Chumalacatea

La chanson du jour. RIP, Ismael. 

Puerto Rico-Congo Musical Routes and Roots

One of my favorite things about listening to classics of Congolese music is the covers and allusions to popular songs from Cuba or the Caribbean. In this case, a classic from African Jazz (one of my favorite groups who recorded numerous songs praising Congolese independence), one hears a horn arrangement from Cortijo y su Combo that is quoted by African Jazz. Although it's only the horn arrangement, it's excellent to hear music from Cuba and Puerto Rico taking on 'local' colors and distinctive style in the Congo. El chivo de la campana!

Cucala

Puerto Rican jam for Sunday. Enjoy a live rendition from the 1950s here. 

Bailala Bien

One of my favorite Cortijo/Rivera bombas. Ismael Rivera and Rafael Cortijo loved what some might consider 'silly' bombas, but they are an assertion of a Puerto Rican (and Afro-Boricua) identity and culture. The rhythms are just infectious in the bomba arrangements of Cortijo's band. 

Maquino Landera

Dave Chappelle once joked that Latinos love music with Spanish gibberish. This may be one of those examples of a hit from the 1950s. If I remember correctly, "Maquino Landera" would be considered a bomba, but regardless of its classification, it's fun. Enjoy this jam live from 1950s Puerto Rican television. Rest in peace, Ismael. 

Ismael Rivera and Benny More

My boys (Benny More and Ismael Rivera), the best soneros in the Caribe, together in this photo with Rafael Cortijo on the far left. Check out this special on los mejores soneros (a nice overview of the evolution of their music and why their improvisational skills and vocal talent made them the best). Rest in peace. The world needs more amazing Afro-Caribbean singers...

Ismael Rivera and Rafael Cortijo

Been feeling very Puerto Rican today, not entirely sure why. Perhaps hearing a Latina woman pronounce my apellido the correct way did something, or maybe there's some musical DNA from listening to Ismael Rivera in my blood. From "Negro Bembon" to "Calipso, Bomba, y Plena" this band asserts a particularly Black Puerto Rican identity and Pan-Caribbean consciousness. Though heavily influenced by Cuban son and mambo (also the Cuban conjunto format of the 1950s and 1960s), Cortijo and Ismael made it known they were black while playing bombas and plenas from the Afro-Puerto Rican tradition.

I am particularly drawn to Ismael Rivera due to his 'black consciousness' and' pan-African' awareness. The brother sang about the unjust police treatment of blacks, was connected to the Black Christ rituals of Portobelo, Panama, and emphasized the humanity of the "lindas caras de mi gente negra." Indeed, this group was one of the first and most popular black bands in Puerto Rico, and one can hear why in the excellent sonero skills of Rivera. Indeed, I think I like him as a sonero better than Benny More, his Cuban equivalent in vocal skills and improvisation. Also, if you just listen to songs such as this or live performances of Ismael and Rafael, it's pure Afro-Caribbean delight. Salsa, bomba, even the occasional bossa nova are all delightful when handled by collaborative efforts between Cortijo and Rivera, or Rivera alone. 

Music for a Peaceful Friday

Here are some tunes stuck in my head today. Enjoy the Friday evening! I think I will spend it relaxing, reading, and listening to jazz. I'm currently perusing a biography of jazz legend Wayne Shorter and feel I owe it to his great music to devour some jazz this weekend. Shorter could write jams like "Tom Thumb" and some ethereal and emotionally complex pieces, such as "Footprints." Also, don't forget your salsa! Ismael Rivera and Rafael Cortijo might be my favorite Puerto Rican musical group. 

Last but certainly not least, I met an old man from Jamaica who has lived in the US for over 40 years. He claimed he went to school with Bob Marley, which is certainly possible. He was a little 'off' though and was obsessed with potentially winning the lottery. Anywho, enjoy your reggae, too! 

Music of Puerto Rico

Lately I have been trying to expand my Caribbean musical palette, so Puerto Rico is my new music obsession! Also, I might as well learn more about my other ancestral homeland's music, beyond my boogaloo craze last year and slight salsa interests. As of now, I am loving my Afro-Boricua brother, Ismael Rivera, an excellent singer who was quite proud and explicitly pro-black (this essay about his relationship with Rafael Cortijo is quite useful and interesting). Also, did I mention the two covered one of my favorite samba/bossa nova songs from Jorge Ben's first album? My Youtube playlist is currently quite underdeveloped, but I am expanding it over the next week or two.

What I have noticed so far from listening to Puerto Rican danza music is how remarkably similar it is to Cuban danzon, Haitian meringue, and Dominican merengue (of course, I refer to the 'art' and salon forms of these genres), which isn't too surprising after perusing Asterlitz's book on merengue or another on creolization of contradanse. Indeed, listening to the famous Figueroa musical family, one cannot help but notice how similar so much of these elite nationalist music genres of the Caribbean were (the presence of the cinquillo/quintolet certainly indicates the common Afro-Caribbean background influences in each island). Or check out Graciela Rivera, a famous Puerto Rican singer, whose danza sounds so much like some of the formal and elite-led 'national' musics of Cuba or Haiti. She even sings some danzas composed by a prominent Afro-Puerto Rican composer, Juan Morel Campo. There is so much grace to be found in this form of Puerto Rican music, such as in this.  Or this old Puerto Rican orchestra's danza? Of course, all these danzas are also influenced by Cuban habanera and other influences, as well. Beautiful, just beautiful.

Anywho, based on my greater interest salsa and other genres of Puerto Rican music, I shall endeavor to discover other great artists such as Cortijo and Rivera. Who knows, perhaps if I keep at it, I'll become obsessed with Puerto Rican music in the way I was so taken by South African and Congolese music.