Latin American

Spanish-language music from North and South America.

Claudia Acuña

• Luna [2004, MaxJazz], C+

Afro-Cuban All Stars

• A Toda Cuba Le Gusta [1996, World Circuit/Nonesuch], B+(***)

Alex Alvear

• Equatorial [2006, Colorado], B+(***)

Angá

• Echu Mingua [2006, World Circuit/Nonesuch], B

Joe Arroyo

• La Noche [1999, World Music Network/Riverboat], A–

Los Aterciopelados [1994– ]

• Gozo Poderoso [2001, BMG Latino], B

Federico Aubele

• Gran Hotel Buenos Aires [2003, Eighteenth Street Lounge Music], B+

Susana Baca

• Eco de Sombras / Echo of Shadows [2000, Virgin], B+

Ruben Blades (1948– )

• Buscando America [1984, Elektra], B+
• Escensas [1985, Elektra], B

Bloque

• Bloque [1998, Warner Brothers], B

Buena Vista Social Club [1997– ]

• Buena Vista Social Club [1997, World Circuit], A–

Cachao (1918– )

• Descargas: The Havana Sessions [1957–61, Yemaya, 2 CD], A–
• Dos [1976, Salsoul], B+
• Master Sessions Volume 1 [1993, Crescent Moon/Epic], A–
• Master Sessions Volume 2 [1993, Crescent Moon/Epic], A

Café Tacuba [1992– ]

• Avalancha de Exitos [1996, WEA Latina], B
• Cuatro Caminos [2003, MCA], B

Colombiafrica — The Mythic Orchestra

• Voodoo Love Inna Champeta Land [2007, Riverboat], A–

Edwin Colon Zayas

• ¡Bien Jibaro! Country Music of Puerto Rico [1994, Rounder], B+

José Conde

• (R)evolucion [2006, Mr. Bongo], B+(*)

Conjunto Kubavana

• Rumba en el Patio [1944–47, Tumbao], A–

Contemporary America

• Another Center [2007, Adventure Music], B+(*)

Celia Cruz (1924–2003)

• w/La Sonora Matancera: La Guarachera de Cuba [1950–53, Tumbao], B+(***)
• Mi Diario Musical [1950–61, Polydor], B+(**)
• The Best [(1991), Sony/Globo], B+
• Exitos Eternos [1994–2001, Universal Latino], B–

Julio Cueva (1897–1975)

• La Butuba Cubana [1943–45, Tumbao], B+(***)
• Desintegrando [1944–47, Tumbao], A–

Tony de la Rosa (1931– )

• Así Se Baila en Tejas [1991, Rounder], B+

Gloria Estefan (1957– )

• Let It Loose [1987, Epic], B+
• Greatest Hits [(1992), Epic], B+
• The Essential Gloria Estefan [1984–2003, Epic/Legacy, 2 CD], B

José Feliciano (1945– )

• Light My Fire: The Very Best of José Feliciano [1967–74, RCA/Legacy], C+

Vicente Fernández (1940– )

• Vicente Fernández y Sus Corridos Consentidos [2005, Sony Discos], B–

Ibrahim Ferrer (1927–2005)

• Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer [1999, Elektra/Nonesuch], B+
• Mi Sueño [1998–2005, World Circuit/Nonesuch], B+(**)

Juan Luis Guerra

• Fogaraté [1994, Karen], A–
• Ni Es Lo Mismo Ni Es Igual [1998, Karen], B+

Sexteto y Septeto Habanero

• Las Raíces del Son: Grabaciones Completas 1925–1931 [1925–31, Tumbao, 4 CD], A–

Los Jardineros

• The Best of Los Jardineros [1929–32, Shanachie], B+(**)

Raúl Jaurena

• Te Amo Tango [2005, Soundbrush], B+(**)

Flaco Jimenez (1939– )

• San Antonio Soul [1991, Rounder], B+

Generoso Jimenez

• El Trombon Majadero [1997, Bembe], B+

Jose Alfredo Jiminez (1926–73)

• Las 100 Clásicas, Vol. 1 [1961–72, BMG, 2 CD], B+

Steve Jordan

• The Return of El Parche [1976–84, Rounder], B+

Gaby Kerpel

• Carnabailito [2003, Nonesuch], B+

Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca

• Tata Masamba [1996, Mopiata Music], B+

Orlando Cachaito Lopez (1933– )

• Cachaito [2001, World Circuit/Nonesuch], A

Los de Abajo [1998– ]

• LDA V The Lunatics [2006, Real World], A–

María Márquez

• Nature's Princess / Princesa de la Naturaleza [2003, Adventure Music], B

Miguel Matamoros

• w/Beny Moré: Conjunto Matamoros With Beny Moré [1945–47, Tumbao], A–

Pablo Menéndez

• Havana Blues Mambo [2005, Zoho], B

Benny Moré (1919–63)

• w/Pérez Prado: Mambos by Benny Moré: El Barbaro del Ritmo [1948–50, Tumbao], A
• La Colección Cubana [1953–59, Music Club], A–
• El Legendario Ídolo del Pueblo Cubano: Grabaciones Completas 1953–1960 [1953–60, Tumbao, 4 CD], A–

Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñeiro [1927– ]

• Sexteto Nacional: Cubaneo [1927–28, Tumbao], A–
• Ignacio Piñeiro and His Septeto Nacional [1928–30, Tumbao], A

Eliades Ochoa

• Sublime Illusion [1999, Higher Octave], B

Ocote Soul Sounds

• w/Adrian Quesada: The Alcheist Manifesto [2008, ESL Music], B+(*)

Orquesta Revé

• La Explosion del Momento! [1989, Real World], B+

Ozomatli [1998– ]

• Ozomatli [1998, Almo], B
• Street Signs [2004, Concord], A–
• Live at the Fillmore [2005, Concord], B+

Astor Piazzolla (1921–92)

• Tango: Zero Hour [1986, Pangaea], A
• w/Gary Burton: The New Tango [1987, Atlantic], B–
• Concierto para Bandoneon / Tres Tangos [1988, Nonesuch], B+
• The Rough Dancer and the Cyclical Night [1988, Pangaea], A–
• The Rough Guide to Astor Piazzolla [1957–88, World Music Network], A
• Love Tanguedia [1989, WEA Latina], B
• La Historia del Tango, Vol. 2 [(1991), Polydor], B–
• w/Gidon Kremer: Maria de Buenos Aires [1998, Teldec, 2CD], A–
• w/Trio Animae: 3 Minutos con la Realidad [2001, Cascavelle, 2CD], B

Los Pleneros de la 21

• Para Todos Ustedes [2005, Smithsonian/Folkways], A–

Pérez Prado (1916–89)

• Kuba-Mambo 1947–1949 [1947–49, Tumbao], A–
• The Best of Pérez Prado: The Original Mambo No. 5 [1949–59, RCA/Legacy], A
• Mondo Mambo: The Best of Pérez Prado and His Orchestra [1950–61, Rhino], A–

Puerto Plata (1923– )

• Mujer de Cabaret [2007, IASO], A–

Radio Zumbido [2002– ]

• Los Últimos Días del AM [2003, Palm], A–

Arsenio Rodriguez (1911–71)

• Montuneando [1946–50, Tumbao], A
• Dundunbanza 1946–1951 [1946–51, Tumbao], A–

Silvio Rodriguez

• Cuba Classics 1: Silvio Rodriguez: Greatest Hits [(1991), Luaka Bop], B

Las Rubias del Norte

• Panamericana [2006, Barbès], B+(***)

Paulina Rubio (1971– )

• Border Girl [2002, Universal], B+(*)

Frankie Ruiz (1958–98)

• Gold [1990–98, Hip-O, 2 CD], B+(*)

Saborit

• Que Linda Es Mi Cuba [2006, Tumi Music], A–

Mingo Saldivar

• I Love My Freedom, I Love My Texas [1992, Rounder], B+

Santos Viejos

• Pop Aut [2006, Cacao Musica], B

Nico Saquito (1901–83)

• Good-bye Mr. Cat [1982, World Circuit], B+

Compay Segundo (1907–2003)

• Lo Mejor de la Vida [1997, Nonesuch], B
• Las Flores de la Vida [2000, Nonesuch], B+(*)

Selena (1971–95)

• Ones [1990–95, EMI Latin], B+

Shakira (1977– )

• Laundry Service [2001, Epic], A–
• Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 [2005, Epic], B+
• Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 [2005, Epic], A–

Sones de México Ensemble [1996– ]

• Esta Tierra Es Tuya [2007, Sones de México], B+(*)

La Sonora Matancera

• Se Formó la Rumbantela [1948–50, Tumao], A–

Spanish Harlem Orchestra [2002– ]

• Across 110th Street [2004, Libertad], B–

Tiempo Libre

• Arroz Con Mango [2005, Shanachie], B+

Yomo Toro

• Funky Jibaro [1988, Antilles], B

Don Tosti

• Pachuco Boogie [(2002), Arhoolie], A–

Los Van Van [1969– ]

• Songo [1989, Mango], A–
• Best of Los Van Van [(1997), Milan], B+
• La Colección Cubana [(1999), Music Club], A–
• The Best of Los Van Van [(2000), Hemisphere], A–

Eva Ybarra

• A Mi San Antonio [1994, Rounder], B+

Yerba Buena

• President Alien [2003, Razor & Tie], B+(***)

Yusa

• Breathe [2005, Tumi], B

Various Artists

• Afro-Latino [(1998), Putumayo], B+
• Bachata Rojo: Acoustic Bachata From the Cabaret Era [1962–90, IASO], B+(**)
• The Best Tango Album in the World . . . Ever! [1982–2000, Capitol, 2CD], B
• El Caíman: Sones Huastecos [1971–96, Corason], B+
• Colombia [1981–2000, Putumayo World Music], A–
• Cuadernos de Mexico [2004, Winter & Winter, 3 CD], B+
• Cuba Classics 2: Dancing with the Enemy [(1991), Luaka Bop], B
• Cuba: Fully Charged [(1993), Earthworks], B+
• Cuba Now [(1998), Hemisphere], B+
• Cuban Dance Party: Routes of Rhythm, Volume 2 [(1990), Rounder], B–
• Cumbia Cumbia: A Selection of Colombian Cumbia Recordings [1989, World Circuit], A–
• Cumbia Cumbia 2 [1994, World Circuit], B+
• Estrellas de Arieto: Los Heroes [1979, World Circuit, 2 CD], A–
• Havana, Cuba, ca. 1957: Rhythms and Songs for the Orishas [1957, Smithsonian Folkways], B+(**)
• Panama! Latin, Calypso and Funk on the Isthmus 1965–75 [1965–75, Soundway], B+(***)
• Putumayo Presents: ¡Baila! A Latin Dance Party [1996–2005, Putumayo World Music], B
• Putumao Presents: Latin Lounge [2000–4, Putumayo World Music], B
• Putumayo Presents: Latin Reggae [1995–2006, Putumayo World Music], B
• Putumayo Presents: Nuevo Latino [(2004), Putumayo World Music], B+
• Putumayo Presents: Puerto Rico [1959–99, Putumayo], A–
• Putumayo Presents: Radio Latino [2001–6, Putumayo World Music], B
• Putumayo Presents: Tango Around the World [2001–7, Putumayo World Music], B+(*)
• Putumayo Presents: Women of Latin America [1999–2004, Putumayo World Music], B
• The Roots of Chicha: Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru [1968–78, Barbès], A–
• The Rough Guide to Boogaloo [1964–74, World Music Network], A–
• The Rough Guide to Cuban Son [(2000), World Music Network], B+
• The Rough Guide to Cumbia [(2000), World Music Network], B+
• The Rough Guide to Mambo [1948–2003, World Music Network], B+
• The Rough Guide to Merengue [1992–2005, World Music Network], A–
• The Rough Guide to Merengue and Bachata [1994–2001, World Music Network], A–
• The Rough Guide to Salsa [(2000), World Music Network], B+
• The Rough Guide to Salsa Dance [1964–99, World Music Network], B+
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Central America [(2001), World Music Network], B+
• The Rough Guide to the Music of Mexico [(2002), World Music Network], B+
• ¡Sabroso! The Afro-Latin Groove [(1998), Rhino], B+
• Salsa Clasica: A Taste of Classic Latin Flavors [1962–95, Music Club], A–
• El Último Paraíso [2001, Winter & Winter], B