los afro-antillanos

Guadeloupe! Martinique! Reunion! Revolution!

This is Jazfro's soundtrack to the current (French colonial) crisis - for whatever reason, the news sometimes reach slowly my remote 'island-continent-village' -perhaps it is due to the sharks stalking the shores? In retrospect, Australia day's 'ghetto' selection was even more pertinent than I thought at the time! So here is a follow-up mix, centered on afro-caribbean sounds and featuring classic protest and liberation songs from Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond. 

The selection begins most appropriately with a classic 1970's Martinique protest song from the great Henri Guedon, pioneer of the Franco-Cuban genre. Then a bitter-sweet rendition of a 1960's Puerto-Rican classic by Senegal legend Nicolas Menheim -of Star Band, Super Etoile de Dakar & Africando fame. 'Sopente' is one of my favorite Super Cayor tunes, a dancefloor killer about the 1995 CFA devaluation -Fela Kuti would have approved of that one! The mix then moves on to a classic anti-apartheid uplifting reggae by South Africa's #1, Lucky Dube, and on to Jamaica's The Rulers' rocksteady hit 'Wrong Em'Boyo' -famously covered by The Clash on 'London Calling'. Novalima's 'Chinchivi' is a modern version of a classic Afro-Peruvian blues, followed by an 'on-yer-bike' Haitian anthem by Jephte Guillaume, punctuated by a punchy Manu Chao Franco-Brazilian number. 'Cabral' is one of Orchestra Baobab's most famous liberation / anti-colonialist songs, this one an extended and moody version. Desmond Dekker's classic '007/Shanty Town' -arguably the ultimate James Bond tune- requires no comment: just get your feet on the dancefloor! The 1940's Bedasse 'Depression' tune is a timely reminder of what lies ahead, with a bitter-sweet mento/calypso twist. At this stage I could not resist including 'El Carretero' -perhaps the best ever Cuban blues. The selection closes with the -unintentionally?- ironic 'Bonne Annee' by the Amazones, recorded in 2008 -the legendary Guinean Army female band's second recording in 50 years! Clio is decidedly a most unforgiving mistress: ignore her at your own peril...

  1. Guajira Contestacion / Henri Guedon / Early Latin And Boogaloo Recordings

  2. Borinque Tropical / Nicolas Menheim & Le Super Sabador / Commandante Ché Guevara

  3. Sopente / Super Cayor De Dakar / Sopente

  4. Feel Irie / Lucky Dube / Africa's Reggae King

  5. Wrong Embryo / The Rulers / Trojan Ska Box Set Vol. 1 

  6. Chinchivi / Novalima / Afro

  7. Kanpe (Get Up) / Jephte Guillaume & The Tet Kale Orkestra / Voyage Of Dreams

  8. El Dorado / Manu Chao / Proxima Estacion: Esperanza

  9. Cabral / Orchestra Baobab / Roots & Fruit

10. 007 (Shanty Town) / Desmond Dekker / Trojan Ska Box Set Volume 1

11. Depression / Bedasse with Chin’s Calypso Sextet / Boogu Yagga Gal

12. El Carretero / Guillermo Portabales / World Legends

13. Meilleurs Voeux / Les Amazones De Guinée / Wamato

Music is a weapon, use it judiciously and effectively: PLAY LOUD! EDUCATE YOUR NEIGHBOURS!

Link: http://rapidshare.com/files/205221221/West_indies.zip

Homenage a Charlie Parker

OK, don't get me wrong here. Charlie Parker never truly was an afro-cuban. He merely was a 'fellow traveller'. During Parker's peak years, just when Dizzy Gillespie was provocatively showcasing Chano Pozo and his conga drum at the front of the band, 'Bird' -like many other jazz musicians at the time- got caught in the be-bop/cuban fusion thing. Between 1947 and 1952, mainly produced by Norman Granz, Parker recorded a number of afro-cuban/latin tunes, mostly with Machito and his Orchestra -including the Chico O'Farrill composed first Latin Jazz Suite featured in an earlier Jazfro selection. This was a time when jazz musicians were taking 'fusion' music beyond the confines of Afro-American tradition, before rock and funk were invented. And 'Bird' was right in the mix.

Here are samples of Parker's involvement with the emergence of Afro-Cuban jazz, beginning with Neal Hefti's seminal 'Repetition', and some afro-cuban covers of Parker tunes (though not technically latin, the Art Blakey-led cover of 'Moose the Mooche' sneaks in courtesy of some fiery conga work by the young Ray Barretto amidst the drumming extravaganza).

For a long time, Parker's contribution to Afro-Cuban jazz improvisation has been overlooked, but the recent covers featured in this selection demonstrate that Parker's music lends itself to afro-cuban rhythms, just as well as the more often latinized jazz greats.

 1. Repetition / Charlie Parker / Charlie Parker 1947-1949

 2. Begin The Beguine / Machito & His Orchestra / The Latin Bird

 3. Moose The Mooch / John Santos &  Machete / Tribute To The Masters

 4. Mango Mangue / Charlie Parker / Charlie Parker 1947-1949

 5. Tico, Tico / Charlie Parker / The Latin Bird

 6. My Little Suede Shoes / Grant Green / The Latin Bit

 7. Ah Leu Cha / Jazz On The Latin Side All Stars / Tambolero

 8. Okiedoke Rhumba / Charlie Parker / Charlie Parker 1947-1949

 9. No Noise  / Charlie Parker & Machito & His Orchestra / The Latin Bird

10. Moose The Mooche / Art Blakey / Drums Around The Corner

Link: http://rapidshare.com/files/200810143/bird_latin.zip

Songs of the barrio

Happy Australia Day Everyone!

I felt it was topical to have a selection of barrio songs this week. The ghetto is a theme dear to my heart, and now is the right time to remind everyone of what this is all about. So here is a selection of afro-cuban songs about and from the ghetto, mainly Spanish Harlem. It's a selection of afro-cuban tunes with an attitude, politically incorrect in the best sense of the term, from some of the best performers ever: artists with a conscience and talent to boot! Whoever tried to pigeonhole afro-cuban music and culture as a happy-go-lucky / shake-your-booty / summer-party-until-the-end -of-the-night mindless affair was/is soo wrong. As always: ENJOY! DANCE! TAP YOUR FINGERS! MAKE YOUR NEIGHBOURS HAPPY: PLAY LOUD!

1.  El Barrio / Los Hombres Calientes/ Los Hombres Calientes
2.  Harlem River Drive / Harlem River Drive / Harlem River Drive
3.  Do You Feel It? / Joe Cuba Sextet / Bustin' Out
4.  The Ghetto / La Clave / La Clave
5.  El Barrio / Mark Dimond / Brujeria
6.  Yo No Consigo Tu Amor / Chuito & The Latin Uniques / From The Street
7.  Pueblos De Borinquen / Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez / I Like It Like That
8.  Borinquen Tropical / Joe Quijano & His Conjunto Cachana / Rarezas En Una Cesta
9.  Para Puerto Rico Voy / Papo Felix & Ray Rodriguez / Papo Felix Meets Ray Rodriguez
10. Lucy's Spanish Harlem / Louie Ramírez / In The Heart Of Spanish Harlem
11. Tico / Har-You Percussion Group / Har-You Percussion Group
12. Subway Joe / Joe Bataan / Latin Funk Brother
13. El Raton / Fania All-Stars / Latin Soul Rock
14. Cinco En Un Callejero / Grupo Folklorico Y Experimental Nuevayorquino / Lo Dice Todo
15. Cucarachita Cucarachion / Roberto Roena / Roberto Roena Y Su Apollo Sound 6
16. Sueltame Ya / Brooklyn Sounds / Brooklyn Sounds!
17. En El Callejón / Patato & Totico / Patato & Totico
18. Fatalikou / Africando / Ketukuba
19. New York Mambo / Johnny Colon / Boogaloo Bluesman
20. Te Estan Buscando / Willie Colón & Rubén Blades / Siembra
21. Kool It (Here Comes The Fuzz) / Jimmy Sabater / El Hijo De Teresa
22. Viva Cepeda / Jerry Gonzalez & the Fort Apache Band / Crossroads
23. Negro Soy / Kako / Sock It To Me Latino
24. Ol' Man River / Willie Bobo / Uno Dos Tres 1-2-3
25. 110th St And 5th Ave / Tito Puente / Tito Puente and His Concert Orchestra
26. Que Humanidad / Manny Oquendo Y Libre / Libre
27. La Cacharra / Jimmy Bosch / Salsa Dura
28. Gran Dia en el Barrio / The Spanish Harlem Orchestra / Across 110th Street

Link: http://rapidshare.com/files/190144331/barrio.zip

Happy new year mix

Just in time to wave 2008 goodbye! A greasy selection of souled & funkified latin to bugalu & shing-a-ling into 2009.

Jazfro's tip: set the itunes preferences for 'crossfade songs' in 'playback' to the maximum (12 sec).

01. Soul Sauce / Cal Tjader / Soul Sauce

02. Let's Boom Chitty Boom / Herbie Mann / Latin Mann

03. Do What You Want To Do / Willie Bobo / Do What You Want To Do

04. Alligator Boogaloo / Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers / Caliente Con Soul!

05. Come On Choo-Choo Train / Candido / Thousand Finger Man

06. 42nd And Broadway / Snowboy / Para Puente

07. Bite The Nite / Gerardo Frisina / The Latin Kick

08. Ventolera / San Lazaro / Mestizos Urbanos

09. Get Through To You / Grupo X / Food For Your Latin Soul

10. Viva Tirado / El Chicano / Chicano Chant

11. Chanchulo / Fania All-Stars / Latin Soul Rock

12. Mamita Linda / Azteca / Azteca

13. Bacalao Con Pan / Grupo Fantasma / Sonidos Gold

14. Oshiri Pan Pan / Jose Conde Y Ola Fresca / Revolucion

15. Funky Cha / Francisco Aguabella / Ochimini

16. Apurate / The Lebron Brothers / Psychedelic Goes Latin/the Brooklyn Bums

17. Bang Bang / Joe Cuba / Bang! Bang! Push, Push, Push

18. Shing A Ling Boogaloo / Pjuan Sextet / Estamos en Todas

19. Guajirita / Monguito Santamaría / Hey Sister

20. Cafe / Malo / Malo

21. Fiesta De Los Feos / The Spam Allstars / Introducing

22. Yiri Yiri Bon / Ska Cubano / Ska Cubano

23. Anny's Boogaloo / La 33 / La - 33

24. Tremendo Boogaloo / Manteca / Tremendo Boogaloo

25. Bun Bun Bun / Coke / Na Na

26. Latin Side / La Clave / La Clave

27. Ritmo Del Corazon / Sapo / Sapo

28. Chili Beans / Joe Bataan / Latin Funk Brother

29. Guajison / Kako / Sock It To Me Latino

Play LOUD & shake your booty!

Link: http://rapidshare.com/files/178383735/happy_2009_mix.zip

A gozar!

Xmas party mix - Popular covers

A selection of latinized popular classics for your next party!

1. La Pantera Mambo / La 33 / La - 33

2. The New Avengers / Snowboy and the Latin Section / Mamborage

3. Last Tango In Paris / Tito Puente / Tito Puente and His Concert Orchestra

4. La Quinta De Beethoven / The Cesta Allstars / Salsa Maxima

5. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) / Ska Cubano / Ay Caramba!

6. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida / Mongo Santamaría / Feelin' Alright

7. It's Not Unusual / Willie Bobo / Spanish Grease

8. Eleanor Rigby / Joe Torres / Latino Con Soul

9. Felix The Cat / Papo Felix & Ray Rodriguez / Papo Felix Meets Ray Rodriguez

10. Wild Thing / Armando Peraza / Wild Thing

11. Monday Monday / The Harvey Averne Dozen Band / Viva Soul

12. Michelle / Willie Bobo / Uno Dos Tres 1-2-3

13. Shaft / Joe Bataan / Saint Latin's Day Massacre

14. The James Bond Theme / Ray Barretto / Señor 007

15. Fever / Herbie Mann / Right Now

16. Late In The Evening / The Spanish Harlem Orchestra (feat. Paul Simon)/ United We Swing

17. Tito's Odyssey / Tico Alegre All Stars / Recorded Live At Carnegie Hall

Link:

http://rapidshare.com/files/176119042/Jazfro_Post_1_-_covers.zip

Enjoy!