Various Artists “A Orillas Del Magdalena:Coastal Cumbias From Colombia’s Discos Fuentes”(024)

Coastal Cumbias from Colombia’s Discos Fuentes. Call and response wailing, percussionists that play a measure then disappear, backwards accordions and a persistent, loping bassline comprise some of the elements that make up the Cumbia. Born on the banks of the Magdalena River in coastal Colombia, this infectious music represents a marriage of African, Spanish, and Indigenous influences. Antonio Fuentes began recording Colombia’s music in 1934, founding his country’s first record label, Discos Fuentes. These 12 gems — released between the mid 1950s and the mid ’70s — are lovingly selected from the Discos Fuentes catalogue. Includes tracks by Andres Landero, Los Corraleros de Majagual, Los Guacharacos, and Nafer Duran amongst others.