Arepa con Queso

Yo! I've been really bad at keep this blog and the podcast up-to-date on a weekly basis. I apologize to all of you that visit weekly. I should be back on track now.

The good news is I did some record hunting and picked up some great stuff while I was in San Francisco this past weekend. I look forward to showing off some of these great finds in the coming weeks.

Arepa con Queso is a set I put together right before I left for my little vacation to Sacramento/SF. It is made up of all Colombian music. The last four songs were written by the legendary Rafael Escalona who passed away on May 13th. Click here to learn more about his life. QEPD

Peace.

Birria

The Cinco de Mayo holiday inspired me to dig through my collection for some music from Mexico.

I selected mostly songs written by Mexican composers but performed by artists I've featured before on my sets. You'll find some fun covers of La Bamba and Cielito Lindo by Arsenio Rodriguez. We also got Perez Prado with Rebeca (written by Wello Rivas) and Maria Bonita (written by Agustin Lara). I had to include a couple Javier Solis tracks just because I like those particular songs so much.

I hope you enjoy this set. It's a bit slower than a typical arepafunk set, but don't worry, next week you won't be able to keep still.

Hasta la proxima! Ciao

Patacón Relleno

Yo! Mi gente, arepafunk is back with a great set. Since I missed an episode last week, I made sure that the tracks I selected this week were extra special.

Some of the highlights include Joe Panama's Soul Sister, Larry Harlow's Las Luzes (with Ismael Miranda Jr. on vocals) and Carlos Argentino singing Tu Rica Boca.

As part of the Jazz at the Bowl series this season, Eddie Palmieri will be performing at the Hollywood Bowl on July 8th. For those of you in LA, you won't wanna miss it. Sergio Mendes and Poncho Sanchez will be playing that night too. Should be amazing - see you there! Tickets went on sale yesterday, check it out.

Colombianisate!

Ciao

Please estay tuned...

Qui'bo! You may have already noticed there was no arepafunk update this past weekend. I am experiencing technical difficulties but as soon as I'm back up and running I will be sure to hit you with an extra set to make up for the one I missed. Thank you for the visit and stay tuned...

Peace!

Café de Desayuno

I'm not sure what you'll think of the first track by Tipica '73. It's starts off slow (give it like 2 minutes to pick up). In the liner notes we learn that all tracks on this side of the album are the "concert" tracks, where the group has the opportunity to stretch out and "perform without the time or tempo restrictions of dance music." I just love how the violin and electric guitar sort of duel at around the 6 minute mark. La Tipica '73 were pretty famous in the 70's and early 80's - the funny thing is that they were formed by a bunch of guys from Ray Barretto's band (you might have noticed arepafunk loves Barretto).

Next you have San Lazaro by Celina y Reutilio. This woman has so much soul in her voice, and her hubby Reutilio is sick with it on the guitar. Did you know that, in the UK, Celina is known as the "Queen of Cuban Country Music"? Bueno, now you know.

Despues sigue una cumbia de Peter Delis. Delis was awarded a gold record by Discos Fuentes for this album (pictured). This was a big deal because never before had a foreigner received this award in Colombia (Delis es argentino).

That last track goes out to all the ladies that look so good in their minifaldas. Cambia el paso, que se te rompe el vestido. =P

Jaja, Okay my people. Take it easy.

Arroz Chino

So this week I found a set of 45's that belong to my Pops. You know when you find a dollar in your pocket? Well, it was something like that. Except, I did cartwheels. Maybe you do cartwheels too when you find a buck? No se.

Anyway, the first selection for this week came from that stack of 45's. It's a song called Pesebre by Grupo la Droga. I couldn't find any info on this group on the net (fun name though). This track is funky - I can't get enough of it.

There is a funny intro to Sono Sono by the Alegre All Stars - it's the voice of Kako , the timbalero. Cheo Feliciano provides the vocals on that track and then you hear him again on the next track El Pito by the Joe Cuba Sextet. Back to back Cheo - you can't beat that.

Charlie Palmieri's Tiene Sabor will make you wanna dance if you weren't already. Be on the lookout, he plays the melodica towards the end and it sounds so dope.

Saludos a Michelle, who I caught checkin' out this blog. Gracias chica! Atleast I know someone is reading this =)

Alright friends of arepafunk, have a great week.

Peace.

Papas Chorreadas

Every time I hear "El Negro Bembon" I have to move the needle back to the beginning and hear it again. I'm not sure if it will have the same effect on you, but I can't help myself.

There's is a little of everything in this mix. I hope you enjoy the variety.

Peace

Platano Frito

Don't act surprised, I told you this week's set was gonna be fresh! BANANAS!

Willie Colon starts it up for us with the title track from his debut album "El Malo". This album also served as the debut for Hector Lavoe as the singer for the Willie Colon Band. Thank you Johnny Pacheco for linking these two up - what a legendary combo.

Some of you really liked Ray Barretto's "Right On" from my Chitos set from 2 weeks back, so I made sure to include "The Soul Drummers" this week - definitely a similar sound/feel. Muy groovy.

After that you got some Joe Cuba, more Lavoe, Bataan, Palmieri, Hermanos Lebron, and even some Niche. Eeaaaave Maria, que mas quieren?

Bueno mi people, enjoy the set and continue to spread the word about arepafunk.

Mucho thank you.

Aguapanela con Limón

Eddie Palmieri kicks off this week's set with the funky "Vamos Pal Monte" - perhaps one of his most classic tunes. Next, you have Lisandro Meza's "Entre Rejas" - this is the song that makes me wish I played the accordean!

Be on the lookout for Fruko's "Sabré Olvidarte." I never paid much attention to this one before, but it is definitely a treat.

I hope you enjoy the overall selection. Tune in next week - I got some fun tracks already picked out. Sorry to have to make you wait =(

Peace!

Chitos con Gaseosa

RIP Ralph Mercado. Click Here for NY Times Obituary.

As I was looking over the records I had selected for this week's set, I thought about revising some selections in order to feature more songs that would pay tribute to a man that did so much to promote latin music around the world. It was at this moment that I realized that Ralph Mercado's influence on latin music is so widespread that I can play virtually any song in my vinyl collection and there's a good chance that the artist is somehow connected to Mercado. Finally, I went with my original selection. In this week's track list alone, there are six artists that Ralph Mercado represented at one point - Tito Puente, La Lupe, Ricardo Ray, Bobby Cruz, Ray Barretto, and Eddie Palmieri.

This week's selection highlights some boogaloo and soul. You don't want to miss the Fania All Stars' live version of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine," featuring Joe Bataan and La La.

Also, the song "If (We Had Peace Today)" comes off one of my favorite albums, Eddie Palmieri's Harlem River Drive. I highly recommend you take a listen to the entire record, it is truly great.

Aguardiente Estraight (on an empty stomach)

No sitting, no 'playin the wall', none of this 'I don't dance" paja - this is some get sweaty, get movin', get with it or get out type of chit - no joke. Asi que, get the 'firewater' ready because this is salsa de la buena - pa' que sepan

We got some hardcore classics here - The Latin Brothers have two spots on this weeks selection. They are a very successful Colombian group organized by Julio Ernesto Estrada, who we know better as Fruko. Las Caleñas son Como las Flores has Piper Pimienta Diaz on vocals and Patrona de los Reclusos features Joe Arroyo.

Hector Lavoe's El Todopoderoso is by far my favorite 'gospel' song. If they played this at church, I'd be there every Sunday - en serio!

And then we have El Preso. Wowsers, talk about a power song - this one never fails to get everyone on the dance floor. If I'm at a party with my sister, it doesn't matter what I'm doing, when this song comes on, I put down my drink, empanada, or whatever and I look for my hermanita on the dancefloor. This one is for you flaca!

Brevas con Arequipe

After a heavy week, I hope you saved some room for this sweetened selection. Joe Cuba's "Mujer Divina" along with Lucho Gatica's version of "Historia de un Amor" give this mix a candy coat. Enjoy.

No olvides sonreir.

Caldito de Pollo

Qui'bo people. Welcome to the arepafunk blog. This is where I will be posting notes from time to time regarding the weekly arepafunk podcast. Feel free to leave me comments! Since my goal is to mix it up and keep it fresh, your feedback is much appreciated.

So... the first epsiode is now available at the homepage and in the iTunes store. My very first selection of tracks came after a full weekend at home while I was recovering from the flu. I listened to records for like 3 days straight - no joke. Entonces, if you feel like you might be catching something, the doctor says lots of fluids and a lot more arepafunk - Pa' que sepan