Definition:

I don't adhere to the notion that Latin music is any recording sung mostly in Spanish or Portuguese regardless of the genre or the artist's nationality. As defined on this website, the Latin genre must contain first and foremost the traditional flavours found in sub-genres such as cumbia, bachata, bossa nova, merengue, rumba, salsa, samba, son, and tango. Usually, but not always, this music comes from the Spanish and Portuguese speaking areas of the world.

The Jukebox Pick (of 408):

 Mucha Muchacha

 (Juan García Esquivel)

 Esquivel

  “Utterly perfect” Latin

 From his LP "Latin-Esque" (RCA Victor ‎LSA-2418, 1962). A spicy space-lounge epic from the master of the art - Juan García Esquivel! Esquivel’s use of stereo recording was legendary, occasionally featuring two orchestras recording simultaneously in separate studios - such was the case for his 1962 album "Latin-Esque", from which the song “Mucha Muchacha” makes particularly mind-bending use of the separation. With its chorus and brass rapidly alternating stereo sides - it’s a jaw-dropping rhythmic masterpiece of zany pop. The album cover had the subtext “The Sound Your Eyes Can Follow”. For once, the marketing bull was bang on the money!

Some favourite artists:

Esquivel, DeVotchKa, Calexico, Sabu Martinez

The Jukebox pick: