Some of the best work ever from Puerto Rican percussionist Rafael Cortijo Verdejo – sides recorded in New York for the Ansonia label, at a time when Cortijo's music was even more rootsy than it was a decade before! The material here marks a renewed sense of tradition in players of Cortijo's generation – almost a back-to-basics mode that was their answer to the hybrids of the late 60s – a style that often has Rafael focusing even more on the rhythms at the bottom of the tracks, and leaving behind some of the fuller orchestrations of the 50s. The mighty Kako joins in on percussion on a number of tracks too – and singers include Chivirico Davila and Johnny Vega – on titles that include "Chiviriquiton", "Tele Tele Ya", "La Madama", "Que Linda Te Ves", "Tu Y Tu Guarapo", "Quien Fuel El Primero", "Echando Un Pie", "Alegria Bomba Es", "Dorotea", "Dudando", and "El Negrito Bailador". Comes with great notes in Spanish and English, too! CD

... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

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

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

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

Features nice vocals from Guajiro Gonzalez – and cuts that include "El Coquero", "Siete Digitos", "Que Lenga", "Rule Con Dama", "El Leon", "Torna A Sacramento", "Que Mania", and "No Que Va". LP, Vinyl record album

The tight piano of Joe Loco takes on tunes that include "Hablame De Amor", "Silencio", "Lamento Borincano", "Arrancame La Vida", "Palmera", and "Maria Bonita". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Great stuff – and one of the purest examples we can find of the Latin piano style of the great Noro Morales! Noro plays here without any of the trappings of some of his other records – just working with a small rhythm combo on an all-instrumental set – with tremendous solo work on the piano – filled with flourishes, but never in a way that's too overly-complicated, nor too dramatic to ever lose its swing! That balance is what made Noro so great back in the day – as you'll hear on cuts that include "Oye Men", "Pica Mosquito", "Mi Guajira", "Vitamina", "Que Linda Eres", and "Oye Negra". LP, Vinyl record album