Review: Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' has thus far been less recognised as an original soul wonderwork, and more so as a sample by American rapper Coolio on the derivative 'Gangster's Paradise'. Though still having been covered by many artists over the years, Major Keys records highlights this enduring 1981 cover of Wonder's 'Paradise' by Latin percussionist Ray Barretto as among their favourites, if not their absolute favourite. Now the label reissue the gem, flaunting its up-to-date, nigh timeless feel; it's the opposite of a miracle that this has never before been released on a 12" single record, despite the fact that it is a favourite on the floors of jazz and soul rooms the world over. It also flips it with Barretto's own 'La Cuna' and 'Mambotango', taken from the same 1981 LP.
Review: An intriguing song is 'Aftershower Funk', the Latin American musician Joe Bataan's curt salsa single from 1974. Fresh, cologned, groomed, and with towel firmly wrapped round hair, Bataan's largely instrumental track is about as lightfooted as the sprightly young man he was, then at 34 years old. With heavy tin drum and cowbell clangings peppered throughout, a toe-tapping mood is sure to beset the listener. B-sider 'Fin' continues the mood, uniting percussion with piano, brass, whistle and rhythm guitar; a much fuller exercise in triumphant finality.
Review: Madrid via Cuba musical gang El Combo Batanga have finally dropped this new double-sider 7". It was teased by the early reals sou the a-side which brings plenty of dance floor filing heat with 'El Que La Rompe La Paga'. It's packed with samba shuffle, expressive horn work and results, and relentless keys work designed to get the ass moving. On the flip is 'Toca La Campana' which is a little less dense but not less rhythmic in the way it sways to and fro with fiery Spanish vocals and funk riffs.
Review: It has now been three years since Matasuna Records unveiled a scorching Latin 45 showcasing two tracks by Venezuelan ensemble Phirpo y sus Caribes, led by Porfi Jimenez. Now, Matasuna is reissuing two more cuts from their sole album, Parrilla Caliente, this time on a 7" vinyl - a debut for these tracks in this format. The original 1972 album, a scarce collector's gem on Philips, holds official licensing from Jimenez's family. On the A-side, 'Y Esa Pava Que?' ignites with Latin funk fervour and is driven by robust drums, potent horns, and groovy, psychedelic keys and guitars. The B-side features 'Pa' Los Rumbero,' a vibrant rendition of Tito Puente's classic, showcasing Jimenez and his band's exceptional musicianship.
Review: Chris Bangs is widely, albeit not so, known for coining the term 'acid jazz'. If it weren't for him it's likely we wouldn't have modern day future jazz pushers like Soul Jazz or Brownswood. This new compendium, 'Firebird', charts the DJ and producer's latest sonic explorations, blurring the boundaries between every influence from contemporary jazz, UK electronic dance, and Latin dance styles from bossa nova to salsa. It also contains several examples of what is known as his 'East Coast' sound, which pays homage to the fusion of jazz and funk and which spread throughout UK nightclubs as far back as the early 80s.
Joe Bataan - "Latin Soul Square Dance" (alternate version) (5:24)
Joe Bataan - "(Goodbye Adios) Roberto Clemente" (4:19)
Eddie Lebron - "My Vows To You" (feat Little David) (2:31)
Eddie Lebron - "Sigue Tu Vida" (3:42)
The Edwards Generation - "Someone Like You" (2:59)
The Edwards Generation - "School Is In" (2:57)
One Sy Mack - "Never Listen To Your Heart" (2:39)
One Sy Mack - "A Part Of A Fool" (3:00)
Review: Previously unreleased, Joe Bataan (real name Bataan Nitollano) recorded the bulk of the material making up Drug Story in 1972. This new, highly limited box set hears seven revered, rarely-heard gems of Latin jazz, deep soul, raucous boogaloo, and heavy salsa by the legend, most of which were largely salvaged from his very own self-run Ghetto Records vaults. Drug Story was inspired by true events, and hears Bataan croon graciously over themes of destitution, lost family members and friends, and addiction. One of three definitive reissues of Bataan's greatest works, licensed from Bataan himself, with his oversight and input into a 15 page oversized book by Pablo Yglesia,s that details Bataan's larger-than-imagination life and his little Latin label that could.
Review: Candido Y Su Movimiento's cult favourite album Palos De Fuego album is a rhythmic journey through the vibrant landscapes of Afro-Cuban jazz and Latin music that was first released in the 1970s. It superbly showcases the virtuosity of Candido Camero, a percussion maestro often hailed as the "Father of Modern Conga Drumming" as the album pulsates with infectious beats, intricate rhythms, and soulful melodies, all of which embody the essence of Afro-Cuban traditions while embracing contemporary influences. As a testament to Candido's enduring impact on the genre, Palos De Fuego stands tall and is a timeless exploration of percussive brilliance that continues to captivate and inspire Latin jazz lovers worldwide.
Review: Central, the "salsa band closest to the club scene" based in Tokyo, follows up former consecutive singles hits ('Samurai, 'Pastime Paradise') with the new full-length album in which they're housed, Flor De Roble. With a core primetime salsa cover of Stevie Wonder's 'Pastime Paradise' leading the charge, we've then a string of originals here, from 'Flor De 1.1 Rb.' and 'Samurai'. Also included are Carabali's 'Was I Surprised' and Crazy Ken Band's infamous soul masterpiece 'Towel', both again adorned in a bold salsa arrangement. An honorific 25th Anniversary album, though it is new.
Review: Mr Bongo present a staunch retro vision of Cuban-born violinist Alfredo De La Fe, one of whose sonographic creams was the debut salsa-and-more fusion album, Alfredo. Based between New York and Colombia, Alfredo worked with many of the greats in Latin music, including Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colon and Roberto Roena, as well as disco and soul icons Sylvester and Aquarian Dream. For a debut solo record, Alfredo is a real charm offensive, and a valiant experiment at that, mixing Latin dancefloor crunches with De La Fe's own, unusually additive violin, placed centre stage as he solos. The record - a favourite of legendary New York club The Paradise Garage - tonally shifts past the halfway mark, eschewing the A-side's chroma-jazzy clavier discombobulations for an early four-to-the-floor, daresay proto deep house excursion, 'Hot To Trot'.
Review: Craft Recordings get back on their curatorially expert business with this serious new reissue from Fania All Stars, the long out-of-print Latin-Soul-Rock. This eight-track gem from the 70s salsa ultragroup (literally; FAS consisted of over 25 members at the height of its fame), released via their own label in 1974, documents the moment at which over 40,000 salsa punters visited New York's Yankee Stadium to catch a glimpse of their talents, alongside a myriad of other Latin greats. Fania All Stars threw a curveball, however, by not only playing pure salsa but blending it with styles like funk and soul, thus sticking out from the crowd and adding a spicier punch. We welcome this record, out via Craft Latino, with alacrity, as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of this 'wow' moment, which deserves to be documented even if solely for its powers of FAS' fusional imagination.
El Expresidiario (feat Humberto "huango" Muriel) (2:49)
Bang Bang (El Tiroteo) (3:07)
Langaruto (feat Humberto "huango" Muriel) (2:29)
Todo Es Todo (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:20)
Oriza (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:20)
La Chica Del Barrio Obrero (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:22)
Perlas Negras (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:15)
El Dia Que Naci Yo (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (5:36)
Algo Pa' Goza (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:38)
Yo No Vuelvo A Querer (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:04)
El Coco (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:46)
Dame Un Break (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:34)
Canto A Panama (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:23)
Cumbia Bacana (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (4:45)
Pa' Los Bomberos (feat "Piper Pimienta" Diaz) (3:38)
Caifaz (feat Joe Arroyo) (4:29)
Va A Llover (feat Wilson Saoko) (5:10)
Fruko Presidente (feat Joe Arroyo) (3:57)
La Loteria (feat Joe Arroyo) (4:22)
Review: Given that it can be tricky to track down the original album releases by Colombian 'salsa drura' greats Fruko Y Sos Sus Tesos, this compilation from Vampi Soul makes an excellent introduction to their trademark sound - even if it is made up of 'deep cuts and rarities; from the band's releases on the iconic Discos Fuentes label. This is fiery, dancefloor-ready salsa from the era of psychedelic rock, and it's that aural colour and low-end heaviness that catches the ear throughout. There's not a duffer amongst the 20 tracks on show, which makes picking highlights tough. That said, our current favourites include 'Bang Bang (el Tiroteo', the effervescent 'Oriza', the horn-heavy cheeriness of 'Perlas Negras' and the richly percussive 'Canto a Panama'.
Review: Heavenly Sweetness has always dealt in music for the soul that is drawn from the worlds of funk, soul and jazz. This new collection of such tunes is another testament to that with a heavily international and world bent. Oodles of Latin, hip hop and Afro vibes pervade the tunes by Guts aka Fabrice Franck Henri alongside a whole host of collaborators. He's a super prolific talent who has put out some ten albums in just over a decade and Estrellas is one of his best. It comes on six sides of delicious wax and takes you on a trip to sunny climates from Cuba to Brazil.
Review: Released in 1971, Ralfi Pagan's self-titled album is a defining moment in Latin Soul, showcasing his talent as both a singer and songwriter on the Fania roster. Highlights include the salsa opener "Mi Chamaco," the Joe Bataan-penned "Just One of Your Kisses," and the classic hit "Make It With You." This reissue features lacquers cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio and is pressed on high-quality 180-gram vinyl, ensuring superior sound quality.
Review: A formerly impossible to find second album by Nicaraguan band Poder De Alma, first released in 1975. A cool mix of Latin funk, jazz, salsa and psychedelic grooves, this one includes some of the group's most sought-after tracks like 'Bacanal' 76,' 'Mimo' or the antiracist statement 'La Conga de las Dos Razas.' After recording their first LP in Guatemala, the Nica supergroup travelled to Costa Rica to register their second album; this time, the recording studio and equipment available to them (including a Mini-Moog) were an improvement compared to their prior project and the band saw a new line-up. The result was a powerful album which is now one of the holy grails of Latin funk worldwide.
Review: This is the sole recording of a fleeting guitar sextet from Caracas, Venezuela. Led by Moises "Ajoporro" Daubetire, who later founded the renowned Grupo Mango, it marks his debut in the record market. Released amidst the waning boogaloo craze of the late 60s, the LP initially garnered little attention. Yet, it has since become a coveted collector's item. Its simply arranged tracks exude charm, with standout performances like the lively guaracha 'Ahorita No' and the rhythmic guaguanco 'Rico Guaguanco.' Despite its initial obscurity, this record remains a gem, beckoning listeners to explore its musical treasures.
Review: There have been many concurrent sounds of 60s and 70s New York, but the Latin soul subsidiary of said multipli-city saw and heard its heyday in the sweet-spot of 1964-78, where the Latin American favourite label Fania Records reigned supreme in its niche. Bannering the likes of Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Ruben Blades, Johnny Pacheco and Celia Cruz, Fania was born of a desire to promote salsa music and adjacent styles in New York, after Dominican musician and label boss Johnny Pacheco underwent financial woes and sought respite in memories of a quaint Cuban luncheonette of the same name. The heady mix of sonic pimento collides several of the best salsa bands in a New York otherwise dominated by soul and funk, amounting to a charred, lively stew.
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