Listen No. 15 - Authentic Cha-Cha & Mambo by the El Borinquen Orchestra

Record Number 15:  Authentic Cha-Cha & Mambo by the El Borinquen Orchestra

Genre:  Latin, Cha-Cha, Mambo

Context: There’s very little detail about this record anywhere online. It’s a shame because it’s a very good listen. Released in 1956 by a label called Paris International, it has some interesting sleeve notes by the jazz clarinettist and critic Joseph P Muranyi. I’d never heard of him, but he was a big figure in jazz, and his obituary below is worth a read -

Notable facts:  The record was recorded in Havana, Cuba. But I can’t find anything else about on the El Borinquen Orchestra, sadly.

My favourite track: Baby Doll Mambo, perhaps. The whole record is great.

 What critics made of it: I can’t find anything beyond Muranyi’s sleeve notes. He writes ‘The syncopated beat, strong brass figures (borrowed from jazz) and “right-handed” piano all add up to exciting Cha-Cha and Mambo music for dancing

Listening to this inspired me to: carry on playing this one. It’s very cheering to the spirits.