Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2017: Salsa, Bomba, Merengue,Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin Jazz, Bolero and more

Ugh; Willie Colón comes out pro-Trump.

Some refreshingly sensible comments from him there, though I wouldn't criticize performers who want to boycott the inauguration. Considering who Trump was running against, I am relieved he won. He's not the only lifetime Democrat to vote for Trump.

But then again, I don't believe in open borders either.

Considering who Trump was running against, I am relieved he won.

OK, bye now. I have no interest in continuing this conversation.

I don't agree with Rudiph either. Trump's Supreme Court nominees will not be helpful

Just watched some video of afro-Venezuelan singing and percussion ensemble Betsayda Machado y la Parranda el Clavo at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Good stuff

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/arts/music/residente-calle-13-solo-album-interview.html?_r=0

Residente traced his genealogy and traveled to those various parts of the world linked to his heritage to record his new solo effort. Plus he discovered he's 3rd cousins of the Hamilton director Miranda. I haven't heard the new album yet.

I forget whether I have heard Don Omar song that's #1 on a Billboard chart

I was the only vote for Ile: Canibal in the Voice critics poll song/track list

This year is the 20th anniversary of Silencio = Muerte: Red Hot + Latin. Remember when "rock en español" was a thing?

Less crossover interest but things like the LAMC still happen

Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) ... JULY 11th - 15th, 2017 NEW YORK CITY REGISTRATION COMING SOON

plus this:

http://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2017/01/11/509141239/the-alt-latino-spring-2017-new-music-preview

Café Tacuba and others

Oh, I know it still exists - the new Chicano Batman album is great. I mostly meant "a thing" as in "a thing you could get English-language editors to give a shit about."

Sadly, too many editors (and music critics) seem to be only interested in English language indie, plus pop and rap

Cuban acts remain trendy for some fests and concert halls. This is from the just announced New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest where Meghan Trainor and other big pop names will headline while on a smaller stage:

CUBA COMES TO JAZZ FEST:

Los Van Van ; Chucho Valdes Quintet ; Gente de Zona; Pedrito Martinez and the Rumba
; Telmary y Habana Sana of Cuba; Adonis y Osain del Monte of Cuba; Septeto Santiaguero of Cuba ; Changüí Guantánamo of Cuba; Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro of Cuba; Daymé Arocena of Cuba ; Conga Los Hoyos of Cuba; Grupo Caury of Cuba ;

I just turned in a Q&A with a Cuban metal band to Bandcamp. I included their answers in the original Spanish, alongside the translations, in case anyone reading was interested.

Winner

Donde Están? by Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo

Best Tropical Latin Grammy winner at last night's award show

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: Ilevitable.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7686370/jose-lugo-surprise-latin-winner-grammys

the award went posthumously to Lugo and his Guasábara Combo for Dónde Están?, his last album before he succumbed to cancer in June 2016.

Lugo, a pianist, producer and bandleader, was no stranger to the Grammys; in 2006, Gilberto Santa Rosa’s Directo al corazón, produced by Lugo, won Best salsa album. And Lugo himself was nominated for his album Guasábara in 2010.

But death is powerful when it comes to awards. Already respected as a musician, Lugo was suddenly front and center after battling cancer, and losing, at only 56 years old.

from that Billboard article: Fonseca, fresh from winning a Latin Grammy (for Best tropical song), seemed a shoe-in with his adventuresome Conexión.

Still haven't listened to those 2 but intend to

Eh the Fonseca album's pop sheen is too gloppy

Finally listened to the Grammy winning late Lugo and his Guasábara Combo-- Dónde Están?.

Nice solid salsa and a cut near the end that has a Brazilian carnival drums feel to it.

Ben Ratliff, former NY Times critic and others liked his late 2008 “Guasábara” (Norte) album that has a mini-orchestra on it with 9 horn players and 5 percussionists plus guest vocalists.

A current freelancer for NY Times on Latin jazz folks like Pedrito Martínez, Alfredo Rodríguez and Arturo O’Farrill and David Virelles and bassist Luques Curtis. Martinez is a great rumba percussionist and more.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/arts/music/grammys-latin-jazz.html?_r=0

gio's good people and a solid writer

He used to be down here in the DC area and yes, good people. As for what he's writing about--As I have previously noted here--too much Latin jazz seems formulaic to me in a manner that does not wow me, but I will give a shot to listening to some of the folks he mentioned that I have not previously heard.

Salsa can also be criticized as formulaic, but I like that Pedro Lugo farewell release more than most Latin jazz.

Jose Lugo I mean.

Listened to a bit of Jose Lugo and his orchestra on the 2008 Guasábara album. Good stuff. He's not quite hard enough salsa I am guessing for some, but his arrangements aren't wimpy either.

Listening now to last year's album. They sound like they'd rather be playing bad Latin jazz. The rhythm is solid though.

Lugo was an arranger and band leader at times for singers like Santa Rosa and Manuelle that you have rarely praised, so I don't expect you to be impressed

Lugo did lose in the Latin musicians only Grammys held earlier:

Best Salsa Album
Grupo Niche, 35 Aniversario
WINNER: India, Intensamente India Con Canciones De Juan Gabriel
José Lugo & Guasábara Combo, ¿Dónde Están?
Bobby Valentín, Mi Ritmo Es Bueno
Johnny Ventura, Tronco Viejo

He also used to play with another nominee there-- Bobby Valentin

Aka "Mr. Soul"

Lugo was an arranger and band leader at times for singers like Santa Rosa and Manuelle that you have rarely praised, so I don't expect you to be impressed.

Funny, I've had "Perdoname" popping in and out of my head lately. I still kind of like that song, I think just because it was one of the songs from my first salsa dance classes.

I just got The Vitral Saxophone Quartet's Kites Over Havana album off bandcamp. It's some beautiful Cuban style chamber music. Pre-ordered the new Chano Dominguez album while I was there, because I'm in love with that Flamenco Sketches Miles tribute album he did a few years back. I shouldn't really be spending money on music right now, but couldn't resist these two.

didn't really like the new Chano Dominguez which is a pleasant but fairly undistinguished live solo piano recording. But was happy to pay for it after leeching the rest of his gear off slsk.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/arts/music/dave-valentin-dead-latin-jazz-flutist.html?_r=0

Had a stroke in 2012, plus Parkinson's

RIP. Liked him in Tito Puente's Golden Latin Jazz All-Stars

Colombia's Maluma is performing at a 10,000 seat arena near Washington DC . Just listened to him for first time. He's pop-reggaeton. Kinda formulaic but ok

I think its been years since anyone here on this type of thread was enthusiastic about reggaeton (although I think someone who's on the Afropop/afrobeats auto-tuned African club thread is a fan)

Isidro Infante (where has he been?) has a new album featuring Cuban vocalists singing Puerto Rican salsa:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3JgWMmWDZeR6AOHJdydvhJ

"Salsa y Control" with Mayito Rivera will work on the dancefloor. I think the Lebron Brothers live in Colombia extended version is definitive, but it's pretty lengthy.

Haila singing "La Vida Es un Carnival" is an unimaginative choice, but I kind of hate that song anyway. Give her something that wasn't sung by Celia.

This "Fuego la Jicotea" is pretty on point though. Can't do that any more, unfortunately.

Overall this still seems like more cover versions that never needed to exist. I've only skimmed it, but that seems pretty clear.

I think I should wait to post until something I genuinely like comes along. This could be a long wait.

I'm switching over to the new tqd, but I think I've heard everything on the album already, via their soundcloud.

ILM's 2017 Rolling Latin and Afro-Latin Thread Spotify Playlist

Slim pickins galore.

it's true.

I wonder how much that is because of us (the choices from the few of us here) and how much due to the state of the music

i would presume the latter; there's lots in the field to choose from, a broad variety of popular styles and not many folks on this board who specialize in latin popular music. fewer still who like to talk about it!

It's the state of the music in the styles that the people who post on this thread care about. I'm certainly not that interested in Latin music in the broadest sense, as such.

Just for comparison for anyone who cares who isn't already familiar with it (probably an empty category), this is the original Dejame Sonar recorded by Tito Puente and Tony Vega. This is why we don't need the new, somewhat softer version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvlTkhsJQhs

Way more bite.

i really like the song "oye mujer" by raymix. i heard it for the first time a few months ago but apparently it originally came out, like, years ago?

"Oye Mujer" is a 2018 remix with Juanes of a 2015 Raymix track that incorporated traditional sounds

the version i heard didn't have juanes! guess i'm just very late as i often am

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/style/bomba-puerto-rico-music-dance.html?hpw&rref=fashion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Puerto Rican bomba drums music and dance lives

bomba drumming and dancing at La terraza de Bonanza in Puerto Rico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj0mF5_Mhm0

At a Coney Island NY beach on Sunday afternoon, I heard lots of reggaeton coming from beachgoers portable speakers. More than rap or other popular sounds(though there was a lot of Drake too).

Listening to latest album by pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa called Un Dia Cualquiera. Eh, it’s ok Cuban Latin Jazz. Nice enough I guess, but nothing new and nothing that really wows me. Ned Sublette likes it.

Thread needs some fresh blood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixkoVwKQaJg

DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B • Taki Taki

(Don’t know where Snake got this beat from, but kudos, it’s a great track)

Speaking of Ozuna, this is my favorite track of his current album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wykqGblj1og

Ozuna feat. J Balvin & Natti Natasha • Sígueme Los Pasos

...and speaking of J Balvin, this is my favorite track of his current album, which is great (it's not called "Vibras" for nothing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FlRsN4cyF0

J Balvin • Tu Verdad

J Balvin and Ozuna have been killing it with their singles and collaborations in the past couple of years.

There's a trend that's appearing this summer of reggaeton/trap with an almost minimal, soft sound... the lyrics are worthless but the beat for these makes me happy and wishes the trend continues:

Kevin Roldan - PPP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vET7J3oc5sI

Anuel AA - quiere Beber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTtBmo5EbEk

Lalo Ebratt - Mocca (There's also a J Balvin remix but I like the original better)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeRwVpzd2G4

Also not really reggaeton but really like beat by Dillon Francis feat. Ximena Sarilñana. Moombathon I guess?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLM9brT5_w0

Wow Moka, I was just about to post that “Mocca” track too, just fell right in love with that one. (in my case it would have been the remix, because of its video, but both versions are great)

Also my friends are really into Rosalia (She also has a guest spot in Balvin's Vibras):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rht7rBHuXW8

Really interesting combination of flamenco style vocals with 'urban' rhythms. Even the video is really cool in how it combines typical Spain iconography and takes it down and mixes it in a modern setting.

I remembered people posting about her somewhere, turns out she has her own thread!

(and yeah, the Balvin + Rosalía track "Brillo" is another Vibras highlight. With him, it's come for the bangers, stay for the vibes)

Yes to DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B • Taki Taki

#1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart

https://www.billboard.com/charts/latin-songs

Awww man, Dog Latin hating on "reggaeton-lite" (Taki Taki and Despacito) in a separate thread

Don’t let it bring you down.

I'm not.

Grrr, I missed the Latin Grammys last night. J Balvin was nominated for 8 awards but only got 1. Jorge Drexler got 3. Victor Manuelle won the salsa one.

I will look for video clips and more articles online

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/11/16/arts/ap-us-music-latin-grammys.html

I like Uruguay’s Jorge Drexler—pop rooted in folk and Brazilian bossa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpG5dR3cp9w

Awwww

That’s what the Salsa Dura DJ at Terraza played to ring in 2019.

From the NPR jazz critics poll, the separate Latin Jazz category--I have only heard the Sanabria and the Palmieri efforts, but gonna try to listen to some of the others (although that may lead me to come back here complaining that Latin Jazz is stuck in a rut and seems so formulaic

Latin
1. David Virelles, Igbó Alákorin (The Singer's Grove), Vol. I & II (Pi)
Votes: 21
A vibrant compendium in which Virelles disinters the rich musical traditions of his hometown Santiago de Cuba. Unexpectedly, his boldest album. The 35-year-old pianist has spent the last decade channeling Afro-Cuban folklore through a jazz prism, producing records that operate as open-ended mysteries. Here, refreshingly, he eschews abstraction in favor of fealty to the past. Though the traditions Virelles explores are fading from Cuban culture, this effort, fiercely rhythmic and thrumming with energy, is deeply alive. —Matthew Kassel

2. (tie) Dafnis Prieto Big Band, Back to the Sunset (Dafnison) 12
2. (tie) Miguel Zenón, Yo Soy La Tradición (Miel) 12
4. Bobby Sanabria, West Side Story Reimagined (Jazzheads) 8
5. Carlos Henriquez, Dizzy Con Clave (RodBros Music) 7
6. Eddie Palmieri, Full Circle (Ropeadope) 6
7. Elio Villafranca, Cinque (ArtistShare) 5

The Virelles album is on Bandcamp but not Spotify. Haven’t checked where else. Virelles went back to Cuba and recorded with elders, including vocalists I think, for this. 1 track I heard on Bandcamp was nice enough in a very old-school Cuban way. More dance and traditional than jazz.

Isn’t it time for a new Rolling thread?

I guess so. I resisted in the past since not too many folks post, and I wasn’t keeping up the genres represented, but I guess yearly threads do make some sense. Not a lot of new salsa these days that I follow; Latin Jazz hangs on, while reggaeton and bachata seem to thrive, and Latin Trap has become very big

I say go for it!

Ok, here it is:

Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2019: Reggaeton, Salsa, Bomba, Latin Jazz, Bachata, Merengue, and more