Latin Vinyl Records

Far from the twin epicenters of New York and Miami, Carlos Ruiz and his Ebirac label were both feeling and generating the aftershocks of the mid-'70s salsa boom. Holed up in their own bustling Puerto Rican community center on Chicago's west side, these third coast salseros plied their trade outside the hot lights, cutting their teeth in city parks, VFW halls, and Holiday Inn rec rooms. Nearly 50 records survive in the wake of orquestas La Justicia, La Solucion, and Tipica Leal '79, the most impassioned, singular moments of which are compiled here.

The Afro-Peruvian style heard on The Soul of Black Peru compilation originated hundreds of years ago from the Spanish slave trade. The music is a mix of African, Spanish, and Andean traditions, due to the fact that the slaves who came to Peru were not from one specific region, so they did not have a common language to communicate with. It's easy to break the music down and see which culture contributed what -- the lyrics are all sung in Spanish (Spain), have a slight melancholy approach (similar to the Yaravi form from the Andes), and boast interesting rhythms (Africa). The musical form is just starting to catch on in other parts of the world, and deservedly so. And since this is heartfelt, emotional music, fans outside of the world music circle can easily grasp and appreciate it. Ranging from Manuel Donayre's "Yo No Soy Jaqui" to Chabuca Granda's "Lando" (Luaka Bop Records head David Byrne even contributes a track, "Maria Lando"), The Soul of Black Peru is a true musical treasure.
- Greg Prato (All Music)

"[Los Amigos Invisibles] has taken the rhythmic sass in salsa, the bass-heavy fun in funk, and even the note-bending bile in acid-jazz, and mixed it all up to produce an infectious beat. [They] have put the joy back into dancing, sending a warm current into the cold alienating waters of industrial strength techno." – LA Weekly

"We're a dance band," says Jose Luis Pardo, the guitarist for Los Amigos Invisibles. Tuned into groove culture from Detroit to London to Tokyo -- thanks to the Internet and a busy tour schedule -- the Amigos began work on their new album AREPA 3000: A VENEZUELAN JOURNEY INTO SPACE with a disco sensibility. Admiring French DJ/producers the band sought a heavier house sound in contrast to the retro and lounge elements of THE NEW SOUND OF THE VENEZUELAN GOZADERA. "The lounge thing sounds more Japanese," says Jose Luis. "The house sound is fresher, the disco songs we do sound more like that. The album is more electronic in certain ways."

Samba is the dancing spirit and rhythm of life in Brazil. This Rough Guide features the best of old and new from legendary sambista Alcione and superstar vocalist Marisa Monte to the seriously funky Samba Um and the samba swing of Rogê.

Soul Jazz Records’ new album 90 Degrees of Shade features the music of the Caribbean – Mambo, Calypso, Mento, Merengue, Latin Jazz and much more. The music of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and more all feature in this lightning journey through the many island sounds. This is the sound of independence, righteous and hot jump-up sounds from the 1950s and 60s, an exciting period of endless new musical styles that would travel across the world – Mento, the Jamaican precursor to reggae; mambos and descargas from Cuba, Dominican merengue, Haitian compas – it’s all here! This album coincides with the release of Soul Jazz Records’ massive new deluxe large format hardback book 90 Degrees of Shade: 100 Years of Photography In The Caribbean (with foreword by Paul Gilroy) featuring hundreds of fascinating and unique photographs spanning one hundred years of Caribbean history. This limited edition heavyweight double LP vinyl edition is housed in a gatefold sleeve complete with insert and full text.

Soul Jazz Records’ new album 90 Degrees of Shade features the music of the Caribbean – Mambo, Calypso, Mento, Merengue, Latin Jazz and much more. The music of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and more all feature in this lightning journey through the many island sounds. This is the sound of independence, righteous and hot jump-up sounds from the 1950s and 60s, an exciting period of endless new musical styles that would travel across the world – Mento, the Jamaican precursor to reggae; mambos and descargas from Cuba, Dominican merengue, Haitian compas – it’s all here! This album coincides with the release of Soul Jazz Records’ massive new deluxe large format hardback book 90 Degrees of Shade: 100 Years of Photography In The Caribbean (with foreword by Paul Gilroy) featuring hundreds of fascinating and unique photographs spanning one hundred years of Caribbean history. This limited edition heavyweight double LP vinyl edition is housed in a gatefold sleeve complete with insert and full text.

This Rough Guide bursts at the seams with everything from golden age Ethio-jazz to contemporary dub-club fusion. Classic tunes from Mahmoud Ahmed and Alemayehu Eshete appear alongside Krar Collective, Dub Colossus and more.

Mystic Percussion Didgeridoo is the result of an impromptu recording session of six musicians. Upon listening, the incredible possibilities of expression of the didgeridoo is realized which is enhanced by vocals and percussion instruments.

The Didgeridoo, also called a Yidaki, is a primitive instrument dating back 40,000 years. It is created and played by the aborigines of northern Australia. The instrument is typically made from the stringy bark or eucalyptus sapling.

Musicians:
Dirk Jahn, Didgeridoo, mouthbow, udu-drum
Knut Jahn, Didgeridoo, Cajon, udu-drum, darbuka
Yvonne Tham, vocals
Tim Brown, guitar, whistle, bongos, shaker
Robert Siegert, Djembe, shaker, Cajon
Christian Bürkner, cabasa, shaker, caxixi, darbuka