Music from Costa Rica – Malpais

Malpaís is a band from Costa Rica, active from 1999 til 2011. The music of Malpaís is part of the Costa Rica-contemporary compositions work, called by the band “Costarican new song”. The musicians are trying to relate the concept to the early folk and protest folk tradition of Latin America, mixing musical structures of regional and local folk genres such as calypso and tambito with easy-listening jazz (breaks and progressions) and romantic lyrics inspired in Latin American songwriters in order to be perceived as if they are built on the solid tradition of their musical roots. The group takes its name from the most remote, jungle-cradled beach on the north-Pacific Nicoya Peninsula—the beach at road’s end.

Here is their song “Malpais”

Music from the US – Eddie Palmieri

Eddie Palmieri (* December 15, 1936 in New York City) is an American pianist and orchestra leader.  He is considered one of the pioneers of Latin American, Cuban and Afro-Cuban jazz, and also plays the  salsa.

Here is his song “Cafe”