Kenya

Day802 - a nice change of pace from all the sameness. good job machito

Nice music to vibe to. Nothing particularly memorable, but I was shocked to see how old it is - yet how good it sounds. Faves: Wild Jungle, Holiday

Let's enjoy dancing to these sick beats

Loved this album

This album slams. Absolutely fantastic record.

One time, in a small town in Cuba, my partner and I met a sort of sleazy American who seemed to live there. He invited us to this local event where we all set around the outside of a small hall while a bunch of dancers performed in the middle. At one point the dancers came to grab partners from the crowd and my partner and I were pulled on to the dance floor. She did great. I tried, I really did, but I was like a stroke victim trying to lift my arm out there. I was sending signals to my limbs and hips but they weren't being received. My dance partner escorted me back to my seat before we had made it through a single song. I bet she was dancing to a song like the ones on this album. I'm not sure what I was doing.

listening to this at the office and resisting the urge to shake my ass to completion

Didn't listen much. Worth another go!

Fun fun fun :)

I love the rhythm and jazz on this album. Frenzy is a favorite here. I had no idea who this was, so I'm glad to have heard it. This is a 4, and I'll be perusing the rest of the catalog.

Easy to miss what is unique about this album, but the mix of Cuban / Salsa and Jazz is pretty cool. These two styles mix so well together on this album, nothing sounds out of place or forced. Loved the bongo playing.

Big band jazz with Afro-Cuban rhythms? Yeah, this is an incredibly fun album and it’s impossible to sit still while listening to it.

Extremely listenable 4/5

This was really enjoyable background jazz while doing yardwork.

Kind of love it tbh

It's jazz and it's good, what else is there to say?

I enjoyed this. Nice background music.

Give me all the Afro Cuban beats!

Cool album! I'm a fan of Machito. Could easily have been a sound from 40 years later.

High energy with solid brass and percussion

Latin and lively. A few Latin jazz albums on here but it’s all good. Liked the percussion From Musicboard (OG 1/15/26 [#25] Imported 2/26/26]

Glad to see some variety on this list finally. This was fun and lively

This was a delight. Its end of Feb 2026 in Dublin and its rained for 60 days, its just stopped and i went for a walk and as jarring as this was with the damp vista, it raised the spirits. It has an old world quality like it came from an old song and dance move. Lots of bounce and style. If i find myself hosting a latin themed black tie soiree at my chateau in the tropics i would reach for this.

Frantic energy but in a cheeky way that still elicits emotion today but when released I’m sure was groundbreaking.

Started out with so much energy, and kept it going! loved it!

Super awesome the whole time

i really enjoyed this! added to my library for sure.

Love Caribbean/afro style jazz. Very find and unpretentious

Those horns are incredible

A bop and a half

Starts off really well, with the brass section going full send in the first song. This came out at an interesting time for Jazz, at the crossroads of Big Band and Latin music being at their cultural peak of relevance before the introduction of crazy experimentation in the genre by the likes of Davis and Coltrane. It's very much an album of the time and a fun listen. Interest in world music was very much present at the time and Afro-Cuban blends both sides of the Atlantic well. It doesn't really push the envelope, but it's a solid album worth listening.

C'était franchement très cool ! C'est exactement pour ce genre de choses que je me suis lancé dans l'écoute de cette liste. On a donc du jazz des années 50, par un artiste cubain. C'est bien d'époque et ça a donc comme la pochette l'indique, une saveur largement cubaine, ce qui lui permet, d'après la description de Wikipédia, d'être un album particulièrement influent. Et on comprend pourquoi !

New genre unlocked for me

fav songs: holiday frenzy blues a la machito minor rama explosive, ecstatic, spirit-shaking 70/100

Enjoyable but canonic

Really enjoyable jazz

This is very, very fun and I'm happy I was able to listen to it Best Song: Congo Mulence Rating: 7/10 Stars: 4

jazz! I loved this album all of the tracks were very good added it to my jazz library!!

Top notch, listened three times yesterday, so good.

Ik vond het erg leuk en origineel klinken, bijzonder om te zien dat deze muziek is gemaakt in 1957. Het nummer oyeme heb ik opgeslagen. Jazzmuziek scoort bij mij altijd best hoog omdat ik hier erg van hou, ik geef dit album dan ook 3.5 ster.

Excellent

Good jazz. Much bongo. Fiery. Bueno.

A fun album that needs the right headspace to be fully appreciated. A bit samey but enjoyable.

luxurious. big energy. it's very cinematic, very "mr. incredible approaches volcano island in private jet, looks to camera and says 'uh its go time'". occupies a musical niche that it fills out completely, just a multicultural big band potluck. if you described the album to me i think i'd have the same concerns as with other instrumental albums where the whole runtime becomes a sort of unidentifiable music mush, but most every track here has personality to it. i dont know if it's quite as majestic and bombastic as i think it is or there's some weird 20th century nostalgia trip going on, but it really does feel like something special. favorite track is Conversation

I was on the fence but you have to reward a jazz album where every song is less than 3 minutes and 30 seconds long. That's restraint I have not seen on this list before and I can actually enjoy this like a non-jazz album

Got me dancing. Also, I remember getting this album from the library back in high school :)

nice old jazz

A delightful Afro-Cuban jazz record by a guy who I’ve learned is quite a legend in the jazz world! This album is dynamic, engaging, and genuinely very fun to listen to. I don’t think I’m particularly qualified to make any real judgements on this one from a content perspective, but I know I liked it.

Courtney: good, great working music Craig: kinda liked it!

AMAZING, enjoyed this more than i ever expected to, immediately relistening!

Impressed

Приятное джазовое звучание, идеально подходит для прослушивания фоном под какие нибудь рабочие или домашние дела

Kenya Machito was the name of Lens 15th wife. They met in Antarctica on Houmous & Chutneys South American tour. 3.5 1/12 Wild Jungle

Over the course of this album journey I've grown a great deal of appreciation for these types of exotic jazz. Turn this on and it just sets a certain type of mood.

Unexpectedly really enjoyed this. Late 50s / early 60s movie soundtrack vibes

For a hot jazz album, I liked it much more than expected.

album lindo! minha experiência teria sido ainda melhor se eu tivesse escutado ele em um salão de jazz mas eu gostei muito de escutar ele na minha casa também

Really can't go wrong with cuban-tinged jazz. Extremely likeable. 4 dancing stars.

Would not have picked it but such a fun album

ik verlang naar de zon

Mad Cuban jazz, i like it

(double vote)

For some Afro Cuban jazz, this was a pretty good album. I like jazz across the board, but big band ballroom-style jazz has always been my least favorite. Since this album definitely leans into that big band feel, I don’t really see myself coming back to it often, but I still enjoyed it for what it is.

3.5*. Fun background music, maybe for a party or gathering of some sort. Rounding up, as I may want to come back to it.

See? It doesn’t all have to be Brit Pop from the early 2000s.

Super fun jazz!

Nice

First of all, I love jazz. Any jazz record will likely review all highly. This one was really cool.

The blending of Jazz and Afro-Beats is excellent, really high energy. Nice length of album.

This was a fun surprise! Hadn’t heard of Machito before this but it’s a highly enjoyable instrumental record that sounds like the soundtrack of a spy film or something.

Highly enjoyable afro-cuban blend

Stunningly bright and breezy recording; more swing than a driving-range

Top stuff, put me down a Latin jazz loop that I didn't know I needed. Reminded me to text my Latin friends too for a dance.

I’ll take that mojito in a dark Havana night club any day.

I enjoyed this a lot. It may have something to do with the fact that Chicago is cold and supposed to get a bunch of snow tomorrow. I may be coping here. At any rate, nice mix of arrangements and tempos, so it kept my interest, and transported me somewhere warmer.

An artist and album I didn’t know but at the confluence of two things I love: big band and latin jazz. I didn’t fall I love with the songwriting/arrangements, or this would be a 5 for me, but the playing is gorgeous.

Perfectly good early afrojazz, though fairly unremarkable. +1 star because I assume that this record was influential, being that it was released before 1960.

A fun, vibrant album.

Ooh, another unexpected gem

Energising, fun album

A vibe!

FUN!

Beautiful afro-cuban jazz, very enjoyable!

Some great jazz music here. Played very well. Sometimes the panning decisions seemed odd but can't be that picky with albums from the 50s. I wish it had grasped me a little more than it did but this was overall a very enjoyable experience

wild jungle- 6 Congo mulence- 6 or 7 kenya- 6 oyeme- 6 or 7 holiday- 7 or 8 cannonology- 6 frenzy- 7 or 8 blues a la machito- 6 conversation- 7 tin tin deo- 7 minor rama- 6 or 7 tururato- 6 fire

My exposure to jazz is pretty minimal. This is a pretty fun listen, though.

Good jazz album! I'll def come back to this

Oh, what a fun album to listen to! The bongos, the fun atmosphere, the amazing rhythm. And yes, this is an album I didn't know I had to listen to before i died

I LOVE BIG BAND JAZZ Favorite Songs: Congo Mulence, Frenzy, Blues a la Machito

Would not normally listen to listen genre of music but enjoyed its energy and challenge of not dancing a badly choreographed salsa to it ? Perfect for a Sunday morning reading the papers and drinking coffee and eating a hearty brunch

A joyful album which was completely at odds with my mood when I put it on during work. This demands some cocktails and a BBQ, not spreadsheets.

I don't know if this is the first but it HAD to have been one of the most influential of it's kind because this sounds like every single television show from the 50s all the way through the 70s. And I mean that in the greatest way possible.

Ripping horns and bongos

New to me and great.

The alto player was a beast on this. "Cannonball" Adderley apparently.

Crazy that this came out in 1957, it feels much later to us. If all jazz was like this isls listen to a lot more of it. Very cool and innovative fusion of genres.

Nice and jazzy, but not much else to put here. 3.5 bumped up to 4.

Jazzy bongo beats. 8/10

I enjoyed this record tremendously. It sounds great, it is interesting and there are a lot of interesting elements and sounds thrown in there. I certainly understand why this is a classic.

storbandsjazz med extra afrikansk och karibisk rytmik :)

Toppen! Kul kubansk jazz, finns några jättenice solon och coola arr grejer, blir att lyssna flera gånger :)

I had a lot of fun listening to this. It's so dynamic and always seems to offer you something interesting at any given moments.

I quite enjoyed this. Very fundamental, some of the stuff on here was covered by jazz greats, sampled in hip hop, and became the foundation of hits much much later. Cool inclusion on the 1001.

I actually really loved this

Well, this was fun. Next time I’m due at a mambo-off against a rival gang of street toughs, I’ll listen to this first to get me in the mood.

Hører ikke så meget jazz. Så det her er en virkelig fed overraskelse og den er smadre god. Noget jeg skal høre igen uden tvivl ! 8/10

Delightful listen. Each track felt distinct, and had something to make it memorable. Really great fun. 4 stars.

If there was a movie about my life, I'd like this to be the score.

If there’s anything better than Afro-Cuban music it’s Afro-Cuban music mixed with jazz. It brings to mind a world that hasn’t existed in over 60 years- old Havana, the playground of the rich, a paradise just south of Hell, a dictatorship that oppressed its people and kowtowed to wealth. How things change… Good jazz and good instrumental music have the ability to transport the listener, a sort of Walter Mitty effect that makes you feel like your life might actually be better and more profound than it actually is. Life isn’t easy but it might seem easier with ¨Kenya¨ by Machito playing. Best songs: ¨Wild Jungle,¨ ¨Kenya¨

What great percussion on this album. The drums are on point, and the music keeps your feet bopping. I think the fact it's an instrumental album creates a timelessness to it, that probably wouldn't exist if there were vocal. Definitely a solid album, that I wouldn't mind listening to again.

Kenya was an album that was shockingly very good. I'm not really the biggest fan of most jazz music since albums of it can either tend to be too boring or too messy and all over the place. However, this one was able to strike a good balance between soft jazz and more big band jazz. It had enough going on as to where it kept me interested but never went too far with it to make it become messy and abrasive. There do seem to be some cuban elements here but i don't really hear them anywhere in the songs at it really does have the sound of a typical big band album. Even so, i still enjoyed my time with this album and think of it as one of the better jazz albums out there. Best Song: Conversation Worst Song: Congo Mulence

Always thought that this style of music is so much fun, imo much better than some of the stuff happening in the US. This type of music is sort of in a bubble in the sense that it hasn't really changed for many years, so it feels sort of in a bubble. Its also quite a lot like certain Buena Vista Social Club songs, probably due to the Cuban link, except these don't have vocals, which I don't really think is a drawback, as the brass stuff really has its own personality, in the same way singing voices do. Its also very jazzy and reminds me of all the best parts of 1930s big band stuff. Also the performers are clearly incredibly talented. As I also said with the Tito Puente album, it always just feels like they are having such a good time playing, which is always great. Favourite songs: all Overall around 7/10

Really fun! I can't say it really checks any of my personal boxes other than being international jazz. I do love Cuban music, I gave the Buena Vista Social Club album 5 stars. But I'm generally not a big-band jazz fan. I prefer a smaller ensemble. Still, I'm really glad to have discovered this album and I absolutely consider it a must-listen. #218

If you like Mariokart osts, you'll like this.

Great cooking album

Fantastic jazz album. Captivating instrumentation particularly percussion, and a blazing energy that does not let up throughout the runtime. Personally I could've used a slower tempo song to break up the album a little, but a great listen for those interested in afro-cuban jazz

Yeah, really likeable and alive. Sounds great almost 70 years on.

This was really nice. I might buy it. 4*

Excellent (so far). On a trip so finding it hard to listen continuously. Enjoy the vibes of this jazz album.

I inherited some fantastic jazz vinyls from the 50s and there were some Machito albums as well so his name wasn't unfamiliar. This Afro-Cuban jazz with the frentic energy and the incredible skills of the musicians is such a great listen. I am not always in a mood for such music but when I have then it is such a joy. It reminds me a bit of oldies films from the 50s or 60s spy films. It's difficult to rate this as an album (in the 50s there was no real albums, more like songs thrown together and released on a record). The music itself is five stars.

Very cool

I am a big fan of Machito's earlier Mambo and ChaCha discography. This is certainly far freer and brassier. Machito is aggressively letting loose here. I've actually previously downloaded this album, and enjoy it. It doesn't make the car or shop playlists, however. Only criticism is that Machito is so rooted in the Cuban, that the Afro struggles for expression

Good to see some latin here, hoping for more (and some more modern albums), beside Tito Puente who's probably on the list.

Afro-cuban jazz gets 4 stars my default. So...

Yes! Exactly what I use this project for! Hugely influential and a joy to listen to. 4/5

This music makes me want to drink a dry martini. Watch a movie from the 50s. Wear a suit around the house. Start smoking. The feel is all 50s Hollywood. The percussion on this record is AMAZING. And the horn players are killing it too. A huge surprise, this one. Love it. FOUR STARS

For some Afro Cuban jazz, this was a pretty good album. I like jazz across the board, but big band ballroom-style jazz has always been my least favorite. Since this album definitely leans into that big band feel, I don’t really see myself coming back to it often, but I still enjoyed it for what it is.

Very 1940s big band. Added one song to the vibes playlist

Wow, I’ve heard this sound forever. It sounds like west side story immediately. I loved every minute of this.

I think this is my favourite jazz album from this list so far, and I'm halfway through. I think it's the slightly Tiki rhythms and presentation I am enjoying. This album flew by.

finally some good fucking food

vier bis fünf

This is what I expected more of when I started listening through this list. A genre that I am not familiar with. This one even has influences from other genres I'm not familiar with at all. Great jazz album that is really easy to listen through. The addition of the African instruments that I don't associate with traditional jazz makes it even better. This is an album I'm going to listen to multiple times.

No conozco mucho de jazz, así que se me hizo un poco repetitivas las canciones. Aún así el álbum fue excelente y todas las canciones, aunque me parezcan similares, tienen sus fuerzas individuales que las separan de cierta manera de las otras en álbum. 8/10

Heerlijk ochtend jazz albumpje. Het is niet wereldschokkend, maar gaat soms compleet gestoord, maar heel eerlijk ik had iets meer verwacht zeker met de Afro-Cuba ondertitel. Uiteindelijk? Ik heb me gewoon heel erg vermaakt hiermee. Zonnetje schijnt, lucht is blauw, dit is een perfect album voor de maandagochtend. Is het verder een perfect album? Zat ik op het puntje van mn stoel? Nee, het was grotendeels een lekker achtergrond albumpje. En soms is dat gewoon precies wat je wilt. Wel gaat het echt soms volkomen los, en ik kreeg heel erg filmische vibes van dit album. Bij vlagen gebeurde er ontzettend veel en ging ik rechtop zitten, maar dat werd afgewisseld met nummers die minder bleven hangen. Heel vet dat de nummers kort zijn, daardoor word eigenlijk continue je aandacht gepakt en als je een nummer hebt dat je minder vet vind is het ook zo weer voorbij. Ja, supervet album, heel filmisch en absoluut iets wat ik zou aanraden. Uit de review merk je ook wel een beetje dat het soms heel heftig en chaotisch is en soms juist een beetje voortkabbeld. Het voelt ook wel als een album dat ik nog een paar keer aan 'moet' zetten om beter te begrijpen. En dat is zeker geen straf. FAVO: Congo Mulence, Oyeme, Blues a la machito, Minor Rama

This is wall to wall the music I imagined having in the background while making dinner before the kids took over all the sound making devices in the house. 4/5 would listen again.

Nothing like some jazz on a sunny Saturday afternoon

Jaaaaaaaaazz

*35 minutes of Cuban jazz party! *Lots of fun. RATING - 7/10

Liked this, listened to it 3 times off the bounce. Love the whole latin jazz type sound. Aye it’s very samey at times but I quite like that. It’s like a 30s party in my ears.

This was quick and very fun. No idea if its Latin Jazz in the mask soundtrack but that's what it reminded me of. No songs particularly stood out over the others but don't think that's the point really. Don't have enough of a handle on this genre so not sure if this would stand out over another album, or it might be by far the best example. Either way, really enjoyed it.

I love jazz! Sets my mind at ease

very catchy afro cuban jazz. Well worth listening to.

I really enjoy this as background music

Whenever this list throws me a turd, I seem to bounce back with an album I quite enjoy! Rose tinted glasses perhaps? Perhaps. Anyway, sweet afro/jazzy/Latin beats. Great horns. A general good feeling. I actually thought about dancing, or asking my wife to dance in the living room. Then I remembered I'm an awkward dude and can't dance! 4 stars! Should be 5.

This is just a ton of fun.

Never heard of the songs, the album or the artist. Not a genre I am really familiar with either, but I loved this. Enough so that I listened to it four times and then left spotify on auto play for similar content the rest of my work day. I think the scoring system makes it hard to go above a 3 without intimately knowing an album, but I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna bloody do it.

Not my favorite style, but good.

Overall: 7/10 Pretty cool african (inspired?) jazz music. A lot of it reminded me of the type of music they would play in Cowboy Bebop. It's all very energetic and doesn't let up for a second. I won't be listening to it very often as it's not my favourite type of music in general but I had a really great time with it. Fav Song: Frenzy Least Fav Song: Cannonology

This is a situation where id like a press release with every album I listen to. At first, it just sounded like a standard jazz record (to an untrained ear like myself) and then I did some reading and wow! This is excellent.

3.7 - Good I think? Will I go relisten? Probably not?

Enjoyed it

Very good brass section

Kickass Afro-Cuban jazz. Fantastic band and solos.

This one's good. This comes from an interesting but not overly-challenging era of jazz and is a very pleasurable listen. I'm only a beginner jazz listener but I find this accessible and enjoyable. Speaking as someone who's primarily a folk and rock fan, this is worth a listen for music fans like myself to hear the profound influence that Cuban music has had throughout the history of the other genres that I love. That's where the Bo Diddley Beat came from (probably from Africa, before that). Standouts for me were the opener, Wild Jungle and Cannonology, which both place a stronger emphasis on the percussion, which is what I love the most on this record. And Frenzy, which reminds me profoundly of Caravan. There's masterful playing throughout the recording, though.

Instrumental

4 - pretty good jazz

Duro el jazz latino afrodescendiente cubano, combina mucho mambo, me gustó ya lo había escuchado antes y lo volvería a escuchar aunque situacionalmente

The thing that puts me off of some older jazz is just how stately it can be, it lacks a pulse that a lot of my favourite jazz has. In contrast, I love how erratic and hook-laden the first couple of tracks on Kenya are. They are going for bombast, even sitting down I could feel my body twitching, ready to dance. Machito’s Latin jazz variant adds extra layer of insatiable danceability to proceedings. When it moves away from the bombast it’s an album of contrasts and regular dynamic shifts, horns pulling in and out, percussion bubbling away, rarely sitting still. Definitely one I’ll return to.

Big fan of this having never heard Afro Cuban jazz before, to my knowledge anyway. Lively!

The blasting horns make this album sound extremely grand. The percussion also adds so much energy. Very energetic and groovy record. It kept me on my feet.

This was a great album to listen to while driving around. Felt cool, even though I drive a 15 year old sedan with the engine light on. Great album otherwise too.

Great find!! Sounds amazing.

I usually hate instrumental stuff but I like this a lot

If I had heard 50s Latin jazz earlier, I probably would have found it easier to become a jazz fan. Reeally vibrant and fun, especially for nearly 70 years old.

This is one of the rare cases where I felt an album was actually too short, and would have benefited from being a little bit longer.

Likte det

Good energy

Jazz I feel like I understand.

I liked this album much more than I expected, but I was expecting something completely different based on the album artwork… I clearly missed the part where it says “afro-cuban jazz”. Very good, fun to listen to jazz that had me tapping my foot and/or shaking my booty. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

Maybe this review is also a reflection of the mood I was in, but I really liked this one. I am adding to my "summer deck beer" playlist!

ABSOLUTE FILTH - do not, repeat do not, let the youth listen to this or there will be fraternising and all sorts.

hard to have a bad time listening to this

Explosive and layered. Vibrant and unrelenting, it's a fun listen.

Great tango/ salsa music. Thanks for the suggestion. Gets you up and dancing.

Deservedly, the intersection of East 111th Street and 3rd Avenue in Spanish Harlem, NY is now referred to as 'Machito Square' (thanks Ed Koch!). The popularizer, really the inventor, of Afro-Cuban Jazz (explicit on the album cover), Cubop, and Salsa, Machito merges the swing-centrism of big band arrangements w/ the impossible fluidity of Afro-Cuban rhythms and the frantic celerity of bebop (e.g., 'Frenzy'). This produces something that is equal parts light and close-knit, precise but thoroughly unruly. While the record itself lacks diversity, and to some degree direction, being more of a collection of tracks than a story told, it's not really about that. It's about a movement in music affixed to neighborhoods now universally pronounced.

Просто качественный джаз

Lovely jazz rainy morning tunes.

This must’ve been thrilling at the time. A very fun listen.

oh oh oh oh oh i wanna bounce around like a little cricket or like a praying mantis tell me this ain't straight outta cowboy bebop

This was wonderful. I loved the jazz-afrobeat fusion. Made me feel like I was in Miami again.

This was a fun listen. That bongo player is getting after it!

Groovy

platonic ideal of the kind of album you discover in this exercise. never would have heard this. loved it almost all my time with it.

Very fun music

Jazz Brass over Latin percussion, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

First time w/ Machito. Afro-Cuban jazz I know I’ll revisit. Hilton Ruiz afterward from the algo was another win.

Desi Arnez jams.

Great! Fun to listen to.

Leuk, jazzy, geeft toffe sfeer

Really enjoyed this Latin Jazz album, and will revisit for sure.

Well that was a hoot. Just a jolly good time was had by all. I had no knowledge of Machito prior to checking out his album Kenya. And I have to say, this is one of the reasons I signed up to listen to 1001 albums. So I could get introduced to artists or albums I have no previous history. I was bummed when Kenya ended. I was really enjoying the rhythms, beats and horns. I might’ve even danced around in my living room a little bit. That was fun. This is a 4 for me. 4/5

This was a great listen. Fun for the background if you’re like doing stuff around the house. Upbeat and interesting!

It was great! The African influence was very obvious. The songs were shorter than I thought they would be.

Gezel

This is pretty good. It's african inspired jazz and the horns and percussion are tasteful and deliberate.

God I loved this the texture the percussion dat sax. A sunny day in Fukuoka

Wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a vibe

I'm not personally into this style of jazz, but it's amazing this came from the 50's! I can only imagine how groundbreaking and new and other-worldly it must have been to folks in the US or England, and I can only imagine the impact it must have had on music thereafter.

Afro cuban jazz is in my wheel house dogs. This album speaks to me and moves as if it were a story book. I love this era of music from the early 50's pre rock and roll where everything had a latin american feel and flow to it. Additionally incredible that the westernization of latin america and cuba was bottled up and forgotten by the communism race. Then rereleased in the late 90s and early 2000s. This influence lived two lives and I'm happy to exsist in a timeline where this is in it.

Solid album afro Cuban jazz, get lost in the drums and then to horns come blasting in.

Tim face jazz. 4.5

4.5

Fun Afro-Cuban big band instrumental music from 1957

solid cuban

Big band jazz with loads of horns blasting out huge riffs and taking turns stepping out to rip quick solos, rumba grooves for some swing, seven layers of percussion for hypnotic complex rhythms and an endless reserve of energy. Music that makes it worth driving your big long car out to the casino.

This started at a furious, frantic pace and I wasn't sure what I was in for. It definitely didn't live up to what I thought it would be but it still delivered. Had that 60s feel like these songs were in the running to be The Jetsons theme song.

I know nothing about jazz, especially Cuban jazz so this will be a vibes based only reaction. Worried about the audio quality considering its age, anything prior to 1965 is usually a bit suspect to modern ears. I see that there is a remaster available, which is what I'll be listening to. Other than that I'm not sure what to expect as most of the jazz I've listened to is either spiritual or psychedelic in nature. Notes will probably be short. Hoping for a quick and easy listen. Wild Jungle Bongos and horns. Erratic. Every sound sounds purposeful. Not sure about the structure. Don't really get the part where it's only playing the bongos. Energetic. Decent. 3.5/5 Congo Mulence I enjoy the rhythm. The big band esque trumpets take me out of the groove somewhat. Nice saxophone sound, great performance. Decent. 3.5/5 Kenya Starts of grand and dramatic. Great groove. Paints a picture of a cosy, nostalgic place. Makes me picture a semi-busy morning at a market. Good. 4/5 Oyeme The rhythm from here is infectious. Not sure if I like the trumpets on this one. The sax player is clearly having a good time. Sounds a bit too busy for my tastes. Fine. 3/5 Holiday Heard the start of the song before I read the title and thought that it sounded like being on holiday somewhere chilled out and free. Guess they hit the nail in the coffin with this one. Sounds warm and comfortable. Catchy. Fun. 4/5 Cannonology Sounds like an exposition of some kind. Old timey World's Fair type of vibe. I imagine being shown what's the latest within refigirator technology, while overhearing someone talking about their radium infused chewing gum while this is playing in the background. Got my imagination not sure if it counts as zoning out or not. 4/5 Frenzy Old timey superhero cartoon chase scene soundtrack. Definitely sounds like a "frenzy" or at least a scramble of some kind. Love the drums. Don't like the ending. Fine. 3/5 Blues La Machito Late night sort of vibe. Sounds like the smell of cigarettes and car exhaust. There's a little bit of opening credits to a romance movie vibes to it too. Decent. 3.5/5 Conversation Love the melody here. Puts me in a good mood. Danceable. There's some fun interplay here I'm really appreciating. The bouncing between instruments does make it feel like a conversation. Fitting title. Great. 4.5/5 Tin Tin Deo Not sure what's going on but I like it. It's like two complimentary songs are being played in parallel with each other. Sounds well thought out and put together. Don't know the terms to describe why I like it. Good. 4/5 Minor Rama I'm not sure what to say. Sounds good I guess. Jazz is happening in my ears. The band is really tight. Decent. 3.5/5 Tururato Sounds like it's playing peekaboo with me at the start. The sax seems to be moving a lot. It's played soulfully with a lot of feeling and percision. Mood lifter. 3.5/5 Wow I feel really exposed by this. I'm not sure if I have the musical palatte to even appreciate what is going on here for the most part. I understand that what I'm listening to is good, and that the people playing the music are really talented, but regarding how it is in relation to other works of the era I'm clueless. It was defintely a challenging listen for my rock-wired brain. I was never bored by it, the performances put me in a good mood and the rhythm entranced me somewhat. I'm just happy I finally got a jazz album, and especially an early one as it's something I definitely wouldn't seek out on my own. Decent record I suppose, pleasantly suprised. Sits somewhere between a 3 and 4 for me. Would love to revisit in the future once I'm more in tune with the genre. Fave song. Holiday Least fave song. Oyeme

Very cool. I love this and it becomes on of my first 4* albums

Fun and exciting Jazz explosion. Certainly have to be in the mood to enjoy these and I wasn’t necessarily at the time. Regardless, worth a revisit

Tämähän on raikas! Hyvää soundii siihen nähden että tää on näinkin vanha. Erihyvää lattarikaahailua! 4/5

Very jungle-y, while still feeling like Latin jazz. Not a regular, but it made for an upbeat Thursday.

This was cool to listen to

I'm not particularly keen on jazz but this is something else entirely. The real star here is the percussion section. Relentless afro-cuban drums that you physically cannot hear and not at least move your hips just a little. And yes, I certainly did.

Album 684 of 1001 Machito - Kenya (1957) Rating : 4 / 5 Afro-Cuban jazz. Vibrant and energetic. I do love my horns. It's a keeper.

This is music I grew up with even though I'm only 27. This was always playing in the 40's and 50's films that were on almost all the time when I was little so this album was delightful and nostalgic. Would listen again.

An insane amount of energy for a purely instrumental album, & the kind of fun discovery I'd hoped to have more of in doing this exercise.

Music to my ears after far, far too many mediocre British albums. Had me captivated from start to finish with some wonderful unexpected solos that were straight fire.

I really enjoyed this overall!

Fun vibes, not something I’d listen to regularly but great fun

Kenya was *fun*. This album was different from anything I've heard in a long time (say no to more post-punk and brit-pop music), and it was so lively and engaging. I loved every time the trumpet was prominent. Kenya is Latin jazz; its release in 1957 seems rather timely to me since there's a combination of western jazz with authentic Latin aspects. And I admire an instrumental album whose song titles perfectly match the song's components.

As I have said time and time again in my reviews, jazz isn't really my thing. That said, give me Latin jazz like this ANY day. This was energetic and fun. It sounded slightly more improvisational than a lot of the Latin jazz I've heard on this project, and it executed that extremely well. This is probably about a 3.5 for me, but making me enjoy jazz is no easy feat, so I'm gonna round it up. This was just SO well done.

Erfrischender Jazz, zT Bigband aber nicht so amerikanisch ernst.

3.5

Very cool jazz album from an artist i’ve never heard of, good rhythms

This was nice.

Fiery, explosive and in your face. The brass on this record is from another world, always hard hitting and beautifully articulate. Combined with the furious percussion throughout results in one of the most passionate, addictive jazz albums of the 20th century. Best Tracks: - Holiday - Wild Jungle - Blues a Machito Worst Tracks: N/A Rating: 8.5/10

Great Jazz Album! Not something I would go listen to everyday, but wonderful background music. 4/5

This is the very epitome of an Afro-Cuban jazz album it seems to me. The tracks are not as long as on other albums which then sometimes kills the groove a bit too early. That would be my only criticism. Otherwise, it's a great album.

It really is amazing how varied jazz can be. The simple change of location can make all the difference in sound. For this particular record, I got a glimpse into the mind of Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, otherwise known as Machito. He’s known as one of the pioneers of Cuban jazz and salsa music. Cuban jazz is specifically the earliest form of Latin jazz, which came about in the 1940s. And from the moment this starts to the moment it ends, this is one wild ride. Jazz is such a spectrum of emotions. On one end, you might get something like Naima by John Coltrane. And on the other end, you’ll find Frenzy. As I’ve expressed in the past, I am unfortunately a sucker for anything with a really loud and tight brass section. Of which this has in droves. It’s a rambunctious and exhilarating listening experience. And whether or not some of these songs are quite similar, it’s an enjoyable experience beginning to end. I love how percussion heavy it is, with good chunks of songs being composed of solely congas, bongos and timbales. And for how large this lineup of musicians is, they are unreasonably interlocked with one another. Some songs feel fit to back the introduction of a very charismatic and suave villain in an action movie, while others could work as the soundtrack to the chase scene which follows that introduction. Although I love jazz music which can lull me into a deep, warm relaxation. But I also love jazz music which amps me up and makes me want to ram my head through a brick wall while on coke. Rating: 7/10

LOVE. love latin jazz. thank you latin people for inventing that <3

Fun jazz

Fun! Light 4.

Very good latin jazz to play at a cocktail party

I have no real perspective on this but it was nice to have in while I worked and the musicians were skilled. Would do a 3.5 if possible.

Frenetic, high-powered afro-Cuban jazz. This kind of thing is why I started doing this project: hearing albums I love that I never would’ve touched otherwise.

I can’t lie to you, I felt like a classy ass bitch listening to this. I was snapping my fingers in the back of the Uber like I was a rich aristocrat. Snazzy jazzy album!

Perfect dinner cooking music is correct. Love the heavily featured horns in this funky jazz

Funky latin jazz with great horns and drums. Perfect dinner cooking music.

A breath of fresh air for the first album of 2025. The blaring sound of the brass. The fierce rhythm of the bongos. Top notch album from start to finish.

This was a really enjoyable rhythmic fiesta. It didn't let up the entire time and provided a happy upbeat vibe for the day.

Fantastic from start to finish

I'm starting to really love all the "Afro-" genres this list has introduced me to, so add Afro-Cuban Jazz to the list. Massively up tempo beats that never end, a weird frenetic energy in the rhythm sections and the horns, my god the horns....

Tanzbare Jazzmusik mit sehr viel Percussion. Hier bekommen die Gefühle ihren persönlichen Soundtrack. Das haut rein.

Not a huge jazz fan, but I enjoyed this album. Lots of awesome horns and spicy tunes. 1001 album worthy: Yes - 8/15

Surprisingly good.

This kicks ass.

Frenetic

Spangly and sparkly! If I have to listen to jazz, then this is what I'd listen to (but probably not all at once!) High energy and fun - but I really need to be in the mood!

Good vibes, good energy

BEAST MODE FINALLY SOMETHING GOOD OMG

Was expecting this to be horrible but my God was I wrong, really good album and a quality listen

An album I've grown my horizons for having listened and one in the chamber if I ever make that movie. The drumming is sick.

so incredibly fun highlights: wild jungle, kenya, holiday (feb 12 2026)

I saw jazz and thought of dim lit, smoky bars with someone “jazzing” for hours but boy I was wrong. Fun Jazz. Loved it.

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: Wild Jungle, Congo Mulence, Kenya, Holiday, Cannonology, Conversation, Tin Tin Deo, Minor Rama Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: Now THIS is an Incredible Bongo Band.

This was super fun. So much bongo bashing! It did get a bit samey after 20 minutes though.

Pretty awesome. Great drumming. Impressive for late 50’s.

why is this actually so fun

This is one of those perfect perfect background groups at the jazz club/ cocktail party/ non-intimate dinner. Not only is it interesting and easy to enjoy solo, but it has that feel that it ought be shared. While it is worth listening to, it doesn't require a lot of effort, you just sort of let it drift in and out of your consciousness. On the other hand it is probably a little too lively for study music. Probably best as background music at a gathering where everyone will find themselves happy and motivated by the music that they are only sub-consciously paying attention to. Also a shout out to the world music vibe well ahead of its time!

what an amazing funky album

Cubaanse jazz. Veel drukke bongo partijen, dat is leuk.

This is great fun. Makes me feel like in a Bond movie (in a good way)

Great. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Sallsssaaaaaaa

Hay que estar en la onda, pero como todos los discos de esta lista, en realidad. Sin embargo, cuando lo estás, es decir, cuando has sintonizado con las vibraciones de este jazz afro-cubanos, pues es genial.

Historic Latin Jazz album

I'm often put off by Cuban influenced music as whistles are too shrill for me. This was all rhythm and horns. Very good stuff that I had not previously heard. Big horns. Lots-o-horns. While I read this was a bit formulaic, and more Hollywood than Cuban, I don't know the genre well enough to know about that. So tell Lucy that I'm home, 4 stars.

I enjoyed a different world today.

i fight gravity

Alternately frantic and then mellow, this has grooves to spare. Bit of an acquired taste perhaps, but if you fancy some latin spice, this is a pretty fine place to start your exploration.

Fun jazz album, smooth listening and it was over before I knew it. I let Spotify shuffle onto related music for a while, it's a great genre for background music at work.

This was a pleasant surprised, Cuban Jazz isn’t something I’m familiar with, but this went straight into my frequent rotation, just a good fun album

20 seconds in to the first song and I've added this album to my library. A great antidote to the 2000s American rock I also had on my list today. I do adore bands that sound both tight and loose 🙃 Perfect for cooking dinner on a rainy day!

I enjoyed it. I was hesitant to give an album like this a 4, but it was one of the few albums on the list that was over too quickly for me. This album has more structure than a lot of the instrumental albums that have been included on the list. The songs are consistent enough that I can vibe to them without it getting repetitive.

Pleasant and great for background music while getting some work done. Couldn’t tell you much more about it, but I did enjoy it.

I don't know why but the first thing that came to mind for me is that this feels like it would be in a James Bond movie where he is on a mission in the Caribbean. He would be walking around the streets in a white linen shirt as a local festival is taking place. Exotic dancers in elegant costumes dance past him as he sees the villain in the distance. He tries to get closer only for a nearby dancer to take off their mask and hit him with a blow dart knocking him unconscious. Over all I really liked it, and will keep it in mind when I'm looking to put something on in the background.

Ah but the horns, they're blowing that sound.

HELL YEAH

Low 8 First jazz album on the generator and it’s a fun one!

I've learned that I need to explore more Latin jazz music. While a lot of it ended up melding together, it was never bad and was great work music. Definitely situational for when I would listen but that doesn't take away from the quality or enjoyment.

Very cool! I had never heard an Afro-Cuban Jazz album before, but I can imagine a lot of songs that I know that draw from the source of this album. It's basically Jazz with insane Latin percussions; I loved it!

mega fajne bębny 9/10

I really love the title track. Gets me groooooovin'. The sax had me moving this morning. This is between a 3-4 for me but it's beautiful out and that bumps it up.

Not my cup of tea.

Really surprised, really nice album to feel the vibe

Absolutely love the vibe of this album. Made a cocktail and cooked dinner while listening to this and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I listened to this at work and then today when I was making lunch. It was better than I expected. Low 4.

7/10 - It was very good. I really enjoyed listening to it. I do not have much more to say

Good album if you're throwing a party for a bunch of highly excitable guests. Features fast tempos, with lavish use of percussion and horns. Guarantees a fun and/or interesting time for your party guests. If you're really into Latin music, it's a good album to listen to alone or with like-minded friends. Be prepared to be energized.

Fun fun fun

Great stuff

Would never have put something like this on, but I really enjoyed it.

I got the rhythm in my blood, just happens the rest of my body doesn't know yet

Guess I like Latin jazz. Was fun to listen to while powering through some programming. 4/5

Great. Sounds like the fantastic soundtrack to a great noir film that unfortunately doesn't exist. Tin Tin Deo is out of this world. Really makes you wish you could be in a 40s/50s Jazz bar listening to a live band.

A good albym to listen to once, but not going to make it into my regular rotation.

That is a collection of funky grooves. Great for a pool party.

I'm always blown away by how much I enjoy this genre of music. Afro-Cuban jazz that immediately grabs your attention? Yes please! It's like the music you hear at a street festival. Energy, talent, and passion. It's perfect for anyone who loves music that makes you want to move and feel the joy of the beats.

Enjoyed. Old school sounding Jazz 7/10