The Second Case of the Uptown Latin Sound

Today we continue a survey of some new additions to my latin music collection.

Earlier this month we did another "barefoot latin dance party," hearing rootsy and rustic sounds hailing from eastern Cuba. Today we plant ourselves firmly in Havana for the first hour, hearing the swanky uptown ballroom sounds of Mambo and Bolero that would conquer the world in the late 40s and 50s. Featured artists include vocalists Beny More and Roberto Faz, along with the singer some call Cuba's Elvis (except a decade earlier):  Miguelito Valdes, the original Mr. Babalu (sorry Desi fans).

In the second hour today we do that thing we often do, following the 50s sound from Cuba across to Nueva Yorica, where the music absorbed influences from a broad latin diaspora (especially Puerto Ricans), as well as from US musical movements such as soul and funk. This hour begins with classic 50s/60s ballroom sounds (Machito, etc) before moving into the true fusion sounds of the 70s (Coco Lagos, etc).

Pure fun today on the Adventures.