The label Música Infinita resurrects the first album of Ray Perez and Los Kenya, an emblematic and atypical group of the late 60s Venezuelan salsa scene.
Last January, Olindo Records inaugurated the Música Infinita subdivision with an album by Venezuelan jazzman Gerry Weil. The British label, which is responsible for the latest releases of Isaac Sasson, Waaju or Raúl Monsalve y los Forajidos, is now embarking on a reissue project. This time it’s offering a second Afro-Latin gem with a limited edition of Siempre Afro-Latino, an album by Ray Perez and Los Kenya originally released in 1968 on Velvet. Pianist and bandleader, Ray Perez released numerous albums in the late 60s, a fertile period for the salsa, with emblematic groups such as Los Calvos or Los Dementes. After a stint in New York, he returned to Venezuela and formed Los Kenya with two trumpeters and a drummer, a minimalist formation in an era when big bands were king. Adding a pair of vocalists to the team, Ray Perez recorded the raw, groovy sound that characterizes this soon-to-be-released reissue, announced with video for “Record en TV” that mixes nostalgic animations and archival footage!
Siempre Afro-Latino available May 27th via Olindo Records
