Stunning soul from the great Joe Bataan – a really groundbreaking mix of modes that's right up there with the best of the Spanish Harlem scene of the late 60s! The album is Joe Bataan's debut for the Fania Records label – and the start of an incendiary run of Latin classics that forever changed the face of the New York scene – a mindblowing mix of Latin rhythms and soul-based inspiration, served up in a mix of English and Spanish language lyrics! The title track is a sublime cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman" – one that's even more heartbreaking than the original – and other titles include "Ordinary Guy", Sugar Guaguanco", "So Fine", "Fuego", and the groovy "Chickie's Trombone" – a tight little jammer that shows that Joe's group also drew plenty of inspiration from the descarga scene too. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the greatest solo albums ever issued by Latin jazz trumpeter Luis Gasca – a set that really expands on his debut for Atlantic Records, and which brings in a whole host of early 70s west coast Latin influences! The style here is very laidback and open – a bit like some of the Chicano funk coming out of the LA scene at the time, but a fair bit more jazz oriented overall – with long lean solos from both Gasca on trumpet and Joe Henderson on tenor sax, set up in a half-electric set of rhythms laid out on guitar, organ, keyboards, bass, and plenty of percussion! Other players here are all top-shelf too – and include Carlos Santana, George Cables, Stanley Clarke, Coke Escovedo, and Lenny White. The album features 4 long tracks – "Spanish Gypsy", "Street Dude", "La Raza", and "Little Mama". (Jazz, Latin) CD

Underground salsa from Orquesta La Fantastica – the group's debut from the early 70s, originally issued on the tiny Ghetto Records label! The album's a great illustration of the way that the regular Latin codes of the mainstream got broken down on the fringes – as the sounds and styles here are familiar at the outset, but often have little twists and turns you'd never find from bigger acts on Fania or Tico. Instrumentation includes a fair bit of vibes – often used mostly with the rhythm, but sometimes bursting out on their own – and there's also a strong tenor sax in the group, fleshing out the sound strongly next to the trumpets. Titles are all originals by group leader Samuel Leon, who sings along with Ralphy Chuleta – and titles include "Latin Blues", "M&M", "Telegrama", "Sassie", "Borinquen", and "Negrita Mia". LP, Vinyl record album

A hell of a trumpeter – making his debut here on one of the grooviest albums on the legendary Latin Percussion label! The session's a bit fuller than some of the other LP albums – a crackling blend of jazz, funk, and Latin rhythms – warm, but with some pretty complicated moments, very much in the best spirit of the second wave of NuYorica grooves! There's still lots of the tight percussion that makes Latin Percussion sessions so great – but the record also features fuller instrumentation too – in ways that really make things soar. Players include Eddie Martinez on Fender Rhodes, Jon Faddis and Randy Brecker on additional trumpets, Steve Khan on guitar, and Carlos Patato Valdez on congas – and Ruben Blades even plays a bit of acoustic guitar on the record. The overall feel's a bit like some of the great Fania/Columbia co-productions – but a bit rawer at points – and titles include "Diana", "Genesis", "Nice & Warm", "Viva Martinez", "I Know", "Hot Blood", and "Perico" – most of which are separated by short percussion interludes! LP, Vinyl record album

The completely smoking second album from this legendary Nicaraguan group of the 70s – an album that's even more fully-formed and Latin-styled than their first – served up with long tracks delivered in a stunning blend of percussion, jazzy instrumentation, and just the right touch of rock influences on guitar and keyboards! Where the group's debut maybe echoed the San Francisco style of mixing rock and Latin, this one shows more of the LA funky version of the music – as the group seem to have doubled their chops on their instruments since the previous record – and hardly even need vocals to provide any of the context for the music. Titles include "Chicharron", "Fruta Podrida", "Bacanal 76", "Amanecer Entre Las Hojas", and "Mimo". LP, Vinyl record album

A contemporary record, but one that hearkens back to the glory days of the Latin diva albums of the 50s and 60s – wonderfully expressive vocals from Maria Raquel, a singer who makes her debut here, yet somehow feels as if she's been making music for many many years! The arrangements are a nicely updated version of past modes – percussion, strings, and reeds mixed with these beautifully dark-turning strings – arranged by Michael Eckroth of Orquesta Akokan, and with a modern depth that's really wonderful, and not just some sort of retro-styled approach. There's a subtle brilliance going on here that really holds us rapt – as Maria mixes boleros and cumbia numbers, on titles that include "Celos", "Juego De Dolor", "Mirame", "La Reina Del Baile", "Cumbia De La Gaita", "Ya No", "Convesion", and "Cumbia Del Presente". LP, Vinyl record album