more from
Olindo Records
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

INF002: Siempre Afro​-​Latino

by Los Kenya

supported by
Bob Hill Illicit Grooves
Bob Hill Illicit Grooves thumbnail
Bob Hill Illicit Grooves Brilliant, what a great set of tracks. Love the joy in this.
Ex-Friendly
Ex-Friendly thumbnail
Ex-Friendly A ridiculously fresh sounding Venezuelan salsa LP reissued for the first time since 1968 from one of the most prolific bandleaders of the time, Ray Perez. Hip, sexy, full of swagger and serious playing, Música Infinita/Olindo Records have done this reissue the right way, with beautiful new artwork and a fat remaster from The Carvery. Favorite track: Te pongo a valer.
Tim Garcia
Tim Garcia thumbnail
Tim Garcia Love love love this record! All killer no filler, every track is bomb, thank you for unearthing this. No favourites all are brilliant
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy thumbnail
Paul Murphy Old school salsa with Eddie Palmieri style keys. It's the classic late '60's early '70's sound!! Ace Jazz Dancer in Descargan los timbales too. Essential Salsa and Jazz Dance Jams. Favorite track: Descargan los timbales.
𝕋𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕝
𝕋𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕝 thumbnail
𝕋𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕𝕤𝕠𝕦𝕝 Press play and have your mind blown! Olindo Records know their stuff. Favorite track: Opus 120.
more...
/
  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £8 GBP  or more

     

  • Limited Edition 12" Vinyl
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Limited to 500 copies with insert.

    Includes unlimited streaming of INF002: Siempre Afro-Latino via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
Hoculele 02:46
2.
Opus 120 03:42
3.
4.
Santa Elena 02:38
5.
Record en TV 04:10
Me perdí por unos días, ¡ Oye Ray! Amanecí en la Matica de Ley, Todos a coro me preguntaron, Donde andabas tú, Carlín "En un viaje a las estrellas" contesté, Me encontré a los invasores, Perry Mason, San Benedín(?) Me invitaron a dar un paseo, En un viaje al fondo del mar en una nave, Me dejaron en las puertas de la intriga, De donde me fui a casa de Los Locos Adams, Que tenían como invitado, A los monstruos, Al Llanero Solitario, En el valle de pasiones, Fui yo a dar un paseo, Me encontré con la hechizada, Me preguntó "dónde tú estabas?" Lucecita también iba, Maria Mercedes, La Chinita, Mandrake el Mago, y el Ratón Miguelito, ¡ Oye, que rumba la que yo me di! Eh!
6.
7.
Omelembe 02:25
8.
Sonero soy 03:00
9.
10.

about

Música Infinita presents the raw and uncompromising Afro Latin sound of Ray Perez and Los Kenya, one of the most interesting groups to spring out of the Venezuelan salsa scene in the late sixties.

The late 60s was a prolific period for outstanding Afro-Latin music in Venezuela, with multiple local labels releasing and distributing records by a myriad of homegrown talent. Pianist and bandleader, Ray Perez, recorded and released seven LPs between 67 & 68 with Los Dementes, one of the best-known salsa bands in the country at the time.

Following a brief stint in New York, where he shared the stage with Kako’s orchestra, Perez returned to Venezuela and under the influence of bandmates Luis Arias and Alfredo Naranjo formed Los Kenya. The core of this compact group was made up of two trumpets and a drum set, uncommon at a time when big bands were the norm. With the addition of an accomplished and unique pair of vocalists in Calaven and Carlin Rodriguez, Los Kenya cooked up a stew of raw, groovy, and uncompromising tunes for their debut LP on Velvet, later re-released by Ray himself under his own Pyraphon label, and presented here in a limited and re-mastered edition.

Having recently left his previous band Los Dementes, Ray and Los Kenya debuted with a live performance in September of 1968 at Sunday Party Group to present their 7 inch single featuring “Hoculele” and “Omelembe”. Soon after, their debut album was released by the label Velvet.

Due to a combination of original compositions, most of them written and arranged by Ray; a killer lineup of musicians; and an uncompromising and raw approach to their music, Los Kenya became one of the most interesting new groups in the Venezuelan salsa scene.

In Ray’s own words: “each of my bands had a distinct sound. For example, Los Dementes had a different sound to Eddie Palmieri’s band even though we shared a similar configuration. The same happens with Los Kenya and another of my band’s Los Calvos, both of which had a very similar lineup of musicians. One time, when Tito Puente heard us play he was surprised by our sound and said “even though you have two trumpet players, you don’t sound like Sonora Matancera or Ricardo Ray, there’s nothing like it!” I truly believe the difference comes from the writing, as well as the feeling that the musicians inject on the music when you’re recording”

credits

released May 27, 2022

Piano: Ray Perez
Trumpets: Luis Arias & Luis Lewis
Drums: Alberto Naranjo
Bass: Miguel Silva
Congas: Pedro 'Guapacha' Garcia
Bongos: Ali 'Cosa Buena' Rojas
Vocals: Carlin & Ray

Arranged, Directed and Produced by Ray Perez
Executive Producer Nelson Yallomardo
Originally released on Venesonido Pyraphon
Remastered by Frank Merritt at the Carvery
Artwork design by Bestialo Culapsus A+E

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Los Kenya Caracas, Venezuela

contact / help

Contact Los Kenya

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Los Kenya, you may also like: