Two New York Latin Music Retro Albums

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“Descarga Cubana” and “Jala Jala Woe Woe Baby” bring a snapshot of the New York music scene of the 1960’s. Andale Records undusted these classic recordings by Chihuahua and La New Breed Orquesta that are a Latin music collectors dream.

Chihuahua’s “Descarga Cubana”

Osvaldo “Chihuahua” Martinez was a Cuban timbalero that first went to New York in 1959 as part of Jose Fajardo’s band presentation in the old Palladium ballroom. Chihuahua returned to New York a couple of years later and worked as sideman for several Latin music bands, including Ray Barretto and Cachao Lopez.

"Descarga Cubana" is Osvaldo "Chihuahua" Martinez exellent 1960s Afro-Cuban album.
“Descarga Cubana” is Osvaldo “Chihuahua” Martinez exellent 1960s Afro-Cuban album.

In 1964 he assembled his own band, and recorded 2 albums that stamped the sound of the Cuban influence in New York’s Latin music. Pupi Legaretta (violin & flute) and Chivirico Davila are two prominent musicians of the time that participate in this recording. The rest of the band are experienced musicians of the Afro-Cuban music prevalent of the time.

Although recorded in 1964, this album would hold its own above many of the later releases of the decade by FANIA records and other labels of the time. I enjoy listening to the violin solos of Pupi Legaretta as a young talented musician, hearing the playing style that I would later listen in some of the FANIA recording in which he participated.

“Descarga Cubana” is a clean studio recording originally released by Fonseca Records but that has been out of print since the 1960’s. As I said, this is an Afro-Cuban music collector’s dream!

La New Breed Orquesta’s “Jala Jala Woe Woe Baby”

Later in the 1960’s the swing of Jala Jala and Boogaloo came through. Between 1967 and 1968, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico release 3 albums of Jala Jala and Boogaloo. Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz and many others were also riding the Jala Jala, Boogaloo craze of those years.

"Jala Jala Woe Woe Baby" is La New Breed Orquesta album from the late 1960s when Jala Jala and Boogaloo were the craze!
“Jala Jala Woe Woe Baby” is La New Breed Orquesta album from the late 1960s when Jala Jala and Boogaloo were the craze!

La New Breed Orquesta captured that spirit in their 1968 recording “Jala Jala Woe Woe Baby”. I don’t know much about them, but Aled Roberts (Marketing/Promotions for Tuff City Records) says in the press release about La New Breed Orquesta…”what they lacked in experience and formal training was made up with the spunk and “badness” that would filter through the streets of New York and create an entirely new scene of music and dance. La New Breed Orquesta were live band capable of cooking new dance rhythms and skilled enough to flirt with Jazz, with recordings consistent with a garage aesthetic.”

Latin Music Collector’s Jewels

I’ll continue with Aled’s fine summary of these two Latin music recordings…”For lovers of Latin music, rare and out-of-print recordings, and Latin music origins, this pair of records tells a unique story of the growth of Latin music. Digitally restored and remastered, both records hold distinctively flavorful and rhythmically colorful grooves and are a completely authentic lens back into the Latin culture of 1960s New York”.

I couldn’t agree more nor say it any better!

You can get more information on these albums at the Tuff City Records site HERE.

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1 Comment
  1. PHILLIP ARGUETA says

    THIRD FROM LEFT IS MY BROTHER JIMMY ARGUETA.IT WAS A PROAD MOMENT FOR US ALL. HE HAS SINCE PASSED ON

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