Latin Music Picks
Classic Albums
Rubén Blades and Willie Colón, Siembra: Incisive social commentary to a salsa beat.Astor Piazzolla, Adiós Nonino: A seminal album that opened the door for contemporary tango.Paco de Lucía, Entre Dos Aguas: How the world discovered flamenco.La Sonora Matancera, Historia de la Sonora Matancera: The long-running ensemble of Cuban expats (including Celia Cruz) comes alive in this compilation.José Alfredo Jiménez, Lo Mejor de José Alfredo Jiménez: The original versions of songs that have become well-covered Latin classics.
New Albums to Try
Daddy Yankee, Barrio Fino: This album’s hit “Gasolina” ignited Latin music’s new rap-reggae hybrid, known as reggaetón.Juanes, Un Día Normal: A fresh pop-rock sound, in Spanish, from this Colombian singer.Alejandro Sanz, Más: A first-rate fusion of pop and flamenco, with dabs of jazz.Ricardo Arjona, Adentro: A traditional Latin songwriter who produces contemporary lyrics.Maná, Amar Es Combatir: The top band in Latin rock taps a variety of influences.
Picks by: Leila Cobo, the bureau chief of Billboard magazine’s Miami bureau. She covers Latin music for the magazine.
