Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2022: Reggaeton, Salsa, Bomba, Latin Jazz, Bachata, Merengue, Urbano and more Latinx

My late Dad was a big. Eddie Palmieri fan. We saw him multiple times- with various bands, and solo

https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/culture/music/

Wow Bad Bunny is playing Yankee Stadium 2 nights in a row. He's gonna be in DC at Nats Park one night shortly before the NY shows

I saw Bad Bunny at Nats Park Tuesday night. Fun 2 hr plus show. Old-school salsa, bomba, plena, merengue fans would have loved the encore and probably a few other cuts

Long story short, the Cuban Khaleeji Project arrived in New York City this August with three sunset shows at Little Island, poking out into the Hudson River on the city’s West Side. The concert brought together O'Farill’s 17-piece orchestra with Ghazi Faisal Al-Mulaifi and Boom.Diwan (Kuwait/UAE), Yazz Ahmed (U.K./Bahrain), Malika Zarra (France/Morocco) and Ali Obaid (UAE). The result was a fascinating fusion of rhythms and melodies, mostly khaleeji music arranged and interpreted through the fertile imaginations of O'Farill, his collaborators and his powerhouse band.

https://afropop.org/articles/arturo-ofarrill-on-the-cuban-khaleeji-project

Cuban and Middle Eastern Persian Gulf hybrid sound

Claudia Acuña is back! Streaming from Mezzrow now.

https://www.tickeri.com/events/6306825cad5d670004977790/1st-salsa-underground-concert-in-va-2022-bobby-valentin---leyenda-fania---paquito-acosta---mel-martinez

Wonder if should splurge for 81 year-old salsa bassist Valentin and orchestra plus Paquito Acosta and Mel Martinez

It’s also birthed a very specific term: “reggaeton darks.” What began as a reference to a meme riffing on goth Latinxs has become a thriving and hard-to-pin subgenre used to describe dembow with elements of rave, deconstructed reggaeton, and post-punk covers of reggaeton classics. All of these are the kind of songs present at gatherings where the Latinx kids looking for perreo are also sporting heavy eye makeup and wearing mesh topped with a leather jacket.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/tomasa-del-real-friolento-post-punk-perreo-reggaeton-darks-1234598566/

more from that article ( as Rolling Stome articles are often paywalled at times)

Friolento went on to make covers of reggaeton hits from Bad Bunny to Plan B. These shockingly faithful versions sound as though Joy Division or Bauhaus tried their hand at making music to grind to. The covers have been received for what they are: weird, wonderful niche-culture objects that goths who grew up on the Latinternet never knew we needed. Friolento’s virality sent ripples across this specific corner of the web, effectively leading a wave of “perreo post-punk” covers.

The inherent global nature of goth subcultures complicates the question of Spanish artists participating in El Movimiento as a whole, especially with the prevalence of European acts in neoperreo like Bad Gyal, Bea Pelea, Virgen María, and Spanish American neoperreo phenom La Favi. Even artists who don’t necessarily identify themselves as making perreo specifically, like Rosalía — decidedly a mainstream pop act at this point — are making what could be considered darks. The sound isn’t free of sin by any means, or completely without questions of appropriation of the Black Caribbean riddims that are the root of the genre, but the digital goth aesthetics that dominate neoperreo provide a space for cultural cross-fusion and exploration of the dark side of the heart. It’s a messy and beautiful in-between space that could only have happened because of the Internet…..

Artists like Tomasa del Real, Ms Nina and Cuban Miami mainstay La Goony Chonga — who collaborated with del Real and neoperreo producer Chico Sonido on “Muerde La Manzana” and released floaty trap track “I Don’t Really Think So” around the same time Del Real released early neoperreo track “Tu Señora” with Talisto — have paved the way for newer generations of queer and femme reggaetonerxs. From Argentina’s Six Sex and Mexican trio Meth Math to rising local acts like Venezuela’s Yajaira La Bellaca or Colombian perreopop producer and musician Manchado, who helped shape the sound for other up-and-comers like Cartagena’s Pelorucho, this subgenre of reggaeton continues to bloom from the fringes.

Over on the alt-rock end of the spectrum, indie bands have begun dipping their toes into dembow riddims. You can hear it specifically on indie mainstay Divino Niño’s new LP The Last Spa on Earth,

The breakthrough came to lead singer Camilo Medina during quarantine, when he stumbled upon Honduran perreo-pop princess Isabella Lovestory[/i]

Artists like Tomasa del Real, Ms Nina and Cuban Miami mainstay La Goony Chonga — who collaborated with del Real and neoperreo producer Chico Sonido on “Muerde La Manzana” and released floaty trap track “I Don’t Really Think So” around the same time Del Real released early neoperreo track “Tu Señora” with Talisto — have paved the way for newer generations of queer and femme reggaetonerxs. From Argentina’s Six Sex and Mexican trio Meth Math to rising local acts like Venezuela’s Yajaira La Bellaca or Colombian perreopop producer and musician Manchado, who helped shape the sound for other up-and-comers like Cartagena’s Pelorucho, this subgenre of reggaeton continues to bloom from the fringes.

Over on the alt-rock end of the spectrum, indie bands have begun dipping their toes into dembow riddims. You can hear it specifically on indie mainstay Divino Niño’s new LP The Last Spa on Earth,

The breakthrough came to lead singer Camilo Medina during quarantine, when he stumbled upon Honduran perreo-pop princess Isabella Lovestory[/i]

Artists like Tomasa del Real, Ms Nina and Cuban Miami mainstay La Goony Chonga — who collaborated with del Real and neoperreo producer Chico Sonido on “Muerde La Manzana” and released floaty trap track “I Don’t Really Think So” around the same time Del Real released early neoperreo track “Tu Señora” with Talisto — have paved the way for newer generations of queer and femme reggaetonerxs. From Argentina’s Six Sex and Mexican trio Meth Math to rising local acts like Venezuela’s Yajaira La Bellaca or Colombian perreopop producer and musician Manchado, who helped shape the sound for other up-and-comers like Cartagena’s Pelorucho, this subgenre of reggaeton continues to bloom from the fringes.

Over on the alt-rock end of the spectrum, indie bands have begun dipping their toes into dembow riddims. You can hear it specifically on indie mainstay Divino Niño’s new LP The Last Spa on Earth,

The breakthrough came to lead singer Camilo Medina during quarantine, when he stumbled upon Honduran perreo-pop princess Isabella Lovestory

Artists like Tomasa del Real, Ms Nina and Cuban Miami mainstay La Goony Chonga — who collaborated with del Real and neoperreo producer Chico Sonido on “Muerde La Manzana” and released floaty trap track “I Don’t Really Think So” around the same time Del Real released early neoperreo track “Tu Señora” with Talisto — have paved the way for newer generations of queer and femme reggaetonerxs. From Argentina’s Six Sex and Mexican trio Meth Math to rising local acts like Venezuela’s Yajaira La Bellaca or Colombian perreopop producer and musician Manchado, who helped shape the sound for other up-and-comers like Cartagena’s Pelorucho, this subgenre of reggaeton continues to bloom from the fringes.

Over on the alt-rock end of the spectrum, indie bands have begun dipping their toes into dembow riddims. You can hear it specifically on indie mainstay Divino Niño’s new LP The Last Spa on Earth,

The breakthrough came to lead singer Camilo Medina during quarantine, when he stumbled upon Honduran perreo-pop princess Isabella Lovestory

Artists like Tomasa del Real, Ms Nina and Cuban Miami mainstay La Goony Chonga — who collaborated with del Real and neoperreo producer Chico Sonido on “Muerde La Manzana” and released floaty trap track “I Don’t Really Think So” around the same time Del Real released early neoperreo track “Tu Señora” with Talisto — have paved the way for newer generations of queer and femme reggaetonerxs. From Argentina’s Six Sex and Mexican trio Meth Math to rising local acts like Venezuela’s Yajaira La Bellaca or Colombian perreopop producer and musician Manchado, who helped shape the sound for other up-and-comers like Cartagena’s Pelorucho, this subgenre of reggaeton continues to bloom from the fringes.[I/i]
[i]
Over on the alt-rock end of the spectrum, indie bands have begun dipping their toes into dembow riddims. You can hear it specifically on indie mainstay Divino Niño’s new LP The Last Spa on Earth,

The breakthrough came to lead singer Camilo Medina during quarantine, when he stumbled upon Honduran perreo-pop princess Isabella Lovestory

Oops, my phone

I don’t know which fantasy places that writer frequents but I haven’t seen any latin goth people partying to Friolento. They are sort of a novelty act and you can hear them being played alongside the usual reggaeton/pop fanfare but it’s not like it’s inspiring a new fashion trend or a new subculture.

Good article though, gives spotlight to some very talented underground artists that are trying to push the genre outside its restrictions.

That Friolento cover of Bichota is wonderful!

I like that Friolenta version, but based on number of covers they do and their approach, can see why they’re considered noveltyish

Divino Niño’s latest album is nice pop with subtle reggaeton, hiphop and dance tinges

https://www.grammy.com/news/2022-latin-grammys-complete-winners-nominees-nominations-list-las-vegas

lots of categories . I think they have Rosalia in "alternative"

That's the 2022 nominees list for the Latin Grammys show coming up in November in Vegas. It is different than the other Grammy Awards with everything

I still need to dig through the Latin Grammy nominees plus some more underground/alt acts from that Rolling Stone article

New Lucrecia Dalt ! Ay! album is artsy & worth checking out. New Shakira single Monotonia has Ozuna on it. Video has her heart getting stepped on literally and it ends up in a box

From Latin Grammys nominations:

Best Salsa Album
For Albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental Salsa recordings.

SERÁ QUE SE ACABÓ
Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera
[Páfata & Unicornio]

PA'LLA VOY
Marc Anthony
[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]

LUIS FIGUEROA
Luis Figueroa
[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC/Magnus Media]

Y TE LO DICE...
Luisito Ayala y La Puerto Rican Power
[Musical Productions]

LADO A LADO B
Víctor Manuelle
[Sony Music Entertainment US Latin LLC]

Isabella Lovestory

These playful, maximalist caricatures of sex are half the fun here, and one of the major reasons Lovestory stands out among her peers in neoperreo, the club-minded underground reggaeton subgenre that has become a haven for queers and femmes of all genders. “Gateo,” which features one of the scene’s foundational artists, Ms Nina, is perhaps the album’s best expression of the movement. The two don’t simply exchange verses—they hype each other up, flaunting their assets and asserting their excellence atop a thrashing beat. More than anything, the collaboration serves as a reminder that despite the genre’s male-centered narratives, women have always been present in this movement, and will continue to thrive.

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/isabella-lovestory-amor-hardcore/

I listened once while doing other stuff. Need to listen some more.

x-post-- I think 33 year-old Luis Figueroa is the youngest of the salsa leader nominees

Haven't listened to Figueroa album yet. Been revisiting Marc Anthony and Bomba Estereo ones

The Isabella Lovestory got a 7.2 from Pitchfork which gave Taylor Swift a slightly lower 7.0, and Dry Cleaning a higher 7.8 if you care about such things

My wife and I saw Jorge Drexler do a great show at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC last night. As I said on a thread long ago he’s a former ear, nose, throat doctor (and grandson of refugees from the Holocaust) who sorta broke in to the US market in 2004, after a song he wrote for the movie The Motorcycle Diaries became the first Spanish-language work to win an Oscar for Best Original Song. From Uruguay but has been living in Spain since 1995. I think he lived in Brazil for a bit.

He has a gift for lilting pop melodies, sometimes over folky strumming, other times over polyrhythmic sounds drawn from South America, the Caribbean, & uh Talking Heads. He talked a lot between songs in both Spanish and English. Spoke about the value of immigration, speaking multiple languages, the importance of art, being willing to try new things and more. He dueted separately with each of his female backup singers, and did other songs with various other combinations of musicians — guitarist, several keyboardists, drummer. A 2 hour show and he was so into it.

Watching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GThLhdudLy4
right now perform live and wearing the same t-shirt as the bass player.

Which has the logo on it. He’s not wearing in the video though.

Ah interesting. I like the cajon percussion instrument in that video.

Re my prior post - ilx search tells me I have largely been the only person over the years here talking about Jorge Drexler. Oh well.

was recently talking with a Brazilian friend who holds Drexler in high regard

Yay. ! Drexler has many Brazilian like melodies, he lived there for a bit, and Uruguay is not far ( although Drexler has been living in Spain for last 30 years)

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/jorge-dexler-tinta-y-tiempo-1341695/

Latin Grammys Thursday November 17 on Univision

Both Latin Grammys and the big Grammys show have not included Rosalia on any of the big general awards . They have her in Latin alternative rock

Haven’t been paying attention. Don’t know if anyone I am familiar with is involved.

Awards are on tonight. Best Latin Jazz nominees;

1. JOBIM FOREVER
Antonio Adolfo
[AAM Music]

2. #CUBANAMERICAN
Martin Bejerano
[Figgland Records]

3. CHABEM
Chano Domínguez, Rubem Dantas & Hamilton De Holanda
[Altafonte]

4. MIRRORMIRROR
Eliane Elias, Chick Corea, Chucho Valdés
[Candid Records]

Awards are on tonight. Best Latin Jazz nominees;

1. JOBIM FOREVER
Antonio Adolfo
[AAM Music]

2. #CUBANAMERICAN
Martin Bejerano
[Figgland Records]

3. CHABEM
Chano Domínguez, Rubem Dantas & Hamilton De Holanda
[Altafonte]

4. MIRRORMIRROR
Eliane Elias, Chick Corea, Chucho Valdés
[Candid Records]

Cool!

I haven’t heard any of those but they look worth checking out

I saw drummer who plays with Eliane Elias playing with bass player who plays with Martin Bejerano on Saturday. I did not see Chano Domínguez since he cancelled his gig because he may have green card issues. The first artist I think I may have a book he wrote.

Elaine Elias gig down here sold out and I was busy with family that night.

Marc Anthony just won salsa Grammy on Univision

Elaine Elias won the Latin jazz Grammy

Rosalia was eligible for more categories than I thought, and won 4

95-year-old Ángela Álvarez has made history as the oldest person to win the Latin Grammy for Best New Artist.

The Cuban singer, who just released her first album last year, accepted her Best New Artist award by saying “it’s never too late.” pic.twitter.com/5j5EyNKXQk

— Pop Base (@PopBase) November 18, 2022

oh nice! listening to her album now, sounds solid

Alvarez has those dramatic Cuban folk vocal melodies

Listened to new Rauw Alejandro album Saturnian tonight. He adds throwback freestyle club dance and older reggaeton as well

Details in this NY Times interview feature

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/14/arts/music/rauw-alejandro-saturno.html