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That's a pretty festive pig roast taking place on the cover of this one – and the band's got an equally festive groove to match! The set bristles with all the sharp energy we love from the early Cortijo albums – a tight, percussion-heavy approach to Latin grooves – one that's a rougher contrast to some of the polish on the New York scene of the early 60s – speared through with soulful vocals from a young Ismael Rivera! The album's a cracker throughout – filled with lively tracks that never seem to let up the groove – and titles include a great Latin jazz version of "Volare", plus "Oriza", "Que Le Paso?", "Mofongo Pelao", and "Solavaya".

A classic collection of grooves from the legendary Cortijo – most of which feature lead vocals from Ismael Rivera – mixed with a few other great tracks from later years too! Cortijo's combo was one of the leading lights of the pre-salsa scene – and his firey percussion really keeps things going here – helping to lay down some excellent rhythms that are perfect for the soaring vocals from Rivera, and other singers who include Azuquita, Pepito Negron, Jorge Millet, and Nacho Sanabria. Titles include "Sacame De Aqui", "Fuerza E Cara", "Coje Pa La Cola", "Calambre", "Bombon De Canela", "Agua Que Va A Caer", "Se Escapo Un Leon", "Aqui Estoy Ya Llegue", and "Arrecotin Arrecotan".

A classic collection of grooves from the legendary Cortijo – most of which feature lead vocals from Ismael Rivera – mixed with a few other great tracks from later years too! Cortijo's combo was one of the leading lights of the pre-salsa scene – and his firey percussion really keeps things going here – helping to lay down some excellent rhythms that are perfect for the soaring vocals from Rivera, and other singers who include Azuquita, Pepito Negron, Jorge Millet, and Nacho Sanabria. Titles include "Sacame De Aqui", "Fuerza E Cara", "Coje Pa La Cola", "Calambre", "Bombon De Canela", "Agua Que Va A Caer", "Se Escapo Un Leon", "Aqui Estoy Ya Llegue", and "Arrecotin Arrecotan".

Killer sounds from Cortjio and his classic combo – a group who really helped to redefine the sound of Latin music in the 60s! The group here is at their early best – working with bold vocals from Ismael Rivera right up front – in a mix of tracks that definitely lives up tot he "lo mejor" promise on the cover – killer numbers that include "Druma Cuyi", "Di Donde Estas Severa", "Moliendo Cafe", "Oriza", and "El Retorno De La Cucaracha".

Damn hard to go wrong with Cortijo at this point in his career – as records like this are razor-sharp, all the way through! The cooker features excellent vocals from a young Ismael Rivera – who's already got this transcendent quality that points towards larger Latin dimensions to come – and the group have a core energy that really gets back to basics – shaking off the larger trappings of Latin orchestras of a few years before, and really focusing in on the rhythms! Titles include "Chachaguere", "Manana Es Domingo", "Tuntuneco" , "Ramona", "Perfume De Rosas", "Un Telegrama", and "Pa'Tumbar La Cana".

A great little set from salsa legend Sammy Ayala – an original member of the 50s born Cortijo Y Su Combo orchestra of Puerto Rico – singing warmly and wonderfully on this excellent self-titled set on the Candela label! An all star roster of modern producers and players indebted to Sammy and his style contribute – include Quantic, Nicodemus, Truth & Soul combo Bronx River Parkway, Mo'Horizons and others – but this feels like the work of an old school master, as it should. Timeless stuff and a worthy effort by all! Titles include "Otra Vez", "Invitacion Al Salon", "Corazon" feat Bronx River Parkway, "El La San Sebastian" feat Mo'Horizons, "Huellas De La Ilusion" and more.

A treasure trove of 50s and 60s music from Puerto Rico – and a killer compilation centered around the pioneering work of percussionist Rafael Cortijo and singer Ismael Rivera! Essentially, this a blueprint for the global salsa, tropical and Latin scenes to come – and it's invigorating, tightly grooving and wonderful stuff all the way! Wall-to-wall Afro and West Indian-indebted percussion and rhythms, with tight horns and incredible vocals. It's filled pioneering work, but this is hardly a history listen – it's a fun set, and a sprawling one at that! Includes "Cortaron a Elena" by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "En Orbita" by Baltazar Carrero, "Habla Cuembre" by Los Caballeros Del Ritmo, "El Plenero" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta, "Dejalo Que Suba" by by Cortijo (as Canario & Su Grupo con Raful), "Belinda" by Chivirico, "Cucala" by Cortijo Y Su Combo con Ismael Rivera, "Ron Con Coco" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta and more. 30 tracks on 2CDs.

Cortijo's style is always filled with "ritmo" – especially at this point in his career – that lively, youthful stretch when his combo just couldn't miss! The groove here gets going right from the start – with a focus much more on the bottom end of the music than you'd hear from lots of other 60s Latin groups – an almost-gritty approach that certainly helped set the scene for the Latin Soul generation to come, if not the 70s salsa scene too! Titles include "El Zapato", "La Llave", "No Puedo Mas", "El Barbero", "Lo Dijo Cortijo", "El Nene Lo Tengo Yo", and "La Timadora" – a "ritmo oriza" that has a really rootsy groove!