Los Kenya "Los Kenya Vol. 2"
FORMAT | LP
This is one of Ray Pérez's most highly sought-after albums, not only for its strong salsa dura anthems and funky boogaloo numbers but also for its brave, quirky eclecticism and youthful, rebellious spirit, all of which are reflections of "El Loco" Ray's unique genius, making him a beloved figure in rare record collector circles everywhere. The original is not that easy to find today and carries a hefty price. Thankfully, it has been remastered from the original tapes, fully licensed, with the original artwork, preserving and presenting the legacy of this great Venezuelan music for today's generation. The late 1960s was a very busy time when Pérez was juggling several different studio bands: Los Dementes, Los Calvos and Los Kenya. The daring experiment Pérez created with Los Calvos laid the basis for Los Kenya, an actual working band that released six albums between 1968 and 1972. Despite being titled Los Kenya, Vol. 2 because it was the second released by Discomoda, the record actually represents Los Kenya's third album, and is perhaps the most mature, well-rounded venture in the lot. In February 1969, on Discomoda, came Los Kenya, Vol. 2 Focused on the upcoming carnival season, it was calculated to compete with rival bands Federico Y Su Combo Latino and Sexteto Juventud for the plethora of gigs offered at that time of year. The album, like all Ray Pérez releases of the time, is short and powerful, with five tracks per side, showcasing a variety of singers, genres, rhythms, influences and arrangements, making this one of his more eccentric and interesting efforts. 1960s California "sunshine pop" rock (often referred to as "surf" on Los Kenya records), guajiras, boogaloos, descargas and even Mexican mariachi corridos are all added to the pot of salsa cooked up by "El Loco Ray" and his band. The album has been rescued from obscurity and lovingly restored, remastered from the original tapes, fully licensed, with its original artwork intact, preserving and presenting the legacy of this great Venezuelan music for today's generation of global salsa dura fans.
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