CD Review: Chico Trujillo's 'Reina De Todas Las Fiestas'

Chico Trujillo
Reina De Todas Las Fiestas
Barbes Records

Chilean cumbia, pop, and rock maestros, Chico Trujillo, bring out the inner dance in all of us when the percussion, guitars, horns, and vocals come out on their latest release, Reina De Todas Las Fiestas, which roughly translates to 'Queen Of All Feasts.' Well, feast your ears on these guys. There are some great South American rhythms here, such as the uppity "Alturas" with pan flute type sounds and steady percussion and a great beat. "Chatito" is another great tune with bouncy bass, heavy percussion, and a playful melody with loads of horn sounds and keyboard sounds. There are nine tracks, which span the gamut from Latin jazz, cumbia, pop, rock, Latin beat, South American pop, and neo-soul wanderings. Chico Trujillo brings out the best in cumbia beats. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Chicha Libre's 'Cuatro Tigres'

Chicha Libre
Cuatro Tigres
Barbes Records

Based in Brooklyn, Chicha Libre brings us sounds from various regions and cultures. The band's members come from Mexico, Venezuela, the USA, and France. The collective creates a form of Peruvian cumbia-beat, which is akin to Afro-beat. However, the primary difference revolves around more Latin, South American, and urban dance forms with psych-trance, rumba, and tropical rhythms. The spicy mix of funk, jazz, and urban folklore creates a fascinating listening experience with lively vocals, hip percussion, and electronic accompaniment. The psychedelic ramblings are very melodic and nostalgic. Despite the lack of music on the new album (only 4 tracks), the music that is available is unforgettable. Fans of contemporary cumbia will love the music of Chicha Libre. Cuatro Tigres is Colombian, Peruvian, Californian, and Amazonian, but most of all, it is music that is to be experienced by everyone. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Chile's Chico Trujillo

Chico Trujillo

Chico De Oro

Barbes Records

Chico Trujillo is Chile's cumbia innovators, but their musical expertise and repertoire extends beyond Chile's borders and engulfs the South American continent. The Spanish lyrics and upbeat party atmosphere of the instruments - both brass and percussion - highlight Chico De Oro's strengths. The music is definitely influenced by Latin music, but it also envelopes bits of Southeast Asian funk, psychedelic, afro-beat, gypsy, and tejano music. Keep in mind Chico De Oro is not a fusion album, but an album of innovative cumbia music. In short, the music is very energetic with a refined, uptempo rhythm. Chico Trujillo is the party music for your birthday celebration, or world music party! If you are into other Latin American Barbes recordings and cumbia music in general, then you will love Chico Trujillo's Chico De Oro. ~ Matthew Forss