Martinez, Ricardo Eddy: Expreso Ritmico LP

Next up in Mr Bongo's Cuban Classics series, one of the jewels of record label Areito's extensive and sought-after catalogue. Ricardo Eddy Martinez's "Expreso Ritmico" from 1978 is a prized album fusing funk, disco, and orchestrated influences with Afro-Cuban percussion, Latin breaks, and lush vocal harmonies. Whilst maintaining its distinctive Cuban identity, "Expreso Ritmico" is one of the more American/estern-influenced Cuban titles of the time, drawing inspiration from jazz funk, disco, and library music. The album was directed, written, and orchestrated by keyboardist and drummer Ricardo Eddy Martinez, who was also the mastermind behind the orchestration of the Los Reyes 73 album (that was recently reissued by Mr Bongo). Martinez would later go on to work with international musicians and singers such as Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Chick Corea, and many more, whilst also working as a sound engineer in the US. A record that was ahead of its time, "Expreso Ritmico" is a superb and unique album that merges western influence with Cuban flair.