Ray Barretto - Mysterious Instinct (Akannaginnagi) (2005)

For the first time on CD, this obscure and extremely rare album of Ray Barretto 'El Watusi' (recorded in 1963, with the sensational voice of film star Brock Peters) is considered as a gem by Exotica/African/Latin music lovers. Ray Barretto is perhaps was the greatest conga artist in the world. He will not surprise his fans with his performance here; he is magnificent throughout the entire album. He plays with an authenticity he draws from the ethnic roots of music itself and the discovery of the roots of modern jazz.

Film star Brock Peters is said to have one of the finest voices of his generation and is a multi-talent that is top drawer in whatever he does. He performed successfully in Duke Ellington’s Concerts of Sacred Music. His father was a Senegalese, and although Brock was born in New York City, out of the misted memories of his heritage has come the inspiration for this album.

Ray Barretto a.k.a. Hard Hands was a Puerto Rican jazz musician, widely credited as the godfather of Latin jazz. He is also the first Hispanic to record a Latin song, "El Watusi", which became a "hit" in the American Billboard Charts.

Tracklist

01. Sing A'Man (Peters-Lewis-Amsterdam) [2:12]
02. Wide Dark Troubled Waters (traditional) [3:06]
03. Papa Zimbi (traditional) [2:20]
04. Go Round the Wall (Larue-Palmieri) [2:05]
05. Way Yonder Far (Daniels-Fisher) [2:40]
06. Gambler (Daniels-Fisher) [2:35]
07. Igama La Bantwana (adapt. Fisher) [2:42]
08. Mysterious Instinct (adapt. Fisher) [2:22]
09. Water Bird (adapt. Fisher) [2:57]
10. Sorrow Valley (Bobby Scott) [2:12]
11. Or Three Farm (Bobby Scott) [2:55]
12. Gonna Leave You Baby (Bobby Scott) [1:53]

Total time 00:30:16


Personnel: Ray Barretto (conga); Chief Bey (conga); George Duvivier (b); Sticks Evans (tympani); Al Leas (fl); Brock Peters (vcl, narration).

Recorded in New York, 1963.