Casabe Sabe

Just a catchy salsa number about casabe, the delicious bread made from yuca. We have been obsessed with casabe in the Caribbean after colonial conquest. 

Aji Caribe

An amazing salsa number from a Venezuelan group, Septeto Karibe, this song includes some irresistible percussion.

El camionero

Classics.

Perico lo Tiene

Irresistible. We only wish there was soloing for the instrumentalists. 

Afro-Indian Areito

Part of our ongoing obsession with the "Taino" inheritance with numerous references to the obvious African legacy. In other words, the making of our people.

Agüeybaná

This blog's ongoing obsession with the Taino continues. This time, it's a catchy song in honor of Agüeybaná.

Lejos de Ti

The Latin music obsession is ongoing. Canales has an amazing voice and captivating way of expressing himself. 

Isla del Encanto

Looks like we are now in the throes of a full-fledged salsa obsession. Our last salsa phase was probably 6 or 7 years ago, and we barely scratched the surface of the genre. Anyway, this particularly catchy gem about Puerto Rico as an "Edenic Land" is something we are listening to on repeat. The lyrics allude to all the stereotypical things one expects in a song about Puerto Rico, but an overall excellent performance. 

Pedro Navaja

The culprit for our renewed interest in West Side Story is "Pedro Navaja" from the 1970s. Salsa is not our major genre, but this blog's ongoing obsession with Latin music is forcing us to visit or revisit old classics we have sadly forgotten or neglected. 

La Cura

Frankie Ruiz really was one of the greats. This live performance of "La Cura" shows him at his best with an amazing band that knew how to "cook" like few others.

Mujer

Although salsa is not my preferred genre of music, it's one I return to somewhat regularly. Enjoy.

Que Bueno Baila Usted

Beautiful song from one of the lesser known talents of 1960s Latin music. Quijano is clearly influenced by "Que Bueno Baila Usted" for the lyrics here, but manages to to something unique here.

Anacaona Live

Rousing rendition of salsa classic "Anacaona" by a legendary Cuban band, in one of its later incarnations. The vocalist actually sounds a bit like Che Feliciano, so one might as well listen to the original. 

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!

Chango Blanco

A beautiful Puerto Rican song expressing black pride. 

Boricua Hasta La Muerte

Enjoy a beautiful salsa song for Puerto Rico, composed by none other than Tite. 

Nabori

Enjoy a salsa classic from Cheo Feliciano (written by Tite). Sounds somewhat like "Anacaona," which makes sense given the Taino allusion the title. 

Caonabo

Enjoy a salsa contribute to Taino cacique Caonabo of Haiti-Quisqueya. From the same legendary Puerto Rican composer who wrote "Anacaona," Caonabo was the husband of Anacaona, a powerful cacica in her own right. A lively cover of "Caonabo" was also recorded by Chico Alvarez. 

Que Risa Me Da

Enjoy some salsa from Luis Sanchez & El Combo Show.