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// Rubens Bassini
© DR
Latino Fantástico
The appropriately entitled Latino Fantástico is percussionist Rubens Bassini’s lost masterpiece from 1963. Released at the time on limited vinyl, this deep yet infectious LP is part of a missing link in the story of Brazilian music. With the bossa nova craze in full flight, Bassini became the called-on percussionist for such artists as Sergio Mendes, appearing on LPs like Dance Moderno. But it was as a member of Os Ipanemas that he really made his mark, creating the heavy but lilting African rhythms to set the group’s self titled 1964 LP apart. A huge fan of percussionist Mongo Santamaria, Bassini heard his calling in the Afro-Cuban rhythms that were setting the sixties alight. But this LP also taps into the cultural zeitgeist with touches of breezy folk and exotica not a world away from that of Les Baxter. The fact that the LP manages to be as deep and folkloric as it is light and playful, is testament to the man behind the bongos who understood the pop aesthetic as much as he did the ancient rhythms. With each track based around a rhythm or musical style this could be a rather dry musical exercise but in the hands of Bassini and a stellar band it’s a complete joy from start to finish. So as the easy going ‘Cha-Cha-Cha’ segues effortlessly into the deep meditative ‘Afro-Cubano’ before opening out into a glorious ‘Mambo’, it’s clear the late percussionist was one of the most individual and versatile players of his generation. Those wanting to delve deeper into the nineteen tracks here will want to soak up Ruben’s original sleevenotes which describe track by track the various rhythms. Lovely stuff.
Rubens Bassini y Los Latinos - Latino Fantástico is out now on Far Out
Andy Thomas
(9 votes)
// ALSO
- Chucho’s Steps
- Pernett
- Nobody, "Jerusalem"
- Joe Bataan & James Pants live at Cargo 11 June plus dates in Leeds and Birmingham
- Quantic and his Combo Barbaro album launch tour starts Friday 5 June at the ICA
- Latin Music USA: the Barbican and BBC Four go Latin
- Ayobaness!, The Sound of South African House
- Bomba and plena, Bomba and plena - Puerto Rico's fire inside
- French Caribbean, Haitian Kompa
// ALL RUBENS BASSINI'S REVIEWS
Latino Fantástico
27/10/2010
// LINKS
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