Plenty happenin' here – a wealth of boogaloo grooves, mad Latin jazz riffs, and lots lots more – all served up on a platter that's easily one of the most cooking ever from trumpeter Willie Rodriguez! Like other releases on the Fonseca label, there's a nicely messed-up groove going on – a style that easily shifts between different Latin modes in search of the rawest sound possible – without any thought of mainstream convention, or the sort of straighter-laced sounds that might have played with the suburban crowds. Willie's band is clearly nice and youthful, and more than willing to follow his leadership – working equally well on both the English and Spanish language tunes on the set. Titles include "Boogaloo Hay", "Sansuyo", "Mi Guajira", "Mi Shingaling", "The Clock", "What You Want Is Boogaloo", "7th Ave Train", and the very tasty "Descarga El Bravo"! LP, Vinyl record album

Stunning sounds from Willie Rodriguez – easily one of the hardest, heaviest leaders on the 60s scene in New York! The record is a live one, but has the focus and intensity of Willie's best studio work for Fonseca – red hot grooves that are a fusion of Willie's Puerto Rican roots with some of the best pre-salsa modes of the time – a vibe that's a lot like the Joe Cuba Sextet at their best, with blistering piano and percussion in the rhythms, and some tight trumpet soaring out over the top! There's a few mellower tracks, but most numbers are groovers – and titles include "Gua Guanco #1", "Dolor Y Pena", "La Mulata Mariana", "Dame Un Chance", "El Velorio", "Ruby", and the great "Descarga". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent early album from Latin leader/trumpeter Willie Rodriguez – one of his gems for the Fonseca label, with vocals from Leo Casino – a tight mix of Latin Soul, descarga, and salsa tracks that hit hard from the start and don't let up! Rodriguez leads a great band, and they're joined by vocalist Casino some of the tracks – with tunes that have an uncommon, heated intensity without sacrificing the groove – some of it with the feel of an after hours session full of players just hit with a mighty second wind, and others that are just straight up tirelessly driven. The whole set cooks really nicely! Titles include "Dig It", "Descarga DJ", "Pussycat Bugaloo", "Simon", A Mi Negra". "Golden Bugaloo", and "Chickie's Choice". LP, Vinyl record album

Willie Rodriguez at his 60s best – driving his combo with a fire and fury that few other Latin leaders could match! The grooves here are raw and tight, right from the start – a recasting of Cuban descarga modes into an even tighter combo setting – with percussion leading the way on just about every cut, topped with some sweet horn solos and vocals by a young and soulful Adalberto Santiago! The album's a real shining jewel in the early catalog of Fonseca Records – and titles include "Mi Montuno", "Mozambique", "Cimarron", "Colorin Colorado", "El Ritmo Lo Traigo Yo", and "Monte Adentro". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the coolest, grooviest albums ever from jazz vibist Johnny Lytle – a set that really leans into the impact that he was having with the soul instrumental crowd, and which serves up tunes in these short, tight grooves that show why Johnny was the king of the stepping dancefloor in the 60s! The set's still done with producer Orrin Keepnews, who'd handled Lytle's earlier jazz sides – but the tunes are shorter, and have the grooves punched up nicely – with plenty of cool Hammond work from organist Milt Harris, and tight drums from Peppy Hinnant – augment6ed with work from Willie Rodriguez on congas, and guest piano from Wynton Kelly on a few cuts! The whole thing's sweet and groovy, and the set features Johnny Lytle originals "Big Bill", "The Shyster", "Possum Grease", "The Man", "The Loop", and "Hot Sauce" – plus a cool cover of "Cristo Redentor". LP, Vinyl record album

A killer set of Latin Soul from the New York scene of the late 60s – a record that's every bit as wonderful as boogaloo classics on labels like Fania and Cotique, but which never got released at the time! The production quality is wonderful – with the mighty Bobby Marin heading up the whole set, and channeling the talents of a fantastic all-star lineup – which includes both Charlie Palmieri and Richie Ray on piano, Tito Puente on timbales, Bobby Rodriguez on bass, and Louie Ramirez on vibes – plus vocals from Jimmy Sabater and Willie Torres, who really give the record a lot of soul! The set's a mixture of instrumentals and vocal numbers, in English and Spanish – and titles include "Something New", "Nitty Boo Boo", "Would You Believe Me?", "Rice And Beans", "Dixie's Mambo", "Fun City Hippy", "Say Listen", "A Fool Like Me", "Papel De Bambu", and "Shingaling Now Boogaloo Later". LP, Vinyl record album