Nothin' Sez Somethin': Panama

03 November 2013

Panama

Reuploaded 11/28/2025

Can't delay this vacation's end any longer. This is the final countdown...only ten countries left & I'll have made it around the world in musick. There were times when I was mightily apprehensive, but it looks like I'm gonna make it. Thanks to everyone who has come along for the journey & thanks to all of you who are still somewhere behind out there, checking things out. Without further delay...

We touch down in Panama & at once realize what a transitional land it is, situated between South & North Americas, eastern sea & western ocean, Afro-Latin jazz & funky US soul.

Panama! focuses on the fertile 1960s & 70s, & showcases this variety & versatility of styles & temperaments perfectly. The compilation begins with the strong descarga jam led by sax-man Jose ‘Chombo’ Silva. With his Sonny Rollins tone, Silva lays down a rhythmic Antillean Beguine as Rafael Labasta adds searing Cuban-style trumpet to the hot rhythm pounded out by piano, upright bass, & percussion. It’s Afro-Cuban/Puerto Rican/Salsa jazz at its finest.

There are other directions represented, too: soul-funk workouts exemplified by the likes of The Exciters, Los Fabulosos Festivals, & Los Mozambiques; Papi Brandau Y Sus Ejecutivos’s accordion-driven cumbia; Los Silvertones’s smooth mento; or Lord Cobra’s Calypso classic “Rocombey” with its tale of love & Voodoo .

Soundways has released Panama!2 & Panama!3 as well, check them out. (see comments for links)

Various - Panama!: Latin, Calypso & Funk on the Isthmus 1965-75,

Soundway SNDWCD007, 2006.

Tracklist –

Panama esta bueno y…Ma - Los Exagerados

Exciters Theme – The Exciters

Nana Nina – Bush y sus Magnificos

Soy solo para ti – Victor Boa y su Musica

Maltrato – Freddy y sus Afro Latinos

Viva Panama – Papi Brandao y sus Ejecutivos

Old Buzzard – Los Silvertones

El Mensaje – Los Fabulosos Festivals

New Bag – The Exciters

Descarga Tentacion – Bolita y su Tentacion Latina

Con los Caballeros – Los Caballeros de Colon

Let Me Do My Thing – Los Dinamicos Exciters (feat. Ralph Weeks)

Viva Tirado – Los Mozambiques

Mambologia – Maximo Rodriguez y sus Estrella Panamenas

Rocombey – Lord Cobra & Pana-Afro Sounds

Here is a few extra bonus cuts from bands featured on Panama! that you might like.

Bush y Su Combo los Magnificos’ “Los Magnificos” is a deep guaguanco complete with rolling piano, mighty horns, & vocals from Chombo Castro. The flip-side of "Nana Nina".

Bush y Su Combo los Magnificos – Los Magnificos theme, Sol Records 7”, 197?.

Three more tunes from Los Exciters. These are from Lo Mejor de los Dinamicos Exciters LP from some time in the 70s.

Los Dinamicos Exciters – Lo Mejor de los Dinamicos Exciters, Discos Jacher, 197?.

Tracks –

Morning

Say Amor

Puerto Rico

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carlos Garnett is a Panamanian jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, & jazz group leader. Garnett was born on December 1, 1938, in Red Tank, Panama Canal Zone. He became interested in jazz music after hearing Louis Jordan's & James Moody’s music in film shorts. He taught himself to play the saxophone as a teenager & played for soldiers from the nearby United States Army base. In 1957 he started playing in calypso & Latin music groups. He has gone on to international fame. He played in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, with Charlie Mingus, & Miles Davis.

On Black Love, the musicians are: Carlos Garnett – vocals & tenor, alto, & soprano saxophone; Reggie Lucas – electric guitar; Charles Sullivan – trumpet; Mauricio Smith – flute; Onaje Allan Gumbs – piano; Alex Blake & Buster Williams – bass; James Mtume – congas; Guilherme Franco – percussion; & Jabali-Billy Hart & Norman Connors – drums; with Ayodele Jenkins & Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocals & backing vocals; & Carlos Chambers – yodeling on “Mother of the Future”.