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Various: Latin Party
ByThe music certainly has a party atmosphere and it gets right off the bat with "Big Apple Boogaloo." The beat is irresistible and the groove is funky, deep and upbeat. With hip hop, rap and plenty of soul from the lead singer, the Brooklyn Funk Essentials hit the spot.
More dance music comes from Ska Cubano, a band with members from Cuba, Jamaica and the UK. "Yiri Yiri Bon" works a ska back-beat with the son, a seamless mesh that uses the tenor saxophone, the trumpet and the piano to voice and extend the melody effectively. The mix is made all the more potent by singer Billy Berry, who draws passion out of every syllable.
Ska and reggae have a common heritage and they find their nook on the instrumental "Las Calles de Medellin" from the Coffee Makers. The pumping ensemble passages are given a larger context by stylistic solos from the tenor sax and the trombone before the trumpet takes it all up a notch.
The mood never flags on this high flying compilation that will zap the blues away.
Track Listing
Big Apple Boogaloo; Buena Suerte; Son de Nueva York; Electric Boogaloo; Rico Montuno; Asi Se Compone Un Son; Las Calles de Medellin; Cumbia del Caribe; Mi Gente; Regi Bugalu; Ni Tilingo Ni Titingo; Yir1 Yiri Bon.
Personnel
Brooklyn Funk Essentials; Luis Mangual: percussion; Raul Paz: vocals; Yerba Buena: Xilmara Laugart: vocals; andy Gonzales: bass; Yosvany Terry: saxophone; Roy Hargrove: trumpet; Brian Lynch: trumpet; Descemer Bueno: backing vocals; Mas Bajo; Cecilia Noel: vocals; Coffee Makers; Fruko y Orquesta; A.B. Quintanilla III & Kumbia Kings featuring Ozomatli; The Quantic Soul Orchestra; Orquesta Lo Nuestro; Ska Cubano.
Album information
Title: Latin Party | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Putumayo World Music