1-2 Boogaloo: A Bluffer’s Guide to Boogaloo

I could spend months combing crates in Spanish Harlem, and still lack Oliver Wang’s knowledge of Boogaloo, that fusion of Afro-Caribbean polyrhythms, Cuban Jazz, doo-wop and soul that...

By Jeff Weiss August 25, 2009

I could spend months combing crates in Spanish Harlem, and still lack Oliver Wang’s knowledge of Boogaloo, that fusion of Afro-Caribbean polyrhythms, Cuban Jazz, doo-wop and soul that flourished in New York and Latin America from 1965-1970. If you’re looking for a definitive take on the music and culture, his Da Capo anthologized essay from last year is as comprehensive and sharp as you’ll find. I also recommend O-Dub’s LA Weekly piece on the Assassins last year. Needless to say, it’s difficult to match someone who DJ’s and curates a night called Boogaloo LA.

By contrast, my recent Pop and Hiss interview with Los Angeles revivalists, The Boogaloo Assassins, is little more than an ABC-guide. In researching the piece, I became fairly obsessed with the music. Anyone interested in the intersection of Curtis Mayfield and Cal Tjader will want to grab this elementary primer (which also includes non-Boogaloo songs from Boogaloo-affiliated artists.) Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the MP3 for “Tito Puente’s Revenge,” so the video will just have to suffice.