Swap a CD: 15 Recently Posted CDs in Salsa

The Mavericks - The Mavericks

The Mavericks — 2013-05-14T19:35:01-05:00

On their first album since 1998, the Mavericks have finally made a Career Move that Matters--they've ditched the desperate, ultra-cool factor and settled down to play straight-head, unselfconscious pop. If Raul Malo & Company had simply done this earlier, it might have buoyed their off-and-on career, and moved them beyond country radio, where they never really belonged in the first place. As such, the album signifies a rebirth, reflected in the self-titling of what amounts to their reunion album. From the opening cut, the driving "I Wanna Know," the band immerses itself in the thrill and energy of `60s British pop, with the usual side trips to the graves of Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, and to the sonic birthplace of Malo's Cuban heritage. While a faithful remake of the Hollies' "The Air That I Breathe" closes the record, it sets the scene for the album as a whole with its grandiose and theatrical homage to obsessive love. At last, the melodramatic Malo never sounds overreaching, because he's made the material match his nearly operatic vision. Throughout, The Mavericks is smart, sophisticated, and knowing, from its lush and sensuous cocktail forays ("Wondering," "A Little Too Lonely"), to its sexy Latin come-on ("San Jose") and swingy shuffle ("Because of You"), the latter of which recalls the way Presley updated hoary country songs recycled from Hank Snow and Eddy Arnold. Still, it's not the ghost of either of the big Hanks that hangs over this album, but Phil Spector. A dazzling comeback, and one of the year's best albums. --Alanna Nash

Conjunto Cespeds - Una Sola Casa

Conjunto CespedÉs — 2013-05-11T16:11:15-05:00

Saborit - Que Linda Es Mi Cuba

Saborit — 2013-05-11T06:56:29-05:00

"Saborit is the real thing ? this traditional band from the Cuban countryside brings home the feeling of a bygone era." ? fRoots From the heart of the of the sugar lands of Eastern Cuba comes the first Tumi recording from this traditional eight piece group! Based in Manzanillo (home to Candido Fabre and David Alvarez) and directed by Leon Alarcon, Saborit have remained close to their country roots. The group uses traditional campesino instruments like laud and tres to perform music influenced by Caribbean sounds like cumbia as well as Cuban son and guarachas.

Various Artists - Havana Nights

Various Artists — 2013-04-06T21:18:02-05:00

An Incredible Group of Living Legends Brought Together to Offer a Treasure of Popular Cuban Music. The Grace of Caridad Cuervo, a Combination of Beautiful Afro-cuban Lullabies Sung by Ela Calvo, Magnificent Afros Done by Hierrezuelo, the Intact Tone of Tito Gomez, the Cyclone Juana Baccalao, a Stellar "Deja Que Suba La Marea" with Pio, Omara and Puntillita. An Arrangement of "la Comparsa" that Breathes Cubana from Baro's Piano. The Prayer to Chango by the Late Merceditas Valdez Backed by a Folkoric Choir Makes this CD an Essential Listening Delight for Those who Enjoy Fine Cuban Music.

Various Artists - Mambo Mania! The Kings & Queens of Mambo

Various Artists — 2013-04-06T18:56:59-05:00

Ry Cooder Ibrahim Ferrar Ruben Gonzalez Compay Segundo Omara Portuondo - Buena Vista Social Club

Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrar, Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo — 2013-02-21T16:10:13-05:00

\I felt like I'd trained all my life for this album. It's the peak." So says guitar master Ry Cooder about his first recording since his Grammy-winning Talking Timbuktu he teams with a galaxy of Cuba's finest musicians"

Omara Portuondo - Sentimiento

Omara Portuondo — 2013-01-22T13:26:51-05:00

Cuban songstress Omara Portuondo is often called the Edith Piaf of Cuba or the Fiancee of Feeling, for her musical style that is similar to bolero. Like Ibrahim Ferrer, she had to wait until 1997 and the Buena Vista Social Club album to receive international recognition.

Eliades Ochoa - Tribute to the Cuarteto Patria

Eliades Ochoa — 2013-01-07T18:53:34-05:00

While poorly produced releases from fellow Buena Vista stars start to sound stale, guitarist Eliades Ochoa is soaring in quality with every new album. Though the folkish Cuban son that Ochoa plays isn't as vibrant, sassy, or romantic as that played by his counterparts, it's still gorgeous in form and reverent toward tradition. A Tribute to Cuarteto Patria finds the tres player crisply recorded and backed by an expert ensemble, playing tunes from Cuarteto Patria's repertoire, whose unique rural flavor grows more potent with each song. --Karen K. Hugg

Various Artists - Colors of the World: Latin

Various Artists — 2013-01-06T13:39:08-05:00

Carter Burwell - Before Night Falls

Carter Burwell — 2012-08-07T18:10:50-05:00

Julian Schnabel's film biography of Cuban poet-novelist Reinaldo Arenas yields a most evocative, joyful soundtrack album. Rather than stick to one style--mambo, say, or Buena Vista-style folk--Before Night Falls samples a number of island genres, focusing on the driving dance music of bandleader Beny More and the lyrical acoustic gems of Trio Matamoros. In addition to those tracks, the album also offers a buoyant, cool jazz-inflected cut by Bebo Valdes, a florid Ernesto Lecuona piano solo, and a hushed ballad by Bola de Nieve. The CD's winding tour of moods and sounds goes off track only near the end, when score composer Carter Burwell takes over the proceedings. Still and all, this is one of those movie-related discs that stands as an excellent long-player on its own. --Rickey Wright

Juan Pablo Torres - Romantic Cuba

Juan Pablo Torres — 2012-07-08T11:08:07-05:00

We are proud to present the exquisite new Malanga Music collection, established with the purpose of uncovering outstanding rare material by the most legendary figures in the history of Cuban music. This material had been previously locked away in the vaults collecting dust, but two years of extensive investigation in Havana's AreÍto studio archives have brought these gems to light. This CD includes the complete albums Mangle: Instrumental (1975) and Grupo Algo Nuevo (1981). 20 tracks. Malanga.

Various Artists - Forever Gold: Sonido De Cuba

Various Artists — 2012-02-01T18:26:25-05:00

Jess Alemay Alfredo Rodriguez - Jesus Alemany's �Cubanismo! feat. Alfredo Rodriguez

JesÚs AlemaÑy, Alfredo Rodriguez — 2012-01-23T14:32:43-05:00

Various Artists - Son De Cuba

Various Artists — 2011-11-13T14:22:41-05:00

Curi - Curi En La Habana

Curi — 2011-04-28T21:31:10-05:00