November 24 - Show #35

Theme: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Mambo Inn – Mario Bauzá, Paquito D’Rivera & Jorge Dalto – Afro-Cuban Jazz – Yemayá Records

Afro mood – Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble – Just Like Magic – Latin Percussion Inc.

Martínez blues – Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble – Just Like Magic – Latin Percussion Inc.

Qué sera, Sweetie – Willis Jackson – Boss Shoutin’ – Prestige

Cabato – Wild Bill Davis – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Soul sauce – Cal Tjader – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

New York Soul – Ray Barretto – Latin Soul Man – Fania

Hit the bongo – Tito Puente – Can You Dig It? Thrilling Rare Grooves from Jazz to Soul’n’Brazil to Boogaloo – Brown Sugar Records

Batman’s boogaloo – Bobby Valentín – The Rough Guide to Boogaloo-Latin Dance with NY Attitude – World Music Network/Rough Guide

I like it like that – Cosa Nostra – Cosa Nostra – RAFF/World Psychedelia Ltd.

The meditation – The TNT Band – Playtime-Latin Soul Boogaloo – Hi&Fly Records

Tin Marin – Ricardo Ray & Bobby Cruz – Playtime-Latin Soul Boogaloo – Hi&Fly Records

Menina feia – Herbie Mann & Sergio Mendes Bossa Nova Rio Group – Do The Bossa Nova – Atlantic

Mas que nada – Oscar Peterson – Soul Español – Verve

Summer samba – Dizzy Gillespie – Melody Lingers On – Verve

Aula de matemática – Oscar Castro-Neves & Paul Winter – Brazilian Days – Earth Music

Manuel, o audaz – Toninho Horta – As The World Turns – World Pacific Records

Samba diferente – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World – Vampisoul

Muere pequeña bestia – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World – Vampisoul

Todo el mundo me persigue – Jaime Delgado Aparicio – El Embajador y Yo Original Movie Soundtrack –Vampisoul

Sexy surf – Jaime Delgado Aparicio – El Embajador y Yo Original Movie Soundtrack – Vampisoul

A starlett for you – Andre Luterau – The Mood Mosaic 7 “the new shapes of sound” – Partners in crime

Dedicated to love – Manfred Hübler & Siegfrid Schwab – Vampyros Lesbos Original Movie Soundtrack – Crippled Dick Hot Wax!


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul has paid close attention to the work released in 1979 under the name “Just like magic”, where great artists from the Latin jazz scene put together a must in Afro-Cuban tradition.




The year is 1979 and the label Latin Percussion Inc. releases “Just Like Magic”. The power of three great percussionists of the scene, Tito Puente, Carlos ´Patato´ Valdés, and Johny Rodríguez Jr., accompanied by Steve Berrios on drums, Eddie Martínez at the piano, René López on trumpet, and Sal Cuevas on bass. Thirty nine minutes of Afro-Cuban musical tradition at its best. This is an album where percussion virtuosity leads the whole picture, in a rich dialogue with piano or vibes and marimba at times. Opening track “The opener”, as the names goes, sets the tone for the steady rhytmical pace coming along. Especially good take on fourth track, “Afro mood”, which is indeed a great piano and percussion Latin jazz piece. The same could said for “Bernie´s tune”. “Baila guajira” has vocals by Nancy O'Neill and Jeanette Rodríguez, who also takes part in a more experimental approach as in the tune “Latin funk”. The album ends with the theme “Tito & Patato”, which is both congaleros back to back on raw drumming the timbales and congas for a remarkable coda to an album delivering energy all over the place.

November 17 - Show #34

Theme song: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

It’s not what you say – Louie Ramírez – Louie’s Grooves-Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampisoul

Cookin’ with A&J – J. Rodríguez and A. René Orchestra – Louie’s Grooves-Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampisoul

The Oracle – Sabu Martínez & Louie Ramírez – Jazz Espagnole – Vampisoul

Rush hour in Hong Kong – Louie Ramírez – Louie’s Grooves-Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampisoul

Vitamina – Kako’s New York After Hour Orchestra – Louie’s Grooves-Latin Soul, Jazz & Boogaloo from Louie Ramírez – Vampisoul

Yeh!, Yeh! – Mongo Santamaría – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

I’m on my way – Cándido – Beautiful – Blue Note

Grazing in the grass – Willie Bobo – Compilation Talkin’ Verve – Verve

Los desperados – Gato Barbieri – Caliente! – A&M Records

El arriero – Gato Barbieri – Fénix – Flying Dutchman/BMG France

Take me to Aruanda – Kristina –Offshore Echoes – Patois Records

Makes this city ours tonight – Sarah Vaughan with Milton Nascimento – Brazilian Romance – CBS

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

Follow the moon – Thomas Clausen Brazilian Quartet – Stunt Records

Q.T.P. – Raynald Colom - #Sketches Of Groove# - Fresh Sound Records

El anillo (Chibulí) – Juan Peña el Lebrijano with Orquesta Andalusí de Tánger – Encuentros – Ariola

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

Tangos del fuego – Chano Domínguez – NFS New Flamenco Sound – Verve/Universal

Esta gitana – Bernarda y Fernanda de Utrera – Ritmo En La Sangre – Hispavox -- In memory of Flamenco singer Bernarda de Utrera, passed away last week.


Highlights of the show:

You may have probably noticed the cool Latin Soul distinctive and catchy theme tune. Every Tuesday at nine and a few minutes pm, the piano ding-dang-dong stroke notes and the accompanying vibes open the show for a whole new musical adventure. Tonight, more tracks from the album containing “Chin chon chow”, the show theme, have been aired to learn more on Louie Ramírez's musician, arranger, and composer abilities.



“Louie's Grooves - Latin soul, jazz & boogaloo from Louie Ramírez” is a compilation released by the Madrid, Spain based label Vampisoul in 2005. It contains themes composed and arranged through Mr. Ramírez career and others where he takes part just as musician. Born in NY City, he had a gift for music and so he collaborated with everybody in the Latin musical scene since he started in late 50's with Joe Loco's band and from then on making his own spot and being appreciated as great vibraphonist and better composer and producer for the good of Latin jazz and soul musical scene in the US. Partnerships with Charlie Palmieri, Joe Cuba, and Sabu Martínez among many others until he died in 1993 at the age of 55. However, he didn't release many albums under his own name. So, this album here presented aims to cover that gap. The information from the CD sleeve shows some collaborations with Puerto Rican/NYC singer Jimmy Sabater that go from very soul like as in “Times are changin'” to more salsa inspired as in “La flauta” or “Yroco”. Tunes dealing with vibraphone instrumentation by Mr. Ramírez himself are found in tunes “Chin chon chow”, “Rush hour in Hong Kong”, “Sid's groove”, “Barrio nuevo”, and “I dig rhythm” where vibes in a steady pace a la minimalist turn those ones in hypnotic tunes. Great descargas are also found in the tracks signed with Charlie Palmieri like “Luisito Mozambique” and “Fat papa's descarga”. Among those great tunes are also remarkable the two signed with J. Rodríguez & A. René Orchestra, “Cookin' with A&J” and “Descarga A&J”, which lie in the descarga and latin soul territories. From Sabu's “Jazz Espagnole” album, we find the song “The oracle”, with Dizzie Gillespie's trumpet, and the production of Mr. Ramírez, so we learn he has played all positions in the field. A great album aiming to portrait some ten years (the 60's-70's era) of his four decade prolific career. Definitively an asset to get into Latin jazz and soul influences and just let be carried away and enjoy.

November 10 - Show #33

Theme song: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Woody’n you – Sabu & Dizzy Gillespie – Jazz Espagnole – Vampisoul

Manteca – Dizzy Gillespie and His Orchestra – Afro – Verve

Zambia – Mario Bauzá – Messidor’s Finest Volume One – Messidor

Tanga – Machito and His Afro-Cuban Orchestra – The Original Mambo Kings-An introduction to Afro-Cubop 1948-1954 – Verve

Mambo caliente – Arturo Sandoval – The Mambo Kings Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Elektra/Warner

The anything can happen mambo – Xavier Cugat with Abbe Lane – The Original Latin Dance King – Sony

Baby – Dave Pike and His Orchestra – Manhattan Latin – DECCA

Polly’s delight – Juan Amalbert’s Latin Jazz Quintet – Hot Sauce – Prestige

Los bandidos – Cal Tjader – Along Comes Cal – Verve

Work song – Vince Guaraldi – The Latin Side Of – Fantasy Records/OJC

El toro – Gabor Szabo – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Cabato – Buck Clarke Sound – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol. 5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Aguanile – Irakere – The Best Of – Sony

Modo cubano – Paquito D’Rivera & The United Nation Orchestra – A Night In Englewood –Messidor

Rhapsody in blue – Chucho Valdés – Briyumba Palo Congo-Religion of the Congo – Blue Note

Se me hizo fácil – Concha Buika con Chucho Valdés – El Último Trago – Warner Music Spain

Luz de luna – Concha Buika con Chucho Valdés – El Último Trago – Warner Music Spain

Me embrujaste – Martirio & Chano Domínguez – Acoplados – RTVE Música


Highlights of the show:
Latin Soul aired tonight the latest album by Concha Buika, accompanied by Chucho Valdés at the piano. Together with this, another Chucho Valdés tune has been a great moment in the show tonight.



“El último trago” is an album made to let a crossover happen between two styles of two great professionals of music today: Concha Buika and Chucho Valdés. She is the last sensation of new flamenco in Spain today despite her short career, or at least the few released albums she has. She has had a singing career, though, as long as she can remember. She brings together musical and ethnic traditions apart in a beginning. Of African origin -born and raised in Mallorca, Spain from family native to the old Spain colony of Equatorial Guinea- she has fusioned her African roots with Flamenco, the musical expression of the Gypsy people in Spain. Her hoarse voice is here accompanied by the crystalline piano sound of Chucho Valdés, the renowned Afro-Cuban pianist, main world figure of Latin jazz nowadays. Out of this duo, this album inevitably would be bringing together an exploration of copla (traditional popular song in steady verses and stanzas in Spain), bolero, vocal jazz flamenco like. An overall lineup of genres joined under Ms. Buika versatility singing style reviewing popular and well famed compositions as 'En el último trago', 'Se me hizo fácil', 'Un mundo raro', 'El andariego', and so all the songs in the album could follow. Not a bad song at all, and a great sequencing of them, makes this album a top notch of Latin international piano jazz vocals.



“Briyumba Palo Congo-Religion of the Congo” is Chucho Valdés 1999 album released by Blue Note. A landmark figure in Latin jazz musical scene whose career officially started back in 1967 when he formed the Orquesta Cubana de Musica Moderna. Later, in 1972 he founded the renowned Latin jazz and soul cutting-edge band Irakere, being awarded a Grammy in 1979. Mr. Valdés, though, has probably been always joined to music, especially to piano, the instrument he can be considered a virtuoso of: Chucho Valdés is son of Bebo Valdés, the famed piano player and former director of Tropicana, the legendary night club in Havana, Cuba. It´s very likely that Chucho Valdés career started when he started as long as he can remember. After leading Irakere for around ten years, he started a remarkable solo career at times, or with his band Crisol, or with collaborations with Roy Hargrove. This album here commented is a gem of Latin jazz and it is truly recommended if you dig the crossover between piano jazz and Afro-Cuban sounds. From beginning to end you are going to feel a constant uptempo pace in the tunes exploring traditional spiritual Cuban tunes thanks to the three percussionist backing his know-how on piano. In contrast, you will enjoy jazz ballads where Mr. Valdés pays tribute to Duke Ellington and George Gershwin as in the themes 'Caravan', 'Embraceable you', or 'Rhapsody in blue', which is given a wonderful Afro-Cuban jazz rendition. As said above, a truly gem of Latin jazz heavily supported by the raw percussion of Afro-Cuban traditional music.

November 3 - Show #32

Theme song: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Who’s got the bread? – Mongo Santamaría – Olé Ola – Concord Picante

A night in Tunisia – Hilton Ruiz – Live at Birdland – Candid

Mira Flores – Eddie Palmieri – Listen here! – Concord Music

Take five – Tito Puente – Mambo Diablo – Concord Picante

A deeper shade of soul – Ray Barretto – Acid – Fania

Soul limbo – Cándido Camero – Thousand Finger Man – Blue Note

Mambo jambo – Xavier Cugat – The Original Latin Dance King – Sony Music

Rhapsodia del maravilloso – Sabu – Palo Congo – Blue Note

Choferito plena – Marc Ribot y los Cubanos Postizos – The Prosthetic Cubans – Atlantic

Mellow mood – Wes Montgomery – Verve Silver Collection – Verve

Comes love – Darden Purcell – Easy living – Armored Records

My romance – Pilar de la Hoz – Jazz con Sabor Peruano – Jaguar Music Records

Chega de saudade (No more blues) – Carmen Lamarque – Live in Lima – Self-produced: carmenlamarque.com

Who Needs Forever? – Thievery Corporation Remix-Astrud Gilberto – Sinners Lounge: The Latin Sessions – Comfort Sounds


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul highlights, among the so many great tunes from tonight, an album devoted to the Cándido Camero percussion expertise, filled up with soul and crazy congas and bongos upbeat rhythms.


The legendary label Blue Note made possible for the no less legendary percussionist Cándido Camero to have a large ensemble to back up the evolutions of Cándido on congas and bongos in this 1969 album “Thousand Finger man”. A renowned and ubiquitous percussionist in many of the Latin albums produced around the Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban, or soul scene in the States during the second half of the XXth century, here explores the upbeat funky Latin soul sound paths. Backed up with a heavy and soulful horn section and a playful Frank Anderson at the organ, a la Jimmy Smith, the album is a fully very enjoyable instrumental, that has lied far from the expectations and favor of more Cándido purists. Including a great rendition to 'Soul limbo', it stands a good sample of upbeat Latin soul.

October 27 - Show #31

Theme song: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

Amor verdadero – Afro-Cuban All Stars – A Toca Cuba Le Gusta – Nonesuch/World Circuit

La negra Tomasa – Compay Segundo – Las Flores De La Vida- Nonesuch/World Circuit

Siempre en mi corazón – Omara Portuondo – Buena Vista Social Club presents – Nonesuch /World Circuit

No puedo ser feliz – Bola de Nieve – Éxitos de Oro – Orfeón

He venido – Los Zafiros – Bossa Cubana – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Patricia – Ry Cooder & Manuel Galbán – Mambo Sinuendo – Nonesuch/World Circuit

Cherokee – Kristina – Offshore Echoes – Patois Records

Yemayá – Jane Bunnett & Grupo Changuí de Guantánamo– Radio Guantánamo: Guantánamo Blues Project Vol. 1 – Blue Note

Charade – Mike Clinco – Neon – Whaling City Sound

Se é tarde me perdoa – Oscar Castro-Neves & Paul Winter – Brazilian Days – Living Music

Mas que nada – Lani Hall – Brasil Nativo – Windham Hill Jazz

Meia luz – Terra Sul – Kindness of Strangers – Motown Record Company

Os meninos do Brasil – Gonzaguinha – As The World Turns – World Pacific/Capitol Records

Balanca pema – Marisa Montes – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Para Lennon e McCartney – Friends from Rio – Café Do Brasil-A pure blend of cool Brazilian music – Metro/Union Square Music

Batuque – Daniela Mercury – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Rios, pontes & overdrives – Chico Science & Nacao Zumbi – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

Nao me estrague o dia – Os Parlamas do Sucesso – Beleza Tropical 2 – Luaka Bop

O eterno pecado horizontal – Che – Sexy 70-Music inspired by the Brazilian sacanagem movies of the 1970’s – Vampisoul

Misturada – Kjeli Ohman – The Mood Mosaic 7-The new shapes of sound – Partners in crime


Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul highlighst tonight a wonderful album to remember the era of vocal groups understood from a Cuban point of view.



“Bossa Cubana” by Los Zafiros is a 1999 compilation of a life career released by World Circuit/Nonesuch. It not only compiles a good collection of songs, but a gone out of memory musical era. Formed in the 1962 recent revolutionary days in Cuba, this band is a tribute to escape art through music. However, following another music Cuban traditional music style, the vocal groups, Los Zafiros came to life -and stayed- in a politically dire shifting time. And they chose, nonetheless, than being The Platters of the Spanish Caribbean and Latin musical scene. The four members, Leoncio Morúa, Miguelito Cancio, Ignacio Elejalde, Eduardo 'el Chino' Hernández, and guitar player Manuel Galbán -who continues to be active composing and releasing albums today- had a cheerful joyful spirit wonderfully transmitted in their doo-wop style. “Bossa Cubana” is an album for a time travel back to vocal harmonies and beautiful 60´s Caribbean love teenager lyrics. Musical inspiration from styles is found not only by the vocal power of singers, also Brazilian (as album name wants to remind) bossa, and Cuban bolero style is involved in the themes here presented. Very popularly acclaimed, they were successful over there they performed, traveling often abroad earning admiration and affection from public, to which it helped the naïvelike personality of their front men, Leoncio and Miguelito. The band stood together until 1972 when they couldn't take over Manuel Galbán departure from the group. Being all songs good, remarkable ones in this album are 'Bossa cubana', 'La luna en tu mirada', 'Por no comprenderte', the cheerful 'Y sabes bien', 'Mi amor, perdóname', 'Sí corazón', getting to the height of the album, the deep even touching in crescendo ballad 'He venido'. Ladies and gentleman, here you have Los Zafiros, or how to enjoy Latin vocal sixties and feel great.

October 20 - Show #30

Theme song: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

The time is now – Eliane Elías – Compilation Afro-Cuban Jazz Now – Blue Note

El rumbón – Chucho Valdés – Briyumba Palo Congo – Blue Note

Earth dance – Jerry González & The Fort Apache Band – Compilation Calle 54 – Blue Note

La comparsa – Bebo Valdés & Chucho Valdés – Compilation Calle 54 – Blue Note

Spanish fantasy, part IV – Chick Corea – My Spanish Heart – Polydor

Mestizo – Terra Sul – Kindness of Strangers – Motown Records Company

Jambull – Antonio Restucci – Crisol – Petroglyph Records

In the hands of love – Ottmar Liebert + Luna Negra – Borrasca – Higher Octave Music

Entre dos aguas – Paco de Lucía – Entre Dos Aguas – Polygram

Ibérico Jazz – Quinteto Montelirio – Ibérico Jazz-Las producciones de Antoliano Toldos 1967/1972 – Vampisoul

Trompeta loca – Conjunto Estif – Ibérico Jazz-Las producciones de Antoliano Toldos 1967/1972 – Vampisoul

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

New York Soul – Ray Barretto – Compilation Can You Dig It?-Thrilling Rare Grooves from Jazz to Soul’n’Brazil to Boogaloo – Brown Sugar Records

Oh yeah – Joe Cuba – Compilation We Got Latin Soul! – Charly Records

Latin Soul Square Dance – Joe Bataan with Los Fulanos – King of Latin Soul – Vampisoul

Soul limbo – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World-Groovy Night Club Music from Uruguay 1968-71 – Vampisoul


Highlights of the show:

The show of today changed gears once and again, as always in Latin Soul, offering a great mellow mood to end with an upbeat selection. Here you may see some truly interesting albums to keep digging and exploring.



Antonio Restucci´s 2004 album "Crisol" is a musical product of what its title truly means in Spanish, crucible. The native Chilean Barcelona, Spain resident musician melts here the many influences from his career. His instrument is the guitar and mandolin. The album opens with a Latin jazz tune, 'Candela' and follows paths where a more prominent place is given to his guitar and piano sounds. It all shows a mellow mood piano jazz atmosphere, to which contemporary jazz tunes will approach by the hand of the instrumentation of two main figures in Spain fusion jazz, as Jorge Pardo´s soprano saxophone and Carlos Benavent´s bass, as in tracks 4, 'Después de la tierra' or track 9, 'Jambull'. More atmospheres to feel is the African influence of the udu in track 3 'Crisol' being a great sample of fussion with Zoltan Lantos´ violin and Mr. Restucci´s mandolin and guitar plucking. The approach to flamenco oriented rhtyms comes in tracks 5 and 6, 'Estrellas de arena' and 'Gypsy sunrise', with the collaboration of Eva Durán at the voice and palms, and Sergio Ramos at palms, and cajón percussion. Joyful tunes as the mandolin driven 'Evocación' along more introspective ones as the closing piano jazz reminiscent tune 'Esperanza' are found through the 50 minutes of the album. An album worthwhile listening to enjoy of moments of relax, slow pace, and thoughtfulness.



With "Sounds from the elegant world-groovy night club music from Uruguay 1968-71", once again the Madrid, Spain based label Vampisoul, especialized in digging musical archeology in search of vestiges and gems from the past, brings this great album which does not deserve to fall into oblivion. A compilation released in 2005 covering tunes from four of the five original albums that Sexteto Electrónico Moderno released between the years 1969 and 1971. SEM was a band original from Uruguay that became very popular -a true new sensation of sound!- in the South Cone with their blend of pop jazzy soul, bossa nova, easy listening, and nightclub music from back in the days when beat pop and soul were more at their height. You may find a great rendition of 'Soul limbo', 'I say a little prayer', 'The look of love' and 'Je t'aime, moi non plus', which were great hits in that time. Among those, compositions by SEM -remarkable 'Soul nuevo', 'My job', 'Muere pequeña bestia', 'Gin tonic', or 'Ramblin'- dealing with the parameters of the hammond organ, the vibes, or the brass section and the piano. A great album, in conclusion, to recall those days and what it has been reborn in the 1990's as lounge music. Relax, get cool, get your Martini, indulge yourself and enjoy frivolity.

October 13 - Show #29

Theme song: Chin chon chow - Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

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

Tin tin deo – Clark Terry & Chico O’Farrill – Spanish Rice – Impulse!

It’s not unusual – Willie Bobo – Spanish Grease – Verve

Afro mood – Latin Percussion Jazz Ensemble – Just Like Magic – LP Inc.

Pent-up house – The Craig Russo Latin Jazz Project – In The Middle – Cagoots Records

Pogo sticks – Bill O’Connell with Dave Valentin & Bob Malach – Latin Jazz Fantasy – Random Chance Records

The Katanga patrol – Tanaóra – Día Real – Moondo Records

Merceditas – Gato Barbieri – Bolivia – Flying Dutchman/BMG

Me caí – Pacifika – Asunción – Six Degrees Records

Lía – Carmen Lamarque – Live in Lima – Self-produced: carmenlamarque.com

Feio nao e bonito – Oscar Castro-Neves & Paul Winter – Brazilian Days – Living Music/Windham Hill

Tres curumins – Lani Hall – Brasil Nativo – Windham Hill Jazz

Flor amorosa – Altamiro Carrilho – Wind of Brazil (um sopro de brasil) – Adventure Music/Núcleo Contamporaneo

Terra do indio – Marcos Ariel – Terra Do Indio – WEA Latina

Amalgam – Mike Clinco – Neon – Whaling City Sound

Sancochao – Richie Zellón – Landología-Afro-Peruvian Jazz – Songosaurus Music

Landología – Richie Zellón – Landología-Afro-Peruvian Jazz – Songosaurus Music

Landú – Manuel Miranda – Compilation El Sonido del Jazz-Afro Jazz Peruano – TDV Perú



Highligths of the show:

The show ended today offering a sample of jazz made in Perú. Having been played a few times in Latin Soul, it needs a review on the so called Afro-Peruvian jazz. Next, the seminal album of this style, Landología.



Richie Zellón is a deep well read and studied virtuoso guitar player whose career on music teaching goes along his career on music composition and scattered works released through the years. He is original from Lima, Perú, where he first pursued music studies under the direction of the by then director of the Symphonic Orquestra of Lima. Later on he pursued studies in the US as well as leading jazz ensembles, founding a Latin jazz label for the promotion of new artists. A little introduction to Mr. Zellón is required when talking about the album Landología for what it means in the musical scene from Perú, and so Southamerica. It is the seminal work of the so called “afro-peruvian jazz”. This album has made new artists feel inspired and start a career on the of these two musical languages such as jazz and the afro-peruvian, on one hand, and the Peruvian criollo music tradition on the other. First released in 1982 under the name 'Retrato en blanco y negro', it has been reissued in 2007 with the title of 'Landología – Afro-Peruvian Jazz – La histórica primera grabación realizada en 1982'. A truly long title aiming to put things in its place: many Peruvian jazz bands from today have followed the path set by Mr. Zellón´s pioneer album. And what may you find when you start listening? First thing one notices is the fondness for rhythmical percussion instrumentation obtained with the “cajón”, which a wooden box where a musician is sit on top and hitting with his hands. That's the quintessential Peruvian percussion instrument. The presence of it in the album -and usually Peruvian jazz albums- is from beginning to end. The instrumentation in general is marked by the steady beat and the remarkable hollow sound marked by the bass. A contemporary jazz taste also gives a patina to the whole album. The tracks are instrumental with a strong remark on bass, steady cajón beats, and Mr. Zellón guitar plucking. The outcome is a great fusion of styles where the esence of the criollo traditional Peruvian music and the Afro-Peruvian is encapsuled and lead with the guitar harmonies. At times offering a naïve sound, for the simplicity and playfully rhythm, like in track 5 'Festejo', joyful as in tracks 2 and 3, 'Landología' and 'Sancochao'; going to more straight contemporary jazz as in track 6 'Historia de amor en El Carmen'. Truly enjoyable is track 7 'Para una dama distante' and ending the original album with a coda to "Landología" as track 8, 'Café con leche' and short 9 'Mueve tus pies' are. Hopefully the new 2007 release comes with bonus tracks live. The long 13 minute theme 'La gran Cocoroca' just envelops you in the musical notes and makes you definitively fall for the album. In conclusion, "Landología", the title is in itslef neologism very appropriated for what the album encloses: landó is the original name by which is know the Afro-Peruvian traditional music in this Southamerican country, until which the African rhythm of Angola´s londu arrived back in the day, and being given today a new twist by contemporary jazz musicians from Perú, such as the impulse given here by Richie Zellón, and his large ensemble.

October 6 - Show #28

Theme song: Chin chon chow – Louie Ramírez

Song-Artist-Album-Label

María, María – Mercedes Sosa – 30 años – Polydor

Gracias a la vida – Mercedes Sosa – 30 años – Polydor

Sólo le pido a Dios – Mercedes Sosa – 30 años – Polydor

Latin thing – Benítez – Playtime-Latinsoul Boogaloo – Hi & Fly Records

Grazin’ in the grass – Orchestra Harlow & Ismael Miranda – Playtime-Latinsoul Boogaloo – Hi & Fly Records

Dame un tipi – Frankie Dante & Orquesta Flamboyan – Playtime-Latinsoul Boogaloo – Hi & Fly Records

El watusi – Ray Barretto – We Got Latin Soul – Charly Records

El watusi – Cal Tjader – Primo – OJC/Fantasy

Cabato – Wild Bill Davis – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol.5 – Rare Groove Recordings

Boo-go-loo – Les McCann – Bucket O’Grease – Verve

Night in Tunisia – Buck Clarke Sound – From Latin to Jazz Dance Vol.5 – Rare Groove Recordings

You have changed my life – Jane Bunnett – Radio Guantánamo: Guantánamo Blues Project Vol.1 – Blue Note

El pez – Tanaóra – Día Real – Moondo Records

Going up! – Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – ¡Bien Bien! – Patois Records

Beijo de longe – Cesaria Evora – Café Atlantico – RCA

Cinamon & clove – Lee Evans – Cinamon & Clove – Verve

Take seven – Roger Roger – The Mood Mosaic 7-“the new shapes of sound” – Partners in crime

El embajador y yo – Jaime Delgado Aparicio – El Embajador Y Yo-Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Vampisoul

A starlett for you – Andre Luterau – The Mood Mosaic 7-“the new shapes of sound” – Partners in crime

My job – Sexteto Electrónico Moderno – Sounds from the Elegant World-Groovy night club music from Uruguay 1968-71 – Vampisoul

Misturada – Kjeli Ohman – The Mood Mosaic 7-“the new shapes of sound” – Partners in crime

Dedicated to love – Manfred Hübler & Siegfred Schwab – Vampyros Lesbos Original Motion Picture Soundtrack – Crippled dick hot wax!



Highlights of the show:

Latin Soul great moments of the night have been the amazing Latin funk and soul tunes from the compilation "Playtime-Latinsoul Boogaloo" and the delightful melodies by Jane Bunnett. Here you may find a review on both albums.


The France and Luxembourg based label Hy & Fly brings this awesome compilation released in 2005. In their series of “Playtime”, they explore mainly the 70´s through funk and soul rhythms for the most part, also combined with jazz and Latin, depending on the volume. The vintage dancefloor feeling and sounds is the formula. This compilation is the volume 1 of the subseries “Playtime Latinsoul Boogaloo” and it truly is an assett for any radio show to air these tunes. More than other compilations in boogaloo, here a demanding listener will find authentic crossover gems of soul and Latin beats. Setting the tone with the hot and upbeat opening track “Latin thing” by Benítez, songs come one after the other, the classic Ralfi Pagan´s “Latin soul”, The TNT band´s “The meditation”, a Latin review of “Grazin´in the grass” by Ismael Miranda & Orchestra Harlow, even a Latin-doo wop crossover by Joey Pastrana in “Sincerely”. Ray Barretto is present with “El bantú”, following the path of his popular “El watusi”. The king of Latin soul, Joe Bataan is present with “I´m satisfied”. Remarkable as well, and that´s a lot to say among so many good tunes, “Dame un tipi” by Frankie Dante & Orquesta Flamboyán. Those artists and many more you may find in the album. It contains 17 thrilling tracks which will satisfy those who know Latin soul and funk, and will make fall for it to new listeners. To sum up, an album highly recommended to own and offer amazing music and good taste in your parties.


Jane Bunnett is a Canadian jazz musician whose instrument is the soprano sax and the flute. She has long been exploring the fusion of Afro-Cuban beats and jazz melodies. In order to do so, for years she has been traveling to Cuba to absorb inspiration and knowledge. Along with her support band The Spirits of Havana and quite a numerous guests among which she counted with Grupo Changüí de Santiago and Grupo Changüí de Guantánamo, she presents this album “Radio Guantánmo: Guantánamo Blues Project Vol.1”. Released by Blue Note, it obtained the 2006 Juno Award Winner for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year. Here you may find a sample of contemporary melodies beautifully carried out with the sound of her sax and her ensemble The Spirits of Havana when such mix has been nicely achieved. It is a long album with different influences, letting different musical discourses along the tracks. In the end, you have heard contemporary jazz tunes with a Latin flavor as the opening track “Changui para Alfredo”, “You have changed my life”, or “Conga blue”; whereas other tunes lie on a more purely Afro-Cuban inspired musical territory, as the “changüí” style from Guantánamo bay, where the album has found base for the recording and collaborations to happen. A moving theme is dedicated to the city of New Orleans. Nonetheless, this album is realised the year that hurricane Katrina hit and so was “New Orleans under water”. In conclusion, an amalgam of diverse ethnic sounds seamlessly threaded which outcome is worthwhile to explore to find joy and peace of spirit.