Dancing All Over the (Latin) World

Putumayo Presents: Baila! A Latin Dance Party (Putumayo)

Various Artists

By Cricket Bidwell

With another great showcase album, Putumayo highlights Latin sounds. Baila!, which translates to "Dance!," is a fun, infectious album with some pretty cool folks contributing.

Cuban star Raul Paz starts the show with "Mua Mua Mua," a mix of traditional Cuban music with some French contemporary style thrown in for good measure. Fellow Cubans NG La Banda contribute "La Cachimba," then the disc moves on to Colombia with La-33 and their 1960s and '70s influenced salsa number, "Que Rico Boogaloo." This tune can get anybody's feet tapping.

Gabriel Rios of Belgium (he left his native Puerto Rico for love - aww) contributes another mix of European and traditional Latin sounds in "Bones Bugalu." Other notable artists are the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Africando All-Stars and Sweden's Calla Real with 'Hoah." I fully admit to not speaking a bit of Spanish, (when will the German compilation come by?) but language makes no difference on this eclectic, toe tapping and just plain fun album. I guarantee it will put a smile on your face.

Note: The proceeds from this album go to United for Colombia in support of their efforts to help children who are victims of landmines in Colombia.

Find out more at www.putumayo.com.