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

An early set of plena work from Puerto Rico – served up by Manuel "Canario" Jimenez! Titles include "Que Se Va Jose", Tanta Vanidad", "Llego De Roma", "Hecisera", "Buscando A Malen", "Cortaron A Elena", and "Que Tabaco Malo". LP, Vinyl record album

... 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

... LP, Vinyl record album

Features vocals from Pompo and Mario Hernandez – on titles that include "Aqui Te Espero", "La Sitiera", "Dime Porque", "Te Llamo", and "Casate Casate". CD

Wonderfully raspy grooves from Arsenio Rodriguez and group – a rough mixture of tres, percussion, and vocals! The arrangements are fairly traditional, but Arsenio's playing shines out nicely, with the raw sound that he practically invented – and the rest of the rhythms really fit the spirit of the music too – and make for one of those rare 60s sessions where Arsenio's sound is actually nicely in step with the rest of the group, and not an isolated element.. Titles include "Balanca Paloma", "Recuerdo Bien", "Mami Me Gusto", "Que Feliz Yo Fuero", "Carraguao Alante", and "Devuleveme La Ilusion". Great cartoony cover too! LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album