Latin, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian musical vibes mixed with ambient, electronic and dance grooves.

1. Bombay Dub Orchestra – Montuno Skank 5:49
Written by Garry Hughes
Published by Six Degrees Music (ASCAP)
(p) 2005 Six Degrees Records, Ltd.

The Bombay Dub Orchestra is the brainchild of two English musicians, Andrew Mackay and Garry Hughes, whose debut CD combines beautiful electronic sounds with a full orchestra recorded in Bombay, India. Hughes has produced and mixed numerous Six Degrees projects and has worked as a keyboardist and programmer for such diverse musicians as Björk, Sly and Robbie, Garbage and The Art of Noise. Andrew Mackay is classically trained and has a busy career writing music for films and television. While the duo are best known for their South Asian influenced sounds, they created this beautiful Latin groover exclusively for Latin Travels 2.

2. Deela – Azua Azua 4:26
Written by I. Möll
Published by Edition Foot Forward/Warner Chappell Music (GEMA)
(p) 2005 Switchstance Recordings
Licensed courtesy of Switchstance Recordings
www.switchstancerecordings.de

Deela is a German duo made up of Ingo Möll and Martin Morsch. Together they share a vision of mixing electronic and sampled elements with live instrumentation and modern club beats. Like many of their label-mates on the up and coming Switchstance label, Deela draws inspiration from funk, Afro, Latin, jazz and house music. The track “Azua Azua” is a great example of the kind of exciting and contemporary “fusions” these producer/DJ/musicians create.

3. Latin Soul Syndicate – Mi Dia Bonito (Mark Pistel Remix) 5:49
Written by H. Sanchez & K. Perazzo
Published by LoveCat Music (ASCAP) & Big Tiger Music (BMI)
(p) 2005 LoveCat Music
Licensed courtesy of LoveCat Music
Original version from the Latin Soul Syndicate album, Shake It (LCM 3717)
http://lovecatmusic.com/LatinSoulSyndicate

The Latin Soul Syndicate formed in 2003 in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their music is a blend of upbeat Latin soul, electronica and pop/rock. The group brings together the talents of Los Mocosos founder, Happy Sanchez, Santana member Karl Perazzo and Mark Pistel, founding member of the electronica/hip-hop outfit Consolidated. Pistel’s thumping remix of “Mi Dia Bonito” was commissioned exclusively for Latin Travels 2.

4. De Vibroluxe – Latininfinity 5:36
Written by N. Stankov
Published by Couch Music (GEMA)
Produced, arranged and performed by Nenad Stankov on Rhodes piano feat. W.B. Ayer
Produced and mixed at the “Esthetic Surgery Studios”
(p) 2002 Couch Records
By friendly courtesy of Couch Records, Vienna
www.couchrecords.com

Nenad Stankov’s debut album as De Vibroluxe, Craq Magic International, was recorded in Vienna, Santorini and Novi Sad. Released on dZihan & Kamien’s Couch label, the record merges disco, funk and Latin music with heavy doses of modern beats. “Latininfinity” is a classic slice of future groove music with an exciting Latin edge.

5. Tao of Groove – Cha Cha Cha 57 (Jazzelicious Remix) 4:42
Written by R. Shakked
Published by Zigo Muzic Publishing (BMI)
(p) 2005 Groove Gravy Records
Licensed courtesy of Groove Gravy Records
Original version from the Groove Gravy Records release, Fresh Goods

The Tao of Groove is one of the many aliases of veteran L.A. producer Roy Shakked, who’s best known as the founder of acclaimed record label Groove Gravy Records. Shakked’s production philosophy revolves around introducing music that's infectious and funky, but musically smart, combining not only eclectic sampling and grooves, but also live musicians and true song craftsmanship. The result is a blend of laid-back beats, world rhythms and urban attitude. Roy recorded this remix of “Cha Cha Cha 57” under his Jazzelicious alias especially for this compilation.

6. Los Mocosos – Bandolera Era (Reggaeton Remix) 3:57
Written by J.M. Martinez & G. Ramos
Published by Six Degrees Beats Publishing (BMI)
(p) 2005 Six Degrees Records, Ltd.
Original version from the Six Degrees release American Us

Bay Area favorites Los Mocosos have been winning over audiences worldwide with their unique brand of Latin-ska-funk-rock for years now. Their latest Six Degrees release, American Us, crosses musical and cultural borders while proudly upholding the musical traditions of such classic bands as War and Malo. Bay Area producer Greg Landau and Salvadoran rapper Trucho G created this Reggaeton remix of “Bandolera Era” exclusively for Latin Travels 2.

7. Beny Moré – Manzanillo (Rondo Brothers Remix) 3:40
Written by R. Cabrera
Published by Peer Music
(p) 2005 Rock River Communications, Inc.
Licensed courtesy of Rock River Communications, Inc.

Beny Moré was one of Cuba's most important popular vocalists, comparable in stature to Frank Sinatra in the United States. The beautiful Manzanillo Bay on Mexico's Pacific Coast inspired this, one of his most famous songs. Long time Dan the Automator collaborators, the Rondo Brothers, put a modern hip-hop spin on this Latin classic, available on CD for the first time on this compilation.

8. Banda União Black – Faz Tanto Tempo (Tim "Love" Lee semi bearded mix) 4:31
Written by D. Collas
Published by Daniel Collas, Copyright Control (BMI)
(p) 2005 Commonfolk Records, LLC.
Licensed courtesy of Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand for Embassy Productions

Banda União Black was a Brazilian soul band from the '70s who were part of the Black Rio movement, which was influenced by the energy, sound, and look of stateside artists like James Brown. Today, their sole record goes for $200+ on Ebay and they're known as one of Rio's cooler artifacts. Producers Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand of Embassy Productions found them in São Paulo last year and made a record with them to be released the summer of 2005 on Commonfolk Records. We are excited to have this funky remix by Tummy Touch founder and producer extraordinaire, Tim “Love” Lee appear for the first time on CD on Latin Travels 2.

9. Bobi Céspedes – California (DJ Tripp Bass 211 Remix) 5:04
Written by Bobi Céspedes
Published by Six Degrees Beats Publishing (BMI)
(p) 2005 Six Degrees Records, Ltd.
Original version from the Six Degrees Travel Series release, Rezos

Bobi Céspedes is a Cuban singer, dancer and percussionist who possesses one of the most distinctive and compelling voices on the planet. Her Six Degrees debut, Rezos, combined deep Afro-Cuban grooves with modern hip-hop influenced beats to universal acclaim. On this exclusive remix, famed mash-up producer and remixer, DJ Tripp adds an electronic drum and bass spin to Bobi’s infectious song “California.”

10. Flora y Fauna – What's Up Samba 7:11
Written by S. Crnobrnja & F. Ventilato
Published by Top of the Month Music (ASCAP)
(p) 2005 Codek Records
Licensed courtesy of Codek Records

Flora y Fauna is a musical collaboration between Codek Records founder Sasha Crnobrnja and Swiss producer Fa Ventilato. Their debut CD, Schoen,was released in 2000 mixing a variety of global sounds with a beautiful electronic aesthetic (a formula found in abundance on "What’s Up Samba"). Crnobrnja is well known for his Organic Grooves events and recordings and has also released music under the name Cosmic Rocker.

11. DIG (featuring Omar Sosa and Greg Landau) – Post Modern Cumbia 6:44
Written by O. Sosa & G. Landau
Published by Round World Music Publishing (BMI) & Patio de Ochun Music
(p) 2005 Iyade International
Licensed courtesy of Iyade International
Percussion: Michael Spiro
Vocals: Trio Caminante
DJ: Mr. E

Grammy nominated Cuban pianist Omar Sosa and producer/guitarist Greg Landau have teamed up to create a project called DIG (A Day in the Garage). Combining Sosa’s unique creative flow on the piano with Landau’s rich weave of electronic and acoustic textures, “Post Modern Cumbia” melds the improvisational elements of modern jazz with the groove and transcendent qualities of electronic music and hip-hop. This track appears exclusively on Latin Travels 2.

Compilation produced by Robert Duskis
Art direction/design by Michael Snyder
Licensing and clearances by Lucinda Toy
Mastered by Ken Lee at Ken Lee Mastering, Oakland, CA