Lou's normally a straight charanga-type artist, but on this excellent set, he goes for that "New York" sound – meaning that he picks up a sweet bit of Latin funk, and carves out a soulful NuYorican groove! Many tracks have lyrics in English – set to jumpy rhythms often driven by a fair bit of electric bass, handled in a very soul-heavy style. Titles include "Gotta Move", "Oh How I Think About You", "I'll Call Her Monday", "Fryin Pan Man", "Caribbean Woman", "Guajira Con Tumbao", "Pins & Needles", and "Senor Babalu". LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet 70s set from this classic singer – with arrangements from Horacio Malvicino, and some more modern production touches from Lou Perez – on titles that include "Por La Vuelta", "Un Ano Mas", "Perfidia", "Tu Tienes Algo", "Porque No Ha De Ser", "Muchos Corazones", and "Tengo Que Acostumbrarme". LP, Vinyl record album

Tight trumpet-led salsa from the great Tommy Olivencia – with additional trumpet work from Louis Perico Ortiz, and vocals from Paquito Guzman and Simon Perez! Louie Ramirez plays guest vibes on the set, and the record also features some great arrangements from Ortiz and guitarist Maximo Torres – on titles that include "Yolanda", "El Negro Chombo", "Aun No Es Tiempo", "Madame Chu Chu", and "Que Importa Donde". LP, Vinyl record album

Jazzy mambos from the king – and easily the most successful of Perez Prado's albums for RCA in the 50s! The album showcases the Latin mode that Prado crossed over big with on his hit "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White" – a tune that almost single-handedly grabbed the energy and audiences of the late swing years, and grafted them onto the growing New York Latin scene of the time! Prado's got that great growl in his chants, as usual – pushing the band to even more rhythmic heights and brassy horn flourishes with his trademark calls – and titles include the classic "Cherry Pink & Apple Blossom White", as well as tracks like "Tomcat Mambo", "Mambo Ala Kenton", "The High & The Mighty", "Marilyn Monroe Mambo", and "Skokiaan". LP, Vinyl record album

Mongo cooks mightily – working here at the Montreux Jazz Fest in 1971, with a soaring group that's even more spiritual than any of his records in the 60s! There's definitely a dose of Latin Soul in the mix, but there's a fiercer, more righteous quality to the album too – thanks to the presence of players like Carter Jefferson on tenor and flute, Roger Glenn on vlute and vibes, and Ray Maldonando on trumpet – soloists who really know how to soar at the right moments. The percussion's a bit more rootsy too – showing Santamaria's concern with classic Afro-Cuban sounds at the time – and alongside Mongo's congas, you'll also hear percussion from Steve Berrios and Armando Pereza. Marty Sheller handles the arrangements – and titles include "Come Candela", "Climax", "Disappear", "Marty's Tune", "I Wanna Know", and "Cloud Nine". LP, Vinyl record album