Latin Best of...

I absolutley love the Fania All Stars who are more salsa

 

Bossa Nova

Antonio Carlos Jobim - Tide, Wave
Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto

Latin Disco/Funk

Los Amigos Invisibles - Zinga Son

 

Jam Miami is my favorite Latin Jazz album. It's a live show.
It features Poncho Sanchez, Chick Corea, and Arturo Sandoval. There is also a DVD of it as well.

 

Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band.

 

Pete Escovedo
Poncho Sanchez
Claudia Acuña
Tito Puente
Stan Getz
Cal Tjader
Mongo Santamaria
Ray Barretto
Ray Vega
Carlos Santana ()

 

As you said, "Latin" is a term that encompasses lots of music genres. Anyway, the first recommendation that comes to mind is the Calle 54 DVD. Here's a sample.

Some Latin artists to check: Fania All Stars (already mentioned), Irakere, NG La Banda, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, La Sonora Ponceña (check this video I uploaded to YouTube some time ago), Paquito D'Rivera, Michel Camilo, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Bobby Valentín (Fania's bass player. I really like this DVD from him), Gilberto Santa Rosa...

 

Some off the top of my head:
Fania (already mentioned)
Willie Colon y Ruben Blades - Siembra
Ruben Blades - Ganas, Buscando America
Oscar D'Leon
El Gran Combo
Tipica '73
Cachao y Sus Ritmo Caliente
Eddie Palmieri
Cal Tjader
Celia Cruz
Hector Lavoe

Toquinho - Toquinho Tocando
Baden Powell & Vinícius de Moraes - Os Afro-Sambas de Baden e Vinícius
Quarteto Novo (all Brazilian)
Ensamble Gurrufío (Venezuelan)

I know you said CDs but check out the Calle 54 DVD. It's got some awesome performances from all over the place including the Fort Apache Band, Michel Camilo (with AJ), Patato y Puntilla and Cachao to name a few.

 

That's awesome. Very nice, Mark and Alvaro!
I see we have similar tastes!

 

Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz! How could I forget them? GREAT Salsa band!

Oscar D'Leon is an awesome sonero.

 

Check this cool live video from Oscar: , 1991) and still gives me chills.

 

I will check out every suggestion in this thread (thanks). I'd add Strunz and Farah, "Primal Magic" album specifically, as a wonderful manifestation of Latin, Jazz, and world fusion. The bass they implement is most often electric fretless, with strong internationalized funk and intricate Latinized grooves. I likely can't summarize it another way.

 

There IS latin music that ISN'T

salsa, salsa-derived latin jazz or Bossa/Brazilian latin jazz!


Anyone care to enlighten us as to some of the other styles . . .

 

Geez dude, chill. We know. Look at the last one I listed.
Ensamble Gurrufío is not jazz. Toquinho and Baden/Vinicius are straight up Brazilian (the records I listed). These labels are useless if we don't permit them to overlap some. Whey don't you list some if you're so helpful? You know, there is more than one style of Brazilian music!

Going on, I really love Carles Benavent's playing with Paco de Lucía, among others. Carles is on Jazzpaña I and II with Los Jovenes Flamencos and Gerardo Núñez, respectively. He's also featured on a few songs on the Miles/Quincy at Montreaux album. Killer sound! He apparently uses a felt pick on his hollow-body Drozd.

 

Hmmmm...........maybe there should be a Latin 101 thread!

 

Hey, I'm OK . . . and FYI, I WASN'T responding specifically to YOUR posts . . .

It's just that MOST (NOT ALL) of the suggestions (from everyone who's posted here) are for "tropical", Son Cubano-derrived musics . . . "salsa", etc . . .
And there's really a LOT MORE to "LATIN MUSIC" besides that . . .

I'm sure that you're right about that . . .


BTW, the listening (and viewing) suggestions have been really great for those "tropical" and jazz artists mentioned!

 

Totally! Sorry, I wasn't sure if it was directed at me.

Thought of a couple more:
The Alan Lomax Recordings - tons of field recordings from all over the world
Los Incas (features the charango, one of my favorite instruments)
Serenata Guayanesa
Hermeto Pascoal
Salsa Celtica
Jorge Ben

 

I'm glad you like it.

You're absolutely right. For the finest exponent of argentinean music (IMO, of course), check some recordings by Astor Piazzolla.