Mega Rap is a 1994 compilation highlighting some of the prized hip-hop of the early 1990's and maybe a few from hip-hop's first successful decade, the 1980's. This was released on the Scandinavian label Arcade.

A master conguero, Santamaria at his best creates an incantatory spell rooted in Cuban religious rituals, quietly seating himself before his congas and soloing with total command over the rhythmic spaces between the beats while his band pumps out an endless vamp.

The success of the Buena Vista Social Club series gave Cuban singer Ibrahim Ferrer the chance to finally begin his dream project in 2005, the recording of an entire album of bolero pieces, the musical form Ferrer loved above all others. Unfortunately the 78-year-old singer died in August of that year while sessions for the project were still underway, and that Mi Sueсo (My Dream) exists at all is in itself a small miracle. Ferrer left behind high-quality vocal demos of the boleros he still intended to record for the album, but these tapes were apparently misplaced and Ferrer's dream seemed destined to go unfulfilled. The demos were eventually recovered, and Mi Sueсo has finally seen the light of day. It is the perfect goodbye from Ferrer, a fitting and beautiful last testament that spotlights his easy and smoky vocals over subtle, non-intrusive arrangements generally featuring pianist Roberto Fonseca, guitarist Manuel Galbon, and bassist Cachito Lopez.

Often referred to as 'Electronic-Milonga' or 'neo-tango' and founded in 2003 in Barcelona by Argentine musician Miguel Di Genova, with Emmanuel Mayol, Omar Massa and Diego Ramos making up the band. They reference the classic tango artists from the 1920's and 30's, such as Gardel, Razzano and D'Arienzo for their inspiration and source. But it's what they do to it that brings it kicking and screaming into the 21st century - in exuberant fashion - that makes it such great new music. You will certainly hear samples of Carlos Gardél's 1930s vocals, with Astor Piazzolla's accordian thrown in to the mix. This second album and their debut were smash hits in Argentina and although they could be difficult to find, they're well worth the effort.

Heart is a studio album by French singer Amanda Lear, first released in 2001 by Le Marais Prod. The album was recorded in 2001 at Barouf Studio and Studio Wolf with French producers FX Costello and Laurent Wolf, and was Lear's first album ever to be recorded entirely in France. It was also her first studio release of new material in six years, since 1995's Alter Ego. In an interview, the singer explained that the long gap resulted from her lack of enthusiasm after numerous budget compilations started to appear on the market without her consent. She also revealed that on this album she was given more artistic freedom than before, and decided to include more melodic and sentimental songs. Lear stated that Heart was the album "she has always wanted to make" and that originally, she planned to called it Phoenix.

This overlooked gem has thirty two tracks of great music. The list includes: Herbie Hancock, Lou Donaldson, Stan Kenton, Horace Silver, Joe Henderson, Candido, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell and Willie Bobo among others. In fact you get two compact discs of latin fused jazz.

The original Spanish crooner to the stars returns with his first studio work since 1996's TANGO with NOCHE DE CUATRO LUNAS. This first-class production moves deftly back and forth between the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas, navigating a swirl of arid flamenco melodies, Caribbean rhythms and cosmopolitan electronic pop finesse. The enlisting of such winning producers and songwriters as Rene L. Toledo and Robbi Draco Rosa seals the album's course for international appeal. As always with Senor Iglesias, romance is the name of the game.

The second album of this great Spanish progressive band was released on local Chapa Discos in 1979 although it sounded more like it came out 5 years earlier! Bloque’s powerful and very melodic record (sung in Spanish) was mostly inspired by awesome Italian progressive bands like P.F.M., Banco, Museo Rosenbach and Biglietto Per l'lnFerno, albeit mid-70’s Genesis, early Camel and even Black Sabbath influences were also evident. Sextet offered varied, imaginative and beautifully-arranged, short, but often connected songs characterized by excellent production, solid and quite heavy guitar parts, memorable and inventive keyboards phrases, fine drumming and strong, Italian-like vocals. This fantastic, but still relatively unknown record will delight most fans of creative, progressive music.

Roque Baños se encuentra trabajando en la banda sonora del drama Adú (2020) dirigido por Salvador Calvo y protagonizado por Luis Tosar, Anna Castillo, Álvaro Cervantes, Jesús Carroza y Miquel Fernández.La cinta nos cuenta tres historias diferenciadas pero con un punto en común: la pobreza de África y la situación tan extrema en la que se encuentran las personas que viven allí. Al intentar llegar a Europa, un niño pequeño y su hermana mayor están agazapados en un aeropuerto, a la espera de poder introducirse en las bodegas de un avión y escapar del continente. Mientras tanto, un activista medioambiental tendrá que luchar contra la caza furtiva de animales, a la vez que lucha con los problemas de su hija. Por otro lado, un grupo de guardias civiles tendrá que preparase para la cantidad de personas que intentan saltar la valla en Melilla, en un intento por escapar de sus vidas y encontrar un lugar mejor.Adú tiene previsto su estreno el 31 de enero de 2020.

Víctor Lidio Jara Martínez was a Chilean teacher, theater director, poet, singer-songwriter, and political activist. He developed Chilean theater by directing a broad array of works, ranging from locally produced plays to world classics, as well as the experimental work of playwrights such as Ann Jellicoe. He also played a pivotal role among neo-folkloric musicians who established the Nueva Canción Chilena (New Chilean Song) movement. This led to an uprising of new sounds in popular music during the administration of President Salvador Allende. Jara was arrested shortly after the Chilean coup of 11 September 1973, which overthrew Allende. He was tortured during interrogations and ultimately shot dead, and his body was thrown out on the street of a shantytown in Santiago. The contrast between the themes of his songs, which focused on love, peace, and social justice, and the brutal way in which he was murdered transformed Jara into a "potent symbol of struggle for human rights and justice" for those killed during the regime of Augusto Pinochet.

Hits back to the '50s from Colombia's Disco Fuentes label, with history sweeping consistency aside–any gringo can tell Conjunto Tipico Vallenato's accordion side-closers are country and Rodolfo's coffee commercial isn't. But even if the accordion stuff belongs on a vallenata comp, it passes muster on a collection where at least half the songs bristle with the exigente hooks that sell classic pop the world over. And the unmistakable beat runs down a consummate South American groove, halfway between Euro clomp and Afro hipshake.

Energy Compilation is a 1995 compilation CD featuring some of the best and tightest Eurohouse and Eurodance of the era, making it even more tight. This was released by Argentinian label Musidisc, which makes it even tighter. Stay moist with these grooves.

Corazón is Carlos Santana's first album for a major label since 2002's Shaman. It marks his reunion with executive producer Clive Davis, who masterminded 1999's multi-platinum Supernatural. Billed by RCA as his "first Latin album," Corazón is the studio counterpart to the guitarist's HBO Latino concert special that featured his band performing with a host of Latin music superstars in his native Mexico. The singing was (as it is here) mostly in Spanish. For the most part, Santana actually sounds hungry again. His studio band is filled with killers, including drummer Dennis Chambers, timbalero Karl Perazza, and conguero Raul Rekow. Opener "Saideira" features his trademark tone in a passionate, stinging, gritty exchange with vocalist Samuel Rosa, from the Brazilian rock and reggae band Skank. Jittering, insistent horns and layers of percussion push both men to escalate the battle. Juanes lends his soulful croon to first single "La Flaca." It's got an anthemic hook with layers of backing vocals framing Santana's tight and tasty solos.

A documentary on the great pianists of the twentieth century, introduced, written and narrated by David Dubal. Featuring the music of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Clementi, Debussy, Field, Grainger, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Padarewski, Rachmaninov, Schubert, Scriabin and Weber. Featuring musicians Claudio Arrau, Alexander Brailowsky, Van Cliburn, Alfred Cortot, Glenn Gould, Percy Grainger, Myra Hess, Josef Hoffmann, Vladimir Horowitz, Wanda Landowska, Ignacy Paderewski, Artur Rubinstein, and Rudolf Serkin. Bonus: Claudio Arrau Centenary reissued of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

"Amar Es" is the 8th studio album recorded by Mexican singer-songwriter Cristian Castro. It was released by Sony BMG Latin on September 30, 2003. This album was produced by Emilio Estefan, Jr., Randall M. Barlow, Federico Ehrlich, Roberto Livi and Rudy Pérez. Amar Es, which translates to English as "To Love Is", is notable for its eclectic use of languages and musical styles. The song "Why", for example, is in English, whilst the single "No Hace Falta" combines Japanese and Latin pop. On the other hand, tracks such as the successful single "Te Llamé" hold fast to Castro's Latin-pop roots.