Descarga! Descarga! Descarga!
I first heard a band heading head long into a tremendous Descarga off a Richie Ray record in Santurce, Puerto Rico
A Descarga is a latin music jam session, a explosion of dense rhythmic improvisation, trumpets & piano montunos. Simular to instrumental funk Bsides, the Descarga was a chance for the band to jam out & display their talents, each band member usually getting a few bars to flair. These songs were often programmed last in order on the LP and in some cases invented by the group on the spot to use up leftover tape. Having been working with tape machines for some time now in Colombia, it surprises me that anything was ever recorded on tape in Tropical Countries! With 2 tape machines running in the studio, its often too hot to stand at all, I guess I need to invest in a better air conditioner.
I was invited up to New York to DJ a friends wedding last weekend. It was a Jewish Colombian / Cuban battle on the dancefloor & alot of fun indeed. I even had time to spin a few 45s with Nickodemus at his Turntables party over in China Town afterwards. One of the highlights of the wedding was NY based band Sexteto Rodriguez. Sort of Middle east meets Caribbean, he has a new record out, check his site here
Right, got to run, enjoy the mix!
