DURAN, MODESTO & ORCHESTRA
FABULOUS RHYTHMS OF MODESTO (COLOR VINYL) (NUMERO GROUP)
Sangre de Chango Red Colored Vinyl. A disciple of mambo innovator Perez Prado, the Cuban-born Modesto Duran was a pivotal figure in Latin dance music's transitionary mid-century period.
His gentle slaps can be heard across dozens of 1950s mega-sellers, from Esquivel to Belafonte, Eartha Ktit to Lena Horne.
On his 1960 solo debut, Duran gathers a who's who of conga-men, including Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, and Juan Cheda, delivering a cinematic and percussive melange of afro-cuban, cha cha, and exotic jazz styles for the discerning listener.