• 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL
• THE COMPLETE ALBUM + 2 BONUS TRACKS

Legendary composer, arranger, band leader and double bassist Israel “Cachao” López (1918-2008) is universally recognized as one of the most prolific and influential figures in the history of Cuban music. He was a cofounder of the widely popular mambo style in the late 1930’s, and a primary exponent of the “descarga” movement of the 1950’s.

Cachao’s recognition as one of the most formidable Cuban musicians helped him to get the chance to record as a leader in 1957. He and his sidemen got together for informal jam sessions at around 4 a.m., after fulfilling their professional obligations. These sessions were known as “descargas”, combining the improvisational and informal characteristics of a jazz jam session with harmonic progressions and rhythms distinctly Cuban.

The album Descargas Cubanas, presented here, marked the very first in a series of recorded “descargas,” and includes several legends of Cuban music, such as Alejandro “El Negro” Vivar, Generoso “El Tojo” Jiménez, and Tata Güines.

CHACAO & HIS COMBO:

ISRAEL LÓPEZ “CACHAO”, leader and String Bass, with:
ALEJANDRO “EL NEGRO” VIVAR (tp); GENEROSO “EL TOJO” JIMÉNEZ (tb);
RICHARD EGÜES (ts); VIRGILIO LESAMA (bar); ORESTES LÓPEZ “MACHO” (p);
ANDRÉS ECHEVERRÍA “NIÑO RIVERA” (tres); GUILLERMO BARRETO (pailas, timbales);
TATA GÜINES (congas); ROGELIO “YEYO” IGLESIAS (bongos); GUSTAVO TAMAYO (güiro).

Recorded in Havana, Cuba, 1957.

BONUS TRACKS:
Same personnel except ARMANDO ARMENTEROS (tp) and LOS PAPINES (congas) added, and Peñalver, Lesama and
Egües out.
Recorded in Havana, Cuba, 1957-59.

TRACKS:

A1 DESCARGA CUBANA
A2 GOZA MI TROMPETA
A3 CÓGELE EL GOLPE
A4 TROMBÓN CRIOLLO
A5 MALANGA AMARILLA
A6 PAMPARANA
A7 EL BOMBÍN DE PERUCHO

B1 OYE MI TRES MONTUNO
B2 CONTROVERSIA EN METALES
B3 A GOZAR TIMBERO
B4 SORPRESA DE FLAUTA
B5 ESTUDIO EN TROMPETA
B6 GUAJEO DE SAXOS
B7 DESCARGA MAMBO