HELP! I need Latin music recommendations!

[Alexander]

I recently downloaded a couple of collections of '60s and '70s Latin music (I know less than nothing about it, so I can't tell you exactly what genres are involved) and they are absolutely KILLER. Here's one of the collections I got:

Some of the other artists involved are:

Ray Barretto

Eddie Palmieri

Charlie Palmieri

Peter Rodriguez

Joe Cuba

Hector Rivera

Celia Cruz

Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz

La Lupe

Joe Bataan

George Guzman

Joey Pastrana

Ismal Rivera

Mongo Santamaria

Tito Rodriguez

Lenni Sesar

Orquesta Harlow

Tito Puente (of course)

Johnny Colon

King Nando

The Latinires

If anyone has any information about other albums/compliations that might be worth checking out, please let me know. I know that a lot of this stuff comes under the "Latin Soul" or "Boogaloo" heading. Some of it might also be Salsa. If you have any other info, please let me know! This stuff is GREAT!

[Big Al]

Get the Mongo Santamaria Rhino comp called SKIN ON SKIN. Let your muse take you from there!

[rostasi]

There's also 3 volumes of Rough Guide discs that you may be able to get for cheap.

[porcy62]

Teasing The Korean is your man!

TTK the board's member I mean.

Edited April 17, 2008 by porcy62

[Noj]

A friend of mine has nearly every Fania reissue, Alexander--I've heard great albums by just about everyone on your list. Fania is where it's at! Willie Colon and Roberto Roena are another two that aren't to be missed.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Noj

[jlhoots]

Chico O'Farrill

[rpklich]

Any Eddie Palmieri.

I assume you mean Larry Harlow (Andy his brother also did some stuff). I like "Yo Soy Latino" and the "Tribute to Arsenio" .

Try the Celia Cruz lp she did with Johnny Pacheco, "Celia and Johnny"

One of my favorite groups from that era was called Groupo Folklorico y Experimental. They did a great Lp entitled "Concepts in Unity" (Alot of these guys were with Eddie Palmieri, this band evolved into Libre which is still around)

[Alexander]

Thanks for all the recs so far! I can't wait to follow up on them!

[A Lark Ascending]

I got hooked a couple of years back after hearing an excellent BBC series on the Cuban influence on New York jazz.

This compilation, in particular, has never ceased to thrill me.

And this one will have you leaping round the house:

Long jams with lots of jazzy soloing and dense percussion.

Edited April 17, 2008 by Bev Stapleton

[Man with the Golden Arm]

do check out the Gillles Peterson Fania label podcast on iTunes Vol. 01 #3. An hour of edumacacion.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Harlem River Drive

Afro Blues Quintet + 1

Pucho & the Latin Soul Brothers

Africando

Luisito Quintero

MG

[Sundog]

Not really boogaloo based recs. but they all seriously groove and have a lot of jazz elements...

Check out Papo Vazquez, I recommend At The Point V.1 but anything you can get your hands on is well worth checking out. Also, Jerry Gonzalez either solo or with The Fort Apache Band. Try Obatala or Rhumba Para Monk; both are among my favorite Fort Apache Band albums. On the solo Jerry tip try L Los Pirates De Flamenco. FYI, Mike W. is "the man" as well. Good luck!

[WorldB3]

Any Eddie Palmieri.

I just hand this in my hands at the record store and put it back, looks like I will have to go back and get it. It just got the re-issue treatment.

[Stefan Wood]

This kicks ass:

[crabgrass]

Let's not forget this guy... he invent Mambo

Israel Cachao López

[crabgrass]

Another favorite of mine I'm not seeing here is...

Mario Bauza

[Guest Bill Barton]

Libre was mentioned briefly already. I really like this one: Mejor Que Nunca

And this cat , Jimmy Bosch, is a MF. I've heard him live but don't have any of his CDs, so don't know which one(s) to recommend

[paul secor]

I can highly recommend Son Cubano NYC - Cuban Roots New York Spices 1972-82 (Astralwerks)

Recordings made for the Salsoul, SAR, Mericana, & Guajiro labels - Chocolate, Roberto Torres, Henry Fiol, Fernando Lavoy, Charlie Rodriguez, & others. Very fine compilation.

[jostber]

A lot of spirit from the early years here, a must. Listening to it right now:

http://www.yazoorecords.com/7018.htm

Los Jardineros. Great Stuff.

[.:.impossible]

This is your place:

descarga.com

[jazzypaul]

Alex,

one that you might really like is Spanish Harlem Orchestra's United We Swing. Oscar Hernandez leads a helluva band, and the last cut has them doing a duet with Paul Simon that really works.

I'm a fan of Joe Bataan, although his stuff was pretty poppy for boogaloo. Like Willie Colon, his best stuff used the two trombone formula which really gives these smallish groups some pop.

Hector Lavoe was a bad ass that went way too soon. He's got a two disc best of kinda thing on Fania that works well as an introduction to his stuff.

For a jazz head's introduction to salsa, I've got to recommend Jerry Gonzalez' Rumba Para Monk. What really shocks me about this one is how little the arrangers had to do to fit Monk's music to latin rhythms.

Most everything else that I would have recommended already has been here, so there's no sense in rehashing.

And, for some easily available, and pretty happening stuff, you honestly can't go wrong with Cal Tjader or Poncho Sanchez. Both are great, and both can be found even at the shittiest Borders or Barnes & Noble.

[rpklich]

One of the best bands in this genre, Grupo Folklorico Y Experimental Nuevaorquino was a bunch of Eddie Palmieri sideman who left. They existed for a few years in the late 70's and did two LPs. Grab the one called "Concepts in Unity" if you ever run into it. Members included: Jerry and Andy Gonzalez, Manny Orquendo, Chocolate Armenteros, Oscar Hernandez. The band evolved into Libre. I've got a few Salsa/latin jazz Lps and Cds, but very few can touch this.

[jostber]

Gotta get that one.

[Stefan Wood]

This one too:

[seeline]

This is your place:

descarga.com

Absolutely!

The staff will help with recommendations, hunting down obscure recordings, and much more. Very nice people!