Blazing trombone, brilliant vocals, and some really inventive rhythms – one of those sweet 60s sets that show why Mon Rivera was way more than just another Latin leader! The tight use of trombones and trumpet almost makes the record a precursor to salsa at some level – but at another, there's this rootsy quality to the rhythms that's very classic – almost more of the "afro" in Afro-Cuban at times – with congas and bongos often playing a heavier role than timbales. Mon's vocals are wonderful when he sings – and titles include "Bi Bi E", "Karacatis Ki", "A Papa Cuando Venga", "El Pachanguero", "Asi Trabaja Cualguiera", and "Humacao". LP, Vinyl record album

70s issue of this classic – a great blend of Puerto Rican roots and some of the more sophisticated modes going down in the New York scene of the 60s – and a classic pre-salsa album from Mon Rivera! Rivera's got a small combo here who represent the hippest Alegre players of the time – both Charlie and Eddie Palmeri on piano, Mark Weinstein on trombone, and the legendary Kako on timbales – all backing up Mon with a sound that's rootsy, but which still has a fair bit of jazz as well. Styles include jazzy mambo and the plebochanga, a style that combines the plena and charanga – and overall, the album's got a really bouncy approach to the grooves – piano and percussion carrying most of the work, as vocals and horns come in over the top to sort things out a bit! Titles include "La Plechanga De Trabalengua", "Monina", "Una Plena", "Como Esta Pita", "En Casa De Pepe", and "La Cuca". LP, Vinyl record album

Very early work from the legendary Mon Rivera – with work from Moncho Lena too, on titles that include "Paquete No Mas", "Oye A Moncho", "Seguire Esperando", "Lily", "Martinez Nadal", "Pobrecita Muchacho", and "Carmela Dame La Llave". LP, Vinyl record album

Mon Rivera gets a great revival here during the height of the 70s salsa era – thanks to backings from Willie Colon, and a sound as solid as any of the best on Fania Records at the time! The album has Willie working with a tight combo that's heavy on trombone, piano, and percussion – backing up Mon's lead vocals, and also featuring Rivera a bit on guiro. The tunes are mostly lively bombas or plenas – romping around with a lot of joyous energy – with arrangements from Mon, Willie, and Jorge Millet. Titles include "Mosaico", "Baila Mi Bomba", "Pena De Amor", "Ya Llego", "La Humanidad", and "Si Te Vas". LP, Vinyl record album

A real killer from this legendary Latin trombonist – one of his rarest records! The set features a mix of Latin soul and hard-jamming numbers – and titles include "Bomba Con Boogaloo", "El Primer Boogaloo", "Desayuno Musical", "El Abogado", "Mi Morena", and "Bailando Plena". LP, Vinyl record album

A great blend of Puerto Rican roots and some of the more sophisticated modes going down in the New York scene of the 60s – and a classic pre-salsa album from Mon Rivera! Rivera's got a small combo here who represent the hippest Alegre players of the time – both Charlie and Eddie Palmeri on piano, Mark Weinstein on trombone, and the legendary Kako on timbales – all backing up Mon with a sound that's rootsy, but which still has a fair bit of jazz as well. Styles include jazzy mambo and the plebochanga, a style that combines the plena and charanga – and overall, the album's got a really bouncy approach to the grooves – piano and percussion carrying most of the work, as vocals and horns come in over the top to sort things out a bit! Titles include "La Plechanga De Trabalengua", "Monina", "Una Plena", "Como Esta Pita", "En Casa De Pepe", and "La Cuca". LP, Vinyl record album

Moncho Lena really cooks here on timbales – leading a tight little combo that easily rivals Tito Puente's group of the time! There's a jazzy flourish to most numbers here – as the group is driven by Moncho's rhythms, then opens up on trumpet and piano! Hector Rivera handles the keys, with a bold energy that's mighty nice – and Mon Rivera sings on a good deal of numbers too. Titles include "Alo Quien Nama", "Polin Cha", "Sabrosura", "Quiereme Mi Cielo", "Carbon De Palito", "Juana Maria", and "Canallon". LP, Vinyl record album

A legendary look at the sounds of Puerto Rico – one that brings together tracks from a time when the island was really hopping with fresh new rhythms, served up by a host of young, soon to be important leaders – music that's every bit as powerful as work coming from Havana and New York at the time! The rhythms here are slightly different – with some bomba and plena thrown into the mix, served up with plenty of percussion too – all at a level that would have a huge influence on Latin music for decades to come! The package features detailed notes that provide the sort of background and information that some of the leaner Latin reissues of previous years never had – and titles include "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, and "Ron Con Coco" by Mon Rivera Y Su Orquesta. 30 tracks in all! LP, Vinyl record album

With Junior Mance on piano, Martin Rivera on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by numerous groups including The Students, Rainbows, Collegians, Charts, Love Notes, Kodaks, Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, Silhouettes, Perfections, El Dorados, Dells, Little Bobby Rivera & The Hemlocks, and many more. LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

A full-on set from the mighty Fania All-Stars – a session that matches some of the larger arrangements of their Columbia Records albums, but which also returns the group to more of a salsa-focused groove! Tracks are somewhat short – none of the jam sessions of the group's earliest years – but the sound is top-shelf all the way through, and a lot more classic than you'd guess from the cheesy cocaine image on the cover! Group members include Papo Luca on piano, Nicky Marrero on timbales, Roberto Roena on bongos, Yomo Toro on cuatro, and Lewis Khan on trombone – and singers include Hector Lavoe, Adalberto Santiago, Willie Colon, Ismael Rivera, and Celia Cruz. Titles include "Semilla De Amor", "Bilongo", "La Montana", "Rosa En El Fango", "Mi So Den Boso", and "Nina". LP, Vinyl record album

A nice mix of exotic and Latin modes – with Tino La Tino on flute, in a group that features more flute and alto, three trumpets, and plenty of percussion – including solo congas by Tito Rivera! Titles include "Cansao", "Guajira De Mi Cuba", "Lullaby Of The Leaves", "Canto Misterio", "Vamo A Bailar", "Llanura Cubana", and "Obsession". LP, Vinyl record album