Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2017: Salsa, Bomba, Merengue,Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin Jazz, Bolero and more

Another year

Vamanos pal hilo Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2016: Salsa, Bomba, Merengue,Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin-Jazz and more

Last year

Added bolero into title, but not Cubaton (decided the latter is covered by reggaeton).

Thanks

I hope something worth talking about happens this year, other than the deaths of musical giants.

From timberamayor's new timba thread over on salsaforums. This is from last year, but given the speed at which the subject of this thread moves, I think that's okay. Some nice things going on, on this:

https://www.facebook.com/170477913015585/videos/1303029873093711/

The vocals are the most appealing part for me.

Interesting Bandcamp article on Puerto Rican punk-salsa group Orquesta El Macabeo...

Just realized it's been over five years since the last Michael Stuart album. How about an album of him singing some new salsa dura and not more tribute to this tribute to that?

http://www.latinomusiccafe.com/2014/07/27/michael-stuart-rocks-with-return-to-salsa-single/

Yep. Saw this 2014 one-off song from him. He did some live gigs in 2016, but no album.

I completely missed that song. Will need to listen a few times. On first listen, it seems more serviceable than truly noteworthy.

N#d S*blette has been raving about this group who have been visiting NYC this weekend. They're at the SOBs club in NYC tonight and the below is from the club's site

SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO

As diplomatic tensions thaw, the dance floor heats up with the U.S. debut of one of Cuba’s most essential bands. Winner of the 2015 Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Album, Septeto Santiaguero honed its sound at Santiago de Cuba’s famous nightclub Casa de la Trova. Balancing reverence for tradition with an adventurous streak that has sparked collaborations with salsa stars like José Alberto “El Canario” and Rubén Blades, the band knows how to keep crowds moving wherever they go.

Pareles in NY Times :

Septeto Santiaguero, which was formed in 1995 to revive 1940s- and 1950s-style Cuban pop with a slight twist: adding a conga drummer to make it an eight-man septet. Driven by conga and bongos, topped with acoustic guitar and solos plucked on the tres, with trumpet cheekily answering the singers, it was sly, romantic, definitively Cuban and not just for local delight.

they were... fine? don't get the hubbub.

Cubanophiles will be that way.

Balancing reverence for tradition with an adventurous streak that has sparked collaborations with salsa stars like José Alberto “El Canario” and Rubén Blades

Are they supposed to represent "the new?" Pretty cutting edge. (Not that there is much of a cutting edge at this point.)

^ That reminds me of a friend interviewing Marcos Valle and asking if he would be playing mostly old stuff and he said "no, I've got some more recent stuff too" and as an example mentioned a single of his from the 80's.

Residente from Calle 13 has a NSFW video for his new solo song "Somos Anormales". Its ok

Ugh; Willie Colón comes out pro-Trump.

“I think he should have more salsa at his events.”

Ugh; Willie Colón comes out pro-Trump.

Some refreshingly sensible comments from him there, though I wouldn't criticize performers who want to boycott the inauguration. Considering who Trump was running against, I am relieved he won. He's not the only lifetime Democrat to vote for Trump.

But then again, I don't believe in open borders either.

Considering who Trump was running against, I am relieved he won.

OK, bye now. I have no interest in continuing this conversation.

I don't agree with Rudiph either. Trump's Supreme Court nominees will not be helpful

Just watched some video of afro-Venezuelan singing and percussion ensemble Betsayda Machado y la Parranda el Clavo at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Good stuff

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/arts/music/residente-calle-13-solo-album-interview.html?_r=0

Residente traced his genealogy and traveled to those various parts of the world linked to his heritage to record his new solo effort. Plus he discovered he's 3rd cousins of the Hamilton director Miranda. I haven't heard the new album yet.

I forget whether I have heard Don Omar song that's #1 on a Billboard chart

I was the only vote for Ile: Canibal in the Voice critics poll song/track list

This year is the 20th anniversary of Silencio = Muerte: Red Hot + Latin. Remember when "rock en español" was a thing?

Less crossover interest but things like the LAMC still happen

Latin Alternative Music Conference (LAMC) ... JULY 11th - 15th, 2017 NEW YORK CITY REGISTRATION COMING SOON

plus this:

http://www.npr.org/sections/altlatino/2017/01/11/509141239/the-alt-latino-spring-2017-new-music-preview

Café Tacuba and others

Oh, I know it still exists - the new Chicano Batman album is great. I mostly meant "a thing" as in "a thing you could get English-language editors to give a shit about."

Sadly, too many editors (and music critics) seem to be only interested in English language indie, plus pop and rap

Cuban acts remain trendy for some fests and concert halls. This is from the just announced New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest where Meghan Trainor and other big pop names will headline while on a smaller stage:

CUBA COMES TO JAZZ FEST:

Los Van Van ; Chucho Valdes Quintet ; Gente de Zona; Pedrito Martinez and the Rumba
; Telmary y Habana Sana of Cuba; Adonis y Osain del Monte of Cuba; Septeto Santiaguero of Cuba ; Changüí Guantánamo of Cuba; Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro of Cuba; Daymé Arocena of Cuba ; Conga Los Hoyos of Cuba; Grupo Caury of Cuba ;

I just turned in a Q&A with a Cuban metal band to Bandcamp. I included their answers in the original Spanish, alongside the translations, in case anyone reading was interested.

Winner

Donde Están? by Jose Lugo & Guasábara Combo

Best Tropical Latin Grammy winner at last night's award show

Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album: Ilevitable.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7686370/jose-lugo-surprise-latin-winner-grammys

the award went posthumously to Lugo and his Guasábara Combo for Dónde Están?, his last album before he succumbed to cancer in June 2016.

Lugo, a pianist, producer and bandleader, was no stranger to the Grammys; in 2006, Gilberto Santa Rosa’s Directo al corazón, produced by Lugo, won Best salsa album. And Lugo himself was nominated for his album Guasábara in 2010.

But death is powerful when it comes to awards. Already respected as a musician, Lugo was suddenly front and center after battling cancer, and losing, at only 56 years old.

from that Billboard article: Fonseca, fresh from winning a Latin Grammy (for Best tropical song), seemed a shoe-in with his adventuresome Conexión.

Still haven't listened to those 2 but intend to

Eh the Fonseca album's pop sheen is too gloppy

Finally listened to the Grammy winning late Lugo and his Guasábara Combo-- Dónde Están?.

Nice solid salsa and a cut near the end that has a Brazilian carnival drums feel to it.

Ben Ratliff, former NY Times critic and others liked his late 2008 “Guasábara” (Norte) album that has a mini-orchestra on it with 9 horn players and 5 percussionists plus guest vocalists.

A current freelancer for NY Times on Latin jazz folks like Pedrito Martínez, Alfredo Rodríguez and Arturo O’Farrill and David Virelles and bassist Luques Curtis. Martinez is a great rumba percussionist and more.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/arts/music/grammys-latin-jazz.html?_r=0

gio's good people and a solid writer

He used to be down here in the DC area and yes, good people. As for what he's writing about--As I have previously noted here--too much Latin jazz seems formulaic to me in a manner that does not wow me, but I will give a shot to listening to some of the folks he mentioned that I have not previously heard.

Salsa can also be criticized as formulaic, but I like that Pedro Lugo farewell release more than most Latin jazz.

Jose Lugo I mean.

Listened to a bit of Jose Lugo and his orchestra on the 2008 Guasábara album. Good stuff. He's not quite hard enough salsa I am guessing for some, but his arrangements aren't wimpy either.

Listening now to last year's album. They sound like they'd rather be playing bad Latin jazz. The rhythm is solid though.

Lugo was an arranger and band leader at times for singers like Santa Rosa and Manuelle that you have rarely praised, so I don't expect you to be impressed

Lugo did lose in the Latin musicians only Grammys held earlier:

Best Salsa Album
Grupo Niche, 35 Aniversario
WINNER: India, Intensamente India Con Canciones De Juan Gabriel
José Lugo & Guasábara Combo, ¿Dónde Están?
Bobby Valentín, Mi Ritmo Es Bueno
Johnny Ventura, Tronco Viejo

He also used to play with another nominee there-- Bobby Valentin

Aka "Mr. Soul"

Lugo was an arranger and band leader at times for singers like Santa Rosa and Manuelle that you have rarely praised, so I don't expect you to be impressed.

Funny, I've had "Perdoname" popping in and out of my head lately. I still kind of like that song, I think just because it was one of the songs from my first salsa dance classes.

I just got The Vitral Saxophone Quartet's Kites Over Havana album off bandcamp. It's some beautiful Cuban style chamber music. Pre-ordered the new Chano Dominguez album while I was there, because I'm in love with that Flamenco Sketches Miles tribute album he did a few years back. I shouldn't really be spending money on music right now, but couldn't resist these two.

didn't really like the new Chano Dominguez which is a pleasant but fairly undistinguished live solo piano recording. But was happy to pay for it after leeching the rest of his gear off slsk.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/arts/music/dave-valentin-dead-latin-jazz-flutist.html?_r=0

Had a stroke in 2012, plus Parkinson's

RIP. Liked him in Tito Puente's Golden Latin Jazz All-Stars

Colombia's Maluma is performing at a 10,000 seat arena near Washington DC . Just listened to him for first time. He's pop-reggaeton. Kinda formulaic but ok

I think its been years since anyone here on this type of thread was enthusiastic about reggaeton (although I think someone who's on the Afropop/afrobeats auto-tuned African club thread is a fan)

Isidro Infante (where has he been?) has a new album featuring Cuban vocalists singing Puerto Rican salsa:

https://open.spotify.com/album/3JgWMmWDZeR6AOHJdydvhJ

"Salsa y Control" with Mayito Rivera will work on the dancefloor. I think the Lebron Brothers live in Colombia extended version is definitive, but it's pretty lengthy.

Haila singing "La Vida Es un Carnival" is an unimaginative choice, but I kind of hate that song anyway. Give her something that wasn't sung by Celia.

This "Fuego la Jicotea" is pretty on point though. Can't do that any more, unfortunately.

Overall this still seems like more cover versions that never needed to exist. I've only skimmed it, but that seems pretty clear.

I think I should wait to post until something I genuinely like comes along. This could be a long wait.

I'm switching over to the new tqd, but I think I've heard everything on the album already, via their soundcloud.

ILM's 2017 Rolling Latin and Afro-Latin Thread Spotify Playlist

Slim pickins galore.

it's true.

I wonder how much that is because of us (the choices from the few of us here) and how much due to the state of the music

i would presume the latter; there's lots in the field to choose from, a broad variety of popular styles and not many folks on this board who specialize in latin popular music. fewer still who like to talk about it!

It's the state of the music in the styles that the people who post on this thread care about. I'm certainly not that interested in Latin music in the broadest sense, as such.

Just for comparison for anyone who cares who isn't already familiar with it (probably an empty category), this is the original Dejame Sonar recorded by Tito Puente and Tony Vega. This is why we don't need the new, somewhat softer version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvlTkhsJQhs

Way more bite.

As others have said, I wish Cubans would go back to singing like Benny More sang, and drop the annoying rootsy nasal/old lady timbre. I know a lot of people like it and it's got roots in rumba, but I find it really annoying.

Just watched 2014 movie "The Chef" and I like the soundtrack. Available on 2 volumes. It includes:

https://www.amazon.com/Original-Soundtrack-Album-Various-Artists/dp/B00JO739MG

I Like It Like That

by Pete Rodriguez

Homenaje Al Beny (Castellano Que Bueno Baila Usted)

by Gente de Zona

Bang Bang--Joe Cuba

Kinda obvious to some stuff, but hey, still nice to hear

How some of DC's latin dance community does it:

TWO Ballrooms - Salsa/Mambo y Bachata/Kizomba/Zouk
★ Dancing til 3am

Mr. Mambo's 12yrs Anniversary Bash is Going Down SAT APRIL 22, 2017 w/Mardi Gras Masquarade Theme at the Hollywood Ballroom!

Join us in Celebrating DC's Premier & Longest Running Salsa & Bachata Social Consistently serving the DC/MD/VA Latin Dance Community with the TOP Local Instructors, HOTTEST DJs, and the BEST Dancefloors for the past 12 years!

SATURDAY APRIL 22, 2017

HIGHLIGHTS:
★ Special Workshop & Performance by NYC's Jacob Lugo & Selena Tornez
★ Mardi Gras Theme, Dress Code Festive w/Masquerade Masks
★ (4) Salsa & Bachata Workshops w/Top Local Instructors
★ Show at 11:30pm- More Groups TBA
★ TWO Ballrooms - Salsa/Mambo y Bachata/Kizomba/Zouk
★ Dancing til 3am

WHERE: HOLLYWOOD BALLROOM DANCE CENTER, 2126 Industrial Parkway, Silver Spring, MD

I didn't make it to the above. Nor did I fly down to New Orleans this year where Jazzfest's first weekend included a special Cuban segment with various groups. Jon Pareles in the NY Times:

He also liked, among others --TELMARY Y HABANA SANA The Cuban poet, rapper and songwriter Telmary Diaz didn’t rely on her words alone to get across her socially conscious messages. She had a full Latin band, playing the sinuous rhythms of son and speedy, percussive rumba, surrounding her with melodic refrains.

http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/09/romeo-santos-interview-bachata-history-cover-story

Romeo Santos

https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/daddy-yankee-luis-fonsi-bieber-despacito-remix-billboard-singles-charts

This song was huge even before they added Bieber to the remix. Pop with touches of bachata romantic softness . Apparently the biggest Spanish language crossover since the Macarena

Jazz critic Larry Blumenfeld on the Cubans at Jazzfest in New Orleans this year--

• A 150-strong Cuban delegation energized jazzfest in profound and varied ways. Los Van Van rocked the Congo Square stage, as did Adonis y Osain Del Monte. But mostly, The Cuban Cultural Exchange Pavilion was the magnet for anyone with ears, hips and a heart. (The ropa vieja in back wasn’t bad, either.) Standout shows here (and on other stages) came from rapper Telmary y Habana Sana and singer Daymé Arocena.

• Though roughly a dozen performances at jazzfest (and a few outside the Fair Grounds) percussionist and singer Pedrito Martinez was an unstoppable engine of power and ingenuity, leading his own quartet and co-leading a Rumba Project with percussionist Román Díaz. Their Rumba Project—different in each of its several iterations—was simply the place to be within jazzfest’s swarm of must-see shows.

http://blogs.artinfo.com/blunotes/2017/05/in-around-the-2017-new-orleans-jazz-heritage-festival/

RIP bassist for the Fania All-Stars and many others Sal Cuevas.

RIP. Dude played with everyone in NY from late 70s to so point in 80s .

Wiki take --

While maintaining the traditional flavor and concepts of authenticity within Latin music, he managed to fuse all those other "worlds" into his bass playing technique resulting in the creation of a completely unique style. On some recordings for instance, he would play very intricate horn section lines or phrases on the bass in unison with the horns, which until then was virtually unheard of within the genre, as was his funky bass slapping and string snapping technique which today has become a norm for bassist within Latin "salsa" music thanks to Sal. He also incorporated the technique of "tapping" in his Latin bass playing.

a few reggaeton tracks i've been digging a lot :

karol g ft ozuna - hello (it's from late last year, but i only discovered it recently and it's great)
wisin ft ozuna - escapate conmigo
justin quiles - egoista
j balvin - sigo estrañandote

previews for yandel ft farrusko - despacio are very promising as well.

Saw Wisin y Yandel years ago, but have lost track since they started doing more solo efforts.

I should see this:

Fri. June 9 7:30– 9:00 p.m. at Smithsonian American Art Museum in DC for free |movie-- Fania All-Stars: Live in Africa
New York City’s legendary salsa group performs before the Muhammad Ali/George Foreman fight

I think Celia Cruz was there with them. There's a new album out of the African performers from that concert btw.

what's the album title?

new double CD called Zaire 74: the African Performers (Wrasse)

gracias

NY Times Popcast hosted by Jon Caramanica (that I have not listened to yet) . Headline on the page--Latin Pop Thrives, No Bieber Required

Popcast

excerpt from the intro to it

The last few years have seen numerous shifts in the sound of Spanish-language pop: Colombian reggaeton (J Balvin, Maluma) giving a bright sheen to the Puerto Rican original; Dominican dembow (El Alfa) emerging as an eccentric counterweight to reggaeton; and in the last couple of years, Latin trap (Fuego, Bad Bunny), a Spanish-language take on American hip-hop, growing in Puerto Rico and elsewhere in the United States.

On this week’s Popcast, for a conversation about Latin music’s speedy and constant evolution, Mr. Caramanica is joined by Isabelia Herrera, the music editor of Remezcla, and Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, the culture editor of Jezebel.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/02/arts/music/popcast-latin-pop-despacito.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmusic&action=click&contentCollection=music®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront

karol g ft ozuna - hello (it's from late last year, but i only discovered it recently and it's great)

This has that Colombian pop-reggaeton flavor. Shakira's latest has some songs that sound a bit like this (and vice versa)

https://scontent.fbed1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19029236_10155455482208278_522506473722757720_n.jpg?oh=c57fa696ea13a458b055121be52be4a5&oe=59E0AF1D

wacky cover art

x-post to me-

Missed Karol G. at an El Zol radio station fest in a football stadium parking lot this past Sunday. Video clip the station tweeted looked good. #veranozol

http://www.mcny.org/exhibition/rhythm-power

This Museum of the City of New York Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York exhibit opens Wed. June 14

Rhythm & Power: Salsa in New York illuminates salsa as a social movement from the 1960s to the present, exploring how immigrant and migrant communities in New York City—most notably from Cuba and Puerto Rico—nurtured and developed salsa, growing it from a local movement playing out in the city’s streets and clubs into a global phenomenon. The exhibition also looks at the role of record companies and stores in supporting and promoting the movement, and salsa’s often-overlooked ties to activism in the city. Rhythm & Power features dance costumes and musical instruments from some of salsa’s leading figures, as well as audio and video that bring the sounds and movement of salsa to life.

Want to see this. But $30 for the July 14th walking tour! I dunno. There's a July 19th free event-- DJ Joey Carvello of Mobile Mondays! and Christian Martir of Sociedad Records will spin a fiery mashup of Latin-infused beats from salsa, boogaloo, and merengue to cumbia and Latin disco and conga player Tito Sandoval will perform. Participate in an all-levels dance lesson with legendary instructor Franck Muhel and try art-making activities inspired by salsa’s often overlooked ties to social activism.

$20 Sept. 17 event--Jose Condo and Ola Fresca band plus panel discussion

http://www.mcny.org/event/when-people-dance-salsa-power-and-performance-new-york-city

karol g ft ozuna - hello (it's from late last year, but i only discovered it recently and it's great)

This has that Colombian pop-reggaeton flavor. Shakira's latest has some songs that sound a bit like this (and vice versa)

^^ yeah, it has some of those vibes. only heard 2 singles from her latest, but while i felt they were ok and enjoyed her return to reggaton, none of them came nowhere near the brilliance of 'tortura' - raising the bar a little too high i know.

Lots of praise for Ozuna on that NY Times popcast/ podcast mentioned above that I finally listened to. Fuego, a Miami-based reggaeton/trap rapper who started in the DC/MD area gets some attention on that too

i really like romeo santos's new single "imitadora" (except the sung english part lol). the swirls and synths in the arrangement are an unexpected but lovely touch.

That Romeo Santos single sounded okay on first listen. I wish he'd dropped the spoken stuff but I guess that's never going to happen.

Unbeknownst to me, remastered digital (and probably vinyl) reissues of Fania albums have continued seriously, in the past couple years:

http://salsaforums.com/threads/fania-recent-re-releases.33023/

And it looks like these might be on Spotify. At any rate, Louie Ramirez y Sus Tesos is now there. That has one of my favorites, Azuquita covering "En un Beso la Vida." It's an odd, uneven album. Not bad, but is it really good? The album needed remastering though, so maybe that will make a difference in how I hear it. I have an old CD copy of it and it's pretty muddy sounding.

The strings and somewhat saccharine sounds at the beginning of the album opener, "Paula C" turn me off a bit. But I like Ruben Blades' delivery. A lot of late 70s salsa could arguably be described as experimental. You've got disco strings alongside borrowings from fusion and maybe inspirations from progressive rock. Not on this album, but in general, in that late 70s time-frame. It doesn't all sound like that, but I think a fair amount does. Some of it works fantastically well, some of it sounds like they were striving for something that didn't quite gel.

I think Romeo Santos has a fantastic voice, I just wish he'd drop some of the schtick.

I think he's doing alright without my career advice though.

Louie Ramirez y Sus Tesos, just a typical late 70s salsa album with instrumental covers of two songs from Abbey Road, and featuring three different major vocalists.

Did he borrow those Tesos from Fruko or is that Fruko's real name?

Haha, I borrowed them from Fruko! They are really his Amigos. Oops.

Yeah, this version of Something is still a problem for me. It doesn't really fall into the so bad it's good category either (maybe because parts of it are good?).

The name of the album, to be clear is LOUIE RAMIREZ Y SUS AMIGOS. I fucked up.

I think the cover of Because is more tolerable. Is it done as a danzon?

Lol

Anyhow, I still think the Azuquita songs on the album are the best of the bunch. He really shines on these songs.

(I haven't actually listened to this album straight through in a matter of years, despite owning a copy.)

Roberto Roena's La Octava Maravilla is fantastic, and I have a flawed, incomplete mp3 copy. That was reissued last year, digitally, as well.

Sure would be nice to have original release dates on these Fania reissues in Spotify.

the swirls and synths in the arrangement are an unexpected but lovely touch.

Listening again. They are a nice touch. I think what's surprising is how strong the sounds are, rather than the sort of watercolor synth washes one might expect.

Also, love the guitar right at 2:58. More of that. Less of "the kiiing."

Can't stop listening to it right now, despite the bits I don't like.

Funny, I don't remember posting that

Oh, wait

Sorry. Maybe adding an "o" will help.

I suppose you don't have much time for Romeo Santos? I have managed to mostly avoid bachata for a couple years, so new Romeo Santos (the best of the pop bachata world) is more welcome to me than it might have been a little while ago.

I am curious about young Peruvian salsa singer Cesar Vega. No reggaeton and bachata for him, I don't think

Bought PJ Harvey tix for tonight, so will miss the late announced Septeto Santiaguero from Cuba gig in DC tonight. I liked the 2 YouTube videos I saw. Nothing groundbreaking, but enjoyable

Friends who saw the Septeto Santiaguero gig were impressed.

Romeo Santos new album is out now.

So young (he's like 22 or 23) Peruvian salsa singer Cesar Vega does covers on his recent debut album. He's a big Hector Lavoe fan. Vega's dad was a singer and introduced his kid to Lavoe's singing when Cesar Vega was 9. Album is on Spotify. Media coverage of him is largely all in Spanish.

The Cubans are coming...

Fri. 8-4 Daymé Arocena at AMP (Cuban vocalist) in Rockville, a Washington DC suburb

Sat. 8-5- “Qban Fest” with Cuban band Pupy y los Que Son Son with Special Guests Mayito Rivera, Tania Pantoja, Pedrito Calvo and Pepito Gomez with a special performance by DC Casineros at Bethesda Blues and Jazz, another DC suburb

Missed both of those gigs. I heard the Arocena one was good. I liked Pupy y los Que Son Son the time I did see them. Pupy might have even been with Los Van Van when I saw them a long while back. Twenty-something Peruvian salsa singer Vega is coming my way also.

There is an extremely common horn lick loop that I just heard again and always wonder where it originated. First place I heard it was Benny Moré's "Que Bueno Baila Usted," so I always think it must be from there but not sure. Maybe I even brought this up before.

Don't know

Haven't heard.

Thanks anyway for responding. Here, at 0:42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1VE56pc3Rk

Also, saw great Latin Jazz at Terraza last night.

I toyed with going to see young Peruvian salsa singer Cesar Vega Friday night, but I figured gig wouldn't start till 1 am and decided not to go.

http://africasacountry.com/2017/08/despacito-will-not-save-us/

This article tilts at windmills a bit--

So, “Despacito” will not save us. But wait! Isn’t it great that amidst the racism and xenophobia of the Trump era, people all over the world (including more than a few Trump voters) are shaking their butts to Despacito? Fonsi told NPR that:

The timing is quite perfect, you know, in this environment we live in… I don’t want to turn this song into a political environment, because it’s not. It’s a great song to make us feel good. But in the times that we live, where some people want to divide and want to build walls — we’re going through a lot of change, so it’s quite lovely that a Spanish song is No. 1 right now.

Except there’s this little thing called history, and it tends to repeat itself. The Mambo craze of the 1950s that sent many Cuban songs to the top of the charts did not end racism and poverty so why should we expect the current moment to be any different? Neither did the Latin explosion of 1999. Despacito, and the imitators that it will inspire, will do nothing to improve the cultural, political or economic status of Afro-Latinos. As Jezebel Culture Editor, Julianne Escobedo warns, “Don’t let Bieber play you!”

What is the point of decrying the many ways the music industry exploits Afro-Latinos when nothing can be done (and we haven’t even touched on the obvious problems of sexism in reggaetón and the music industry)? Capitalism is so entrenched, you may as well be tilting at windmills. Except, there is a growing movement to build a new, more democratic economy that empowers producers, including cultural producers, to control their production. Groups like Sol Collective in Sacramento and Rhythm Conspiracy in New Orleans are experimenting with cooperatives and other forms that allow artists to cut the middlemen, the gatekeeper publicists and the record labels.

Another take re "Despacito"--

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/whats-next-for-latin-music-after-the-summer-of-despacito/2017/08/24/703ba7de-8816-11e7-961d-2f373b3977ee_story.html?utm_term=.797a9cedc6f6

The success of “Despacito” and “Mi Gente” also has to be coupled with other mainstream media appearances and opportunities for visibility, explains Jack Rico, the host of the Latin pop culture podcast Highly Relevant. He points out that “Despacito,” with all its record-breaking accolades, was left out of this year’s Video Music Awards nominations. Rico says mass-media moments like these are critical blows to Latin representation....The current iteration of this Latin boom has also been very specific when it comes to those who benefit. Male artists who make music in the reggaeton-pop vein have a path to success, but that’s not necessarily the case for those who don’t fit the “Despacito” model. Spanish-speaking female artists are missing from the crossover conversation, which also doesn’t include lesser-known genres in the Latin music world.

Isabelia Herrera, the music editor of the culture website Remezcla, notes that the idea of “Latin music” itself is problematic, a broad umbrella term that encompasses dozens of countries and genres. All eyes on reggaeton-pop may not actually help genres that don’t sound like what’s trending right now.

“I think this pop moment that reggaeton is having is probably going to continue and be very successful. If you look at the Latin charts, it performs the best,” Herrera said. “But if we talk about regional Mexican, or salsa, I’m very hesitant. I don’t really know what’s going to happen with things that don’t fit into the construction of what outsiders think Latin music is.”

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7942283/john-leguizamo-essay-latin-underrepresentation-music-movies-vmas-despacito-snub

Yep.

Meanwhile Fania, I see in another Billboard article, is trying to promote their brand to a new audience via dj remixes:

“At Fania, we see working with DJs and creating remixes of the original classic as a huge opportunity to target a new audience and thus begin a lifelong connection with the Fania brand,” Skolnick said. “It’s working incredibly well. We’ve increased our social media engagement with 18-34 year olds by more than 150% in the last two years.”

Recently completing a tour in Europe, Marquez will perform at a record release party at Kinfolk as part of the Armada Fania DJ pop series in Brooklyn on Sept. 7, before going on an extensive tour throughout the U.S.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7941984/fanias-santiago-sessions-how-a-globetrotting-djs-childhood-led-to-him

Spanish-speaking female artists are missing from the crossover conversation, which also doesn’t include lesser-known genres in the Latin music world.

Oh no! Lesser no genres in Latin music continue to be obscure. It's all the fault of those outsiders constructing what "Latin music" is. Everyone knows that all Latinos (another problematic construction, admittedly) listen to all of Latin music in its entirety.

A lot of music writing (like a lot of other writing) seems driven by the need to say something, even if there's nothing that needs to be said.

The hand-wringing looks pretty funny to me at this point.

Everyone knows that all Latinos (another problematic construction, admittedly) listen to all of Latin music in its entirety.

That's why I used to hear Puerto Ricans blasting all that banda when I was living at 16th & Green in Philadelphia in the 90s.

The Despacito video breaks new ground, drawing attention to previously completely ignored Latina curviness.

But uncelebrated Latina asses remain uncelebrated. What is to be done?

Somewhere there is a reasonably good looking young Ecuadoran woman with not much of a booty at all. When will a major label put her in a video?

Meanwhile I see that El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico are doing a 55th anniversary tour that will bring them to the Palace, in Woodbridge , VA half an hour or so south of Washington DC Friday night. Only Spanish language bands play there. I think I saw the 50th anniversary tour.

https://www.tickeri.com/events/598255e3f6ebfc000bcdb91a/el-gran-combo-de-puerto-rico---celebrando-55-a-os-de-trayectoria-

I have basically zero sympathy for people demanding mainstream recognition of Spanish-language music in the U.S. That actor may have some points. I can't really comment on film and TV since I'm so oblivious to them. But Despacito is a pop reggaeton mediocrity, I don't care how many youtube views it has received, or how many times it has been streamed. (I would of course care if I were in the music industry.)

Me [while Africando's "Yay Boy" is playing in club]: This is a good song.
Puerto Rican salsera: Do you understand the words?
Me: No.
Puerto Rican salsera: How do you know it's a good song.

A lot of people think that way, not just white non-Hispanics.

True re how many people react to non-English songs. However while I recognize that statistically the likelihood of reggaeton or more obscure Latinx sounds becoming a regular part of the mainstream US pop culture may be small, I understand the desire for that culture to be represented.

So "Despacito" was played at a wedding that I was at over Labor Day weekend, and even two (likely Trump supporting )conservatives there that I know, danced.

Kind of like this, but the melodies seem very familiar and I suspect it's a cover:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cghPur_wWz0

New Plena Libre album.

I'm just looking through the very esoteric Spotify New Music Friday Latin playlist.

the melodies seem very familiar and I suspect it's a cover

Yeah - it's right there in the video description: "un remake del clásico de Jorge González"

Here's the original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTp-jWf_GM

OK. I originally heard it on Spotify.

Thanks for heads up on new Plena Libre. Like them

Poor Puerto Rico...Hurricane hit it hard

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/arts/music/lin-manuel-miranda-puerto-rico-relief-song.html?_r=0

The charity benefit song "Almost Like Praying" is on Spotify. It's got its moments.

Rather than creating a mournful number, Mr. Miranda said in an interview, he hoped to capture “the spirit of the island.” As a result, the bilingual “Almost Like Praying,” which takes its title and chorus from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “Maria,” from “West Side Story,” is bursting with energy

an upbeat charity single featuring an all-star lineup of Latin artists from across genres and generations, including Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Fat Joe, Luis Fonsi, Rubén Blades, Camila Cabello, John Leguizamo, Rita Moreno and Marc Anthony....
Also featured on the song: Pedro Capo, Dessa, Juan Luis Guerra, Alex Lacamoire, Ednita Nazario, Joell Ortiz, Anthony Ramos, Gina Rodriguez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, PJ Sin Suela, Tommy Torres and Ana Villafañe.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igC2mWONVZQ

washburne is an all around cool dude

Have you met him?

yeah, coupla times. very friendly on those occasions and happy to talk details and history. also works with belafonte's social justice project teaching music to prisoners
https://www.sankofa.org/

Cool. Did you tell him about your dad?

heh, yeah i did because he was doing a show about the caribbean roots of ragtime and it seemed pertinent.

Was that for his latest project, Rags and Bones?

yep, i saw him do it with a full band; was one of my better shows of this year tbh

https://www.zohomusic.com/cds_detail.php?cds_id=171

Saw Washburne in visiting bands in DC a few times. Good player.

Unrelated. Caught some of this below linked PBS doc recently, that aired earlier this year. Some great 60s and 70s NY footage in this. Fania era

http://www.pbs.org/video/latin-music-usa-hour-2-the-salsa-revolution/

http://remezcla.com/lists/music/latinx-music-writers/

Mostly pop and reggaeton

N*d S*blette likes his live NY Latin Jazz

Cuban trovador José Aquiles (from Santiago de Cuba) with David Virelles (his son) at the Jazz Gallery on the 20th. I'd definitely go see Harold López-Nussa at the Blue Note (Oct. 23-24), and I'd go to Bobby Sanabria's PR benefit at Le Poisson Rouge (23).

... benefit organized by Miguel Zenón at Jazz Gallery Nov. 1,

. . . and to this one:>#POETSFORPUERTORICO / A Reading for Hurricane Relief / Saturday, November 4, 2017 / 6:00 p.m.
Poets House / 10 River Terrace / Corner Murray & River Terrace / New York, NY

Heard the J. Balvin remix of "Mi Gente" with Beyoncé on Spanish-language pop radio this morning.

i don't understand much spanish. i just learned what the chorus lyrics to becky g's "mayores" mean and O_o

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFewiplIbw

yeah, huh.

> Singer orders all white audience members to stand in the back

> White female volunteer refuses

> Volunteer banned for being racist 🙈 pic.twitter.com/kPgHZNTJDL

— The Safest Space (@TheSafestSpace) November 4, 2017

It's okay to be white.

What does that have to do with this thread?

http://uproxx.com/music/karol-g-casi-nada-acoustic-uncharted/

Reggaeton/ r’nb /Trap vocalist Karol G goes acoustic in the link

She's on tour in the US. With rapper Noriel. Karol G is from Colombia.

On a separate unrelated US tour is the current version of salsa band Grupo Niche, from Colombia.

from wiki--
At the age of 62, Varela was found dead in his Cali home on August 8, 2012, apparently from heart failure.[3] Jairo's daughter, Yanila Varela has been the Grupo Niche's owner since her father's death in 2012.

Karol G with reggaeton & "salsa Urbana" producers/performers LaFame. I kinda like this one too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7xZUPI4LwA

RIP percussionist Bobby Matos

Born in the Bronx, moved to Cali in the 80s played with lots of Latino and non-Latino acts (Miriam Makeba, Jim Croche)

http://www.mcny.org/exhibition/rhythm-power

Would like to see this Rhythm and Power: Salsa in NYC exhibit before it closes 11-26. But not sure I will be able to

I was up in NYC this weekend and made it to the Rhythm and Power: Salsa in NYC exhibit! It's small but enjoyable. A great dance video in the hallway that show's the outline of dancers doing various steps, plus a bunch of album covers and other artifacts and audio and photos. Some nice old Palladium ones from the 50s.

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/17/arts/music/latin-grammys-despacito-lin-manuel-miranda.html?referer=https://www.google.com/

Wow, Ruben Blades won album of the year at the Latin Grammys in Vegas.

I was up in NYC this weekend and made it to the Rhythm and Power: Salsa in NYC exhibit! It's small but enjoyable.

Only open at Museum of City of NY through Sunday....

Wow, Ruben Blades won album of the year at the Latin Grammys in Vegas.

The album "Salsa Big Band" credited to Blades and Roberto Delgado & Orquesta does not appear to be on Spotify

I'm back in love with "Imitadora," but definitely despite Romeo Santos' ridiculous shtick.

His devoted fans like it, I guess

http://remezcla.com/lists/music/best-latin-songs-of-2017/

#2. "Tú y Yo" - La Favi

#3"Mi Gente" - J Balvin, Willy William

#4 "Soy Peor" - Bad Bunny

Those Armada Fania remixes mentioned upthread are fire btw

Cuban jazz pianist David Virelles is on Ben Ratliff ‘s best of album list in Esquire

NY Times jazz critic also has David Virelles on his album list for 2017.

NY Times critic Jon Caramanica has Ozuna on his album list and I think 3 or so Latin trap or reggaeton cuts on his single list.

Not seeing Ruben Blades (not on Spotify) Salsa Big Band album on any list (it won at the Latin Grammys though)

For those compiling your year-end lists, this playlist includes all the available tracks on this thread, organized roughly chronologically in order of mention:

ILM's 2017 Rolling Latin and Afro-Latin Thread Spotify Playlist

NPR album list for the year has Latin Jazz like Miguel Zenon

Almost everything I've heard by him has been utterly snooze-inducing. There, I didn't want to disappoint you by not making a predictable comment.

Miguel Zzzzzzzzzzzzz-on.

If Zenon were not constantly foregrounding his puertorriquenidad (and not even in musical ways, or musically interesting ways, a lot of the time), I wonder if he would attract so much attention. But then, I don't listen to much jazz and frequently don't get what it is that jazz lovers love about the jazz they love.

He's never impressed me either. I haven't listened yet to the other Latin jazz fave of critics for this year-Cuban jazz pianist David Virelles .

New Pete Perignon album. He has the advantage of being from a PR salsa family dynasty. I haven't heard it all yet, but I doubt it's going to set the world on fire. Not bad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT83bqrN9hI

If one is hard up for a reasonable facsimile of a new salsa album in 2017.

Should have gone for the title track, which has a bit more swing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk-QyN8e8eM

Probably could be easily convinced to dance to a bunch of these tracks. This one pulls together all three soneros who appear on the album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBig7d_qxHY

A nice change from hoarse past masters taking turns on yet another tribute to past greatness album.

I like that title track. Dude has only gotten like 780 views since that was posted in October alas.

I'm usually not big on Latin music with English lyrics, but this whole album is not usual (yes, that's a recommendation, but the album in general doesn't fall under the Latin category):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blZu-PzIoZs

I'm not sure why but somehow her phrasing fits the rhythms better than sung English typically does to my ears.

So do we do a 2018 thread?

X-post—Yes to Dos Santos ‘ phrasing.

I don't know. It's gotten pretty dead. You're welcome to start one. We could just have a generic Latin music thread, but I still think, as I always have, that it doesn't make much sense to lump salsa in with most rock en español, Latin alternative, Latin pop, etc. I think the genres that developed in Latin America and have a clearly African-derived rhythmic (generally some variety of clave, not necessarily the familiar son clave) framework belong together. At the same time, I don't have enough interest in the current Afro-Latin music I'm hearing to want to try to keep a thread going.

And I periodically check out new timba and almost never like it.

x-post

I think she's very good. That sort of track could easily just be funny pastiche, but I think she breathes genuine life into it. You'd probably like the rest of the album.

I also have less idea of what's going on because: I still haven't made it back to dancing (health); descarga.com is gone; I haven't been involved in any private online discussions of Latin music for a long time; I haven't been involved in any under the table Latin music file exchanging for an even longer time; I almost never listen to the radio (I could stream WRTI's salsa show at least); I am no longer in touch with any "salsa friends," etc. I've also tried a lot of Latin music by now, and I have a clearer sense of what I like and don't like, and there are simply large areas of it that aren't going to do much for me (like timba, or most charanga, or most bachata, etc.).

I've also finally gotten to like a lot more electronic dance music, too, particularly house. So I've got some sort of rhythmic fix from a different direction.

Timba continues to make hardly a dent with Latin music audiences in the United States. I guess I shouldn't gloat, since salsa itself is so niche. But timba is micro-niche in the U.S. anyway. There are a lot of disaffected salsa fans out there, like me, but most of them do not seem to be gravitating toward timba.

Some interesting observations here (including the comments):

http://socialdancecommunity.com/calling-it-quits-why-some-social-dancers-are-hanging-up-their-dance-shoes/

I'm ambivalent about a lot of this, but I do remember noticing that the focus of salsa performances and competitions seemed to hurt the social salsa scene. I started to see people just practicing their dance troupe moves with their dance troupe partners, rather than circulating with lots of different dancers. I suppose it's fine if people want to just dance with the same people (sometimes that works better for couples), but the performance focus tends to degrade social dancing. And I'm not even one of these people who wants to go out and have extroverted "fun" while dancing. I don't necessarily want to chat and drink and so on. The dancing is the social fun for me.

They also talk about the ridiculous competitions between dance teachers and schools. I saw some of that. A major salsa event with lots of famous live performers, but some people stayed away from it because there was resentment over the instructor who had been invited to dance on stage, or something like that. Lots of ridiculous petty politics.

On the other hand, if something were to bubble up from the underground, it would be difficult to find out about it. People on salsaforums.com are talking about discovering albums a year or two after they've been released. Here's one I hadn't heard about before that's not bad. Singer sounds Cuban (a little too Cuban for my tastes--don't like that authentic rumba-derived whiny old lady inflection, but it's not too bad here):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=894cTN7QKXk

I agree with this:

but I still think, as I always have, that it doesn't make much sense to lump salsa in with most rock en español, Latin alternative, Latin pop, etc. I think the genres that developed in Latin America and have a clearly African-derived rhythmic (generally some variety of clave, not necessarily the familiar son clave) framework belong together.

I am kinda interested in Latin trap, pop, bachata ...so maybe should just start a thread for that; and use this one for salsa, timba, etc

While the Artes de Cuba Fest starting tonight at Kennedy Center in Washington DC doesn't have the obscure Afro-Cuban acts that author/musician Ned Sublette has been taking people to see on his tours of Cuba, there's some good stuff-- Los Van Van on May 19 at the Eisenhower, Tiempo Libre for free May 20 and more--

Wednesday May 9-Yissy & Bandancha (Cuban jazz percussionist and band add electronica, jazz fusion, & funk) at 8 at Eisenhower Theatre

Thursday May 10-Adonis Gonzalez (Atlanta-based Cuban classical pianist) and percussionist Mauricio Herrera for free from 6 to 7 at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Yosvany Terry Afro-Cuban jazz Sextet at K. Center Terrace Gallery at 7 & 9 (both shows sold out)

Friday May 11- the flute & strings & percussion led danzon Orquesta Miguel Faílde,for free from 6 to 7 at Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Saturday May 12-Cuban jazz Piano Marathon featuring Aldo López-Gavilán and Jorge Luis Pacheco (part of Artes de Cuba) at 7:30 PM at the Terrace Theatre (ticketed event)

Sunday May 13- Aymée Nuviola, Miami-based timba-pop vocalist with Dr. Ed Calle, saxophonist at Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre (ticketed event)

Tuesday May 15- La Dame Blanche (Paris-based Cuban hiphop singer & Latino percussionist) for free from 6 to 7 at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

Wed. May 16-Balladeer Haydée Milanés and her trio are joined by her father—singer, songwriter, and guitar player Pablo Milanés at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theatre (ticketed event)

Thursday May -17
Luis Faife and D.C. Cuban All Stars for free from 6 to 7 at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

The female duo of La Reyna (Reyna Mercedes Hernández Sandoval) and La Real (Yadira Pintado Lazcano) (Cuban rap) at the Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery at 7 pm and 9pm (ticketed event)

Friday May 18th -Dafnis Prieto Si o Si Quartet at the Kennedy Center Terrace Gallery at 7 and 9 pm (Cuban jazz) (ticketed event)

the López-Nussa Family--Harold (pianist), Ernan (pianist), Ruy (percussionist), and Ruy Adrian (drummer)-Latin jazz at the Terrace Theatre at 7:30 pm

Saturday May 19- Los Van Van (see above)

Sunday May 20- Tiempo Libre (see above).

Pianist Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theatre at 7:30 pm

https://cms.kennedy-center.org/festivals/cuba/events

Kennedy center put opening night on Youtube it appears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj-njGQZwbs

Omara Portuando, jazz pianists, the flute & strings & percussion led danzon Orquesta Miguel Faílde,f

Some good stuff there once you get past the 15 minutes of talking intro from Kennedy Center types and such. Aymée Nuviola, Miami-based timba-pop vocalist is good, and she also later plays piano for Portuando. Jazz and classical and more too.

That looks pretty good. I just noticed that the ALJO (or ALJE as you called them) are on tour in California right now, I think

Kennedy Center called O'Farrill's group ALJE for that show only, for some reason.

I didn't see it. Have seen him/them in the past. I did see Cuba's Los Van Van on Saturday at Kennedy Center and other than a few syrupy pop songs, they were great. After their set, I caught some of the Jose Pepito Gomez band upstairs in the free Noches Cubana room. Gomez is a Cuban who moved to NYC I read. Good not great. At 11 something I left (after their second set). Naturally I later saw on Instagram a short video of some of the members of Los Van Van sitting in with them in the 3rd and final set later that night.

I kinda like Miami's Tiempo Libre timba and pop band. I still need to see the Youtube of their gig from Sunday at the Millennium Stage.

I also should probably check out the Cuban jazz players (now living in NY) Dafnis Prieto and Yosvanny Terry, although I'm less a jazz guy.

Prieto has a new big band album that's really good.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article210253224.html

A few Republicans dismissed the folks performing at the festival as “agents of the state” (Cuba) and complained that the Kennedy Center featured them and that they got visas.

Some of the artists who performed live here now though like Prieto.

x-post--That Prieto big band effort is nice. Threadgill and Steve Coleman as 2 of the horn players.

He just had his smaller group at the Kennedy center Cuba fest, not the big band, alas.

Threadgill, Coleman and Brian Lynch were special guests with the big band.

I still like Eddie Palmieri's 2017 album more.

Maybe I should have or should still start a 2018 thread! But maybe more pop or trap, reggaetón...

Liking J. Balvin, Becky G, Bad Bunny

Puerto Rican rapper Ozuna guests on a lot of hits

i really like the song "oye mujer" by raymix. i heard it for the first time a few months ago but apparently it originally came out, like, years ago?

"Oye Mujer" is a 2018 remix with Juanes of a 2015 Raymix track that incorporated traditional sounds

the version i heard didn't have juanes! guess i'm just very late as i often am

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/style/bomba-puerto-rico-music-dance.html?hpw&rref=fashion&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region®ion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Puerto Rican bomba drums music and dance lives

bomba drumming and dancing at La terraza de Bonanza in Puerto Rico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj0mF5_Mhm0

At a Coney Island NY beach on Sunday afternoon, I heard lots of reggaeton coming from beachgoers portable speakers. More than rap or other popular sounds(though there was a lot of Drake too).

Listening to latest album by pianist Harold Lopez-Nussa called Un Dia Cualquiera. Eh, it’s ok Cuban Latin Jazz. Nice enough I guess, but nothing new and nothing that really wows me. Ned Sublette likes it.

Thread needs some fresh blood:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixkoVwKQaJg

DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B • Taki Taki

(Don’t know where Snake got this beat from, but kudos, it’s a great track)

Speaking of Ozuna, this is my favorite track of his current album:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wykqGblj1og

Ozuna feat. J Balvin & Natti Natasha • Sígueme Los Pasos

...and speaking of J Balvin, this is my favorite track of his current album, which is great (it's not called "Vibras" for nothing):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FlRsN4cyF0

J Balvin • Tu Verdad

J Balvin and Ozuna have been killing it with their singles and collaborations in the past couple of years.

There's a trend that's appearing this summer of reggaeton/trap with an almost minimal, soft sound... the lyrics are worthless but the beat for these makes me happy and wishes the trend continues:

Kevin Roldan - PPP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vET7J3oc5sI

Anuel AA - quiere Beber

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTtBmo5EbEk

Lalo Ebratt - Mocca (There's also a J Balvin remix but I like the original better)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeRwVpzd2G4

Also not really reggaeton but really like beat by Dillon Francis feat. Ximena Sarilñana. Moombathon I guess?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLM9brT5_w0

Wow Moka, I was just about to post that “Mocca” track too, just fell right in love with that one. (in my case it would have been the remix, because of its video, but both versions are great)

Also my friends are really into Rosalia (She also has a guest spot in Balvin's Vibras):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rht7rBHuXW8

Really interesting combination of flamenco style vocals with 'urban' rhythms. Even the video is really cool in how it combines typical Spain iconography and takes it down and mixes it in a modern setting.

I remembered people posting about her somewhere, turns out she has her own thread!

(and yeah, the Balvin + Rosalía track "Brillo" is another Vibras highlight. With him, it's come for the bangers, stay for the vibes)

Yes to DJ Snake feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B • Taki Taki

#1 on Billboard's Hot Latin Songs chart

https://www.billboard.com/charts/latin-songs

Awww man, Dog Latin hating on "reggaeton-lite" (Taki Taki and Despacito) in a separate thread

Don’t let it bring you down.

I'm not.

Grrr, I missed the Latin Grammys last night. J Balvin was nominated for 8 awards but only got 1. Jorge Drexler got 3. Victor Manuelle won the salsa one.

I will look for video clips and more articles online

https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2018/11/16/arts/ap-us-music-latin-grammys.html

I like Uruguay’s Jorge Drexler—pop rooted in folk and Brazilian bossa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpG5dR3cp9w

Awwww

That’s what the Salsa Dura DJ at Terraza played to ring in 2019.

From the NPR jazz critics poll, the separate Latin Jazz category--I have only heard the Sanabria and the Palmieri efforts, but gonna try to listen to some of the others (although that may lead me to come back here complaining that Latin Jazz is stuck in a rut and seems so formulaic

Latin
1. David Virelles, Igbó Alákorin (The Singer's Grove), Vol. I & II (Pi)
Votes: 21
A vibrant compendium in which Virelles disinters the rich musical traditions of his hometown Santiago de Cuba. Unexpectedly, his boldest album. The 35-year-old pianist has spent the last decade channeling Afro-Cuban folklore through a jazz prism, producing records that operate as open-ended mysteries. Here, refreshingly, he eschews abstraction in favor of fealty to the past. Though the traditions Virelles explores are fading from Cuban culture, this effort, fiercely rhythmic and thrumming with energy, is deeply alive. —Matthew Kassel

2. (tie) Dafnis Prieto Big Band, Back to the Sunset (Dafnison) 12
2. (tie) Miguel Zenón, Yo Soy La Tradición (Miel) 12
4. Bobby Sanabria, West Side Story Reimagined (Jazzheads) 8
5. Carlos Henriquez, Dizzy Con Clave (RodBros Music) 7
6. Eddie Palmieri, Full Circle (Ropeadope) 6
7. Elio Villafranca, Cinque (ArtistShare) 5

The Virelles album is on Bandcamp but not Spotify. Haven’t checked where else. Virelles went back to Cuba and recorded with elders, including vocalists I think, for this. 1 track I heard on Bandcamp was nice enough in a very old-school Cuban way. More dance and traditional than jazz.

Isn’t it time for a new Rolling thread?

I guess so. I resisted in the past since not too many folks post, and I wasn’t keeping up the genres represented, but I guess yearly threads do make some sense. Not a lot of new salsa these days that I follow; Latin Jazz hangs on, while reggaeton and bachata seem to thrive, and Latin Trap has become very big

I say go for it!

Ok, here it is:

Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2019: Reggaeton, Salsa, Bomba, Latin Jazz, Bachata, Merengue, and more