Charlie Parker in a Latin mode – one of those ideas that shouldn't work that well, but does – and went on to influence a whole generation in jazz! Parker's alto and Latin rhythms are an amazing combination – rhythms that move even more frenetically than regular bop modes – and a horn that simply soars over the top, driven on by their inspiration – and hitting these grooves that few later Latin jazz musicians could ever hope to touch! Much of the material here is in a small group mode – in contrast to the fuller charts on some other Parker cubop recordings from the time – with players who include Walter Bishop on piano and a young Kenny Dorham on trumpet. Titles include "Mama Inez", "Estrellita", "Tico Tico", "Fiesta", and "Un Poquito De Tu Amor". (Jazz, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Sure, Monchito's name makes you think that he might be Machito – but the groove here is quite different, a snapping hard take on the cha cha that made Fiesta one of the greatest labels at the genre! Percussion is nice and hard, horns are plenty tight, and there's lots of interesting instrumental twists that keep things interesting. Titles include "Pao Pao", "La Ultima Noche", "Tapate", "Pancho", "No Tequila", "Santa Marta", and "Una A La Vez". LP, Vinyl record album

We've never known anything about these guys other than their few albums for the Fiesta label, but they're a great little combo with a heavy piano sound! The record is really nice – spare piano, bass, and percussion – laid out over cha cha rhythms that are very to the point, and never too overly complicated. Tunes break out in rhythmic simplicity – really making for a spare and fresh little set. Titles include "Luna Lu", "Un Sueno", "Te Quiero Dijiste", "Cha Cha At The Waldorf", "Playera", and "Chivirico". LP, Vinyl record album

Earthy vocals and plenty of percussion – a wonderful set of parranda tracks from Betsayda Machado, who works here with a tight combo that really sends her vocals over the top! On her own, Betsayda would be enough – a singer with the expressive qualities of older giants, such as Omara Portuando – but backed here with lots of percussion and chorus vocals from the other members of the group, the tunes have this raw energy that grabs the listener right away – and keeps burning strong with a very timeless vibe throughout! Titles include "Gaviota", "Alae Alao", "Sentimiento", "Oh Santa Rosa", "La Situacion", "Borracho De Aguardiente", and "Pueblo De Fiesta". (Global Grooves, Latin) LP, Vinyl record album

Features arrangements by Rene Hernandez and Arthur Azenzer – and titles include "Fiesta De Besos", "Nadie Me Ama", "Ya Tu Lo Ves", "San Juan", "Llego El Sonero", and "Boogaloo In Puerto Rico". LP, Vinyl record album

A smoking overview of work from the glory days of the Venezuelan scene – that moment when the nation's economy was opening the doors to rich new avenues of expression – including the important Discomoda label, which recorded all the gems on this set! The vibe is great – kind of a sideways take on NYC Latin modes of the years involved, but with some of the rootsier elements you might expect from Colombian work too – all presented with really stark, simple, no-nonsense production that really makes the music burst out loud! The selection of tracks here is great – all killer, no-filler, with a focus on the best Discomoda grooves from this stretch – 21 tracks that include "Mambo Tema" by Genaro Y Sus All Stars, "Disparo Goajira" by Nelson Y Sus Estrellas, "No Salgas De Tu Barrio" by Los Kenya, "Fiesta En Venezuela" by Los Satelites, "Lija" by Rodrigo Mendoza, "Mi Rendencion" by La Renovacion, "Analiza" by Principe Y Su Sexteto, "Juana Guaguanco" by Supercombo Los Tropicales, "Algo Diferente" by Johnny Sedes Y Su Orquesta, "Muneca" by Los Megatones De Lucho, "Pero En Caracas" by Sonora Venezuela, "Maracaibo" by Microbanda Marabina, and "Oye Como Suena"b y Orquesta Sonoramica. LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent Machito album – with a hard straight ahead sound that's way better than a lot of his other albums from the time! There's loads of great percussion on the record, and plenty of strong Afro-Cuban grooves, recorded in spare arrangements with a bit of echo on the mix to give the set a nice spacious sound. Titles include "Bongo Fiesta", "Mambo A La Savoy", "Ay Que Mate", "Carambola", "Sambia", and "Adios". LP, Vinyl record album

A really cool, complicated set of grooves – Peruvian tropical at its best, with plenty of sweet guitar lines mixed in with lots of rootsy percussion! Kroffer Jimenez handles the lead vocals, and has this style that leaps one minute, swells the next – very individual, and kind of a perfect match for the offbeat qualities of the record – really setting things apart from standard chicha with the way he handles the lyrics! There's a completely unique feel to the set all the way through – and titles include "Oh Que Bueno", "Mala Mujer", "Fiesta En El Callejon", "Ritmo En Furor", "La Surenita", "La Tamalera", "La Planidera", "Como Baila Lucy", and "Elvira No Se Vira". LP, Vinyl record album