Hello peeps, this week we take a look at some tasty treats from the Latin explosion that took place around the world in the fifties and sixties with the arrival of the rumba, mambo and cha cha cha. Both rhythms and dances in themselves, the music like other latin- american imports of the time (i.e. bossa nova, samba) produced countless imitators and versions of standards but additionally produced some great music as well.

In the Fifties bands like Machito and his Afro-Cubans in New York City exploded onto the scene playing at hot clubs like the Palladium and Copacabana influencing numerous New York musicians and creating a flow of musicians between Cuba and the States that would brings greats like Mongo Santamaria, Candido, Xavier Cugat, Perez Prado, La Playa Sextet, amongst others. These players brought the traditions of the danzon, mambo, son, cha cha cha, guaracha, and later others like the charanga and pachanga and lit up dance floors both here in the US and the world over.

We start things out with Facundo Rivero’s catchy original “Negra mi cha cha cha” with its great interplay between the male/female chorus and Rivero’s bright keys driving the rhythm on. Other highlights in the set include a classic cha cha cha from Puerto Rico’s smooth crooner Tito Rodriguez with “Me lo dijo Adela”, also check out Graciela Perez’s playful sexual teasings with her brother Machito’s band on their version of “Si si, no No”, from Belgium Los Chakachas bring their eccentric latin sound to a little song about chocolate, plus Israel “Cachao” Lopez’s great upright bass on “Pa pa bajo” and of course like always much more treats as well. Enjoy the tunes. EB & CG

Playlist:

Facundo Rivero and his Quartet–Negra mi cha cha cha (Cuba/U.S.)

Patin Lara and his Latin American Orchestra–Cha cha me baby (U.S.)

Rene Touzet–Tea for two (Cuba/U.S.)

Tito Rodriguez– Me lo dijo Adela (Puerto Rico)

Lobo y Melon–En un pequeño bungalow (Mexico)

Joe Cain & his Orchestra–Pa pa bajo (U.S.)

Los Chakachas–Chocolate (Belgium)

Machito and his Orchestra–Si si, no no (U.S.)

Beny More–Babarabatiri (Cuba)

La Playa Sextet–Cha cha con la playa (Puerto Rico)

Rene Bloch–Mr. Latin’s mambo (U.S.)

Tito Puente–A gozar timbero (U.S.)

Bebo Valdez–Ita morreal (Cuba)

Felipe Perela–Sandra (Venezuela)

Perez Prado–Mambo del ruletero (Cuba/Mexico)