Compilation albums are a great way to check out a new musical style... Here are reviews of a few Latin American collections that are particularly groovy... This page will expand as time permits, but for now here's a quick look at some records I've enjoyed recently.
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: AFRO-LATINO" (Putumayo, 1998)
I know, I know... people in the know consider it obligatory to look down on pretty much anything that the Putumayo label puts out... But for the last couple of years they've had a pretty good batting average. This is a strong, groove-centric collection exploring the interlinking traditions of African and Latin-American dance music. Plenty of well-known world music celebs on here: Sam Mangwana from the Congo, Papi Oviedo from Cuba, Putumayo's star peformer, Ricardo Lemvo, and others. This is one of the first of the "new" breed of Putumayo discs that made me sit up and pay attention to where the label was headed. Recommended.
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: COLUMBIA" (Putumayo, 2001)
A good, solid set of Columbian dance tunes, bridging the gap between straight-ahead salsa and the hyperactive homegrown styles like cumbia and vallenato... This collection features huge stars such as Joe Arroyo, alongside lesser-known luminaries like Toto La Momposina and Tulio Zuloaga... This disc stays on a fairly even keel -- not a lot of rhythmic variety, but it's all very nice stuff. Definitely worth checking out!
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: DOMINICA REPUBLICA" (Putumayo, 2000)
A very solid collection, further signalling Putumayo's rise out of the "Wal-Mart of world music" pigeonhole that many have placed on the label. Although there are questionable chord changes here and there, for the most part this compilation focuses on straightforward Cuban-tinged dance music. Pleasantly melodic, these tracks veer sharply from the manic, hyper-charged merengues which typified Domincan pop in the 1980s. As far as I'm concerned, it's a welcome change of pace, and this collection was a real eye opener. It might be for you, too! Definitely worth checking out.
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: MEXICO" (Putumayo, 2001)
This disc is another surprisingly nice sampler, which runs a nice tightwire between the shrill tinniness many normally associate with Mexican music, and the saccharine folkie-fusion new age leanings of the older Putumayo discs. The material is tuneful and melodic, but not drippy or overblown, and overall this is quite pleasant. The recordings are all of recent vintage, mostly from the late 1990s, so if you want older stuff, you'll have to look elsewhere. But if you want a pleasant little surprise, then give this CD a try. It's nice.
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: NUEVO LATINO" (Putumayo, 2004)
A sweet set of soft, sly, (mostly) Spanish-language pop from across the globe, including Cuban, Mexican, Brazilian and European artists, all linked together by a sleek, subtle style that foregoes the aggressive edge of both Afro-Cuban salsa and rock en espanol. Its a surprisingly strong set, mellow without being goopy, downtempo without drifting into any of the electronica/world beat cliches that are so prevalent these days. Plus, it has New York's Mosquitos on it -- a pleasant surprise that really made me sit up and take notice. Nice record... recommended!
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: RUMBA FLAMENCO" (Putumayo, 2002)
All these decades later, the Gipsy Kings still cast a long shadow on the world of popular flamenco, as evidenced by the forceful opening number on this fine collection, "Rankankin," by Maita Verde, which bears the stamp of the Kings' virile pop-crossover formula. There's a lot of variety, though, and other tracks on here are more subtle and lyrical, although many, inevitably, drift into easy listening-ish "world music" terrain. Almost all of the bands are Spanish or Catalonian, although it also includes entries by French groups such as the Gitano Family and Ricao, as wella s American-based acts such as Ziroq and De Madera. All in all, a sweeping and effective overview of modern flamenco, which ably explores the style's rich Arabic and cross-cultural influences. Recommended!
Various Artists "PUTUMAYO PRESENTS: SALSA AROUND THE WORLD" (Putumayo, 2003)
An excellent set of Cuban-style salsa music recorded by groups from lands as disparate as India, Italy, Finland and Morocco. With the decades-long cultural interchanges between Africa and the Carribean Basin, the bands from Senegal and Cameroon are no surprise, but entries by bands such as Apurimac (from Greece) and Salsa Celtica (a Scottish group that intertwines Gealic melodies with Latin rhythms) will give you pause to think. The performances are uniformly strong, though a few dip into slicker production styles. Holds up well to similar collections out earlier on the Tinder label... recommended!
Various Artists "RITMO AFRO-CUBANO" (Fantasy, 2004)
Jazz and soul-jazz meet heavy Cuban rhythms in this fine, well-selected collection, drawn from the vaults of the Fantasy, Milestone, Pablo, Prestige, Riverside and Tru-Sound labels. The lineup includes brand-name biggies such as Ray Baretto, Dizzy Gillespie, Chico O'Farrill, Joe Loco, Manny Oquendo, Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, Cal Tjader, et al, along with less well-known artists like Montego Joe, Andres Hernandez, Alfredito Valdes and Benny Velarde... The music is uniformly slam-bang and satisfying -- this disc may not be revolutionary or unique, but it is a real earth-shaker, packed with sizzling examples of the best in latin jazz. Recommended!
Various Artists "ROUGH GUIDE TO CUBAN SON" (Rough Guides, 2003)
Pretty nice. One of the best samplers of Cuban dance music you're ever likely to find on the American market, packed with solid performances by classic artists such as Beny More, Orquesta Aragon, Ignacio Pineiro, Nico Saquito and others. Even if it isn't all "son" per se, and even if it includes a few tunes by slick modern groups such as Los Van Van, there's a perceptible tilt towards older, rootsier acoustic styles and artists that I find appealling. Sure, maybe all of the artists aren't brand-name, dyed-in-the-wool legends, but this is a very strong, no-nonsense sampler of some of the sweetest music Cuba has to offer, and one of my favorite RG discs to date. Definitely recommended.
Various Artists "SEXTETOS CUBANOS v. 1" (Arhoolie, 1991)
Various Artists "SEXTETOS CUBANOS v. 1" (Arhoolie, 1995)
The sexteto was once the classic Cuban ensemble: guitars, bass, trumpet and percussion; although stylistic innovations and changes in popular taste led other sounds to take over, the sextetos remain at the root of much of the Cuban popular music. These CDs predate the late-'90s resurgence of old-school Cuban son, and not coincidentally are of very high calibre. On Volumne One, Antonio Machin is heard in 1929 with his Havana ensemble, on the eve of his departure for New York and, ultimately, for Europe. "Vengan, Vengan" may turn the ears of blues fans who recognize its playful theme; Volume Two features even earlier recordings by venerable bands such as Sexteto Bolona and Sexteto Nacional. There are dozens of similar releases available on import labels such as Harlequin and Tumbao, but there is certainly no faulting these outstanding CDs for their quality and depth. Recommended!
Various Artists "SON CUBANO NYC -- CUBAN ROOTS, NEW YORK SPICES: 1972-82" (Astralwerks, 2005)
This swinging set of New York salsa/son cruises through the sweet, summery sounds of old-timers such as Chocolate Armenteros, Henry Fiol, Rey Roig, Roberto Torres and several less well-known (but no less thrilling) Cuban-American dance bands. It's great stuff, a collection that easily holds its own next to all the other salsa and boogaloo reissues out there these days. The liner notes are funny, though, with two parallel perspectives on the "salsa" vs. "son" nomenclature -- there's one strident argument that says the word "salsa" was all marketing/public relations BS, and another, mellower version that says, Who cares? It's the same music, and it's all really good. I guess I slide into the second camp: when you've got stuff that sounds this sweet, why get all hung up on the name? This is a great collection, definitely worth checking out.
Various Artists "!VIVA CUBA LIBRE!" (Amiata, 2000)
A handsomely packaged set, with a hardbound booklet featuring over sixty pages of vibrantly colorful photographs, and a 14-song CD that spins through several of the best-known contemporary Cuban son singers, mainly artists associated with the Buena Vista Social Club. Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzales, Omara Portuondo and Compay Segundo are featured, as well as some older acoustic guajiro players such as Guillermo Portabales and trovador Carlos Puebla. To be honest, this album didn't blow me away, perhaps because it's mostly stuff you can hear elsewhere, and in some cases (particularly with Puebla and Portabales) it's not the strongest work by these long-lived artists. But it is a strong, representative set, and certainly would be a fine addition to the library of anyone looking to learn more about this music. The beautiful pictures, taken in 1999 by Italian photographer Stefano Bilioti, are really what make this a unique release.
Various Artists "VIVA CUBOP 2: DANCE THE AFRO CUBAN WAY" (CuBop/Ubiquity, 2000)
Offhand, I can't say as I've ever been a huge fan of latin jazz, per se, but this is a pretty swinging sampler of the best artists in the Ubiquity stable. This collection ranges from straight up jazz guys like Jack Constanzo (whose thunderous "La La La" opens the album...) and Dave Pike, to folks closer to the salsa side of things, like Arturo Sandoval and Bobby Matos, as well as electronic/DJ types who also want in on the action, such as Snowboy, who contributes "Oya Ye Ye" from his new album. Pretty cool disc, really!
Various Artists "VIVA CUBOP 3: MORE JAZZ THE AFRO CUBAN WAY" (CuBop/Ubiquity, 2003)
This set is even stronger on the Latin Jazz side of the equation, and if that's a style that appeals to you, then these young'uns wailing their little hearts out will probably strike a chord. Too jazz-oriented for my tastes, but it's cool to hear modern artists putting so much energy and enthusiasm into this music!
