Category Archives: Latin
DJ SNOWBOY PRESENTS THE GOOD FOOT.
DJ SNOWBOY PRESENTS THE GOOD FOOT. Mark Cotgrove was just fourteen when he made his DJ-ing debut. This was at Deanes School, in Thundersley, Essex. The future DJ Snowboy assisted his metalwork teacher on the wheels of steel. This could’ve, and should’ve, been the start of his DJ-ing career. It wasn’t. By the time Mark …
CHANCHA VIA CIRCUITO-AMANSARA.
CHANCHA VIA CIRCUITO-AMANSARA. It’s been three long years since Chancha Via Circuito released his sophomore album, Rio Arriba in 2011. Hailed as an innovative, groundbreaking, genre-melting album, Rio Arriba lifted the profile not just of Chancha Via Circuito, but cumbia. The commercial success and critical acclaim of Rio Arriba lead to Chancha Via Circuito being …
MESTRE CUPIJO E SEU RITMO-SIRIA.
MESTRE CUPIJO E SEU RITMO-SIRIA. Recently, things have been quiet with Samy Ben Rebjeb’s Analog Africa label. Samy is very much a believer in quality rather than quantity. Analog Africa have only released sixteen compilations since 2008. Their sixteenth release, and first of 2014, is SIria, a compilation of fourteen tracks from Mestre Cupijo. Sirio …
RODRIGO AMARANTE-CAVALO.
RODRIGO AMARANTE-CAVALO. There aren’t many solo artists who can claim to have been part of one of the most successful bands of all time. Brazilian singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante can. His debut solo album Cavalo will be released on 5th May 2014, on Mais Um Discos. He was a member of Los Hermanos. Their four albums sold millions of …
KILINDU-O QUE O FUTURO.
KILINDU-O QUE O FUTURO. Any band that’s working with a two-time Grammy Award winning producer has something going for them. That’s definitely the case with Kilindu. They’re currently working on an album with none other than, Grammy winning producer, Bob Cutarella. He’s previously worked with musical royalty. This includes everyone from Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, …
GEORGE DUKE-A BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR.
GEORGE DUKE-A BRAZILIAN LOVE AFFAIR. By 1979, when George Duke released A Brazilian Love Affair, he was one of the hardest working men in music. Not only had he released fifteen solo albums, but had moved into production. Then there was George’s work as a sideman. The list of musicians George has played with reads …
THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA-INNER FIRE.
THE SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA-INNER FIRE. Back in 2012, The Souljazz Orchestra celebrated their tenth anniversary with the release of their fifth album Solidarity. Less than two later, The Souljazz Orchestra will release their sixth album inner Fire on 24th February 2014. Just like their previous albums, Inner Fire is a compelling fusion of musical influences and …
CHARO AND THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-CUCHI-CUCHI.
CHARO AND THE SALSOUL ORCHESTRA-CUCHI-CUCHI. Having been discovered by bandleader Xavier Cugat Maria del Rosario Mercedes Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza, or Charo as she became, went on to become one of the highest paid performers in America during the early seventies. Reputedly, actress, singer and guitarist Charo was paid as much as Rat Pack members …
HAITI DIRECT.
HAITI DIRECT. Mention Haitian music, and most people will think of either voodoo or Rara. That’s two stereotypical examples of Haitian music most people think of. There is, however, more to Haitian music than that. Much more. Especially during the sixties and seventies. Back then, Haiti was enjoying one of the most rich, vibrant and …
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 1.
THE A-Z OF THE BEST COMPILATIONS OF 2013-PART 1. Considering how many compilations have been released during 2013, picking the fifty best compilations wasn’t easy. After all, I’ve listened to hundreds of compilations. They’ve come from the four corners of the globe, featuring every musical genre known to man. This includes everything from Acid House, …
ANGOLA SOUNDTRACK 2.
ANGOLA SOUNDTRACK 2. Following three aggravated uprisings in 1961, the Angolan authorities were forced to act. There was no denying it, Angola was in crisis. The country could implode. Something had to be done. The status quo wasn’t an option. What followed was a double edged sword of repression and reform. For the first time, …
PERU MARAVILLOSO: VINTAGE LATIN, TROPICAL AND CUMBIA.
PERU MARAVILLOSO: VINTAGE LATIN, TROPICAL AND CUMBIA. As the sixties unfolded, British and American music was on the cusp of a revolution. This began in 1962, when The Beatles released Love Me Do. Soon, the sixties were swinging. Over the Atlantic in America, the British Invasion proved a game-changer. For the first time, British music …
BRAZILIAN BEATS 7.
BRAZILIAN BEATS 7. For lovers of Latin music, one of the most eagerly awaited compilation series is Mr. Bongo Records’ Brazilian Beats. The first installment of this critically acclaimed compilation series was released thirteen years ago, back in 2000, just as the new millennia dawned. Little did Mr. Bongo Records realize that they’d launched one of …
SILVETTI-SPRING RAIN.
SILVETTI-SPRING RAIN. Despite enjoying a career that lasted four decades, Bedu Silvetti is always remembered for his disco classic Spring Rain. It originally featured on Silvetti’s 1976 debut album World With Words. On its release as a single in January 1977, it reached number four in the US Disco Charts. Seven months later, Spring Rain …
NICOLA CONTE PRESENTS VIAGEM 5.
NICOLA CONTE PRESENTS VIAGEM 5. Over the last few years, there’s been a resurgence in interest in Brazilian music. Record companies have noticed this. They’ve released a whole raft of compilations of Brazilian music. For anyone who loves Brazilian music, this should be a bonus. Sadly, that’s not the case. Many of these compilations are …