Y Los Cubanos Postizos - Mark Ribot (1998)

ideated from: last week was a lot of discovery, and it was hit-and-miss, if I’m being honest. So this week I’m queuing up known quantities: things I already love and just want to hear again

Arsenio Rodriguez was a Cuban bandleader and composer. Not very well known before his death in 1970, his music would end up being foundational to the Afro-Cuban scene as well as the formation of pan-latin Salsa style.

Ribot (o_O, O_o) is not what you’d call a traditional artist in anything he’s done. Here he develops his love for Rodriguez’s music into a modern electric salsa-fied party band.

The record starts out slow and calculated, but shortly cuts loose into a joyous racket. Ribot is great, as usual, and the band nails the energy of the music while updating the sound to something much more modern.

Tracks I Liked

Postizo - Leans into the guitar for the first–but not the last–time on the record.

Fiesta En El Solar - a slow burn that whips up a frenzy

Chostero Plena - a non-stop roof-raiser to close it out