Best Latin Music?

October 2, 2006 4:52 AM

What are some of the best Latin bands, past and present?

I heard a show on NPR yesterday (Sunday, around noon) that showcased Puerto Rican music from the 30s. The music was very good.

I'd like to hear more music like that, and/or any good latin music from any era. Perhaps some suggestions from the hive mind?

posted by cahlers to media & arts (20 comments total)

Esquivel, Xavier Cugat.
posted by the cuban at 5:19 AM on October 2, 2006

For mambo, two biggies are Perez Prado and Tito Puente. Truly excellent. I don't have any specific album recs, I suspect that they cut quite a few.

A great current band that uses latin styles very well in contemporary rock/funk and leftist polotics is Ozomatli from LA. Their first album is really good (Ozomatli), second (Embrace the Chaos) is good, I haven't listened beyond that. They're one of the best live bands I've seen.
posted by OmieWise at 5:24 AM on October 2, 2006

Man, what do you want? "Latin" is so damn broad that it could apply to The Teen Tops, Tom Ze, or Tito Puente.
I can give you recommendations for Argentinean rockabilly, Brazillian post-punk, contemporary Peruvians, Mexican garage rockers, Texan tejanos, Nortec techno, or The Fabulous Thunderbirds, all of whom are "Latin."
But it's a little like saying "What's the best music made by black people?"
posted by klangklangston at 5:43 AM on October 2, 2006 [1 favorite]

As others have pointed out, your question is waaay too broad. But try listening to the hour long weekly podcasts from ritmolatino.org for an eclectic mix of latino music.
posted by dhruva at 5:53 AM on October 2, 2006

I second Ozomatli, but note that their music is more of a fusion between traditional Latino music and West Cost hip-hop (with a few other notes thrown in for good measure).

Right now I'm enjoying learning about duranguense; a friend made me a mix of a bunch of popular duranguense bands including some that are listed on that (linked) Wikipedia page. Worth checking out, I think.

Oh, and if you like hop-hop, make sure to listen to the Orishas, a group from Cuba. Their first album, A Lo Cubano, is one of my favorites.

Finally, I've found Pandora incredibly good at finding me new music to listen to. Since, as others pointed out, your question really is broad, typing any of the suggestions in this thread into Pandora might give you more avenues to check out.

[I have no affiliation with Pandora other than that of a satisfied user]
posted by jacobian at 6:26 AM on October 2, 2006

I agree the question is broad. The problem is, I know what I like when I hear it, but do not know what the various sub-genres sound like.

I will try the Ritmo Latino podcast, thanks drhuva.

What about music from Puerto Rico from the 1930s-60s?
posted by cahlers at 6:46 AM on October 2, 2006

Based on your original question I would say that Beney More and Ibrahim Ferrar might best start to fulfill that void.

Both are jazz style, but with a Latin feel.
posted by fox_terrier_guy at 6:48 AM on October 2, 2006

I have adored the Gypsy Kings / Los Reyes for decades now.... and check out Jose Reyes, father and uncel to most of the band.
posted by eatdonuts at 6:58 AM on October 2, 2006

I recommend Buena Vista Social Club
posted by Vindaloo at 7:01 AM on October 2, 2006

I second the Orishas, really fun hip-hop. That's good cuban hip-hop -- other cuban music: I also recommend Buena Vista Social Club, and the related Afrocuban All Stars. For even more cuban music, check out the soundtrack to Before Night Falls -- it has a great variety of classic cuban music. Other favorites: Cafe Tacuba, Delinquent Habits, some Calexico albums such as Hot Rail and Across the Wire; B-Side Players.
posted by Soulbee at 7:08 AM on October 2, 2006

Joe Bataan, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Ray Barretto, Larry Harlow, Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco, Celia Cruz, Harvey Averne Dozen, Cal Tjader.

These are all hardcore dancfloor salsa and boogaloo (salsa's R&B and rock influenced cousin) that will be on the jukebox in any good Latin bar or club. If it dosen't get you up and moving, you're probably dead. Fania Records was the premier Latin label for years and they've just done an exquisitely packaged and annotated set of reissues, so they're a great place to start. These comps are good, too.
posted by jonmc at 7:36 AM on October 2, 2006

I'm salivating as I watch this thread. I've been interested in geeting into some pre-war Latin music, too.


FWIW, althoygh a bit more recent than what you're looking
for, the recordings Perez Prado made with Beny More in Mexcio City (late 40s and early 50s, I think) totally rock (so to speak)! Here's my favorite compilation of those recordings.
posted by mds35 at 7:39 AM on October 2, 2006

Johnny Blas and his Latin Jazz are a contemporary group with an unusually large number of trombones. It's not big band, though, just an extra punch.
posted by mzurer at 7:59 AM on October 2, 2006

Maná
posted by ubu at 10:35 AM on October 2, 2006

Los Amigos Invisibles
posted by BillBishop at 10:38 AM on October 2, 2006

Los Amigos Invisibles and Ozomatli are both great and worth checking out, but they're a far cry from 1930's Puerto Rico. If you can get a sense of whether it's mambo, salsa, merengue, or something else you are looking for, you'll get more on-target suggestions.

In any case, let me throw out a few of my own: Frankie Ruiz for Puerto Rican-flavored salsa and Billo's Caracas Boys for a 1940's-50's big band kind of sound.
posted by ambrosia at 10:56 AM on October 2, 2006

Roman and the Caesars? Oh, I'm sorry... Wrong Latins.
posted by sholdens12 at 11:40 AM on October 2, 2006

of course I will say ozomatli.

check out Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Malo, Azteca, Molotov, Cafe Tecuba, Lila Downs, Chavela Vargas, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Los Tigres del Norte, Kumbia Kings, Eddie Palmieri, Los Lobos...

I could go on and on forever.
posted by ozomatli at 11:58 AM on October 2, 2006

into some pre-war Latin music

mexicovers.
posted by dhruva at 5:40 PM on October 2, 2006

I completely forgot to suggest this excellent compilation called Cuba: I Am Time. It's four cds, a different genre for each CD, all cuban music. All great.
posted by OmieWise at 3:52 PM on October 5, 2006 [1 favorite]