“ ‘The ‘Rumba Et Guaracha’ collection focuses on the Cuban music forms from a dance viewpoint and therefore brings in a whole variety of performers, from the French ‘tropical’ dance band music of Henri Rossotti and a surprisingly convincing if hardly inspiringly titled ‘Bim Bam Bum’ from Xavier Cugat; to the far grittier sounds of Toña La Negra and plenty of others – the balance is far more towards the latter, and the sound unintentionally or otherwise, becomes more ‘authentic’ as the CD progresses. American be-boppers Charlie Parker (‘La Cucaracha’ – a long time favourite) and James Moody (‘Tin Tin Deo’) both adopt Cuban styles with success, and whilst Tito Rodriguez represents a far more modern sound, the beginnings of Latin music’s popularity (in the USA anyway) are indicated by Don Azpizu’s 1930 classic, ‘El Manisero’ – ‘The Peanut-Vendor’. A well-rounded introduction…”
Par Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
