“Descarga Malanga” By Tito Rodriguez & His Orchestra

Tito Rodriquez was born in 1923 in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. After his parents died in 1940, he moved to NYC to be with his brother. While there, he was hired as a bongo player for Eric Madriguera. Two years later, he joined Xavier Cugat’s band and after a stint in the US Army he was fronting his own band as a percussionist and vocalist. 

“Descarga Malanga” is the first song on the second side from his 1965 album Tito Tito Tito. It was released on United Artists at a time when the British invasion had a firm hold on America. I love this track and what it accomplishes. From the start you have a classic piano montuno rhythm that quickly gets overtaken by its Rumba roots. Then it abruptly switches back into a more traditional Guaracha only to be replaced by Latin Jazz and its serviceable trumpet solos. But they aren’t done, and this playful dialog between Guaracha and Jazz continues.
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Tito Rodriquez was also an accomplished singer and I’m sorry I didn’t showcase his talent here; I just couldn’t help but share this gem of a track from a musician who is often overlooked by music enthusiasts.