Latin Jazz

[srmoser]

What are the 'must-have' Latin Jazz albums and artists?

[PiousBionicus]

"Buena Vista Social Club", definitely a must! It's not exactly your standard Latin Jazz, that's probably why I like it so much.

[MachadoCooper]

:cool: Love the Question on my favorite subject. Now it really depends on what type of Jazz you like to listen to,

I suggest for a good introduction you try "Latin Jazz: La Combinacion Perfecta" a New CD put out by the Smithsonian. It's a good compilation with some good things like Manteca by Dizzy Gilespie & Chano Pozo, Some tunes by Machito & Maurio Bauza, Some Tito Puente, some Chico O'Farril, Cal Tjader it's a great combo CD. It's also got a little history in the booklette which is nice.

I love ANYTHING by Chucho Valdes. He's considered the Duke Ellington of Cuba and is a truly gifted composer, arranger. I have Bryumba Palo Congo, Solo Piano and Live at The Village Vanguard which is an incredible set of music.

I like Poncho Sanchez a lot, The Soul of The Conga is good. Also try Ray Barretto, David Sanchez, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Arturo Sandoval, Jam Miami A Tribute to Latin Jazz is nice. If you like Soneros Cuban singers of Son, try older releases by Celia Cruz, Beny More, or Tito Rodriguez. Good Mambo sounds. The Soundtrack to For Love or Contry is very good taste of Arturo Sandoval. Try also ...Fort Apache Band, Ray Vega, Michel Camillo and DEFINITELY Tito Puente. Mongo Santamaria may also suite your tastes ... And now that I have gone completely overboard in my must haves this should get you into a good amount of ritmo! have fun and let me know how it goes.:D :D

[GA Russell]

Dizzy Gillespie is credited with combining latin/Cuban and modern jazz, so I would get his RCA Victor recordings.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002WRX/qid=1035855282/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-7158975-8734257

Is bossa nova part of your consideration? If so, I recommend Getz/Gilberto.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000047CX/qid=1035855385/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/103-7158975-8734257

Finally, an unpretentious session by Cal Tjader and Charlie Byrd called Tambu.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000000Z2C/qid=1035855458/sr=1-10/ref=sr_1_10/103-7158975-8734257?v=glance

[andreimatorin]

hehe machado. while reading ur post i was just wondering if u'd mention ray vega and u did.... i'm so excited!! he was my first week combo tutor at the litchfield jazz festival summer music school. i didn't know how big he was.... i got his cd at the festival and really like it (boperation). would recommend it, it's got great arrangements IMO...

[MachadoCooper]

Yeah I adore Ray Vega, he's a hell of a trumpet player and very cool, funny too. I just finished a Television special that features him for the Jazz channel. The show is a good mix of Latin Arists that have performed at Wolf Trap in the Washington, DC area. Ray was one of them. I just saw him again last week at the Smithsonian, he played with the Arturo OFarril All Stars. He's pretty much the next generation of Latin Jazz. So yeah he's really at the head of his craft. :-) I love your suggestions too.:cool:

[clifton]

You might also want to check out Eddie Palmieri and Hilton Ruiz. For Palmieri, I recommend "La Perfecta II" and "The Sun Of Latin Music". For Ruiz, it's "Manhattan Mambo". These are red-hot, powerful examples of great Latin jazz. For something more exploratory but still smokin', try "Melaza" by David Sanchez.