Afro-Latin Music Thread 2010: La Resurrección (salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaeton, cumbia, etc.)

Since I have nothing new to say at the moment, I thought I'd just start the thread with something old and classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPtXEtS6vYw

Best Latin albums submitted by contributors to the Village Voice jazz poll. I know some of ya think Latin-jazz is boring or dead, but I figured I'd post this anyway...

1. Miguel Zenón, Esta Plena (Marsalis Music) 23

2. Dafnis Prieto Si O Si Quartet, Live at Jazz Standard NYC (Dafnison) 5

3. Bobby Sanabria, Kenya Revisited Live!!! (Jazzheads) 5

4. Mark Levine & the Latin Tinge, Off & On: The Music of Moacir Santos (Left Coast Clave) 4

5. Arturo O'Farrill, Risa Negra (Zoho) 4

For Best Vocal, Debut, and Latin albums, critics were asked to name one album apiece, with no point system.

http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-12-29/music/2009-voice-jazz-critics-poll-the-results

Re. Choco Otra....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjEPjU2eY5k

I had the LA-33 CD on over Christmas and I like it. The bass still has that rockero feel to it which is a shame, on Vanidad Sergio proves he can play on clave. But they do write some great tunes, some of the piano hooks are inspired and they have a punk attitude I like. I was at the Cargo concert last year and the energy was amazing.

I reviewed that O'Farrill disc for AMG; it's pretty good stuff.

I've enjoyed O'Farrill's group the times I have seen them live but haven't heard the disc. Someone who knows Latin-jazz better than me will have to make the case to skeptics how this is still relevant or is innovative or whatever (although some might say the same about salsa or any genre really for that matter). I think on that Latin-jazz thread there were blog citations of mentions of youngish Latin-jazz players to show that the music ain't dead yet.

Just for general info. I will post this here: I started the new year by somehow ending up with a whole bunch of trojans on my PC, including Waledac, so I may not be posting too much for a bit (maybe a couple weeks), since despite running numerous anti-virus programs, I have still not gotten to the root problem(s). (Sending this from work.)

http://latinmusic.about.com/od/cdtoppicks/tp/Top2009SalsaTimba.htm

Rudi has pointed out numerous times various bothersome or factually incorrect items from this blogger but I see she has endorsed his fave Philly band!

Wayne weighs in with a long post with links about the state of reggaeton. I have not read it yet.

http://wayneandwax.com/?p=2759

Think Bobby Sanabria was at the FB lounge last night with his big band, probably playing theKenya stuff, but I couldn't make it.

re: birdseed naming reggaeton as genre of the year in the wayne post

maybe it's been mentioned already but it's kind of ridiculous (as much as i'd love for it to be true)... and then he goes on to use omar's _terrible_ idon as the case making it? argh.

I find it hard to care about a lot of the political analysis of reggaeton and its audience and all that sort of thing. There are so many bigger, more pressing issues I feel like I need to work to understand. Others are welcome to it, but my interest in it is pretty weak.

Home PC still fucked up, but I hope to get it cleaned up this weekend.

curmudgeon, I had mentioned Tijana Ilich's earlier positive review of Bannakumbi somewhere in last year's thread. I'm thinking I might need to check out that Tiempo Libre Bach CD. I had originally thought it was just Bach covers, but now I am under the impression they start with Bach and then build into songs. Still feeling timba very little, however.

I got around to buying Colombian jazz pianist Ricardo Gallo's Urdimbres Y Marañas (from 2007). As expected, I like it. The rhythms are not quite the typical son clave or Brazilian rhythms you hear in most (I think it's fair to say most) Latin jazz, which immediately adds some interest. Occasionally Gallo gets into dissonant terrain with his piano playing. On other tracks, he pulls out an electric organ. I'll try to say a little more later, on more careful listening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6oAiEZZ0I8

Sometimes I'm easy to please. I like multiple Latin-Jazz styles and accept that some may not seem as "new" as others, but still find them ok to listen to.

I would hardly posit reggaeton as the genre of the year (a, the concept alone is absurd, and b, I'm too attached to metal) but I do like the whole reggaeton/electro/New Wave thing that's been going on recently. And yes, that includes iDon, an album I actually like quite a bit.

Not sure why I like the Gallo as much as I do. It's not that different, but I find enough hooks scattered throughout to draw me in. I like the dissonant harmonic edge, though it would probably be too tame for, say, unperson. The youtube performance I linked to seems a little too stiff to me. I think I prefer the album version of the same composition. "Ventanas" has a distinctive blend of Rhodes piano and subtle metalic percussion. I could see this seguing well with something like Sun Ra's Lanquidity.

And to shift gears, Nina sent me links for this Dominican merenguera (?) but without a lot of context (okay, without any context):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LaYZGbZ2cI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qejJoLG7QOE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK2DIz2ugsQ

I think I have a crush on Juliana already.

I could see this seguing well with something like Sun Ra's Lanquidity.

Or maybe Soft Machine's Third is closer to the mark.

Oops, meant to italicize "I could see this. . ." since I was quoting myself. Anyway, I am not talking about Juliana there, obviously.

Here's where all the Latin albums I voted for in the 2009 Pazz & Jop poll landed...

Bebe - #1384 (I was the only vote)
Graciela Beltran - #1207 (me on my own again)
Bomba Estereo - #501 (one other person voted for them)
Don Omar - #1387 (alone again, naturally)
Girl In A Coma - #645 (one person with me on this one)
Natalia Lafourcade - #180 (THREE other voters!)
Paulina Rubio - #1093 (just me)
V/A - Si, Para Usted: The Funky Beats Of Revolutionary Cuba Vol. 2 - #654 (two votes)
Los Tigres del Norte - #599 (two votes)
Wisin y Yandel - #616 (two votes)

Oh, it's out? I saw the thread revive, but I didn't know it was actually out.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2010/01/20/2010-01-20_aventura_hits_lady_gaga_out_of_the_park_headlining_4_msg_shows__who_are_they.html

Even I didn't know they were playing. But, you know, I hate bachata, especially the pop variety. Still, four nights? That's impressive as hell.

apparently (or as of a day or two ago) feb the 10th is still available. kind of want to go for the experience of people going nuts in msg (never having been... on the other hand realize it'd probably get old after the first half-hour

I like how every article about Aventura now has this "and you've probably never heard of them" theme going.

yeah i got stuck on the "- who are they?" in the title for a few minutes

When I reviewed them live for the W. Post several years ago at a 6,000 (?) seat arena I was pleasantly surprised how their bachata came across live. Slightly less syrupy but still pop catchy and the females in the crowd especially loved them.

marc anthony showed up and did aguanile at last night's concert. they also announced a $50k contribution to haiti relief efforts.

Just some Friday evening merengue:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix4JCa24wUo

More: http://arrozconbeans.com/?p=2510

Hi all

A few top 10 2009 lists from Latin Beat magazine

2009 TOP TEN CDS

By Vicki Solá

1. Dave Santiago & Latin Affair/Rumbeando En El Solar/Dave Santiago & Latin Affair
2. Jimmy Bosch/A Millon!/JRGR Records
3. Annette A. Aguilar/The Day Waits For Nobody/Eagle Seeks Salmon Productions
4. Bobby Sanabria & TMSMO/Kenya Revisited Live/Jazzheads
5. Conjunto Imagen/Afinando/Muziq Records
6. La Excelencia/Mi Tumbao Social/Handle with Care Productions
7. Chembo Corniel/Things I Wanted to Do/Chemboro Records
8. Pablo Mayor & Folklore Urbano/Corazón/Chonta Records
9. Choco Orta/Ahora Mismo/Camínalo Records
10. Maña/Estamos Gozando, Vol. 2/Cookita Productions

By Luis Tamargo

1. The Cuban Masters Ensemble/Del Pasado al Presente/Obaniké
2. Mark Levine & the Latin Tinge/Off & On/Left Coast Clave
3. Paquito D'Rivera & WDR Big Band/Improvise-One/Connector
4. Orestes Vilató/It's About Time/Rafca
5. Paquito Hechavarría/Frankly/Calle 54
6. Bebo & Chucho Valdés/Juntos Para Siempre/Calle 54
7. Anacaona/The Buenavista Sisters' Social Club/Pa'ti Pa'mi
8. Various Artists/Samba Meets Boogie Woogie/Adventure Music
9. Andy Narell & Relator/University of Calypso/Heads-Up
10. Perico Hernández/Cuento en Clave/Guarapo

By Rudy Mangual
1. Mario Ortiz All Stars Band/Tributo 45 Aniversario/Zamora Music
2. José Lugo Orchestra/Guasabara/Norte
3. La Excelencia/Mi Tumbao Social/Handle With Care Productions
4. Rubén Blades/Cantares del Subdesarrollo/Rubén Blades Productions
5. Miguel Zenón/Esta Plena/Marsalis Music
6. Latin Giants of Jazz/Ven Baila Conmigo/Gigante
7. Chembo Corniel/Things I Wanted to Do/Chemboro Records
8. Pitingo/Souleria/Universal
9. Choco Orta/Ahora Mismo/Camínalo Records
10. Maña/Estamos Gozando Vol.2/Cookita Productions

By Nelson Rodríguéz
1. Latin Giants of Jazz/Ven Baila Conmigo/Gigante
2. Mario Ortiz All Star Band/Tributo 45 Aniversario/Zamora Music
3. Orquesta America/Siempre a Punto/Lujuria
4. José Lugo Orchestra/Guasabara/Norte
5. Bobby Sanabria & TMSMO/Kenya Revisited/Jazzheads
6. Rigo y su Obra Maestra/Latin Feeling/Obra Maestra
7. Poncho Sánchez/Psychedelic Blues/Concord Picante
8. Jimmy Bosch/A Millon/JRGR
9. Manny Silvera & Origen/Bassed In America/Origen
10. Orestes Vilató/It's About Time/RAF CA

By Elmer González
1. Miguel Zenón/Esta Plena/Marsalis Music
2. Rubén Blades/Cantares del Subdesarrollo/Rubén Blades Productions
3. Mario Ortiz All Stars Band/Tributo 45 Aniversario/Zamora Music
4. Truco y Zaperoko/En Plena Rumba/Lujuria
5. Charlie Sepúlveda/Sepúlveda Blvd./Turnaround
6. Chembo Corniel/Things I Wanted to Do/Chemboro
7. Choco Orta/Ahora Mismo/Caminalo Records
8. Cachete Maldonado/Rumba Boricua Campesina/Bata Records
9. Yan Carlos & Mario Hernández/Recuerdos Que Lleva el Viento/Y.C.Artime
10. Edwin Clemente/Aqui Traigo La Rumba/Lujuria

By Chico Alvarez
1. Mark Weinstein & Omar Sosa/Tales From The Earth/Ota
2. Bobby Sanabria & TMSMO/Kenya Revisited/Jazzheads
3. Henry Brun & The Latin Playerz/Rhythms and Reeds/Pulsar
4. Mimi Jones/A New Day/Hot Tone Music
5. Palo/This is Afro-Cuban Funk/Rolling Pin Music
6. Chembo Corniel/Things I Wanted to Do/Chemboro
7. Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge/Off and On/Left Coast Clave
8. Rolando y Sus Cha-Chamucos/Cha Cha Cheando/RMP
9. Venissa Santi/Bienvenida/Sunnyside
10. Cuban Masters Ensemble/Homenaje a Tata Güines/Obanike

By Jesse "Chuy" Varela
1. Poncho Sánchez/Psychedelic Blues/Concord Picante
2. Brian Lynch Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra/Bolero Nights for Billie Holiday/Venus Records
3. Miguel Zenón/Esta Plena/Marsalis Music
4. Orestes Vilató/It's About Time/Rafca
5. Mark Levine & The Latin Tinge/Off & On/Left Coast Clave
6. Avance/Intocable/Mona Records
7. Various Artists/Jelly's Club Havana Compilation/Jelly's
8. Wayne Wallace/Bien Bien/Patois Records
9. Bobi Cespedes/Patakin/BC
10. Anna Estrada/Obsesion/Feral Flight Productions

By Guido Herrera
1. José Lugo Orchestra/Guasabara/Caminalo Records
2. Latin Giants of Jazz/Ven Baila Conmigo/Gigante Records
3. Bobby Sanabria & TMSM/Kenya Revisited/Jazzheads
4. Mario Ortiz Jr. All Star Band/Tributo 45 Aniversario/ZMG
5. Bebo and Chucho Valdés/Juntos Para SIempre/Calle 54
6. Orestes Vilató/It's About Time/Rafca
7. Tiempo Libre/Bach in Havana/Sony
8. The Cuban Masters Ensemble/Del Pasado al Presente/Obanike Music
9. Chembo Corniel/Things I Wanted to Do/Chemboro Records
10. Perico Hernández/Cuento en Clave/Guarapo Records

We had a great show from La Excelencia and The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra at the Barbican Centre in London on Sunday night. It's a great venue for classical music, not so good for salsa but these two bands rocked the house, the energy from both bands was incredible.

The concert was recorded by the BBC and will be shown alongside the Latin Music USA series the next two Friday nights.... BBC have something called iPlayer on their website so I would guess these concerts might be available to watch there once they've aired. With that in mind I won't spoil things for you, a few highlights to watch for though;

Charlie La Excelencia - the greatest cowbell solo but nearly dropped his stick when he was showboating

American Sueno La Excelencia - highlight of the show

Big 3 doing a great La Cartera & Arsenio con Larry Harlow and Jimmy Bosch

Good review of the "Animals of Cuban Music" dvd here

http://www.timba.com/user_pages/665

I got sent a copy before Christmas, I need to make time to watch it now

Goood for the BBC for broadcasting some live current salsa footage alongside Latin Music USA.

Speaking of Cuban music, I like the first rumba-tinged song here, "Manana," from this Cuban-led timba band in Sweden:

http://www.myspace.com/richardortegaylajugada

The other two I don't care for (okay, I kind of hate the beginning of "No Entiendo"), though they have some good things going for them. The trombone sound is curiously similar to what I associate with Willie Colon, but from what I understand, that's not an intentional resemblance. (Anyway, it's atypical from a timba band, from what I've heard.)

http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/music/latin-world/story/1439969.html

Los Van Van to play Miami. Atmosphere is expected to be less heated and political than for their '90s visit.

bachata, el musical (spanish page) february 20 + 21 in jackson heights, nyc

Bachata is everywhere. I think that Prince Royce guy who does the bachata version of "Stand by Me" is coming to the DC area on Feb. 5 (Majestic in Falls Church, VA)

they have a punk attitude I like

I'm really ambivalent about the talk of La 33's attitude. I agree that salsa needs an approach less cloying than Gilberto Santa Rosa or Victor Manuelle's, but I don't think I am up for salsa with a punk attitude. I like the fact that the bar for technical competence in this genre is set fairly high. (Admittedly, all that technical competence has been leading to disappointing results for a while now. Maybe opening the genre up to more hands would at least lead to something fresher.)

To me all the emphasis on attitude in rock has become detrimental to that genre.

If you were at the Cargo London concert you'd understand, it was probably one of those "you had to be there" moments never to be repeated. I think Maslow calls it the point of self-actualisation.

More Juliana, this one hyper-speedy:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1787799

This song sounds so middle eastern or at least eastern:

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7f5sdw8DAM

Pretty bonkers.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/arts/music/28sobs.html?ref=music

I wonder if Unperson saw this Natalie Lafourcade gig?

Unfortunately, no. I didn't find out about it until the morning of, and the idea of an acoustic gig didn't appeal to me much. Had she brought her full band I'd probably have made the effort.

I don't think I am up for salsa with a punk attitude. I like the fact that the bar for technical competence in this genre is set fairly high.

I would be if it meant something that sounded like the very early Willie Colón/Héctor Lavoe albums from '69/'70, or the early stuff by Fruko y sus Tesos. Those were instrumentally pretty raw, and sonically primitive, but they've got awesome levels of energy.

Agreed. I do like the early Willie Colón stuff, even though he was still pretty raw as you say, and Fruko. Maybe if we speak in terms of energy rather than attitude, I am more sympathetic to what marcosmarcos was saying (as if "energy" and "attitude" aren't both pretty vague). On the other hand, I'm not necessarily going to be excted by an imitation of those earlier sounds.

To go back to the Juliana videos that nobody has commented on whatsoever, on repeated listens "Estupido" sounds a lot less average to me than it did at first. There's a lot packed into the vocal lines, some twists and turns in the melody. (I swear it sounds Greek at one point.) I also like the way the vocal line grows unexpectedly longer and longer (half-spoken) at certain points. And I think her voice and singing are excellent. I do realize that this sort of merengue can be an acquired taste. (The highly mannered backing vocals can be annoying at times, but I'm mostly used to them at this point; though I still don't get why they sound that way.)

I'm listening to La 33 now and...it's okay. I don't hate it, but I don't hear anything revolutionary or "punk" about what they do. The production's not overly slick, which is nice, but it's gonna take a couple of listens for me to decide whether there's anything special about them.

doubt i'll even try it but awesome cover

I was listening to this mix and I was like: how do they make that squeaky sound like it's coming behind me when I am just playing this on cheap PC speakers? Then I realized it was my chair squeaking as I jiggled my leg.

Some of these mixes use a lot of what sounds like Afro-Cuban orisha song samples, even though there isn't necessarily much else that is Cuban about the music. That's fine with me since I like that sound and at the same time can't necessarily listen to a ton of the pure stuff at one time.

The Calle 13 is a very good album. Might still like the Shakira record more, it's like Zen compared with everything else I love this year though.

I think the Calle 13 is pretty good, still a bit uneven but probably their most consistent album so far.

What do you think of 3BallMTY=tribal guarachero?

chico ye's tikal mixtape (cumbia/reggaeton/pre-hispanic)

cero39 - cumbia anti
sonido de la frontera - mariposa (dub)
chancha via circuito - con la misma moneda
chico ye - la primorosa
julio voltio - edit
dj morphius - para que la pista
chico ye - reggaeton rhythm trax 1
sonido rampage y nader - crazie
frikstailers - kalise
los macuanos - erick rincon remix
manuel palafox - tumbao
dj retro - prehispanik drum
dj javier estrada - mitotiani youaltika

pre-hispanic?

Is there also post-Hispanic?

Not trying to be snarky, the opposite actually, what does pre-Hispanic mean?

i was just copying the arbitrary genre tag verbatim but i believe in general it ends up being a reference to tribal guarachero, earlier on it was called "tribal pre-hispanic", referencing the particular types of flutes and chants and drums used.

Pre-Hispanic: before Spanish conquest. There are often token samples of indigenous music in this stuff.

i love that mentioning indigenous music and native and pre-colonialism etc was completely skipped in my description

Thanks guys. I should have figured that out on my own

Speaking of pre-colonialism, Ned Sublette discussed slavery and Cuba and the US yesterday in the fascinating hour panel at George Mason with Kip Hanrahan and DC dj Jim Byers. They jumped around from discussing Cuban jazz guys in NYC now like Dafnis Prieto to historical differences between African-American and Cuban musical approaches to prejudices against Puerto Rican artists to basic stuff about mambo versus salsa to musicologist details and anecdotes about Chano Pozo and Joe Cuba and the Gonzalez Brothers and Dizzy Gillespie and Cuban religious practices and religious drumming post-Castro in Cuba versus Cuban exiles and us versus them attitudes in the South Bronx and crossover pop...Those are just a few things touched upon.

Alas, they had no time to discuss salsa 2010 or what these folks think of current club styles or bachata or merengue or street mambo...

Orchesta Leyenda, a DC band, performed afterwards and as usual I jealously watched some of the impressive dancers who looked so sharp yet relaxed. They make it look so easy.

Rudiph, that Daddy Yankee release is growing on me.

tail end of (sweden?)'s dj emil + others' show boomshakalaka is on here

aw that might be it actually. when i tuned in some nice bachata i'd never heard was on but now it's gone dubstep.

uploaded to mixcloud here

Erick Rincon's "Manos Arriba 2.0" is pretty damn good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IoXKOKFjsE

I realize that I'm stretching my own thread boundaries a bit here, but this is definitely Latin and it feels Afro-Latin to me. (I was just doing a search and apparently Lex mentioned this earlier this year in one of his quarterly reports, so hats off.)

Julian doing Christmas music:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHhYtWSdcw0

Just noticed these local shows in the DC area:

Fri. Dec. 10-Omega el Fuerte at Copocabana in Hyattsville, MD for $50. I saw El Gran Combo here many years back. It's a nice big space.

Sun. Dec. 12 Voltio at Galaxy in Hyattsville

Sun. Dec. 12 Los Horoscopos du Durango at East Coast in Woodbridge (this last one should really go on the banda/duranguese/norteno thread0

Latin Beat Magazine contributors lists for 2010

http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html

I wanted to hear that Isaac Delgado album but never did. It's not too late I guess.

Again (not that anyone was talking about it): why does tribal belong on this thread? Because when I'm listening to it I start pulling out moves I haven't necessarily touched since I took some west African dancing classes decades ago. The rhythms feel pretty African to me, wherever they actually are coming from.

(I was never very good at all at African dancing, incidentally.)

Man, I've been delinquent, both on this thread and in figuring out why I liked what Afro-Latin I liked this year. BUT you all may be interested to note that Daddy Yankee's "Vida En la Noche", my favorite single of the year, is the #54 single on <a href="http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/134407-the-60-best-singles-of-2010/";>PopMatters's year-end list</a>. Which may just mean I was the only person who voted for it but I voted it #1. Who can tell? That album was really good.

(I need to review the formatting guide.)

kafit - si tú fueras

i don't think i'd normally be into it but i can look at miami all day and the track isn't bad when he's not going diva on the vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzpDuIBFl3M

BUT you all may be interested to note that Daddy Yankee's "Vida En la Noche", my favorite single of the year, is the #54 single on PopMatters's year-end list. Which may just mean I was the only person who voted for it but I voted it #1. Who can tell? That album was really good.

I just skimmed that list and missed that fact. I love that song and the whole album (even though there are a couple tracks I'm meh about on their own).

I just wanted to say I started reading Oye Como Va! Hyrbidity and Identity in Latino Popular Music by Deborah Pacini Hernandez, and it looks excellent. Partly I'm just excited to read something that talks so much about things I've listened to in very recent years.

http://www.amazon.com/Oye-Como-Va-Hybridity-Identity/dp/1439900906/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1291928792&sr=1-1

I should read that too.

Sometimes it seems that books are the place to turn to for good reporting on hard news type current events; maybe that applies to music as well. Sort of the informal media of blogs, boards, etc. on the one hand and books on the other.

I knew "Hyrbidity" looked wrong but I didn't see what was out of place, and even "Hybridity" looks funny (and the spell check doesn't like either one).

Higherbidity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv8W-qt7qS8

I need to get that; I've got a book proposal in the hopper at a different university press about US Latinos' contributions to metal and punk, and that book probably doesn't deal with that overmuch but would still be worth a read.

No, I don't think it's going to touch on punk and metal much, but it does deal with rock and the identity issues related to taking up rock in general (but then if you looked at the table of contents you already know that). This author also wrote a very well-regarded book on bachata, which for some reason I've never read, but which I've always had in the back of my mind as something that would be worth reading.

Actually her book on bachata is probably very nearly THE book on bachata, in English.

I wish a reggaeton album cover really would look this classy for a change:

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=8368986

Ben Ratliff in the NY Times on his boredom with the current 2010 Los Van Van live show:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/arts/music/09van.html?ref=music

lex posted this on the magazine EOY list thread, but I think it's worth re-posting. Not sure how much I'd like the song minus the video but I do like the combination:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej8s1wgGMIQ

Some of her other work sounds closer to Ivy Queen's songs from several years back (though I wouldn't say her vocals really sound that similar):

http://www.myspace.com/princesavale

I like the beat and the video, and find it interesting that she's much more connected to the dancehall side of reggaeton than the Latin pop side (there's a photo on her MySpace page of her with Mad Professor and Macka B) but the timbre of her voice doesn't work for me; it grates on my ear.

i'm ok with it. her myspace says she's from argentina?

Yeah, some quick googling turns up connections to the nu-cumbia scene (or whatever it's called) there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SV9nbvwflE

a good live clip of antony santos doing voy pa'lla

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oFG_EQo5Kw

Latest Ivy Queen news:

http://www.examiner.com/latin-music-entertainment-in-los-angeles/ivy-queen-s-sex-being-questioned-again

I think this is a new Wisin & Yandel track (from their forthcoming Los Vaqueros: El Regreso). Didn't they just break up a year ago, or something like that hahaha?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eti8Zb7fHt0

Still in their new generic club dance vein, I'd say.

Another high-budget, thoughtfully crafted video there.

I don't know, that track kinda sucks compared with some of the stuff on their last couple of albums.

I like Frankie Vazquez, but I wish he would direct his talents toward something other than recreating the mambo golden age. Anyway new album from Mambo Legends Orchestra (which is some sort of version of the same Tito Puente legends or whatever that he's been singing with for while):

http://www.myspace.com/mambolegendsorchestra

Afro-Latin Music Thread 2011: danzon, son, bolero, plena, vallenato, candombe, mambo de calle, tribal guarachero, etc.