Top Afro Cuban Samples

 

I much prefer Tito's original version of "Oy Como Va" these days, Kazuhiro but still look forward to hearing Santana's when I play the album. I loved Santana's early albums. The first two,

 

Ray Barretto rules, what else can you say, he was fabulous and having a real hard Jazz leaning what more could you want. I love Eddie Palmieri, John but his brother Charlie just a little more. Alegre Allstars, he was the main man behind those four great  (you could say Jam) early albums.( 1961 to 1966)  They just recorded them Live ( in studio) with just one take most of the time.. They still have not re-released them  There is a comp out there with a lot of the material but it ain't the same as the having the albums. "Lost And Found" is my favourite.

 

Thanks Idlero, hope you enjoyed. I will put up some Ray and Allegre All Stars in the next lot with some great modern Charanga from Tipica 73 with Afredo De La Fe's electric violin in the mix. See if I can find some Cheo Marquetti as well from the fifties (Cuban). He nailed the modern sound by adding that sleaze factor to his music. If not there is a fabulous take from Henry Fiol of one of Cheo's classic numbers off one of Henry's, Sar albums in the seventies.

 

First up, Alegre All-Stars Vol 3 "Lost And Found this is off. "Kako Y Palmieri" ....descarga with Jazz all over it. Charlie and Kako solo of course. Fabulous

 

 

You should hear this little driver of a guajira named of course "Guajira In "F", follows straight after the above descarga. Charlie plays one wicked little Latin style piano solo

 

 

 

 

Next,  Henry Fiol's classic take of the Cheo Marquetti tune "Oriente".........Hear the Cuban influence that Alfredo Valdes ( main man) inserted into his Sar label.

 

 

Good examples of style differences there, post some more, this thread could make a good reference.

Ray often pops up on those old Blue Note releases as a sideman with I suppose the most well known album being Kenny Burrell's, "Midnight Blue". Not Bad hey!

 

Ray also got stuck into the Boogaloo but this one below is almost psychedelic and not Bogaloo but all great Afro Cuban Jazz..............."Acid"

 

 

 

This one has that beautiful seventies feel with the string addition. Roberto Roena's number ten album "El Progreso". He did a similar Chicago thing by numbering his albums.

 

Title track "El Progreso"

 

 

I have been known to play this five times in a row. Fabulously presented and crafted. Listen to the timbale slam which only happens a few times just before the chorus. It is those little things that are all added to make this one cracker of a song which always keeps you hearing something new. It even has wah ,wah guitar under riding it at times. Particulary near the end.  As I said fabulous with the absolutely included.

 

 

"The Buena Vista Social Club" is one superb cover of many a great Cuban number. When I bought the album with the first Afro Cuban All Stars release (as they were released together) I loved them. They kinda slaughtered the album for me though with it's popularity and they day I heard it described as Dinner Table Music

 

Listen to that old sound

 

Now this one was a smash hit for Lucille Ball's hubbie, Desi Arnez but it was Miguelito Valdes who actually made it his signature song. Recorded a few versions with the first being Casino De La Playa  ( 1937 to 44 in that time span) and it was fairly formal but with each new version to follow things started to loosen up as with this one

 

 

 

Beny More often termed as the greatest sonero to hail from Cuba and with good reason. he personifies the island with its culture and music. He did a lot of Mexican films which most likely is the source for so many of his available music clips, just like this one going up.

 

 

"Ya Son Las Doce"

 

Would have been filmed around the mid to late fities in Mexico

 

None of this music is post 1960. All came before with Beny being the most modern of them.

 

 

I am off to the footy soon but will start a thread if you like on the various genres and sub genres of African, Carribean, and Latin. You just don't realise how many there are.

 

Will also do a breakdown which will take a little time on the Son sub genres, Bolero. Guajira, Pregon, Afro Cubana, Son and the list goes on. How to pick them and with examples.

 

You realise John that nobody here at home talks to me much about music. They reckon I can be a crashing bore

 

See you tomorrow