Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino/Har-You Percussion Group

Two somewhat underappreciated gems from the Upper-Manhattan and Bronx latin music scene of the 60's and 70's.

Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino - Concepts in Unity

"Varied fusion of Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican motifs by a collection of musical visionaries. Their sound is not at all limited to any one style; it jumps from traditional Cuban rhythms to Tejano accordion tunes to experimental rumba."

Har-You Percussion Group - The Har-You Percussion Group

"The Har-You Percussion Group's self-titled album stands as a testament to how exciting and profound music education can be for kids. Imagine creating this album as your homework assignment. That's just what these eleven 16- to 19-year-old boys did under the guidance of Jamaican-born percussionist Montegro Joe. Latin, Cuban, jazz, and blues influences combine to create their boogie-down melting pot of rhythm that keeps the feet moving. Tracks like "Welcome to the Party" and "Feed Me Good" are exciting dance numbers. In contrast, "Oua-Train" is an impressive tribute to Coltrane featuring Nelson Sanamiago on alto sax. This is a rare album where music informs its powerful sounds."

Orchestra Harlow - Harlow`s Harem

Orchestra Harlow was the side project of La Fania Allstars pianist Larry Harlow. This jewish character had a lot of fresh ideas that blend salsa with other rhythmically complex and harmonically defiant modes of composition. At the same time he made this music sound simple and easy to remember. Produced by Jerry Masucci (obviously) and supervised by the demented (now senile) Johnny Pacheco with Ismael Miranda on vocals, this album reached a lot of corners of the earth and its considered a classic around the globe. Just look at this dude just sitting around with a bunch of funky looking ladies.

ps - there is a freaky side note in the black and white picture of larry with the ladies.

who the fuck is barry secunda?

Tom Verlaine - Cover

"Confucio fue el que invento la confusion"

James White & The Blacks - Off White

I downloaded and i danced. fuck yes. James Chance was given a contract to record the Buy Contortions album, but first he was told that he must record a disco album. So he composed all this music and told the same Contortions musicians to record it. The label gave him a lot of money to record this James White & The Blacks album, so the Contortions got pissed off and they broke up. But then they kind of came back again, but with a different line up. Then they broke up again.

Contort Yo`self.

Richard LLoyd - Alchemy (1979)

this isn't earth-shattering but it's a worthy listen for Television fans.

The Del-Byzanteens - Lies to live by. (1982)

Super awesome NYC post-punk, featuring acclaimed film director Jim Jarmusch on vocals and keyboards no less. This is cream of the crop, new york elite in full effect. Their stuff is all out of print, thanks to Nachete from Commercial Zone for always being ahead of the curve. Their myspace has some stellar tracks as well.

If you're still skeptical check them out live, featuring John Lurie (Lounge Lizards, Down By Law) on sax.


"At that time everyone in New York had a band," Jarmusch recalls. "The idea was that you didn't have to be a virtuoso musician to have a band. The spirit was more important than having technical expertise, and that influenced a lot of filmmakers."

If I only had one life, let me live it as a lie.

Fania All-Stars - Live at the Cheetah Vol 1 & 2

I was digging through my Dad's closet a few weeks ago looking for any old records he had. Amongst the big pile of shit that is Boston, REO Speedwagon, and Kenny G I found a few gems. A live Donna Summers record, The White Album, an old Menudo album (mine when I was little), and Vol 2 of this legendary piece of music. 

Recorded live at the NYC club the Cheetah, a few years prior to their famous Yankee Stadium gig, it features one of their best line-ups ever performing so tight even the paraplegics must have been dancing. Larry Harlow, Ray Barretto, Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco, Roberto Roena, and Bobby Valentin all provide the musical backdrop with their coke fueled grooves while Hector Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, among others provide the vocals.  

Here we have both Vol 1 and 2 originally released as separate records. There's a reason they became some of the highest selling Latin music albums ever.

Quitate Tu

James Chance & The Contortions - Buy (1979)

A great album by one of the best New York City groups of the late '70s No Wave scene. The Contortions were led by saxophonist James Chance a.k.a. James White. His music is described as a combination of the freeform playing of Ornette Coleman with the solid funk rhythm of James Brown, though filtered through a punk rock lens. This is a true classic you little freaks.

Buy!