Jukebox Mambo
Various Artists
On the retro-swingin’ Jukebox Mambo, Jazzman Records’ DJ Liam Large unearths the spirited early rhythms of jazzy R&B, riotous rumba and Afro-Latin confections. He showcases the works of mercurial singers and snazzy pachucos like Cuban vocalist Elena Madero, who thrills with her powerful, percussive pipes on the chilling, piano-pounding “Pu-Chun-Ga”. Then there’s Chicano music pioneer Lalo Guerrero, who unleashes a trumpet-led cha-cha-cha whirlwind on “Los Chucos Suaves”. These dance-inducing ‘50s-era rarities display how vintage mambo charms more with age.