Born Jose Calderon in Spanish Harlem N.Y.C. of Puerto Rican parentage, conga player anad bandleader Joe Cuba was one of the most successful N.Y. Latin artists in crossing over to non-hispanic audiences. At the forefront of the Latin boogaloo trend, which incorporated black music in a fusion of Latin rhythms and piano montunos with R&B and even jazz, his sextet used English to penetrate the American public, sometimes using themes which incorporated the two languages. Tnis CD of some of the finest work by the Joe Cuba Sextet is compiled from the five key albums Steppin Out, Diggin' The Most, Comin' At You , Breakin' Out, and Para Enamorados Siempre, which they recorded for the revered N.Y. Seeco label from 1962-64. The Joe Cuba Sextet played more than boogaloo. As you will hear on this CD, their repertoire features superb Latin-jazz, joyful mambo, cha cha, bolero, guaracha and other Afro-Cuban rythms including a grooving version of Tito Puente's 'Oye Como Va'.

Orchestra Harlow - Heavy Smokin' (1965) {Original Fania Remasters 463 950 9052-2 rel 2010}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 299 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 102 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 51 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965, 2010 Fania Records / Codigo Music | 463 950 9052-2
Latin / Salsa / Guaracha / Boogaloo / Tropical

Larry Harlow's debut release in the Fania family, 1965's Heavy Smokin' helped to establish him in the New York salsa explosion as an authoritative yet non-Latino voice, very uncommon in the day. Considering the youth of the movement, there was not a long enough time line to produce informed, qualified converts; most of the music was being made by native sons. Harlow, working as a bandleader and recording for the premier salsa label in the world, and affectionately dubbed "el judío marvilloso" (the marvelous Jew), had clearly won the respect not only of fans, but also of the most important movers and shakers of the day.

Chuito & The Latin Uniques - From the Street (1967) {Speed–Fania 773 130 356-2 rel 2008}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 283 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 112 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 46 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1967, 2008 Speed / Fania / Universal / Emusica | 773 130 356-2
Latin / Boogaloo / Latin Soul / Funk

n the late 60s, Latin New York was dominated by the boogaloo and Latin Soul. From the music’s first flowering with Johnny Colon’s “Boogaloo Blues” and “Joe Cuba’s ‘Bang Bang” it was clear that this sound of the 2nd and 3rd generation New York born children of Puerto Rican immigrants was bringing a new fervour, mixing traditional Latin music with the sounds of the soul music that was in the air of the city. For the next few years, until it was blown away by the juggernaut of salsa this was the sound of Latin New York.