Latin — All Formats  

Lost Latin funk from the Bay Area scene of the 70s – and an album that may well blow away better-known work by groups like Malo, Azteca, or El Chicano! The album's near-perfect right from the start – and brings in plenty of New York elements to the groove, thanks to the inclusion of a heady amount of jazz alongside the soul, Latin, and funk elements in the grooves! The legendary Teo Macero produced and arranged – and really takes a lot of care in the studio to focus the overall energy of the tremendous talents on the record – players who include Hadley Caliman on flute and tenor, Steve Marcus on soprano sax, Benny Velarde on timbales, and Francisco Aguabella on congas – plus the trio of Cesar, Mark Levine, and Merl Sanders on keyboards. Most numbers have this really full, flowing groove – jazzy, but with a strong emphasis on the rhythms – and often touched with some great work on guitar that echoes the Santana-inspired sound of the generation, yet never in a rock way at all. Linda Tillery sings vocals on a few numbers, but the main focus is definitely instrumental – and the whole album's great – with cuts that include "See Saw Affair", "Azucar", "Descarga", "The Devil & Montezuma", "Gotta Get Away", and "Bridges".

A classic bit of 70s salsa gold from vocalist Hector Lavoe – a record done in close collaboration with Willie Colon, with whom Lavoe had worked on a great run of albums during the late 60s and early 70s! The set's got a slightly warmer and more straightforward feel than some of Willie's records – but still features arrangements and production by Colon, as well as a two-trombone, two-trumpet section that brightens up the tunes with a proud brassy finish! Piano is by Mark Dimond – nice and bold, with those dark edges of his we really like – and titles include "El Todopoderoso", "Emborrachame De Amor", "Rompe Saraguey", "Mucho Amor", "Tus Ojos", and "Mi Gente".

A classic bit of 70s salsa gold from vocalist Hector Lavoe – a record done in close collaboration with Willie Colon, with whom Lavoe had worked on a great run of albums during the late 60s and early 70s! The set's got a slightly warmer and more straightforward feel than some of Willie's records – but still features arrangements and production by Colon, as well as a two-trombone, two-trumpet section that brightens up the tunes with a proud brassy finish! Piano is by Mark Dimond – nice and bold, with those dark edges of his we really like – and titles include "El Todopoderoso", "Emborrachame De Amor", "Rompe Saraguey", "Mucho Amor", "Tus Ojos", and "Mi Gente".

A tremendous overview of Carribean sounds from the 50s through the 70s – served up with exactly the kind of depth and care we've come to expect from the folks at Soul Jazz Records! The collection goes way past the obvious – and way past any obvious cliches as well – to really dig deep and draw some strong lines between the grooves of nations like Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and St Thomas – all of whom are represented by really rhythm-heavy and uncommon sounds! Most numbers are heavy on percussion, but also show a bit of jazz and soul influence as well – the continuing influence of American styles on the sounds of the area, but always taken in by the local talents, and made into something new entirely. There's a number of heavy groovers here that lie somewhere in the territory between Jazzman mambo reissues and Honest Jon's compilation cuts – and titles include "I'll Be Right There" by Techniques, "Pa Los Obreros" by Frank Ferrer, "Elegua" by Gina Martin, "Nassau Cha Cha" by Andre Toussaint, "Saturday Night Reggae" by Mark Holder, "My Conversation" by Slim Smith, "The Queen Sings Calpyso" by Lord Brynner, "Chango" by Celia Cruz, "Canela" by Peanuts Taylor, "Repentino" by Grupo De Experimentation, "Pa Coco Solo" by Fajardo, "Don't Blame It On Elvis" by Fabulous McClevertys, "Mambo Caliente" by Bebo Valdes, and "Vitalolgy" by Duke Of Iron. Also includes a great documentary on DVD – Mirror To The Soul, the story of the British Pathe record label in the West Indies!

A tremendous overview of Carribean sounds from the 50s through the 70s – served up with exactly the kind of depth and care we've come to expect from the folks at Soul Jazz Records! The collection goes way past the obvious – and way past any obvious cliches as well – to really dig deep and draw some strong lines between the grooves of nations like Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and St Thomas – all of whom are represented by really rhythm-heavy and uncommon sounds! Most numbers are heavy on percussion, but also show a bit of jazz and soul influence as well – the continuing influence of American styles on the sounds of the area, but always taken in by the local talents, and made into something new entirely. There's a number of heavy groovers here that lie somewhere in the territory between Jazzman mambo reissues and Honest Jon's compilation cuts – and titles include "I'll Be Right There" by Techniques, "Pa Los Obreros" by Frank Ferrer, "Elegua" by Gina Martin, "Nassau Cha Cha" by Andre Toussaint, "Saturday Night Reggae" by Mark Holder, "My Conversation" by Slim Smith, "The Queen Sings Calpyso" by Lord Brynner, "Chango" by Celia Cruz, "Canela" by Peanuts Taylor, "Repentino" by Grupo De Experimentation, "Pa Coco Solo" by Fajardo, "Don't Blame It On Elvis" by Fabulous McClevertys, "Mambo Caliente" by Bebo Valdes, and "Vitalolgy" by Duke Of Iron.

A tremendous overview of Carribean sounds from the 50s through the 70s – served up with exactly the kind of depth and care we've come to expect from the folks at Soul Jazz Records! The collection goes way past the obvious – and way past any obvious cliches as well – to really dig deep and draw some strong lines between the grooves of nations like Cuba, Colombia, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and St Thomas – all of whom are represented by really rhythm-heavy and uncommon sounds! Most numbers are heavy on percussion, but also show a bit of jazz and soul influence as well – the continuing influence of American styles on the sounds of the area, but always taken in by the local talents, and made into something new entirely. There's a number of heavy groovers here that lie somewhere in the territory between Jazzman mambo reissues and Honest Jon's compilation cuts – and titles include "I'll Be Right There" by Techniques, "Pa Los Obreros" by Frank Ferrer, "Elegua" by Gina Martin, "Nassau Cha Cha" by Andre Toussaint, "Saturday Night Reggae" by Mark Holder, "My Conversation" by Slim Smith, "The Queen Sings Calpyso" by Lord Brynner, "Chango" by Celia Cruz, "Canela" by Peanuts Taylor, "Repentino" by Grupo De Experimentation, "Pa Coco Solo" by Fajardo, "Don't Blame It On Elvis" by Fabulous McClevertys, "Mambo Caliente" by Bebo Valdes, and "Vitalolgy" by Duke Of Iron. Also includes a great documentary on DVD – Mirror To The Soul, the story of the British Pathe record label in the West Indies!

An excellent album of spare Latin jazz, played by the legendary leader of the Cuban group Irakere! Chucho Valdes is playing here with a small combo that only features bass, drums, and percussion – plus some additional vocal accompaniment by Mayra Caridad Valdes. But the main focus is on Chucho's lively piano talents – some of the best-ever in Afro-Cuban jazz, and graced by a stunning style that's at once starkly modern, yet stepped in a rich Latin tradition. Tracks are nearly all very long – and titles include "Ponte La Clave", "Drume Negrita", "Anabis", "Punto Cubano", "To Bud Powell", and "Lorraine's Habanera".