Conjunto Papaupa and a brief glimpse on afro-venezuelan culture

(Music With Soul 7").

Actual growing interest for "tropical" music provides a wide variety of projects and vinyl releases. Muzzicaltrips looked into a afro-venezuelan influenced project (Conjunto Papa Upa, from the Netherlands based label Musicwithsoul), a very good actual DJ friendly sound, loaded with interesting traditional elements. This was opportunity to exchange with the father of this project, Alex Figueira, a real music specialist on the (yet little documented) afro-venezuelan culture.

Ray Perez y sus Kenyas - Uvas Verdes (1968)

(Pyraphon LP 3352).

This seems to be the 2nd LP from an ephemera band (68-72) from Caracas called Los Kenya(s). Band leader was the pianist Ramon E. (Ray) Perez, who previously played with Los Dementes, and then played in New York with various figures as Ray Barretto, Cheo Feliciano, Cortijo, Patato...

Perucho Conde - la Cotorra Criolla (1980)

(EPIC EPC8899).

A bonus track from the 45rpms found in Barcelona...

And here's a crazyness made in 1980 in Caracas: an humorist rapping in spanish on a fat disco instrumental. When first hip hop from the US arrived in Venezuela it was surnamed "musica cotorra" (cotorra = parrot) I guess because of the singers flow. So Peruche Conde made a hip hop typically from Venezuela with this hit "la cotorra criolla" (criolla = creole). Lyrics are very funny, but behind the humoristic approach, it's a real social and protest song (!) denouncing poor living conditions (prices increase, low salaries, no social welfare, pre-election promises...).

MIX /// Muzzicaltrips back from Barcelona (45rpm selection)

I came back recently to Barcelona and had time to dig a bit some latin records in old crates...

Muzzicaltrips Mix /// 45rpms found in Barcelona (24min):

Don Efra y sus muchachos - Joropiando

This paseito comes from Venezuela and i guess from the Llanos region as "joropo" is the traditional style in this area.


Don Efra y sus Muchachos - Joropiando: