I'm interested in following up your recs and discovering some great music, so let's get a thread going.

Los Van Van's Arrasando is a great piece of Cuban salsa, one of my favorite albums from this year.

How about some Cuban funk? Some collections worth checking out include Revolucion: Original Cuban Funk Grooves 1967 to 1978, Cuban Funk Experience: Funky Sounds From Cuba & Miami 1973 to 1988, Si Para Usted: The Funky Beats Of Revolutionary Cuba, Si Para Usted Vol 2: The Funky Beats Of Revolutionary Cuba (this one has some great Afro-Cuban rhythms) and an excellent comp from Cuban ex-patriots in Miamai, Hialeah Social Club -- From Cuba To Hialeah (fine mix of dance, soul & funk).

You should start out scoping out some of the Brazilian Tropicalia, classics like the first Os Mutantes record or any early recordings by Caetano Veloso particularly his eponymous 1967 major record debut.
If that stuff doesn't thrill you check out some tango from Argentina, Carlos Gardel, Anibal Troilo, Osvaldo Pugilese, all those classic orquesta stuff.
Chauu

quote:

Originally posted by elharlequino:
You should start out scoping out some of the Brazilian Tropicalia

There are two excellent & essential Tropicalia collections worth picking up. Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound features all the ususal suspects from the '60s: Os Mutantes, Gal Costa, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Ben and Tom Ze. This is the best starting place for Tropicalia, and both the LP & cd are still in print.

Soul Jazz followed up with Brazil 70 After Tropicalia: New Directions In Brazilian Music In The 70s. The title says it all. Some artists carryover from the other comp (Gal Costa, who may be my favorite Brazilian vocalist). Different sounds here as Tropicalia hits the melting pot with a variety of styles & beats.