Leo Acosta – “Acosta”

Legendary Mexican Psych Latin Jazz Funk Reissue for the first time

Leobardo Acosta Quintanar was born in 1925 in Huetamo, Michoacán. He was a well-known drummer, composer, arranger, and conductor.

In 1970, he released his final album for Capitol with a small group of his best mates. Rogiero Silva, the sound engineer for these sessions, says that it occurred late at night.

Leo was typically highly demanding with all of his artists during studio sessions, and he did not accept blunders or failures, but he was completely comfortable and appreciated this one very much. Despite his earlier releases, when the labels obliged him to record at least six songs that charted, all of the tracks on “ACOSTA”, also known as “El Leon”, are originals.

The magic of this album is Leo’s talent to blend the impact of jazz and funk fusions with Latin rhythms, which he skillfully dominates. The standout “Rencorosa” has a big effect on Willie Bobo’s “Evil Ways” through Santana.

“Noches de Viaje” is one of the greatest instances of mid-tempo jazz, and the humorous lines in “Carga Pesada” capture the ambiance of Leo’s nightclub activities, complete with a drum solo. Meloda de Amor Eterno ” focuses on a more spiritual jazz side of Mario Patrón’s Hammond B3 and Tomás “La Negrita” Rodriguez’s Sax Tenor.

Regrettably, regardless of the fact that two 45rpm recordings were published as promotional items: Rencorosa/Noches de Viaje and Rosa Rosita/Mi Guitarra, the album remained undetected on the broadcast and sold badly.

Mad About Album is thrilled to bring you the worldwide premiere of this cult record, one of the rarest in Latin Jazz.

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