A disciple of mambo innovator Perez Prado, the Cuban-born Modesto Duran was a pivotal figure in Latin dance music’s transitionary mid-century period. His gentle slaps can be heard across dozens of 1950s mega-sellers, from Esquivel to Belafonte, Eartha Kitt to Lena Horne. On his 1960 solo debut, Duran gathers a who’s who of conga-men, including Mongo Santamara, Willie Bobo, and Juan Cheda, delivering a cinematic and percussive melange of afro-Cuban, cha cha, and exotic jazz styles for the discerning listener.

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