The People's Salsero
At first dismissed for his wordy complexity, Rubén Blades - composer, singer, salsero, lyricist, narrator, poet, social conscience and political activist - soon proved to be Fania Record's biggest money spinner and Latin…
The New Latin Hit-Makers
The last article in our series on Latin Hit-making, Jose Luis Seijas spots the emerging talent from Latin America who, with luck on their side, will be the Latin hit-makers of the next few years. These are the names to look out…
MARCOS VALLE- SEMPRE- Far Out (FARO 211 LP)
For several decades, Marcos Valle’s winning formula of well-produced bossa/boogie/beach vibes has been a shoo-in for non-Brazilian MPB fans and Sempre, his 28th album, is no different.
Top 10 Hits to Kick off your 2020
With 2020 well under way, here's our list of tracks trending in the Latin clubs and kicking off our year.
Rule Colombian Britannia!
This year the BBC Proms pays tribute to a new British-Colombian generation by featuring the London born and bred accordionist Jose Hernando who won the BBC Radio 3 World Routes Academy at only 19. Here the burgeoning star talks…
FUNK FOREVER
Los Amigos Invisibles is arguably the most globally recognized music act from Venezuela since Oscar D'Leon (the Salsa legend on their new album). Breaking onto the international scene on David Byrne’s (Talking Heads)…
Jose Luis' Top Ten Latin Summer Hits 2017
We’re still recovering from the plethora of Latin hits that dominated the sound waves this summer – with ‘Despacito’ breaking records around the world (if we hear it again, it'll be too soon). To celebrate having four…
New York's Ultimate Latin Diva
The muse of Masters at Work's Little Lou Vega and Kenny Dope, India became the dance floor icon of the 90s when House and Garage ruled clubland. Latinolife caught up with the ultimate Latin diva.
The Phenomenon of Latin Music in the US
Back in the late seventies an outstanding documentary was made about Salsa in New York and its social significance. It became a seminal work. Thirty years later its director Jeremy Marre, commissioned by the BBC, went back to…
Gilberto Gil: “I’ve always felt I was in the best place I could be”
Thirty years after first seeing him in concert at the age of eight, Amaranta Wright comes face to face with the Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil on his recent visit to London, and gets an insight into the man that inspired her…
‘Duologue’ by Alfredo Rodriguez & Pedrito Martinez
What happens when two titans of contemporary Cuban music collide? A rare work of art that sends shivers down the body to its very soul...
J Balvin performs @ The Endz Festival June 2019
Colombian Reggaeton superstar lights up South London
Family Atlantica
Spanning Latin America, Africa and Europe in a single record is no mean feat. But Family Atlantica absolutely pull it off.
Top 10 Hits of March 2020
If you are stuck at home waiting for the sun to come out…I bring you the heat with the best tracks of the month that will make you look forward to sunny days again!
One Minute in Time
One of the greatest references of Argentine rock drumming, Jorge Araujo played for years with Los Divididos, one of the best and most popular rock bands in Latin America, and later Gran Martell. Now Araujo launches his second…
Top Ten Autumn Hits 2019
We really didn't want to accept it, but even we have to admit that summer is well and truly over. But although the days are getting colder and shorter, that just means the nights, and parties, get longer! These sizzling…
Anarchy’s Enduring Appeal
Santiago Oyarzabal talks to Los Auténticos Decadentes, one of the best, most enduring and probably the most fun, rock bands to ever come out of Argentina. Known for its distinctive anarchic energy, unique mix of rhythms, and…
“Fenix” Nicky Jam (Sony Music)
Reggaetón pioneer who sprung to global fame with his first album “Diferente a Los Demás” and consolidated his success in 2015 with “El Perdón” ("Forgiveness"), delivers another classic.
Tego Calderón's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to have to get you through those times of loneliness and despair? Man cannot live on sun and fish alone right? Our castaway this week is Tego…
....CUMBIA TRACKS by DJ Russ Jones
From the DJ who brings you Britain's favourite Cumbia night "Arriba la Cumbia" gives you his favourite Cumbia tracks.
Paco Peña's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert Island, which tracks would you absolutely need to have to get you through those times of loneliness and despair? Man cannot live on sun and fish alone right? Our castaway, Flamenco guitar legend…
Cubafonia Dayme Arocena (Brownswood recordings)
Cuba's new Jazz queen comes into her own in her exquisite UK debut album
'Loop Explorations’ by Camilo Menjura
What started as a one-off experiment for a choral music festival became the latest album by the much-loved London-based Colombian singer-songwriter and choral master Camilo Menjura. Loop Exploration is the result of Menjura'…
Gilberto Gil: “I’ve always felt I was in the best place I could be”
Thirty years after first seeing him in concert at the age of eight, Amaranta Wright comes face to face with the Brazilian music legend Gilberto Gil on his recent visit to London, and gets an insight into the man that inspired her…
VARIOUS ARTISTS "ALGO SALVAJE Vol 2” (Munster Records)
‘Something Wild’ is the translation of this title, the second volume of Munster Records project compiling Spanish rock, indi, pop and other underground music from the 60s. Living under the Franco’s regime, Spanish music of the…
Gerardo Nuñez and Ulf Wakenius ‘Logos’ (Act Music)
Gerardo Nunez is considerd a master of New Flamenco, and this time he partners up with Swedish jazz guitarist Ulf Wakenius in a unique meeting of virtuosos. Much more than just a Flamenco album, Logos is the musical dialogue…
New Era Jazz Queen
What is the outstanding quality that westerners find so baffling about Cuba’s bounty of world-class artists? From Carlos Acosta to Chucho Valdez, you’ll find a common combination unique to this idiosyncratic Caribbean island – a…
Top Ten Contemporary Reggaetón Tracks
Originally from Panama, Reggaetón’s roots can be traced back to the late 1990s, borrowing elements of reggae, rap, and hip-hop, and initially performed in underground venues. As the indisputably catchy beat and swagga soon spread…
Edwin Sanz ‘Overflow’ (Alex Wilson Records)
Following his great debut San Agustín, Sanz delivers another solid Salsa album. This album is a daring production for Sanz, going into a more mature sound, with three English songs and an array of guests including his producer/…
Explosive Alegría
It would seem that anything Gente de Zona touches turns to gold. Whether it’s putting Enrique Iglesias back at the top of the charts, or keeping Marc Anthony relevant, everyone who’se anyone in music goes to this Cuban Reggeatón…
Omar Sosa's Fantasy Island Tracks
If you were stranded on a desert island, which tracks would you absolutely need to get you through those times of despair? Our castaway, composer-pianist-bandleader Omar Sosa, one of Cuba’s most celebrated Jazz musicians, grew up…
The Noche Fiebre Foundation
A night dancing to the songs of Saturday Night Fever, dubbed in Spanish? Sounds like Latinas on a hen night. Spanish kitch is how you might describe Fundación Tony Manera, Spain’s most successful disco band, but it also happens…
Going Back to Move Forward
If anyone knows the secret to moving ahead by looking back it is Juan de Marcos, the man behind the original Buena Vista Social Club Album and all that followed. He talks to Latinolife with frankness about Music, Cuban Identity,…