Dang! Does David Murray ever stop re-inventing himself? We think not – and this album is great proof of that fact! The set's a really tasty batch of Latin Jazz numbers – played to perfection by Murray and a host of excellent New York musicians, working together in large group format ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreCD
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 ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Well, in our opinion, Cal went Latin right from the start, practically. Still, this "Goes Latin" LP is one of his best of the genre from the old days, and features a host of great players like Lonnie Hewitt, Chombo Silva, Mongo Santamaria, Paul Horn, and Willie Bobo. The album includes ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreCD
Beautiful Latin vibes from the great Cal Tjader – 8 long tracks recorded live in 1977, but issued here for the first time ever! The sides on the set rank with Cal's best 70s live work – and feature some sublime electric piano work by Clare Fischer, as well as percussion from a young ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreCD
Latin pianist Noro Morales leads his quintet in this nice moody album of instrumentals, played in a mellow jazzy vein, with a spare sound, and lots of percussion/piano interplay. The set's got a number of nice originals – like "Casemonos Ya", "Saona", and "Campanitas ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing, with deep groove! Cover has some light splitting on the top seam, which also has a bit of tape – and some light wear.)
One of a few great 70s albums from Luis Gasca – a funky jazz player, but one who draws on a lot of Latin influences too – all in this sweet soulful mode that echoes some of the hippest Bay Area sounds of the time! Arrangements are done with help from Joe Gallardo – who also plays ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original 70s pressing. Cover has some wear on the opening edge, but is nice overall – as is vinyl.)
Mariano Merceron —
Danzones EP ... 7-inch RCA (Mexico), 1953. Very Good+ ...
Just Sold Out!
(Later German pressing – 6.21027 AS. Cover has light aging, faint sticker spot, small center split in the top seam, and is lightly bent at the top right corner.)
A surprisingly great batch of modern salsa tracks – recorded with a really classic feel! The group's led by pianist/arranger Oscar Hernandez – and it features work by a number of older salsa legends, including Jimmy Sabater, Ruben Rodriguez, and Bobby Allende. Tight all the way ... read moreCD
Willie Rodriguez with Leo Casino —
Heat Wave ... LP Fonseca, 1965. Near Mint- ...
$19.99
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 ... read moreLP, 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 ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Yellow label pressing with deep groove. Cover has a split spine, partially split seams, light surface wear, and some gloss peel on the opening.)
A confusing title, but a wonderful little record! The album's as much a Herbie Mann Latin session as it is a record by Johnny Rae – which is probably why the album's titled as such – and the group on the set features Rae on vibes, Herbie on flute, Jack Six on bass, Philly Joe Jones on ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Great early pressing – red label with deep groove! Cover has very light wear in one corner, but looks great overall. Vinyl is nice and clean.)
Amazing early work from Ricardo Ray – material that's got a lot more fire than some of his better-known sides from the 70s! The album's a stone cooker all the way through – played by a tight young group with lots of descarga energy in their blood, and some of the pre-Latin Soul styles ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Rare early pressing – blue vinyl and black labels!)
Seemed like Joe was always in a mambo mood at the time he was making these sides for Tico – but that's A-OK with us, as the record's a corker – tight little grooves in Joe's best percussion/piano format! A few tracks even have some vibes, which makes for a nice sound – and titles ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing. Cover has light wear and aging, with a small name in pen and an ink stamp in back.)
Classic 50s work from vocalist Abbe Lane – and a record that's made all the better by some great arrangements from Tito Puente! Abbe's getting past the sexy tricks of other records here – and singing in a dusky tone that works perfect with Tito's tight, choppy, and highly percussive ... (Vocalists, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Gorgeous Japanese pressing, with insert and printed inner sleeve.)
Hot and wild – two of the best words you could use to describe the late 60s Latin Soul material of Pete Rodriguez – especially on an album like this! This album has Pete and his combo at their best – stepping effortlessly between English-language, soul-based tracks – and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label stereo pressing with Bell Sound stamp. Cover has a light bump in one corner, and a cutout hole – but this is a great copy overall.)
A nicely grooving album from Cuban jazz piano great Chucho Valdes – sounding as lively and vital as he has in years on Chucho's Steps! There's an invigorating blend of far reaching influences throughout the set, played masterfully by a combo that includes "Juan Carlos Rojas Castro on ... read moreCD
A strangely wonderful Latin set with a very drum-heavy approach! Cuban percussionist Walfredo plays in a large group with Louie Belson on the regular kit and "moog drum" – and the rest of the group features strong Latin players like Francisco Aguabella, Clare Fischer, Emil Richards ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Early 90s OJC pressing, still sealed with review sticker.)
Yusa —
Yusa ... CD Tumi (UK), 2002. Used ...
$5.99
One of the most hard-hitting Latin albums from the 50s on RCA – a set released with jokey liner notes from Frank Jacobs of Mad, next to some Jack Davis cartoons – but a set that's got smoking percussion, great horns, and even some very cool use of vibes! LP, Vinyl record album
(Original mono pressing – nice and clean, and plays well. Cover has a bit of splitting on bottom seam, which has been taped.)
Features Virgilio Marti, Tito Puente, Yomo Toro, Javier Vasquez, Paquito D'Rivera, Adalberto Santiago, Yayo El Indio, and Chocolate Armenteros. (Soundtracks, Latin)LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout notch. Shrink has a hype sticker.)
A surprisingly groovy record! Although bossa nova isn't normally Tito's bag, he does a great job here moving into the format – picking up the pace of his usual group with some snapping beats that create a bit of a bossa flourish, even though the overall sound's still firmly in the New York ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The first album on Fania Records – and a massive album that showcases Pacheco's new style – a shift from his earlier charanga grooves to a more solidly percussive style, with lots of timbales and trumpet! The album's a key turning point in 60s New York Latin – and still crackles ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Lots of classics from this legendary group – including "Bombele", "Ya Te Olivide", "Cuando Florezcan Las Amapolas", "Mosaico No 1", "El Trago", "Coco Pleao", "Casi Te Muerdo", and "El Hombre Marinero". LP, Vinyl record album
Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers —
Heat! ... LP Prestige, 1968. Very Good+ ...
$79.99
Brilliant work from Pucho and his legendary Soul Brothers group of the 60s – a record that's beyond definition – as it combines Latin, soul, jazz, and even a few funky touches – all into one totally amazing sound! This one really gets all the elements right – and the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue circle logo label stereo pressing with DBH etch. Cover has a large check mark in pen in front, some corner wear, and is bent a bit at the top left corner.)
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 – ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(MGM simulated stereo pressing. Cover has ring and edge wear, some fraying at the spine, and is yellowed from age around the edges.)
Roberto Del Castillo —
Otra Vez ... LP CBS, 1988. Sealed ...
$1.99
With Johnny Ventura and orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album
A great little record – and a prime example of the strong Jewish/Latin crossover that was going on in the late 50s and early 60s. The record features the kind of crack cha cha sound that was bringing couples into the Palladium from Long Island, but it's also touched with occasional yiddish ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has aging, minor seam splits, light surface wear, and a sticker mark.)
A great collaboration between Perez Prado and trumpeter Shorty Rogers – one in which Rogers' solos sparkle brilliantly over the top of Perez's tight Latin rhythms – all in a style that's as moody as it is evocative and rhythmic! Side one features the extended "Voodoo Suite" ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has some surface wear, an ink stamp, and light aging.)
An incredible collaboration between pianist Eddie Palmieri and vibist Cal Tajder – a record done for Tico in answer to their previous session for Verve – and a set that's even harder-jamming overall! Cal and Eddie really find something special together on the record – and both ... read moreCD
An overlooked gem from Airto – recorded after his 70s years on bigger labels, but a set that almost tops all of them in the end! There's a wonderful mix going on here – a blend of rootsy and electric, and Latin and Brazilian – the former clearly from the placement of the record ... (Brazil, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A very wild album from Ricardo Ray – sort of a mix of Latin soul styles in the mode of work by Mongo Santamaria, but a lot more messed up! The album's got a number of 60s soul covers – but they're done here by Ricardo in kind of a party Latin mode, touched with a bit of garage soul ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing – a great copy! Label has a small bit of pen, and cover has a small cutout hole – but this is a great copy overall.)
Perez Prado & His Orchestra —
Kuba Mambo ... CD Tumbao (Spain), Late 40s. Used ...
$9.99
A record that features a slightly expanded concept on the ideas that Astor Piazzolla had unleashed with his Zero Hour album – all those incredible twists and turns he'd been using to transform Argentine modern music – roots in the tango, but expressions that are up there with some of ... read moreCD
(Sealed copy! Mark through barcode.)
Ray Barretto —
Taboo ... CD Concord, 1994. Used ...
$8.99
Taboo is a great all-acoustic outing from Ray Barretto – a set recorded with a stripped-down combo that features trumpet, tenor, flute, piano, bass and drums – all stretching out in a soaring, exploratory Latin jazz mode! The feel is much more open and loose than on some of Ray's 80s ... read moreCD
(Out of print, booklet has a slight cut corner and promotional stamp on CD.)
Not really a "Broadway" album, as you might guess from the title – although Tito and group do play a version of the soul hit "On Broadway" on the set – but a nicely-honed set with a strong Latin jazz groove, much more back to basics than some of Tito's work from the ... read moreCD
An excellent album of spare Latin jazz, played by the legendary leader of the Cuban group Irakere! Chucho Valdes is playing here with a small combo that only features bass, drums, and percussion – plus some additional vocal accompaniment by Mayra Caridad Valdes. But the main focus is on ... read moreCD
A really great collection of Cugat's early work for Columbia – presented here with great sound, good notes, and some of the best packaging we've seen for his work in years! The set's got a total of 26 titles in all – with vocals by Miguelito Valdes, Abbe Lane, Tito Rodriguez, and ... read moreCD
A great little record – a heck of a lot nicer than Tito's work in the 50s, with a much more hard driving mambo sound, touched by a bit of jazz. The style here's not dissimilar to Tito Puente's work at the time – and titles include "Ay No No No", "A Little Bit Of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear, yellowing from age, mostly split top seam, and a center split in the bottom seam.)
(Yellow label stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has a split spine and light wear.)
Eddie Lockjaw Davis —
Afro-Jaws ... LP Riverside, 1961. Very Good+ ...
$48.99
A soul jazz Latin classic – one that matches the searing tenor work of Eddie Lockjaw Davis with the hard-hitting conga of a young Ray Barretto! The core group of the set is a soul jazz one – with Lockjaw blowing over rhythm by Lloyd Mayers on piano, Larry Gales on bass, and Ben Riley ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label mono pressing, with microphone logo, silver text, and deep groove – nice and clean! Cover has some light wear, but this is a great copy overall.)
Smoking early work from the team of Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz – the kind of record that marked the pair as one of the freshest new voices to hit Latin music in the New York scene of the 60s! The rhythms and modes are all familiar ones, but they're delivered with a different sort of edge ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Small white label pressing with deep groove and orange Fonseca logo – nice and clean.)
One of the first albums ever from Ricardo Ray – a really sharp-edged set that's quite different than any of his later work with Bobby Cruz! The groove here is a mix of Latin jazz and boogaloo modes – a really strong sound that draws heavily on Ray's bold piano lines, and which also ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original stereo pressing! Cover has some light wear and a cutout hole – vinyl is great.)
Titles include "Dame Un Cacho", "Tu Regreso", "Walter Winchell Rumba", "Noro In Rumbaland", "Vamos Ya", "La Reina", and "Mambo". LP, Vinyl record album
(Heavy rainbow label pressing with deep groove. Cover has clear tape on all seams, surface wear & aging, name in marker.)
Titles include "Perdi La Fe", "Caricas Cubanas", "Dolor Y Pena", "Por Un Madre", "Mulata Con Cola", "Rezo En La Noche", and "El Conde Negro". LP, Vinyl record album
(Later light blue label pressing. Cover has light wear, corner bumps.)
Eddie Palmieri —
Sueno ... LP Capitol/Intuition, 1989. Very Good+ ...
$14.99
An excellent session – very much in the mode of Eddie's groundbreaking work from the early 70s, when he was mixing together some incredibly complicated piano lines with newer styles of Latin jazz. The album's about half vocal, half instrumental – with a very strong jazz component that's ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes a promo bio, with a small ink stamp and paperclipped. Cover has a center split in the spine and some flaking and wrinkles at the bottom right corner.)
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
(Mono green label UA Latino pressing. Cover has minimal wear.)
The cover's a bit goofy, but the record's one of those great back to basics Latin jazz sides that Tito Puente cut in the 80s – with a group that has Tito on vibes, plus the great Sonny Bravo on piano, Bobby Rodriguez on bass, Jose Maderas on congas, and Mario Rivara on a variety of saxes and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light aging, bumped corners, and a small peeled spot in back.)
A collection of recordings by Dizzy's second band, with Dave Burns, Elmon Wright, Matthew McKay,and Ray Orr on trumpets, Ted Kelly and Bill Shepherd on trombones, John Brown and Howard Johnson on alto, George Nicholas and Joe Gales on tenor, Cecil Payne on baritone, and Kenny Clarke on drums. (Jazz, Latin)LP, Vinyl record album
(Late 70s issue. Cover has light wear, a name in marker, and a small trace of a sticker.)
(Orange label pressing. Cover has some wear and aging, small blemishes, and is lightly stained at the spine.)
Gaston Dino Ciarlo —
Los Tanos ... LP Sondor (Uruguay), 1983. Very Good Gatefold ...
$49.99
Very moody work from the Uruguayan scene – mostly acoustic guitar and vocals, with some light arrangements from Richard Kyriam from time to time – which nicely underscores the dark currents in Dino's vocals! (Global Grooves, Latin)LP, Vinyl record album
(Inside gatefold cover might have an autograph from the artist, but we can't verify it.)
A pretty sweet Latin jazz session from Mongo – recorded with the same electric groove as his 70s recordings on Vaya, plus touches of a more classic Latin jazz sound that are very nice! The group's very nice – and there's some excellent reed work by Sam Furnace and Tony Hinson, which ... read moreCD
(Out of print and sealed with a small cutout hole through the case.)
(Early 70s US Arcano pressing. Cover has light ringwear, some edge wear, application wrinkles at the opening, a tiny peeled spot in front, and small splits in the seams.)
Machito/Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie —
Afro Cuban Jazz ... LP Verve, Early 50s. Very Good+ 2LP Gatefold ...
$24.99
Groundbreaking Latin Jazz – and an essential 2LP set! The album brings together classic work for Norman Granz' Verve and Clef labels in the cubop mode – including Dizzy Gillespie's Manteca Suite, Machito's Afro-Cuban Suite, titles by Chico O'Farrill, and others recorded in 1949 and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(White label promo. Labels have small stickers.)
50 Guitars Of Tommy Garrett —
Maria Elena ... LP Liberty, 1963. Near Mint- Gatefold ...
$4.99
Cool 60s work from guitarist Snuff Garrett! Maria Elena takes a host of older Latin themes and tunes them towards a hip 60s style – using the overdubbed guitar approach of the 50 guitars group, and really stretching the sound out wide towards the farthest reaches of both speakers! Snuff ... (Now Sound, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Gold label stereo pressing in the die-cut gatefold cover. Cover has a tiny frayed spot on one of the points at the die-cut, hardly visible and in great shape otherwise.)
Tracks include "Son Montuno", "Lorraine", "Con Poco Poco", "But Not For Me", "Tres Lindas Cubanas", and "Los Caminos". CD
Morales —
Latin Dance Party ... LP Bravo/International Award, Early 1960s. Very Good+ ...
$13.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing. Cover has light wear and aging, center split in the top seam, small split in the bottom seam, and a small name and dots in marker in back. Label has a small name in marker.)
A nice record from Ruiz and one that really combines jazz elements with a Latin sound. Ruiz composed and arranged the songs on the record and plays piano as well. His ensemble consists of such players as Lew Soloff on trumpet, Steve Turre on trombone & seashells, Sam Rivers on flute and tenor ... (Jazz, Latin)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear and some scrapes near the spine.)
Juan Carlos Quintero —
Los Primos ... CD Moondo, 2003. Used ...
$1.99