Putumayo Presents: Afro-Latino

• Artist: Various Artists
• Release Date: May 19, 1998
• Total Time: 56:06
• Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
• Genre: World

Review

Far from a typical salsa release, Putumayo Presents: Afro Latino is an intriguing compilation that examines the relationship between African music and Afro-Cuban music in the 1990s. African rhythms were instrumental in the development of son, cha cha, mambo, guaguanco, and other Cuban styles that came to be called salsa, and things really became ironic when artists in different parts of Africa started embracing salsa. Spanning 1995-1998, this 12-song CD boasts salsa recordings by both African and Cuban artists. Tam-Tam 2000's "Me Vuelvo Guajiro," Ricardo Lemvo's "Mambo Yo Yo," and Africando's "Yah Boy" reveal how exciting it can be when artists from Senegal and the Congo combine modern African pop (especially soukous) with salsa, while Cuban recordings like Papi Oviedo's "Vivo en el Monte," Cuarteto Oriente's "Mueve la Cintura Mulata" and Conjunto Céspedes' "Aideu" can serve as reminders of the rhythmic debt that Cubans owe to Africans. And to make things even more interesting, Putumayo also includes Peruvian singer Julian Avalos and Afro-Andes' "Mujer Magica," an engaging combination of Afro-Cuban and South American elements. Full of surprises, this is a superb collection that lovers of both African and Afro-Cuban music shouldn't miss. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Me Vuelvo Guajiro		Tam-Tam 2000	(6:35)
Mambo Yo Yo	Ricardo Lemvo	Makina Loca, Ricardo Lemvo	(4:11)
Yay Boy	Pape Samory Seck	Africando	(4:01)
El Son de Llama	Traditional	Orchestra Baobab	(6:48)
Galo Negro	Sam Mangwana	Sam Mangwana	(3:47)
Vivo en el Monte		Papi Oviedo	(4:10)
Mujer Magica		Julian Avalos and Afro-Andes	(5:02)
Mueve la Cintura Mulata		Cuarteto Oriente	(8:05)
Adama Coly		Les 4 Etoiles	(5:37)
Kolonial		Ruy Mingas	(2:28)
Me Dieron la Clave		Vieja Trova Santiaguera	(3:28)
Aideu	Traditional	Conjunto Céspedes	(1:54)

Credits

Julian Avalos and Afro-Andes (Performer), Bill Purcell (Artwork), Makina Loca (Performer), Gladys "Bobi" Céspedes (Arranger), Cuarteto Oriente (Performer), Sam Mangwana (Performer), Les 4 Etoiles (Performer), Tam-Tam 2000 (Performer), Ricardo Lemvo (Performer), Nicola Heindl (Illustrations), Daren Gill (Production Coordination), Bill Purcell (Design), Lichi Fuentes (Arranger), Orchestra Baobab (Performer), Dan Storper (Executive Producer), Sarah Re (Production Coordination), Vieja Trova Santiaguera (Performer), Ruy Mingas (Performer), Papi Oviedo (Performer), Africando (Performer), Al Angeloro (Liner Notes), Conjunto Céspedes (Performer)