August 24 - Show #59

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Mamá agüela – Cal Tjader – Primo – OJC/Fantasy

Baby – Dave Pike and his orchestra – Manhattan Latin – DECCA

Rip a dip – The Latin Jazz Quintet – Latin Soul – Prestige

Arthur’s dance – The Caribbean Jazz Project – Compilation The Colors of Latin Jazz A Latin Vibe! – Concord Records

Tanguedía – Gary Burton – Compilation The Colors of Latin Jazz A Latin Vibe! – Concord Records

Have you met Miss Jones – Jeno Somlai – Let It Go – Self-produced album: www.jenosomlai.net

Caragua – Grafitti – Grafitti – Self-produced album: www.tomgraf.com

Brigas nunca mais – Jacob Melchior – It’s About Time – Self-produced album: www.jacobmelchior.com

Samba de Orly – Miguel de León – Postcards from Rio – Self-produced album: www.migueldeleon.net

Atabaque de Cunha – Dendê & Hãhãhães – Bahia de Todos os Santos – Mamadêlê Productions

Fado Alfacinha – Amália Rodrigues – Compilation Café Portugal – Union Square Music

Olha a Ribeirinha – Negros de Luz – A Tribute to Amália Rodrigues – Times Square Records

Oye cómo viene – Chano Domínguez – Compilation Calle 54 Music from the Miramax motion picture – Blue Note

La danza de las sombras – Dorantes – Sur – EMI

Soleares – Pedro Iturralde & Paco de Lucía – Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y 2 – Hispavox/Blue Note

Bulerías – Pedro Iturralde & Paco de Lucía – Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y 2 – Hispavox/Blue Note

Las ciudades – Concha Buika y Chucho Valdés – El Último Trago – Warner Music Spain

Corazón loco – Bebo & Cigala – Lágrimas Negras – Calle 54 Records/Ariola-BMG



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul aired today a few good flamenco and jazz crossover tunes, as it is the nature of the show. Among other artists featuring their blend of jazz and flamenco creations, a double set dedicated to Pedro Iturralde, a pioneer of this genre, has been the highlight of tonight´s show. Following, you may find a review to a landmark album from which two themes were aired in Latin Soul tonight.




Pedro Iturralde is a retired Spanish musician and composer who graduated from Royal Conservatory in Madrid, from which he retired in 1994. He was born in 1929, and dedicated his life to music. As a musician, his instrument was saxophone, and he enjoyed an extense and international career (studied at Berklee College of Music Boston, Ma) as a performer in jazz and as soloist at symphony orchestras. Being keen on jazz, along with classical music, he went on to lead his own jazz band in Madrid, and probably catched the new trend on crossover jazz and flamenco started in the 60's by Miles Davis and his “Sketches of Spain”. In 1967 and 1968, Pedro Iturralde goes on to experimenting and doing recordings for the Spanish label Hispavox, which were released under the name “Jazz Flamenco”, which later would be released as one album with the title “Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y2”, which later in the 90's were released by Blue Note as well.

“Jazz Flamenco Vols. 1 y 2” joins Pedro Iturralde's jazz band and the guitar of Paco de Lucía. This is a collection of eight themes were mainly a bebop jazz sound shares wisely with the flamenco guitar. The overall flow of the saxophone and drums will break a clear space for the guitar and the flamenco melodies at certain points in the evolution of the themes making the perfect ensemble of both jazz and flamenco musical languages. If you like jazz, the fresh guitar notes for opening and guiding first steps in tunes, as in “Zorongo gitano”, “Soleares” or “Bulerías” setting the flamenco tone to let the saxophone blend in and having the jazz band constrined in the complex rhythms of flamenco, you are going to enjoy this album. If you are on flamenco only, maybe this is not your cup of tea. All in all, it´s remarkable the solos of saxophone and guitar going back and forth as in a dialogue between Mr. Iturralde and Mr. De Lucía in the tracks of this highly recommendable album.

August 17 - Show #58

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label


Swamp people – Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers – Compilation Can You Dig It? – Brown Sugar Records

Hit de bongo – Tito Puente – Compilation Can You Dig It? – Brown Sugar Records

Light and sweet – Willie Rosario – Compilation Latin Dance Party Vol. 2 1960's Boogaloo – Warner Jazz/Atlantic

One, two, three – Ramsey Lewis – Goin' Latin – Verve

Mexican hat dante – Clark Terry & Chico O'Farrill – Spanish Rice – Impulse!

Minor's holiday – Kenny Dorham – Afro-Cuban – Blue Note

Poinciana – McCoy Tyler – And The Latin Jazz Stars – Telarc Jazz

Ping pong – Conrad Herwig – The Latin Side of Wayne Shorter – Half Note

Watcha gonna do – Pete Escovedo – Mister E – Crossover

Iracuba – University of North Texas Latin Jazz Ensemble – En Clave – North Texas Jazz

Just now – Michel Camilo – Spirit of the Moment – Telarc Jazz

On the other hand – Michel Camilo – One More Once – Sony/Columbia

Watermelon man – Michel Camilo – Thru My Eyes – RMM Records

Samba triste – Eliane Elías – Compilation Calle 54 – Blue Note

Corcovado – Vince Guaraldi – The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi – Fantasy Records

Você e eu – Herbie Mann – Do the Bossa Nova – Atlantic

Mas que nada – Oscar Peterson – Soul Espanol – Verve

Can't buy me love – Os Sambeatles – Os Sambeatles – Braz-Bossa-Roots

A hard day's night – Os Sambeatles – Os Sambeatles – Braz-Bossa-Roots



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul aired today a complete three-theme set on the Dominican Republic pianist Michel Camilo. A composer and musician whose career spans three decades, and who has been years on top of the Latin jazz stardom, also a recognizable figure in straightahead jazz and classical piano. The clean, soberb, and outstanding piano sound of Mr. Camilo has long been appreciated in Latin Soul. By this set, the show wanted to go through different albums by him, covering different registers. Next, you may find the review of the albums from which themes has been selected to be aired in Latin Soul tonight. They are three different Latin jazz and jazz perspectives by a truly piano virtuous.





“Spirit of the Moment” was released by Telarc in 2007. It has the sound of a personal intimate album. Michel Camilo plays piano, Charles Flores plays bass, and Dafnis Prieto plays drums. A three-men lineup that approaches to straightahead jazz more than pure Latin jazz. You may find tunes reminding you of more Latin/funk sounds, as the opening track “Just now”, track 3 “Spirit of the moment”, or “Nardis”, which got a Flamenco jazzy tinge for its rythym at the piano performance. Finally, “Hurry up and wait” is another leaning on the Latin side. Overall, it´s a great sample of piano jazz with basic accompanying instrumentation, which appeals to all those who may enjoy melow piano tunes, with upbeat moments where piano and percussion explore a not very marked Latin connection as you may expect from other mainstream Latin jazz albums by Michel Camilo himself.





Michel Camilo´s “Thru my Eyes” is a 1997 album released by RMM Records, produced by Michel Camilo himself. It´s overall a wonderfull collection of takes on Latin jazz classic tunes, hence “Thru my eyes”. From “Poinciana”, “A night in Tunisia”, or “Oye cómo va”, to “Mambo Inn” and “Manteca”, among others, Mr. Camilo´s mastery at piano to be the main instrument, even at the lead of the percussion with his own piano strokes. Going from Latin “clave” sound to melodic piano tune just happens in a matter of seconds, showing the versatility of Mr. Camilo progressing from pure Latino to jazz and reverse. The accompanying band includes the ubiquitous Horacio “El negro” Fernández at drums, together with a bass support by the sidemen Anthony Jackson and John Patitucci, but no brass in this album. Mongo Santamaría´s classics “Watermelon man” and “Afro blue” are also among the reviews here done. A truly tour de force by Michel Camilo covering on many different tunes, but taking care of them offering something like a piano caress to Latin jazz marklands, and presumably keystones for his here shown exquisite talent.





“One More Once” is a 1994 album released by Columbia/Sony, where Michel Camilo composes all the songs. It counts with a truly big ensemble, among whom, we may find the saxophone of Paquito D'Rivera, and Giovanni Hidalgo at congas. The Latin jazz sound to this album is more obvious than in other samples by Mr. Camilo. There is a general festive flavor to all the tunes in the album, making any of them a good example of what it is contemporary Latin jazz with an aim for joy and catchy rhythms. The opening track “One more once” and following “Why not!” really set the tone for the album, suggesting that this is not the intimate piano jazz that we may find in other Michel Camilo´s works. Although, you still find room for Mr. Camilo piano solo on “The resolution”. Anyway, the album´s themes in general seek the syncopation to have the listener in the delightful territory of upbeat Latin jazz at its best.

August 10 - Show #57

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Moderna muchacha – Joe Loco – Ultra-Lounge Vol. 17: Bongo Land – Capitol

A night in Tunisia – Latin Jazz Sextet – Joe Loco – Ultra-Lounge Vol. 17: Bongo Land – Capitol

Club Caballeros – Laurindo Almeida – Joe Loco – Ultra-Lounge Vol. 17: Bongo Land – Capitol

Mambo Jambo – Xavier Cugat – The Original Latin Dance King – Sony

Tuxedo – John Reids – Morphine Mambo Jazz Club – Plastic Records

Sabre dance – Lalo Schifrin – Mambo Mania Talkin’ Verve – Verve

Hip hug her – Chico O’Farrill – Mambo Mania Talkin’ Verve – Verve

Mambo de las brujas – Francy Boland – Mambo Mania Talkin’ Verve – Verve

Mambo de los dandis – Nicola Conte – Bossa per Due – Eighteenth Street Lounge Music

Seven steps to heaven – Sammy Figueroa & His Latin Jazz Explosion – The Magician – Savant Records

Caminos de Machu Picchu – Ray Mantilla Space Station – Synergy – Red Records

Leeway – Grafitti – Grafitti – Self-produced: Tom Graf and Ray Obiedo-www.tomgraf.com

Route 66 – Bebo Valdés with Israel López "Cachao", "Patato" Valdés, and Paquito D’Rivera – El Arte del Sabor – Blue Note

Dance with me – Emmet Wheatfall and Noah Peterson – When I Was Young – Self-produced album: Peterson Entertainment, LLC

A felicidade – Antonio Carlos Jobim & Vinícius de Moraes – Black Orpheus Soundtrack – Novabossa Red Hot – Verve

The girl from Ipanema – Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Novabossa Red Hot – Verve

Brigas nunca mais – Jacob Melchior – It’s About Time – Self-produced album: www.jacobmelchior.com

Leaps & bounds – Axel’s axiom – Uncommon Sense – Armored Records

Mesie Julián – Josh Rouse – El Turista – Yep Roc Records

One note samba/Surfboard – Stereolab + Herbie Mann – Red Hot +Rio – Verve

The boy from Ipanema – Crystal Waters – Red Hot +Rio – Verve



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul aired today an interesting first part on Latin club music reminiscent to decades before the 60's, as many tunes had that a feeling of old noir B&W movie when action could happen in smoke-full clubs where frentic mambos where played by handsome-kitsch numerous-lineup orchestras. The highlight of the show today is the compilation “Mambo Mania”, a surprising collection where there's room to more than mambo.




In the Talkin' Verve series, the compilation “Mambo Mania” released in 1998 offers a refreshing collection of songs by artists such as Chico O'Farrill, Cal Tjader or Miguelito Valdés, to others not so familiar with Latin sounds as jazz musicians Wes Montgomery, or Francy Boland. The overall result is a festive bunch of songs going joining mambo tunes with those of lounge organs and big orchestras, even including raw Cuban percussion by “Patato” Valdés doing a cover of the Brazilian classic “Mas que nada”. As this one, other tunes don´t relate much to mambo as the circus-like Lalo Schifrin cover of “Sabre dance”, or his jazz version of the Cuban classic “El manisero”, here entitled “The peanut vendor”. Cal Tjader´s tune “Curaçào” is also far from pure mambo. All in all, if not the mambo album you wanted, it truly puts together some mambo with a misterious organ tinge and other big orchestra curiosities that make the listening a trip along styles and approaches to mambo and Latin tunes in general, like Herbie Mann's tune “Cuban potato chip”, or Francy Boland´s pair of themes. Remarkable is the opening track“Hip hug her”, the Booker T Jones' song, version by Chico O'Farrill, who also closes the compilation with “Descarga número 1000” as example of a sophisticated mambo. As mentioned, a musical trip to explore on Latin tunes ranging from mambo-like tunes to orchestral arrangements tunes with a lounge tinge to it. Let´s just enjoy the enterteining variety of Latin music, and learn about curious versions of songs you didn´t think you could come across in a mambo album.

August 3 - Show #56

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Subway Joe – Joe Bataan & Los Fulanos – King of Latin Soul – Vampisoul

Do the boogaloo – Pete Rodríguez y su conjunto – Bogaloo The Rough Guide to Bogaloo –Rough Guides/World Music

Soul nitty gritty – Ralph Robles – Bogaloo The Rough Guide to Bogaloo – Rough Guides/World Music

Latin thing – Benítez – Playtime 17 Pure Latin Tracks Latin Soul Boogaloo – Hi & Fly Records

Every Monday – Manteca – Tremendo Boogaloo – Freestyle Records

Cachaíto in laboratory – Cachaíto López – Cachaíto – World Circuit/Nonesuch

Anaís – Cachaíto López – Cachaíto – World Circuit/Nonesuch

A gozar con mi combo – Cachao – Master Sessions Vol. 1 – Epic Records/Sony

We are our father’s sons – McCoy Tyner – McCoy Tyner and The Latin All-Stars – Telarc Jazz

Encuentro – Mark Weinstein – Timbasa – Jazzheads

El son te llama – Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in all styles – World Circuit/Nonesuch

Hommage à Tonton Ferrer – Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in all styles – World Circuit/Nonesuch

Jiin Ma Jiin Ma – Orchestra Baobab – Specialist in all styles – World Circuit/Nonesuch

Mani mani kuru – Ketama & Toumani Diabaté & Danny Thompson – Songhai – Hannibal Records

Comparito – Diego Amador – Piano Jondo – Milestone Records/Nuevos Medios

Nefertiti – Chano Domínguez – NFS New Flamenco Sound – Verve

Una noche sin ti – Yuri Juárez – Afroperuano – Saponegro Records


Highlights of the show:

A complete three-song set has been dedicated in today´s show to the Orchestra Baobab, the legendary Senegalese Afro-Latin band. Among many other tunes dedicated to the Cuban musical heritage, it was a worthwhile stop and see inside this album to check on a truly fusion of styles and traditions.



“Specialist in All Styles” is the 2002 album by Orchestra Baobab, released by Nonesuch Records. This a band originally from Senegal and their music can be classified (if you like to tag everything) as Afro-Latin. This is, Latin music made by African musicians, where you may guess, different kinds of styles and musical heritage are foreseeable going to a crucible that may not always bring a good result. Orchestra Baobab is a legendary band originated in Dakar, Senegal in the decade of the 1970´s, which from 1987 to 2001 was apparently out of businnes. It came back strong again with this album here reviewed and it´s still very healthy, internationally touring around. In late 60´s and 70´s, Latin music was well accepted in some West Africa countries like Senegal, Benin, or Gambia. Bands were formed which assumed this sound as their own and reinterprete it fusioned to their musical heritage. Orchestra Baobab was one of this band, and possibly the most popular. Many musicians from different cultural heritages out of Senegal form the band, singing usually along the Wolof and the Mandinga cultures and languages. Musically they lack the complex Latin percussion, but they adjust very well to the particular Cuban “son” style. In “Specialist in All Styles”, they do an outstanding version on the classic “El son te llama”, in Spanish. The lately popular Cuban musician Ibrahim Ferrer is the guest artist in “Hommage à Tonton Ferrer”, another remarkable tune in this album. The opening track “Bul ma miin” is a very catchy tune that sets a happy tone to the whole album. And so the music goes in a festive atmosphere, combining a mid-tempo beat and nice and clear guitar plucking, getting along with the Cuban rhythm of “son”. Brass comes at the right times. “Specialist in All Styles” was produced by the internationaly famous and acclaimed Yossou N´Dour, and that may explain the comeback of the band after being gone some twelve years. A recomendable album to explore the results of fusion and being admired for the long way run of the influence of Cuban music (which was influenced by African sounds in a first place).