Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2025: Reggaeton, Dembow, Latin Pop, Salsa,Bachata, Bomba, Latin Jazz, Merengue, Urbano and more Latinx

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Defining the music broadly here but trying to emphasize Caribbean & the Americas rooted Reggaeton, dembow, Latin pop, Salsa, Bachata, Bomba, Latin Jazz, Merengue, Urbano (more than pop-rock but occasional mentions of that genre are ok too). Hybrid music with Latin trap and Mexican Regional traditional styles combined are ok too

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 1 January 2025 19:53 (ten months ago)

I'm in.

James Carr Thief (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 1 January 2025 20:54 (ten months ago)

:Lapidus is playing tomorrow nearby. Wonder if I will get over there to see.

James Carr Thief (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 3 January 2025 02:26 (ten months ago)

Hope you do.

curmudgeon, Friday, 3 January 2025 03:15 (ten months ago)

Bad Bunny has some nice acoustic instrumentation on his new song “Pitorro de Coco.”

curmudgeon, Friday, 3 January 2025 03:17 (ten months ago)

BAD BUNNY All in Puerto Rico. All the salsa songs are made by young kids from escuela Libre de Música. All of them are like 18, 19, 21 years old — young kids with a lot of passion and energy. Because people think, oh, now every young kid today is making reggaeton. No, there’s a lot of great, great musicians — young kids — that are only waiting for the opportunity.

From NY Times interview with Bad Bunny regarding new album

curmudgeon, Sunday, 5 January 2025 18:39 (ten months ago)

BAD BUNNY When you really, really listen to the music from back in the day, it’s the same thing. I know that people say, Nah, music in the old days, it was different. And it’s true in some ways. But when you listen to the lyrics, when you listen to the stories, it’s the same. I’ve been listening to a lot of Chuito el de Bayamón, an artist from Puerto Rico from the ’40s and ’50s — música jíbara, música típica — and all the songs are about things I can relate to. Wait, he’s singing about this — I was living that two weeks ago

curmudgeon, Sunday, 5 January 2025 18:51 (ten months ago)

A Tribute Concert for Eddie Palmieri Sat Jan. 11 in Miami-

The South Beach Jazz Festival proudly presents a spectacular tribute to Eddie Palmieri, “The Sun of Latin Music.” Personally chosen to perform Palmieri’s legendary music by Eddie himself, this all-star lineup features Louis Fouché on alto saxophone, Luques Curtis on bass, Vicente “Little Johnny” Rivero on congas, Camilo Molina on drums, and special guest Zaccai Curtis on piano. Joining them are GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Brian Lynch and world-renowned trombonist Conrad Herwig, whom Palmieri has praised as “the best trombonist on the planet."

https://miamibeachbandshell.com/event/eddie-palmieri-and-his-latin-jazz-band/

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 January 2025 04:24 (ten months ago)

That’s mostly one of his regular bands, with Zaccai on piano instead of Eddie of course

James Carr Thief (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 7 January 2025 04:45 (ten months ago)

Yep. Eddie rarely has vocals with his bands over last decade or so

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 January 2025 16:14 (ten months ago)

Electric cowbell promoter and DJ from dc Jim Thomson who’s buddies with Barbes owner is heading up to NYC this week — Getting ready for APAP and Secret Planet in NYC this week and weekend!
Thurs Jan 9: spinning records at Doris in Bed-Sty with specialty guests NYC Trust E’s E, Olivier Conan, & a few other TBA’s
Friday Jan 10: with Miramar at Barbes
Saturday Jan 11: Electric Cowbell and Barbes presents Secret Planet at Drom
Sunday Jan 12: Secret Planet matinee at Sala de Pepe 🇵🇷
Monday Jan 13: Tropical Vortex with Yeison Landero at Barbes!
Hoping to see many of you soon 💫💥🪇🏋️‍♂️

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 January 2025 19:17 (ten months ago)

WPFW dj Jim Byers on his Latin Flavor Classic edition program did a Los Angeles mambo and other old-school LA related sounds special to pay tribute to Los Angeles

He noted on the LFCE Facebook page --

On tonight's LFCE, we'll lean on LA mambo history. From Pachuco pioneer Don Tosti, to Rene Touzet... from Manny Lopez and Poncho Sanchez, to Chico Sesma and Bobby Montez... From Johnny Blas, to Martinez-Cheda Orch, to Eddie Cano... we're go@everyonecus Mambo energy on LA tonight. The Latin Flavor Classic Edition airs Sundays from 6pm till 8pm e.s.t., live streaming on our website (wpfwfm.org) or on the free app, TuneIn radio.

The above Sunday January 12 6 to 8 Eastern time LFCE program is archived for 2 weeks on the wpfw website . Playlist there also
https://wpfwfm.org/radio/

curmudgeon, Monday, 13 January 2025 00:58 (ten months ago)

Jazz critics poll top Latin jazz albums 2024-

Miguel Zenón, Golden City (Miel Music) 18
Zaccai Curtis, Cubop Lives! (Truth Revolution Recording Collective) 16
Dafnis Prieto, 3 Sides of the Coin (Dafnison Music) 16
Milton Nascimento & Esperanza Spalding, Milton + Esperanza (Concord) 15
Patricia Brennan Septet, Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic) 14
Amaro Freitas, Y'Y (Psychic Hotline) 13
Roy Hargrove's Crisol, Grande-Terre (1998, Verve) 10
Conrad Herwig, The Latin Side of McCoy Tyner (Savant) 8
Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Hamilton De Holanda, Collab (Sony Music Brazil) 7
Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly, MESTIZX (International Anthem) 5
Etienne Charles, Creole Orchestra (Culture Shock) 4
Sergio Pamies, Time to Say (New Trad) 4
Hermeto Pascoal, Pra Você, Ilza (Rocinante) 4
Jonathan Powell, Mambo Jazz Party (Circle 9) 4
Chucho Valdés & Royal Quartet, Cuba and Beyond (InterCat Music Group) 4
Eliane Elias, Time and Again (Candid) 3
Dave Schumacher & Cubeye, Smoke in the Sky (Cellar Music) 3
Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Swing Forever (Ovation) 3
Papo Vázquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours, Songs Del Yucayeke (Picaro) 3
Donald Vega, As I Travel (Imagery/Tiger Turn) 3

List keeps going. More on the link

https://hullworks.net/jazzpoll/24/totals-latin.php

curmudgeon, Monday, 13 January 2025 06:44 (ten months ago)

two weeks pass...

Music in NYC: Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita, Gustavo Ovalles, Zankel Hall, Feb. 1, 6 p.m.
Music in NYC: Edmond Dédé's Morgiane (1887). The first complete performance of the first complete opera by a Black United Statesian, a fourth-generation free person of color from New Orleans who triumphed professionally in France. Jazz at Lincoln Center, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.

Music in NYC: Merengue con Amor 3: El Concierto de los Enamorados, with Ramón Orlando (my collaborator in 1997 on "Ghost Riders in the Sky"), Carlos David, Ravel, Aramis Camilo, Peter Cruz, Tony Bravo and Sin Fronteras, Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Feb. 15, 8 p.m.
Music in NYC: Kinito Méndez 35th Anniversary Concert. With Rikarena, Pochy Familia, Jandy Ventura, Magic Juan. And another Dominican concert! A co-founder of Cocoband, Kinito in the 90s was the only one to bring into Dominican pop the ubiquitously visible presence of Haiti. Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, Feb. 22, 8 p.m.

Ned S's highlights

curmudgeon, Saturday, 1 February 2025 05:07 (nine months ago)

https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-latin-music-albums-2024/manuel-medrano-perfecto-4/

curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 February 2025 07:36 (nine months ago)

Gonna miss Latin pop/reggaeton act Latin Mafia tonight because I am seeing Mdou Moctar play acoustic. Although both may be cancelled if snow predictions for dc area come true

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 11 February 2025 15:43 (nine months ago)

https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-of-2024/the-best-latin-music-of-2024

I don’t think I discussed this yet. Some interesting choices, don’t ya think?

curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 February 2025 05:35 (nine months ago)

And here’s the Bandcamp Dec 2024/January 2025 post with a bunch of short write ups

https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-latin/the-best-latin-music-on-bandcamp-december-2024-january-2025

curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 February 2025 05:40 (nine months ago)

https://theclarice.umd.edu/events/2025/okan

Canada-based Afro-Cuban band Okan are at a Univ. of MD theatre tonight for $30 ($10 for students). I kinda like their Tiny Desk that is included here on the link . Maybe I will splurge

curmudgeon, Thursday, 20 February 2025 18:32 (nine months ago)

I went. They were a bit uneven, but kinda by design. They would have an Afro-Cuban son danceable part, then go Afro-folky, then jazzy . Sometimes it worked , sometimes not

curmudgeon, Friday, 21 February 2025 16:09 (nine months ago)

So there's Guapongo dancing and huapongo dancing . Guapongo dancing is viral on tik tok

https://www.tiktok.com/@veronicacm502/video/7269596665860967685

curmudgeon, Friday, 21 February 2025 16:10 (nine months ago)

two weeks pass...

old-school genres live in the Queens and the Bronx

Puerto Rican Salsa and freestyle
Brenda K. Starr (“I Still Believe,” 1987) performs live with Chilean DJ Manny Mills spinning the Spanglish Saturdays dance party; at La Boom, the Latin night club in Woodside, Queens; on Saturday, March 15, 2025. 10pm doors. Performances around midnight. From $16. 🇵🇷 🇨🇱

Dominican Bachata
Kiko Rodriguez sings Dominican bachata at Salsa Con Fuego restaurant and lounge, in Fordham Manor, The Bronx; on Friday, March 14, 2025, doors 9pm. Free before midnight, $20 after.

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 12 March 2025 20:31 (eight months ago)

90s era Puerto Rican reggaeton group Trebol Clan is back with some membership changes I think and is called New Trebol Clan. They will be @ Blue Moon DC Lounge tonight and doing other dc area gigs over the next few days

The tickeri website shows Latino gigs all over the us of a

curmudgeon, Friday, 14 March 2025 15:34 (eight months ago)

Arturo O'Farrill has a Carla Bley Tribute out. Haven't listened to more than some of the first track to see if there's any noticeable clave on it

https://www.arturoofarrill.com/album/mundoagua-celebrating-carla-bley

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 March 2025 19:21 (eight months ago)

so many cumbia bands

curmudgeon, Saturday, 22 March 2025 03:52 (eight months ago)

Luis R Conriquez Announces Trakas HDSPM

Intersting use of Spanish slang for this guy's tour

curmudgeon, Saturday, 22 March 2025 04:42 (eight months ago)

https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-latin/the-best-latin-music-on-bandcamp-march-2025

Colombian cumbia and chicha allstar out Los Piranas covered here. 1 guy from group is in Meridian Bros

curmudgeon, Thursday, 3 April 2025 23:25 (seven months ago)

https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/latin-artist-on-the-rise-lomiiel-interview-1235743876/

I heard a song from Dominican rapper Lomiiel that reminded me a bit of quirky-voiced Dominican rapper El Alfa who I like. I need to hear more

curmudgeon, Thursday, 3 April 2025 23:30 (seven months ago)

Anyone in NYC go to -

Sunday, March 30, 3 pm: Bay Area percussionist John Santos doesn't get here often, but he's going to be giving a talk at the Bronx Music Hall, 438 E. 183rd, titled "Filosofía Caribeña: The Musical Resistance of John Santos."

Ned Subl&tte did

curmudgeon, Friday, 4 April 2025 00:07 (seven months ago)

Ne#d's also excited about movies coming to NYC

The Havana Film Festival in New York celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, April 3-10. They have a music subseries that starts April 4 at 8:15 pm with Fabien Pisani's En La Caliente: Tales of a Reggaetón Warrior. Quad Theater, NYC; Q+A with Pisani after the show. About a Cuban rapper named Candyman

April 5 at 6:45: Maestra Productions' Obsesión: Mi Canción, about the Havana hiphop duo (who appeared at Postmambo's El Rumbazo in Havana in 2017).

April 7 at 3:10 pm: Bruno Bancalari's Los Hijos de la Costa, about Afro-Mexican musicians on Mexico's Costa Chica. And more; check the schedule.

curmudgeon, Friday, 4 April 2025 00:12 (seven months ago)

Cali, Colombia band salsa band Las Guaracheras are fans of Alain Perez whose 2021 album won in the traditional tropical category

Alain Perez, Issac Delgado & Orquesta Aragon - Siempre El Cha Cha Cha

I missed this one.

curmudgeon, Monday, 7 April 2025 19:36 (seven months ago)

Las Guaracheras are also fans of Grammy nominee Ariacne Trujillo Duran, a Havana Cuba born pianist, arranger and vocalist from the New York area

curmudgeon, Monday, 7 April 2025 19:55 (seven months ago)

I missed Las Guaracheras but saw Mabe Fratti the same night.

I see in an email I get that Colombia salsa greats Grupo Niche were just at Carnegie Hall in NY Thursday. Have always wanted to see them, but have missed their dc area gigs

curmudgeon, Saturday, 19 April 2025 22:46 (seven months ago)

music journalist Andy Beta talks in his substack to critic/author Ben Ratliff about his new book about music and running. While Ratliff notes his book is not about creating playlists for running , he does list off a bunch of musicians he likes hearing when running including :

Any record with Ismael Rivera singing- the Cortijo y su Combo records and any of his solo records after that, like Lo Ultimo en la Avenida.

curmudgeon, Monday, 21 April 2025 14:57 (seven months ago)

Billboard paywalls most of their charts but the the top song/album on each of their charts

"Desde Hoy" by Natti Natasha is #1 on tropical

"DTMF" by Bad Bunny is #1 on Hot Latin ( & 16 on global which is not paywalled)

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 23 April 2025 18:33 (seven months ago)

There's a new Natalia Lafourcade album. I heard part of an NPR story about it on my car radio.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 24 April 2025 14:41 (seven months ago)

Cool.

D.J. Canebrake (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 24 April 2025 21:47 (seven months ago)

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2158804/episodes/17029952

podcast re Cuban music

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 30 April 2025 15:05 (six months ago)

While Billboard charts are largely paywalled now, I-Heart Radio one is not --

Lots of Bad Bunny songs

https://www.iheart.com/playlist/latin-top-40-312064750-BQvNeykAvMmJ9uLtcKA3wC/

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 7 May 2025 03:11 (six months ago)

Brooklyn based Colombian female singing and percussion quartet La Manga did a free show at the Kennedy Center Thursday night, and then did a second free one with guest musicians after at Haydee's in DC.

I saw the Haydee's gig and it was a lot of fun. Here's the Kennedy Center one that was streamed and archived

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlfvVqL_Un8

curmudgeon, Saturday, 10 May 2025 05:24 (six months ago)

https://www.lamangamusic.com/

La Manga website

curmudgeon, Saturday, 10 May 2025 05:26 (six months ago)

La Manga are good and the gig I saw was fun.

curmudgeon, Saturday, 10 May 2025 18:00 (six months ago)

Rauw Alejandro tickets are insanely expensive. I want to go see him Wednesday night at an arena in Baltimore

curmudgeon, Monday, 12 May 2025 18:58 (six months ago)

I didn’t go as when I last looked StubHub was still wanting $200 a ticket for seats near top of arena.

I read that Rauw Alejandro sold out 3 nights in Los Angeles. I like his Latin pop and salsa songs a lot and his reggaeton ones are good enough

curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 May 2025 01:59 (six months ago)

So many cumbia bands now .

curmudgeon, Thursday, 15 May 2025 20:03 (six months ago)

But the Caliente station on Sirius XM is not interested in Latin hipster stuff cumbia or trad cumbia, they are into Latin pop, salsa, reggaeton & a bit of bachata

https://www.billboard.com/music/latin/latin-artist-on-the-rise-lomiiel-interview-1235743876/

I like Lomiiel

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 May 2025 04:35 (six months ago)

In fact I posted that Billboard interview with Lomiiel earlier

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 May 2025 04:36 (six months ago)

a new, co-named New York City street at the corner of Columbus Avenue and West 86th Street, Larry Harlow Way,

https://www.jta.org/2025/05/06/ny/larry-harlow-salsa-musician-known-as-the-marvelous-jew-honored-on-the-upper-west-side

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 20 May 2025 14:41 (six months ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4CYtiDrCFM

. Sayuri & Sopholov, Fuentas Prod: Secunena
Mexico

Dave Moore likes this Mexican reggaeton-pop track and now I do too

curmudgeon, Monday, 4 August 2025 20:37 (three months ago)

this is fun!!

Ray Cat Strut (dog latin), Wednesday, 6 August 2025 12:00 (three months ago)

Or read it either

curmudgeon, Thursday, 7 August 2025 17:54 (three months ago)

Don't even know what to say about the passing Eddie Palmieri, too numbed out.

Reggie Clanker (James Redd and the Blecchs), Friday, 8 August 2025 23:26 (three months ago)

Yep. Palmieri’s death hits me personally as I saw him live a bunch of times with my now late Dad who was a big fan .

I saw in someone’s IG story a tribute to Palmieri as part of Bad Bunny show the other night in Puerto Rico where Bad Bunny is doing a residency

curmudgeon, Saturday, 9 August 2025 15:04 (three months ago)

NYC tribute August 9 to another legend

Sat., August 9 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. (Doors open 6 p.m.)
Celia Cruz Celebration: Isaac Delgado / Alain Pérez / Aymee Nuviola / Brenda Navarrete / Melvis Santana
This free celebration of the Cuban "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz’s centennial brings together salsa star Isaac Delgado, virtuoso bassist and producer Alain Pérez, GRAMMY‑winning singer and actress Aymee Nuviola, percussionist Brenda Navarrete and vocalist Melvis Santana at Central Park.

curmudgeon, Saturday, 9 August 2025 15:04 (three months ago)

https://remezcla.com/lists/music/20-new-songs-to-listen-to-this-week-from-danny-towers-to-greeicy/

curmudgeon, Friday, 22 August 2025 04:29 (three months ago)

Dora La Exploradora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUrprdtxL9g

Code:Selfish, Wednesday, 27 August 2025 01:23 (two months ago)

Just got sent a promo of an upcoming album with Conrad Herwig on trombone, Eddie Palmieri on piano and Luques Curtis on bass. No percussion.

Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Wednesday, 27 August 2025 02:29 (two months ago)

X-post - I love El Alfa’s squeaky voice ( although I am sure it may annoy some)

No percussion on Eddie Palmieri final ( maybe ) release! He did move away from dance music long ago, but at least he still has bass.

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 27 August 2025 13:42 (two months ago)

x-post- I subsequently mentioned the Herwig album with Palmieri and Luques Curtis on the Palmieri thread. I just gave it a quick listen while doing other stuff.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 4 September 2025 04:39 (two months ago)

August’s edition features Brazilian bruxaria, Puerto Rican pop, visionary salsa from New York, and more.

https://daily.bandcamp.com/best-latin/the-best-latin-music-on-bandcamp-august-2025

curmudgeon, Thursday, 4 September 2025 04:41 (two months ago)

love that dj k record

nxd, Thursday, 4 September 2025 13:48 (two months ago)

I need to give it a listen

curmudgeon, Friday, 12 September 2025 02:21 (two months ago)

Reading about DJ Gia Fu spinning mambo and salsa records at Sobs on the 13th and there is a live band too

Join us for an all-vinyl Salsa Party with DJ/Selector Gia Fu!

With a full-length DJ set from Gia, and live salsa music by Ricky Campanelli (FIRST TIME IN NYC), Carlitos Padron, & Los Rumberos Del Callejon.

ABOUT GIA FU:

Originally from Hong Kong, Gia Fu combines her Chinese heritage with Latin American influences to bring a modern spin to Salsa. Specializing in Afro-Latin music, particularly Salsa and associated rhythms, Gia is bringing salsa back as a mainstream party genre.

Leading the Canton Mambo 曼波 project and party (@cantonmambo), Gia Fu dedicates herself to bridging cultural divides, embracing diversity through research, cultural & dance events, and music. The party is dedicated to bridging cultural gaps and embracing diversity through Salsa, Afro-Latin music & Asian sounds. Canton Mambo aims to create an inclusive space where cultural blends harmoniously foster unity through music.

curmudgeon, Friday, 12 September 2025 02:23 (two months ago)

N* d S*ble*te says:

Listening: The wonderfully named Newness Cuba is an indispensable resource for keeping track of new Cuban music from everywhere on the globe. Maintained by Rafael G. Escalona, this 50-song playlist updates weekly, so there's always something new. There's an audio-only Spotify version, a YouTube version with videos, and probably more. It's how I found out about Mayito Rivera's soul-stirring new guaguancó, "La Historia de Panga." I just stopped typing to listen to it again. Rafa also has a Substack.

curmudgeon, Friday, 12 September 2025 21:52 (two months ago)

Los Angeles Azules are playing an arena show near me tonight

curmudgeon, Sunday, 21 September 2025 15:34 (two months ago)

Los Ángeles Azules are a Mexican musical group that plays the cumbia sonidera genre, which is a cumbia subgenre using the accordion and synthesizers.

And Nidia Gongora, an Afro-Colombian singer is in DC Monday night

curmudgeon, Monday, 22 September 2025 01:54 (two months ago)

Nidia Gongora gig postponed.

curmudgeon, Monday, 22 September 2025 22:32 (two months ago)

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO8QR86DbDa/?igsh=MW1kdWs0em10Z2Zndw==

Star Rauw Alejandro dancing to bomba in a small room in San Juan Puerto Rico

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 24 September 2025 13:25 (two months ago)

"La Salsa Vive " doc @ 5:15 Sunday Sept 28 @ AFI Silver Spring , MD(movie re Colombian salsa scene)

Thinking this could be good

curmudgeon, Sunday, 28 September 2025 16:57 (one month ago)

there's a new rauw alejandro album, sounding pretty fantastic so far.

"caribeño" in particular is a titanic banger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP2yeXWgRzE

harper valley paul thomas anderson (voodoo chili), Thursday, 2 October 2025 16:39 (one month ago)

yes this is great!

Now read it backwards. (dog latin), Thursday, 2 October 2025 16:58 (one month ago)

Just finally listened to whole new Rauw Alejandro album- "Caribeno" is a good one. Also it ends with a salsa song, has reggaeton, and song "Santa" is afrobeats with guests rvssian and Ayra Starr.

curmudgeon, Friday, 10 October 2025 15:28 (one month ago)

October 16 at Guggenheim Museum in NY
Join an unforgettable Late Shift embracing the power of healing through music. Artist José Parlá will spin a vinyl DJ set, immersing the rotunda in the rhythms of rumba, mambo, and guaguancó; bomba and plena; and reggaeton and Jamaican reggae. While Parla spins, Afro-Cuban percussion group Clave y Cuba will use voice and drums to fill the space with joy and keep tradition alive. We hope you will join us for this truly one-of-a-kind evening of celebration and live music. Organized in partnership with the Center for Black Visual Culture at New York University.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 October 2025 01:23 (one month ago)

I am listening to 2025 Silvana Estrada album now. Mexican indie-folkie pop that is done well.

curmudgeon, Sunday, 19 October 2025 15:17 (one month ago)

https://presentspace.com/the-apocalypse-and-genesis-of-reggaeton/

Overview article on the birth, growth, and future of reggaeton

curmudgeon, Wednesday, 29 October 2025 03:45 (three weeks ago)

Fri. Nov 7 th-Charlie Aponte @ Diamond Lounge, Annandale , VA near Washington DC (salsa)

He was a singer in El Gran Combo for decades

curmudgeon, Friday, 31 October 2025 19:07 (three weeks ago)

for the first time in Grammy Award history, Latin Grammy voting members were invited to join the Recording Academy as part of its 2025 new member class. But will it make a difference in advancing the most popular Latin music artists to general categories?

News of this inclusion follows efforts by the Recording Academy to diversify its electorate. Of the 3,800 professionals and music creators accepted into the new 2025 class, 50% are 39 or younger, 58% are people of color and 35% identify as women...

“Obviously the Latin Grammys exist, in part, because they were critical of the Grammy Awards for not including and recognizing a wide array of Latin genres,” says Petra Rivera-Rideau, associate professor and chair of American studies at Wellesley College. “[But] the Latin Grammys itself has reproduced a lot of exclusions, particularly with genres like reggaeton and música Mexicana, which right now are the two genres really propelling Latin music forward.”

Earlier this fall, Rivera-Rideau criticized the Latin Grammys for excluding Bad Bunny’s longtime producers, Tainy and MAG, who did not receive a nomination for producer of the year, despite the Puerto Rican star having the most Latin Grammy nominations this Latin Grammy season for his critically-acclaimed album, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

https://www.latimes.com/delos/story/2025-11-04/latin-grammy-voting-members-join-recording-academy

curmudgeon, Thursday, 6 November 2025 16:55 (two weeks ago)

There’s a retrospective exhibit of artist Wilfrido Lam @ MOMa in NYC and he lived Cuban music as noted in a Substack Cuba on Record by Judy Cantor-Navas

When Lam returned to Havana, he became close friends with the Cuban anthropologist Lydia Cabrera, whose mid-century writings remain essential texts on Afro-Cuban religion, society and sacred music.

Cabera’s mentor Fernando Ortiz brought Afro-Cuban ritual music and instruments onto mainstreams stages in Havana in the late 1930s. He described his work as “dedicated to affirming the positive existence of black musics; different from white musics, but not mere cacaphonies of noise…but extremely original and complex esthetic combinations of noises, tones, rhythms, melodies, harmonies, congs and dances, with universal or universalizable values.”

Ortiz also became a good friend and supporter of Lam.

“I worked under the influence of that wise man,” Lam told music writer Rafael Lam.

Musically, the painter was entranced by his brother’s violin as a child, and as a young man was such a classical music afficionado that he was named honorary vice president of the Havana Chamber Orchestra. He befriended Stravinsky and, no stranger to the arts of chance himself, Lam became acquainted with composer John Cage on a trip to New York in 1946.

But it was Afro-Cuban and Afro-Carribean ritual music and dance that would most profoundly reverberate in his work.

“Picasso told me that I should feel proud of my African blood, from the cradle of civilization. He knew the importance of that race, the power of [its] art.” According to Rafael Lam, the painter woud recall a night when he attended a performance of Cuban rumba with Picasso in Paris’ Montparnasse. Entranced by the drummers, Picasso exclaimed, “Now that’s music!”

“Since my time in Paris I was fixed on the idea of infusing African art into my work,” the Cuban artist later said.

In the 1940s in Havana, Cabrera took Lam to religious ceremonies and introduced him to babalawos; the Afro-Cuban priests.

https://open.substack.com/pub/cubaonrecord/p/afro-cuban-music-and-dance-reverberate?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

curmudgeon, Monday, 10 November 2025 05:26 (two weeks ago)

There’s a retrospective exhibit of artist Wilfrido Lam @ MOMa in NYC and he lived Cuban music as noted in a Substack Cuba on Record by Judy Cantor-Navas

When Lam returned to Havana, he became close friends with the Cuban anthropologist Lydia Cabrera, whose mid-century writings remain essential texts on Afro-Cuban religion, society and sacred music.

Cabera’s mentor Fernando Ortiz brought Afro-Cuban ritual music and instruments onto mainstreams stages in Havana in the late 1930s. He described his work as “dedicated to affirming the positive existence of black musics; different from white musics, but not mere cacaphonies of noise…but extremely original and complex esthetic combinations of noises, tones, rhythms, melodies, harmonies, congs and dances, with universal or universalizable values.”

Ortiz also became a good friend and supporter of Lam.

“I worked under the influence of that wise man,” Lam told music writer Rafael Lam.

Musically, the painter was entranced by his brother’s violin as a child, and as a young man was such a classical music afficionado that he was named honorary vice president of the Havana Chamber Orchestra. He befriended Stravinsky and, no stranger to the arts of chance himself, Lam became acquainted with composer John Cage on a trip to New York in 1946.

But it was Afro-Cuban and Afro-Carribean ritual music and dance that would most profoundly reverberate in his work.

“Picasso told me that I should feel proud of my African blood, from the cradle of civilization. He knew the importance of that race, the power of [its] art.” According to Rafael Lam, the painter woud recall a night when he attended a performance of Cuban rumba with Picasso in Paris’ Montparnasse. Entranced by the drummers, Picasso exclaimed, “Now that’s music!”

“Since my time in Paris I was fixed on the idea of infusing African art into my work,” the Cuban artist later said.

In the 1940s in Havana, Cabrera took Lam to religious ceremonies and introduced him to babalawos; the Afro-Cuban priests.

https://open.substack.com/pub/cubaonrecord/p/afro-cuban-music-and-dance-reverberate?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

curmudgeon, Monday, 10 November 2025 05:26 (two weeks ago)

Nov 13 (Reuters) - Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny and Argentine hip-hop duo Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso each won five Latin Grammy awards in Las Vegas on Thursday,

curmudgeon, Friday, 14 November 2025 06:59 (one week ago)

Video clips from Latin Grammys plus Jon Pareles describing them

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/arts/music/latin-grammys-bad-bunny.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1U8.VSbn.gbmswfLJ72P9&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

curmudgeon, Saturday, 15 November 2025 17:56 (one week ago)

Listening to latest album by Mexican indie-folkie Silvana Estrada . She is doing a North American tour now or shortly

curmudgeon, Monday, 17 November 2025 18:04 (one week ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9PoZ0Vcb_s

curmudgeon, Monday, 17 November 2025 23:59 (one week ago)

Listening to her first solo album too-a touch of jazz improv in her vocals but mostly beautiful yet stark Latin American folk & a bit of Natalie Lafourcade pop

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 November 2025 02:50 (six days ago)

Her parents are luthiers who make and repair stringed instruments. She recorded her first El Tiny desk there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S52_XxBwbJg

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 November 2025 06:51 (six days ago)

Will have a listen, thanks.

Nicholas Raybeat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 18 November 2025 07:31 (six days ago)

You mentioned Natalie Lafourcade but left out Mon Laferte.

Nicholas Raybeat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 18 November 2025 07:33 (six days ago)

Yep, Estrada, Laferte, and Lafourcade did a song together “My One and only Love”

Estrada also once toured on a bill with Julieta Venegas , who has since praised Estrada’s poetic lyrics

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 November 2025 20:42 (six days ago)

Friday night in dc area - El Gran Combo w/ Grupo Niche @ Eaglebank Arena; La India @ Capital One Hall Tyson’s ;

And Silvana Estrada at 9:30 Club

2 salsa gigs and a Latin folk one all near the same time

curmudgeon, Tuesday, 18 November 2025 20:47 (six days ago)

I'm listening to the album Machete by Colombian band Bejuco. Good music to sway and dance to, it's not overloaded and relies on a few instruments (marimba, bass, electronic piano, percussion) and vocals. It still has some raw edge, it is tasty, and is very slightly hypnotic. Recommended for people into Bomba Estéreo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHeZxdM6Qyw

Naledi, Wednesday, 19 November 2025 10:03 (five days ago)

Toto la Momposina for another reference I can muster

Naledi, Wednesday, 19 November 2025 10:04 (five days ago)

One more because the below is very nice (vocals version also great)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6_H19u5yZo
Bejuco - Tolita (Cerrero dub)

Naledi, Wednesday, 19 November 2025 10:28 (five days ago)

this is very cool

Now read it backwards. (dog latin), Wednesday, 19 November 2025 11:01 (five days ago)

I really Dominican dembow rapper El Alfa's squeaky voice but ugh missed his late night gig in DC last night.

curmudgeon, Friday, 21 November 2025 19:53 (three days ago)

x-post- but I like that Bejuco from Colombia too

curmudgeon, Friday, 21 November 2025 19:55 (three days ago)

Mexico’s Silvana Estrada opened her short North American tour in dc at the 930 Club last night. Great show mixing some of the powerful, more minimal cuts from her 2022 album that exhibited her vocal strength, and the more Natalie Lafourcade inspired Latin pop on her latest. Great band with cello, guitar, horns, and a keyboardist who played & added some programmed strings. Estrada was repeatedly touched by audience enthusiasm as she touched her heart and thanked the crowd mostly in Spanish but occasionally in English.

curmudgeon, Saturday, 22 November 2025 17:53 (two days ago)

Looks like from Estrada's IG she had Friday night in NYC free, and got in to see Patti Smith Horses 50th aniv. show .

Also On IG, I saw some great choreographed dancing and salsa sounds from Grupo Niche who in VA near DC Friday night w/ the legendary El Gran Combo

Oh, at that should above I really like Dominican dembow rapper El Alfa's squeaky voice

curmudgeon, Sunday, 23 November 2025 14:44 (yesterday)


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