Latin Funk/Soul « Super Sonido

Archive for the 'Latin Funk/Soul' Category

Bronx River Parkway

Published October 18, 2009 Events , Latin Funk/Soul 1 Comment

I just want to let everyone know that I sometimes get people asking me to review their record or put up their dj mix. I am always happy to help out in any way possible. But as I rule I tend to put up music that stays with in the context of what super-sonido is all about. Plus, it has to be something I really like. So it comes as no surprise that when I received this PR pack for the group Bronx River Parkway, I nearly crapped my pants. Fuck yeah! These guys are awesome. The only disappointing item about all this is that I already own all their stuff, so it wouldn’t be fair to ask for free shit. Damn! Nevertheless, go buy this album!!! It’s already been out for a year. I put up a low grade MP3 of my favorite track (that way no one gets mad at me), but really this whole album stands out.

1. Bronx River Parkway: Aqua Con Sal

The Song:

The second single off Bronx River Parkway’s San Sebastian 152 is a saucy hip-shaker dripping with their signature Latin-funk flavor. These mainstays of Williamsburg-based Truth & Soul are known for a sound and style that stem from authenticity, not imitation. Legendary Sammy Ayala, formerly of Cortijo y Su Combo, leads the group of almost 20 musicians. Ayala brings his recognizable presence to the vocals of “Agua Con Sal” with a sultry style and flair. The minimalist production gives the feel of a live performance, while the polyrhythmic percussion arrangements compliment the classic horn section. ¡Una otra, por favor!

The Background:

This collective of musicians hailing from both New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico fuse seamlessly to create a flawless combination of Truth & Soul’s classic soul rhythms with the sounds and emotion of indigenous Puerto Rican and Caribbean music. The Hispanic funk jams of Bronx River Parkway’s upcoming album San Sebastian 152 are the perfect example of this synthesis: the record sets down timeless grooves that beg listeners to get down. Among the 20+ musicians of Bronx River Parkway is legendary lead singer, Sammy Ayala, an original member of Cortijo y Su Combo. He has been regarded as “The most consistent figure on Puerto Rico’s musical journey from folk to popular,” according to The Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network. Ayala brings his trademark energy, stirringly passionate vocals, and floor-stomping performance to San Sebastian 152, which encourages engagement between the audience and performers in both live performances and through their recordings. This, in conjunction with the other talented souls of the orchestra, makes the album a force of nature: powerful, strong, and certain to make you move. San Sebastian 152 will be released on Truth & Soul, a Williamsburg-based modern vanguard of soul and funk, formed by Leon Michels and Jeff Silverman.

Audio Streams:

“Agua Con Sal”

http://media.audibletreats.com/Bronx_River_Parkway-Agua_Con_Sal.mp3

Mega Mezcla album sampler

http://media.audibletreats.com/BRP-Sampler.mp3

“La Valla”

http://media.audibletreats.com/Bronx_River_Parkway-La_Valla.mp3

Video Streams:

Rostarr and Truth & Soul- “Percussive Movement No. 5 -Timelapse”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR1m-TJA5FY

Rostarr and Truth & Soul- “Percussive Movement No. 7 -Timelapse”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nduomkqMPs

Bio, pictures, and streams available here:
http://www.audibletreats.com/download/BRP/

Truth & Soul MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/truthandsoulrecords

Truth & Soul Imeem:
http://truthandsoul.imeem.com

Truth & Soul Official Site:
http://www.truthandsoulrecords.com

Shark Attack Con Los Tiburones

Published October 12, 2009 Afro Latin , Cumbia , Descarga , Latin Funk/Soul 5 Comments

1. Los Tiburones: La Reina Y La Cumbia

2. Los Tiburones: Descarga Tiburona

I’ve been catching some flack by some other dj’s for letting go of some of my funkier Latin numbers. And I can understand where they are coming from. I understand how some dj’s want some sort of exclusive domain over a gem they found. Maybe it’s to protect their set, I don’t know. But I don’t really care and I never have. As I see it, the music doesnt belong to me anyway and as a dj I always appreciate it when someone wants to know what you’re playing. Shit I even let people pilfer through my crate to peep all my records (as long as they dont look like they’d walk off with it). At least I have someone in the audience actually listening.

With that being said, I’m sure there will be someone in this world upset that I’m giving you this funk bomb from Colombia’s Los Tiburones (the sharks). I just got this album from Mexico and I’m really loving the blend of funk, cumbia, descarga, and gaitero music. It appears to be a commemorative record for Colombian Carnival in 1968 (most likely the Carnival of Barranquilla). A real fusion of Native, European and Afro-Colombian sounds and cultures. Which essentially is what Carnival is all about. It’s like the worlds first ever multicultural event, a party where race and class are mixed up for a time being. Pretty much a reflection of the record itself.

The album is on the Tropical label (one of my favorites) and has the popular Aniceto Molina on accordion and Duque Palomino singing from Discos Fuentes fame.

Soul-Sided

Published October 6, 2009 Events , Latin Funk/Soul , Perez Prado 4 Comments

Soul-sides.com is perhaps one of the top reasons I started an audio-blog in the first place. So to have Oliver Wang ask me to do a guest post really came as a huge honor. Peep O-Dub’s post. We’ll be doing a few guest swaps in the future so be sure to check back. Word! – Franko

1. Perez Prado: Que Es Lo Que Pasa? From Now (Contour, 1974)

2. Afrosound: Jungle Fever From Joint (Fuentes, 197?)

3. Luciano Luciani Y Sus Mulatos: Al Ritmo Del Bump From El Hitometro Mag Vol. 1 (Mag, 197?)

One of the pleasures in reading other people’s blogs is using their ideas to spark my own. Maybe that seems a bit unoriginal but honestly, when you have a gazillion songs swimming through your head (or, at least, iTunes library), sometimes it takes a nudge from someone else to remind you, “oh yeah, this other song by them is awesome too.”

That’s what makes reading Super Sonido such a constant treat. Given my ever-deepening appreciation for Latin tunes, I’m constantly learning from sites like this and re-evaluating/revisiting records in my own collection as a result. I guess it’s apropos then that all the songs I ended up picking are, themselves, covers, i.e. riffs on other people’s songs. Everything is connected.

Case in point: I really enjoyed the recent post on Perez Prado. It’s somewhat confusing to realize that there were two different Perez Prado’s recording concurrently (brothers) and that most (though not necessarily) all of the funkier Prado material came from younger sibling, Pantaleon, and not the elder, more famed brother, Damaso. Not sure which brother did Mexico ‘70but I’m fairly certain “Que Es Lo Que Pasa?” was recorded by Pantaleon. Now is a UK pressing of the Italian-release of Escandalo, widely admired as Pantaleon’s best work (so much so, it’s been re-released several times over).

Here’s the thing about “Que Es Lo Que Pasa?”…isn’t it basically an instrumental version of Assagai’s Afro-funk classic, “Telephone Girl”? Maybe there were songwriter credits given on the album but if not, that’s a pretty brazen bite. Either way, good stuff with the percussion and a nice bank of complementing horns.

Afrosound is no stranger around these parts though I had scarcely heard half the albums Franko had posted. One round in my chamber of Colombian funk though has been this cover of the Chakachas’ massive smash, “Jungle Fever.” If you were expecting Afrosound to put this through a cumbia conversion, you’ll be surprised to hear that they stick mostly to original script here, even down to the salacious moans of the nameless woman. I wish I had a scan of the cover handy; it’s one of the all-time great Fuentes covers, of a giant joint smoking tantalizing on the cover. Take a long pull…hype.

Lastly, we come back to the August post on the “bump” fad that briefly whipped through Latin music. Heck, I didn’t even realize it was a genre until reading that post but it made me think of some of the Peruvian albums I have, all of which include a variation on the song, “Al Ritmo Del Bump.” I think the best known version is Otto De Rojas’ though I seem to recall Enrique Lynch had his own version too. I can’t be completely sure how much this “bump” has in common with the other “bump” but what I am absolutely certain of is that this song heavily “borrows” from “Soulful Strut” by Young Holt-Unlimited. It’s not a cover, I don’t think, but it liberally interpolates some key melodies from it.

–O-Dub

Domo Arigato Perez Prado

Published October 5, 2009 Latin Funk/Soul , Perez Prado 1 Comment

I picked this gatefold up in Tokyo in 2002/2003 and it’s probably one of my favorite Perez Prado records. Every song on the album is pretty much about Mexico. The title track Mexico 70 actually comemerates the World Cup that was held in Mexico that year. To put this all into context, by the late 60’s and early 70’s Perez Prado became a falling star in the US. However, in Mexico and Japan, he was HUGE. During that time Perez Prado lived in Mexico City (in an apartment off the Calle Reforma), was a regular performer on Mexican television, and toured regularly to Japan. Although the mambo was all but dead, El Rey really puts his stamp on every genre from rock, funk, to the now sound. I left out a great version of Perdiendo Mi Cabeza (Out Of My Head). The songs I selected focus on mostly Mexico. But someone just reissued this on CD. Highly recommended. Thanks to my good friend Julio Cesar Morales for sending me the concert poster image. He actually just had a son he named Prado…. FELIZIDADES JULIO!!!!

1. Perez Prado: Amalia Y Tijuana

2. Perez Prado: Guada Guadalupe

3. Perez Prado: Mexico 70

Juan Pablo Torres

Published August 17, 2009 Latin Funk/Soul , Latin Jazz , Salsa 3 Comments

1. Juan Pablo Torres: Y Que Bien

2. Juan Torres: Con Aji Guaguao

Sorry Fidel, you have to start throwing away your Silvio Rodriguez records. I think Cuban trombonist, composer, and arranger Juan Pablo Torres hasn’t given you anything as funky as this.

Born in Puerto Padre Cuba in 1942, the late Juan Pablo was considered one of the most important Latin music trombonist of his era. Having record with some of the biggest names in Latin music: from Tito Puente to Eddie Palmeri to name a few. He defected to the US in 1992, and like most Cubans, ended up in Florida. Although most of his praise seems to come from that era, these two records from 70’s cuba are worth taking a look at.

Great experimental mix of Latin jazz, funk, salsa/son and great analogue synth work thrown in for good measure. Both albums are on the Areito label (which is really Egrem,the Cuban state recording company). I wonder if the vanguard party was upset. These records are just as hard to get a hold of as a box of Cuban cigars. But I’m sure you can find them on Ebay from a Mexican seller. I put up a photo of both side’s of the LP. The album quality is pretty good, but I’m loving the really janky Cuban graphic designs. Side note, the second tune Aji Guaguaois a spicy Cuban dish.

3. Juan Pablo Torres: El Manisero

My ex-girlfriend was from Cuba and she always asked me why I didn’t put any Cuban music on my site. So with that I give you Juan Pablo’s take on El Manisero (the peanut vendor) unarguably one of the most famous Cuban songs ever. I personally don’t like it, but I think Torres’ version is the dopest I’ve heard. The song started a global rumba craze in the 40’s and put Cuba on the map musically. Every Cuban that was ever in a band has played this song.

This album also contains the song Rompe Cocorioco which Soul Jazz Records put out on a comp.

El Bump

Published August 17, 2009 Latin Funk/Soul , Perez Prado 2 Comments

1. Grupo Santa Cecilia: Baila Bump

2. Grupo Santa Cecilia: Yeh Yeah Bump

Summer is usually vacation time for most and during these months my house literally turns into a 3 star hotel for visiting family and friends. I’d give myself an extra star if it wasn’t for the fact that I was so busy and for the fact that I failed to provide everyone (including you guys) with the quality “Franko” service you oh so deserve.

But don’t fret, I aways tend to bounce back stronger and I still have the power to suprise. With that, I give you the super rare triple record BUMP. I forget where I found this one, but it’s been hiding in storage for at least 5+ years. Looks like this was a concept album for the Mexican Orefon label. There are two bands Grupo Santa Cecilia and Perez Prado. The third LP is a dj mix of US soul acts from Sonido Negro. The “BUMP” is pretty much like the American version of the Shuffle. Basically the songs/lyrics are teaching you how to dance to the song.

3. Grupo Santa Cecilia: Mi Nena Baile El Bump

Not much is known about Mexico City’s Grupo Santa Cecilia. Artist, dj, and friend Juan Luna-Avin, who is from el DF, had mentioned that he remembered this band performing weekly on a Mexican variety show. Which makes sense because that was the same fate Perez Prado had in 1970’s Mexico City. The band has members who later formed Grupo El Tren and Grupo El Final. Either way peep the dope breaks in the first two tracts. Sorry about the first song skipping, I don’t have a clean version. Also, I put the third song up as a bonus, its almost like a protopunk style song. Great stuff.

4. Perez Prado: Mambo Bump

5. Perez Prado: Vuelveme A Querer

Leave it to Perez Prado to jump on the Bump band wagon. More go-go than disco, but one of my favorites from the early 70’s King of the Mambo. The rest of the record is a compilation of his music from that era. Some original and some songs taken from the Mexico 70 lp (which I will put up shortly).

Enciende La Luz

Published July 12, 2009 Latin Funk/Soul , Salsa 2 Comments

1. Los Golpes Fuertes: Maria Enciende La Luz

I’ve been really busy with work over the last few weeks, but I am totally looking forward to some free time and possible travel at the end of the month. So if I am getting lazy on this blog, you’ll know why (I still manage to drop super rare and funky Latin cuts mind you)

The only thing you need to know about this 45 is that it was made by Los Golpes Fuertes (The Hard Blows), the song is called “Maria Enciende La Luz” (Maria turn on the fucking lights yo), and that the song heats up around 1:30 into it.

El Ultimo Adiós

Published May 18, 2009 Boleros y Baladas , Boogaloo , Garage/Rock , Latin Funk/Soul , Latin Roots , Salsa 2 Comments

Possibly one of the best indicators of a economic recession is when I start selling records on ebay. Wall Street should use that as an economic barometer of some sorts. Anyway, it was around November when I first drafted this post, business was slow, I was bored, and I had an urge to unload some wax. I tend to slang vinyl when I start thinking I have way too many records or when I am just not that into the music (I usually end up with sellers remorse). Nevertheless, I just so happened to record some of the 45’s that I sold, songs which I was luke-warm with at the time. And the 45’s in this post are a sample of such.

Its a real mixed bag in terms of genres. From Mexican ska, cha-cha, garage, son, salsa ect. ect. I won’t get into much detail about each band, but I’ll let you guys decide if I made a good choice or not. Please note, that at the time, I scanned the images so small that I am now unable to read them or know some of the artist’s names. Damn I am full of regret today.

1. Locos Del Ritmo: Donde Vas

2. Hermanos Carrion: Con Golondrinas

3. Los Johnny Jets: Dracula A Go Go

4. Desconocido (Los Yonicos?): Guapachosa

5. Toño Quirazco: La Familia

6. Johnny Zamot Y Su Orquesta: Oye Nicola

7. Memo Salamanca: Oye Rumbito

8. Desconocido (Can’t read the name): Viva Tirado

Funky Yucatan

Published May 9, 2009 Cumbia , Latin Funk/Soul 1 Comment

1. Chicken Y Sus Comandos: Caminando Despacito

When one thinks of music from the Yucatan peninsula in the 60’s and 70’s the first name that should come to mind is the musical genius Francisco José Hernández Mandujano, aka Chico Che.

Supposedly Chico Che had either formed or influenced bands from all over the Yucatan. Combos like Los 7 Modernistas, Los Temerarios, and groups like Chicken Y Sus Comandos. The influences ranged from regional upbeat Mexican, organ/farfisa grinding funk, and a heavy emphasis on South American cumbia (which for some reason the style of music is generally referred to as música tropical). Chico Che went on to form Chico Che y La Crisis (don’t care much for his music). All very similar to Rigo Tovar’s style of tropical.

Caminando Despacito (walking/strutting slowly) is a funky cover from Eddie Palmeri, whose version is pretty dope as well.

2. Chicken Y Sus Comandos: Cumbia Sampuesana

This song actually doesn’t come off this LP pictured on the left. I have an extra mp3 version which I only wanted to share with everyone. Chicken Y Sus Comandos’s version of the traditional Colombian song La Cumbia Sampuesana shows the direction in which Yucatan groups at the time were taking with música tropical, a fusion of very loud cumbia, funk, psyche and rock. The song really attacks you like a hawk from the sky. Unfortunately most the music from these guys don’t end up sounding like this.

*** Please note I amended the prior post “El Zarape” with a new track. Check it out!

Afrosound

Published May 4, 2009 Cumbia , Latin Funk/Soul 8 Comments

1. Afrosound: Caliventura

The Afrosound is Colombia’s reaction to the early 1970’s Chicha movement that was happening in Peru and Bolivia at the time. José María Fuentes saw the popularity of this new type of hybrid cumbia sound and thus created a sort of Discos Fuentes super group.

Produced by Julio Estrada (Fruko El Bueno), Afrosound not only incorporated the Andean guitar laden sound, but mixed in some funk, salsa/son, tropical, disco, and afro colombian rhythms to boot. The result being cumbia party albums from start to finish. These are the kind of LPs you can just walk away from for 20 mins. while you’re djing.

(side note: I think that it is Fruko who is MC’ing for these guys)

2. Afrosound: La Magdalena

I was going to choose the title tract as the second song, which is actually a cover tune from the Andean group Los Mirlos. But I decided on one of my favorite cuts from the album. Afrosound again is putting their own chicha stamp on the traditional cumbia La Magdalena. Here is a good example of how traditional cumbia instrumentation is being swapped for the electric guitar, farifisas (possibly), hoeners, ect. It is a good reflection on how malleable cumbia rhythms can be from past to present and from country to country.

3. Afrosound: Carruseles

Carruseles (Merry-go-round) is probably one of Afrosound’s more difficult records to find for some reason. And it appears to be one of their most experimental lp’s of the all the ones I will be showing you. I’ve got a hand full of other versions of the song Carruseles and I might put them all up in the future. The Conjunto Miramar and Anibal Velasquez versions are dope. The lyrics to the original song itself are sexually suggestive, but Afrosound’s instrumental is like cumbia/son on an acid trip.

Nevertheless, it’s in my opinion that the tropical sounds mixed with psychedelic guitars would only have made music like this much more affable to the Latin American public, while showing off the exploritory side of a bunch of amazing musicians.

4. Afrosound: Mi Sonsito

I thought I’d throw in another track off this album. This time with a calypso number. Trying to put in every genre I suppose. Enjoy!

5. Afrosound: La Gozadera

6. Afrosound: Onda Brava

Although some records might be harder to find than others, picking up music from Afrosound isn’t that difficult. Unfortunately, the last time I checked, Discos Fuentes doesn’t sell cd’s online outside of South America. However, you just need to go to a good Latin American cd store and one should be able to pick up a full length or compilation cd of their music. Their popularity and influence is broader than we can imagine North of Mexico.

Anyway, sometimes you can actually judge a book by it’s cover. And if this cover is any indication of what the album is going to sound like, then you know Onda Brava (Brave Wave) is going to be a party.

7. Afrosound: Calor

Someone told me that Vampisoul records is supposed to be putting out an Afrosound compilation. Which will be awesome. So if you have a hard time tracking these songs down, those guys always seem to make it easier. Also, I spoke with Beto from Soundway records a couple years ago when they released The Golden Age Of Discos Fuentes. We actually had a discussion about Afrosound. I bet they will put them in the second time around.

8. Afrosound: Tiro Al Blanco

Tiro Al Blanco (slang: awesome, something that is the best) is a cumbia version of Massara’s 1979 Italo-disco hit “Margarita”. This song is probably Afrosounds biggest hit as well. This infectious number has been covered often and may sound like a familiar sample from a Manu Chao song.

Anyway, these are pretty much some of the best Afrosound records I own from the 70’s to the 80’s. I didn’t have much luck with any of their music after this. From what I understand the group went through many different musicians/producers until they disbanded in 80’s. They do a song called Cumbia Arabe (Cumbia of the Arab) which I’ve heard (it’s great), yet it still eludes me on vinyl.

Chico Sonido

Published April 28, 2009 Boleros y Baladas , Cumbia , Events , Latin Funk/Soul Leave a Comment

Just wanted to drop another great audio set I heard recently from Chico Sondio. I’ve had the honor to dj with Chico a few times at Mas Exitos/Mas Discoteca and the guy absolutely floors me with the stuff he’s got. I’m constantly asking him “what the fuck was that song?” Some of the sickest and jankiest Latin beats on the planet.

Be sure to listen to his “paisadelic” set at the fully fitted blog. Peep the last song also, which is coming out on his debut album. From the sound of it, it’ll probably be one of my favorite records this year.

Fucking great stuff Chico!

http://fullyfitted.blogspot.com/2009/02/live-home-part-14.html

Banda Macho: Los Covers

Published April 27, 2009 Garage/Rock , Latin Funk/Soul Leave a Comment

1. Banda Macho: Tiburon

I tend to get a lot of questions whenever I play Spanish versions of American songs in the clubs. People find it funny and I have to admit there is a certain kitsch value to it.

However, for Banda Macho I guess it was no laughing matter. They pretty much made a living pumping out tunes that belong to their neighbors to the North. I have 4 of their LP’s and they are all cover albums. For some reason it is a subject that I am interested in, especially how Latin Americans interpret musical genres of American culture. And I am certain I will explore more of this in the future.

Banda Macho hails from Monterrey Mexico and are still around from what I have read. The song Tiburon (Shark) draws from both the popularity of the movie Jaws and Jimmy Castor’s song “Supersound” (sans the 1 minute break at the end).

El Zarape

Published November 19, 2008 Cumbia , Latin Funk/Soul , Latin Jazz 3 Comments

1. Joe Bravo: Yolanda

Pretty obscure stuff from the El Zarape label. Now most of the music I’ve heard from this label seems to be really bad regional Mexican. However, every now and again these Tex-Mex labels would always throw in some sort of funky cut.

Yolanda I believe was originally a popular cha-cha-cha number. And I think I actually own an LP from Joe Bravo and it doesn’t sound anything like this.

2. The Mexican Revolution: Listen Here

The song “Soul Searching” by The Mexican Revolution is the song with the big fat break so I hear (I don’t have it). But the soul jazz cover of Eddie Harris’ “Listen Hear” will do just fine. This standard is pretty much covered by everyone.

3. Augustine Ramirez: She’s Looking Good

Found this today in a stack a records I was going through. Didn’t even realized I owned this joint. Anyway, I thought I’d amend this post by putting the best song on the album up for you people.

Again, more bad regional Mexican music from the El Zarape label, except for the Roger Collins’ cover She’s Looking Good. To go from crappy polkas and horrible rancheras to a soul number is beyond me. It probably was the thing to do back in the day or maybe even the label/producer’s idea. This happens repeatedly on labels like this, Gas, Musart, and other Mexican/Mexican American record labels of this era.

El Baile De Kung-Fu

Published August 31, 2008 Latin Funk/Soul , Queso Leave a Comment

1. Mestizo: El Baile De Kung-Fu

I found a website that indicated they were the actual band Mestizo which began in the SF Bay Area in the 70’s. But I’m not quite sure if it’s the same band that’s on this 45.

Irregardless, it appears that Mestizo was riding the coat tails of Carl Douglas’s one hit wonder “Kung Fu Fighting” and “Dance The Kung Fu“. A popular song and/or topic to cover at the time i guess. I’ve heard other Latin American versions, as well as Jamaican reggae funk versions too.

This is a 45 I pulled a few weeks back from that KRMX collection which I was speaking of in the last post. It’s pretty indicative of the collection as a whole. I’m always getting surprised. It ain’t the best song in the world, but it’s pretty ridiculous and amazing in its own right. Please note that I created by own genre “Queso” (cheese). It’s a pretty subjective category since I tend to stick music that resembles nacho cheese into it. There is so much Latin cheese-ball that a category was warranted.

Super Sonido