Jose Mangual & Carlos Patato Valdes - Understanding Latin Rhythms (Latin drums, 1974)

(LPV-337).

Top latin percussions musicians from New York 70s give a masterclass titled: Understanding Latin Rhythms. Pick up your instruments, listen and play.

Viglietti - Tropicos (Political song from Uruguay, 1974)

Daniel Viglietti (1939) is a very popular and politically committed artist from Uruguay. He experienced jail in 1972 due to his socialist views and had to exile during military dictatorship (1973-84), which led him to travel worldwide denouncing uruguayan situation with his songs.

Milton Nascimento - Cade (Brazilian jazzfunk, 1974)

(Q7B-652).

Here's a brazilian 7" extract from Milton Nascimento's album "Milagre Dos Peixes". The album has been also recorded live with Som Imaginario band. It corresponds to the guitarist's international recognition period, as released the same year he appeared on Wayne Shorter's "Native Dancer". Very nice brazilian jazzfunk track with psych touches on voices by Nico e Telo.

Johnny and Orquesta Rodrigues - African Woman / Lady (Fela Kuti cover, 1974)

(negram NR-110).

Here's another Fela Kuti afrobeat cover, from an artist I initially thought was from Suriname, but i finally discovered he was from Cabo Verde. This country being a portuguese colony, Johnny Rodrigues was supposed to serve in portuguese army to fight Angola independence movement, but he could avoid it flying to the US with his family, and then lived in Netherland during the mid 70s. 

David Zé - Merengue San Antonio (Angola, 1974)

(Rebita R:1128, Fabricado por FADIANG - Fabrica de Discos de Angola).

From the 60s, electric wave hit Angola with a big influence from northern neighbor Congo and his typical electric guitar rhythms. But more traditional Angolan rhythms like semba or rebita are also often integrated into new music productions, same way as external influences (from Brasil or West Indies, including merengue) which made Angolan music a really rich and rhythmically diversified mixture, despite the few quantity of vinyls that could survive up to now.

Michael White - The Land of Spirit and Light (Fela Kuti afrojazz cover, 1974)

(IMPULSE! - AS-9241).