretty great album – as Ray gets the group to work... read more

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Ruben Blades's first album – recorded shortly after his arrival in New York from Panama, with top-notch backing by the band of Pete Rodriguez! The album's an interesting one, in that it catches Ruben shortly before the salsa era, singing in a mix of styles that reminds us of some of Jimmy... read more

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Candido cut sooo many great Latin records over the years, spanning a wide range of styles, we have a hard time deciding which we love the best. We like to think this may be his best album from the early part of his career, specifically because it features the master conga player amidst a tight... read more

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An amazing little record from Willie Colon – one that has him stepping forth into the limelight as both singer and leader – after years of working with better-known vocalists like Hector LaVoe and Ruben Blades! But even more than the vocals the thing we really love here are the... read more

One of the last classic efforts from the team of Willie Colon and Ruben Blades – a subtle but effective set of tracks that showcases both Blades' increasingly political concerns and the growing pan-Latin sound of Colon! The core approach is still mostly salsa, but you can hear plenty of... read more

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Loads of salsa classics from this great bassist – including "Chipi Chipi", "Sun Sun Babae", "El Frutero", "Ven Morena", "Para Chango", "Monta Mi Caballo", and "El Manicero".... read more

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A great little back to basics effort from the Fania All Stars – one that shakes off some of the electric and clubby influences that were creeping in during their years at Columbia, and returns the group to a mostly salsa groove! The sound here is bold and bright throughout –... read more

A landmark album – one that has the Fania All-Stars playing in a Latin club style that greatly influenced dance music for years to come! The title "Cross-Over" might make you think of this one as a sell-out attempt, but it's not – it's a brilliant effort by the New York Latin... read more

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Oh, the feeling here is more than good – as the album's a stunner from the legendary Jose Feliciano, the kind of set that never fails to make us smile when we hear it! Jose's really evolved here from his earliest days – going even farther past the genius of his late 60s work for RCA,... read more

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Very nice Irakere album, and one that's on a par with their 2 Columbia albums from around the same time. The lineup's expanded a bit more than usual, and players include leader Chucho Valdes, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Oscar Valdes, and Jorge Varona. Tracks are long, with 4 originals by... read more

A landmark album from this powerhouse Cuban group of the 70s – their first record issued formally to an American market, and quite possibly their greatest effort of the decade! The sound here is a lot more focused than on the group's Cuban sessions from previous years – not commercial... read more

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This famous Latin combo hits the early 60s, and lays down a stock session of pachanga and charanga cuts, infused with lively guitar parts, and some lovely female vocals. Tracks include "Yo No Se", "Cafe Y Pan", "The Don Jose Pachanga", "Pachanga Pa'Gozar",... read more

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A beautiful little record from Hector Lavoe – one deepens his sound and emotion, but manages to do so without going into any schmaltzy territory! Some tracks here are full-on groovers, and others are mellower – but even these have a depth of feeling that really commands our attention... read more

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An excellent album of Latin material from Herbie Mann – and proof that he's equally great in just about any setting! The album's a rare Columbia Records outing from Herbie – but it's easily one of his greatest of the 60s, thanks to some really smoking arrangements from Oliver Nelson... read more

A killer bit of Latin jazz from the 70s – one of the first records issued under the name of percussionist Ray Mantilla, and a really smoking set that features funky flute from Jeremy Steig, bass from Eddie Gomez, and both drums and keyboards from the mighty Joe Chambers! The tunes have a... read more

A killer little set from Les McCann – one of his greatest records of the 60s, thanks to a fair bit of Latin Soul influences! The album's got a groove that's much grittier than Les' other work – a solid, soulful emphasis on bottom rhythms – which are mostly in a boogaloo and shing-... read more

IThe great early 70s solo album from Ismael Miranda! Ismael fronting his own excellent Orquestra here – singing lead vocals and playing a bit of percussion, with an ensemble that includes Nicky Marrero on timbales, Nelson Gonzalez on tres, Oscar Hernandez on piano, and Carlos De Leon on... read more

Ismael Miranda is standing proud at the start of the 80s with this great little set – bringing some new boldness into his work, and recording in the expanded salsa sound of Fania at the time! The record augments basic salsa backings with some larger orchestrations on a number of tunes –... read more

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A great testament to the depth and versatility of Orquestra Harlow in the 70s – and a record that shift easily between traditional modes and more contemporary styles! Larry Harlow is at the top of his game here – working with careful sensitivity on some of the more fragile numbers, but... read more

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With vocals by Rafael De Jesus, and trumpet and flute from Luiz Perico Ortiz!... read more

The title says "ugh!" and there's lots of that in this record! Perez plays in that tight hard way that he used on his best 50s recordings, making his trademark grunt of "ugh!" as the songs change rhythms – in a style that the notes describe as "the only vocal baton... read more

Groovy late 60's record in which the great Latin bandleader takes his style into a whole new bag, baby! Some of the stuff on here is straight Latin, but most of the cuts are weird Latin soul instrumentals, with a range of material that includes Brazilian stuff (Deodato's "Cabo Frio" and... read more

Mucho cha cha here – the reigning rhythm on the New York Latin scene at the end of the 50s – played by Tito Puente and group with some nicely jazzy styles! The combo features some excellent horn work alongside the percussion – both sax and trumpet sections, plus some leaner flute... read more

One of Joe's best albums from the 60s, and a lively batch of Latin tracks done up in some of the favorite flavors of the day – pachanga, bolero-cha, bossa nova, and the weirdo "wobble-cha"! The title cut's a "wobble cha" groover with English lyrics about Latin music... read more

An excellent session of exotica-tinged Latin jazz – put together by pianist Don Ralke, and featuring some great work from flute player Buddy Collette – in a spirit that's very similar to Collette's own classic Jazz Heat Bongo Beat album! The set's also got some great bongo work by Jack... read more

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A nice little session of Latin jazz – percussive at the bottom, but with an overall jazz mambo feel that's similar to early 50s work by Chico O'Farrill. Tracks are shortish, but have some nice solos by unnamed players – and titles include "Hi Fi Mambo", "Mambo A La... read more

An excellent obscure Mongo Santamaria album – and one that features a nice jazzy groove played by one of Mongo's best groups ever! The band features Joao Donato, the famous Brazilian pianist, doubling up on trombone on a number of tracks – something you never hear on his Brazilian... read more

A great live Santana set, recorded in Japan in '73 and never released on vinyl in the US! The band here is at their peak, and this set features a nice large lineup that includes Tom Coster, Richard Kermode, Doug Rauch, Armando Peraza, Jose Chepito Areas and Michael Shreve, plus Leon Thomas on... read more

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Features arrangements by Joe Cain and Javier Vasquez!... read more

Think that groovy sounds in London only started with the acid jazz scene at the end of the 80s? Think again – because in the years before, The Bass Clef was a real hotspot of cross-cultural activity – helping to spark the fire that would burn strongly in the Dingwalls years and beyond!... read more

RCA compilation featuring work by Esquivel, Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Xavier Cugat, and Russ Garcia. We're not sure if this stuff is exclusive to this album, but it's a great compilation anyway. Tracks include "Tampico" and "Sand In MY Shoes" by Tito Puente, "Night Music... read more