Colombian Afro Funk: Then and Now

July 4th, 2009 Posted in Colombia, Covers, Latin Funk, Salsa, South America

Colombian-based musician/DJ Quantic recently released a fantastic new album (along with his Combo Barbaro) entitled Tradition in Transition, which I heartilly encourage everyone to pick up ASAP.  They also just put out a 7″ that features a non-album cut called “Enyere Cumbara”, which itself is a cover of a Julian y su Combo song out of Cali, Colombia.  The original is a mega rare slice of South American Afro Funk with Salsa-informed horns and an infectious underlying conga/tambourine rhythm track.

Quantic and company create a dancefloor-ready cover version that lives up to the original, but places the beautiful piano of Alfredo Linares (who coincidentally played on the original version, too!) at the forefront of the track.  Please check it out and then cop the limited edition original vinyl here.

Julian y su Combo: “Enyere Kumbara”
From the Noche de Fiesta LP (INS, 1975)

julian_combo

Quantic y su Combo Barbaro: “Enyere Kumbara”
From the UK 7″ (Tru Thoughts, 2009)

quantic

6 Responses to “Colombian Afro Funk: Then and Now”

  1. Simon666 says:
    July 6, 2009 at 5:28 am

    Great track! Knew a version that Beatconductor did last year – love that one, but that has a great raw energy. Thanks.

  2. Iris says:
    July 6, 2009 at 7:11 am

    Hey – just found your blog and wanted to say thanks for the great music!

  3. admin says:
    July 6, 2009 at 7:28 am

    Hey Simon666, what project is that Beat Konducta version from?

    -Slim

  4. rajah says:
    July 6, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    Thanks for sharing these great tracks. pure fire!

    The Beatconductor record is a Gamm 12″ called “Sumthin Betta” w/ B side simply titled “Kumbara”

    http://sanpasquale.blogspot.com/2007/09/beatconductor-sumthin-betta-kumbara.html

    … nothing to write home about really, the percussion break is cool though. Sold my copy to Amoeba a while back. But I never heard the OG till today. Thanks for the schooling.

  5. admin says:
    July 7, 2009 at 10:24 am

    Thanks, Rajah. It’s an interesting take on the track, but I’m cool with the OG! ;)

  6. cool cee says:
    July 8, 2009 at 8:10 am

    daaaayyuumm!!

Leave a Reply