Gilles Peterson & Soul Jazz Records’ Stuart Baker compile new compilation featuring explorations in Cuban music, 1975-85
London’s Soul Jazz Records has just released an absolutely incredible new 3xLP compilation, compiled by Gilles Peterson and Stuart Baker (of Soul Jazz Records), exploring the fusion of jazz, funk, Brazilian, Tropicalia, and disco with Latin and Salsa that emerged in Cuba in the 1970s.
This expansive compilation release coincides with a new deluxe large 250-page book, also curated by Peterson and Baker, highlighting cover art from the 30-year period following the Cuban Revolution, titled Cuba: Music and Revolution: Original Cover Art of Cuban Music: Record Sleeve Designs of Revolutionary Cuba 1959-90.
Featuring 23 tracks, the music on this album includes legendary Cuban groups like Irakere, Los Van Van and Pablo Milanés as well as many lesser known artists such as the radical Grupo De Experimentación, Juan Pablo Torres and Algo Nuevo, Grupo Monumental and Orquesta Ritmo Oriental, artists and bands whose names remain largely unknown outside of Cuba due to the now 60-year old U.S. trade embargo, which resulted in most Cuban records only ever being made available in either Cuba or in ex-Soviet Union states.
Back in mid-November of last year, Peterson highlighted some of his favorite Cuba tracks of this exploratory era on his ongoing WorldwideFM series The 20. The broadcast really helps provides great insights into a lot of the music featured on this compilation and the book.
After the first week since being released, the first pressing has already sold out with a second pressing already on it’s way. Overall, between the massive book and brilliant compilation, the two together might arguably make for the most expansive and exploratory Cuban music release that’s ever been release. All I can say is do not wait on this one, order your copy today!
Various — ‘Cuba: Music And Revoltion — Culture Clash In Havana Cuba:Experiments In Latin Music 1975-85 Vol 1’
(Soul Jazz Records)
- Grupo Irakere – Chequere Son
- Conjunto Rumbavana – El Son Del Campeon
- Juan Formell & Los Van Van – Mi Ritmo Caliente
- Grupo Monumental – Mi Son Caridad
- Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC – Sondeando
- Las D’Aida – Con Cadencia y Con Dulzura
- Juan Formell & Los Van Van – Y No Le Conviene
- Pablo Milanés – Te Quiero Porque Te Quiero
- Emíliano Salvador – Luna Wanestain
- Los Reyes 73 – Un Lamento Hecho Cancion
- Eduardo Ramos – Vocación Revolución
- Grupo Mounmental – Hasta Las Cuantas
- Los 5 U 4 – Solo Esta Musica
- Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC – Canción Con Todos
- Orquesta Los Van Van – Yo Se Que Van Van
- Grupo Monumental – Nadie Se Siente Cansado
- Orquesta Ritmo Oriental – Maria, Baila El Son
- Juan Pablo Torres y Algo Nuevo – Rompe Cocorioco
- Los Reyes 73 – Grandes Amigos
- Paquito D’Rivera – La Patica
- Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC – Grifo
- Raúl Gómez – Dacapo
- Grupo Irakere – Juana 1600
