Posts tagged New York
Soul Station Feature: Alberto Iznaga
Soul Station Feature: Alberto Iznaga

Mambo Pa'Chango

Even in the context of 1940s and early 1950s Afro Cuban music history, Alberto Iznaga seems virtually forgotten. He led what he called "Su Orquesta Siboney" in NYC for many years, and he made many records for major American labels as well as for much smaller labels specializing in latin music and mambo. This side for Decca from 1950 is one hot mambo and it notes Chango/Shango an Orisha! It was written by Obdulio Morales, who researched Afro Cuban traditions, and was as well a pianist and composer. Too bad there does not seem to be any Iznaga collections, because much of his output was very jazz, quite sophisticated, and very strong!

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RadioDJ PiWholesomeRadioSoul Station Feature, Alberto Iznaga, Afro-Cuban, Su Orquesta Siboney, New York, Decca, 1950, Chango, Shango, Orisha!, Obdulio Morales
Soul Station Feature: Pete Rodriguez Y Su Conjunto
Soul Station Feature: Pete Rodriguez Y Su Conjunto

Oye Mira

Pianist Pete Rodriguez had been leading his combo/conjunto for a few years before he made his explicitly boogaloo records 1966-67. The track his band members Tony Pabon (trumpet-vocals) and Manny Rodriguez (percussion), wrote, I Like It Like That, became somewhat anthemic to the rise of latin boogaloo, and though it must have received air play around NYC, it did not chart nationally. Some of the ingredients to the boogaloo Rodriguez help popularize were evident on his earlier records for the Remo label, such as this excellent guajira, also written by Pabon and Rodriguez. The piano solo Rodriguez turns in sparkles with dissonance and then really pronounces the vamp. To me, it is a latin grind, great dance music and still drawing on traditional Afro-Cuban song forms.

DJ π a.k.a. Paul Yamada

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RadioDJ PiWholesomeZine LLCPete Rodriguez, Oye Mira, Soul Station Feature, Tony Pabon, Manny Rodriguez, New YorkComment