Tropicology - Episode 154: Latin Summer Chill (Copy)

Today’s episode is staying on that summer groove vibe, but I am shifting focus to Latin America. Funky latin sounds have always felt like summertime music to me. I picked up this association from my earliest media memories, some mixture of the Electric Company, Chico and the Man, and Fame. Any time I see footage of kids opening a fire hydrant to play on an urban street corner, I expect to hear bongos, timbales, and a funky bassline… soundtrack by Santana, War, and Tower of Power. That music was never paired with winter scenes… it was always about summer. Today I am conjuring that spirit of brownstone stoops, block parties, and spray painted subway cars. We’ll kick off with some Latin Jazz and descarga; then we’ll move on to Latin Funk and even a few Latin reggae covers; and the show ends with a set of funky, mostly newish Cumbia tracks from Colombia.