Killer.
Fire Music, salsa-style. Dazzling, in-your-face Latin jazz from 1971, steeped in Afro-Cuban tradition, blazing with political militancy. Palmieri’s signature hard trombone sound is augmented with baritone saxophone, organ, trap drums and electric piano, and Monk and Tyner come more to the fore in his own playing.
According to percussionist Bobby Sanabria, the opener La Libertad Lógico was ‘an anthem for young Puerto Ricans like me.’ Drummer Nicky Marrero says that Palmieri’s use of the snare drum was designed to emulate a machine gun. Freedom is the only sensible option, declares this terrific music. Revolt.
Ismael Quintana recalls that the title track, ‘of all the songs I recorded with Eddie Palmieri, this has to be the most influential. That song was played and requested everywhere we would go in Latin America… The lyrics were about trying to cope with the injustices in the world. It meant let’s get out of this crazy mess and so much negativity that we live in, and let’s go to the mountains.’
A classic. Hotly recommended.

‘The AS Colour Heavy Faded Tee, crafted from 100% carded cotton for durability and comfort. With a heavy 240 GSM weight and garment dyed finish, it features a boxy relaxed fit, dropped shoulders, and twin-stitched wide neck ribbing.’
Click through the image for a size guide.

‘Acoustic Series.’

Just one. Tip top condition.

Superlative, thrilling, big-band mambo, cha-cha and guaguanco from 1958, featuring Ray Barretto and vocalist Santos Colon. Essential Latin jazz; the real thing.

With a storming Tubbys.

Stone classic Alice. Turiya And Ramakrishna is a gorgeous piano blues; otherwise she is joined by Joe Henderson and Pharoah Sanders, Ron Carter and Ben Riley.

Live recordings made at Théâtre Dunois, Paris, in April, 1981.