Viva Soul

Though the boogaloo craze—perhaps best embodied by cheerful mid-‘60s hits like Joe Cuba’s “Bang Bang” and Pete Rodriguez’s “I Like It Like That”—was losing steam as the ‘70s dawned, a new breed of Latin music took precedence. It drew inspiration from American and Latin forms alike, but it de-emphasized the frenetic tempos and stomping funk rhythms. It instead leaned toward the smoother side of American soul, evoking the tearstained intensity of classic bolero balladry. Vibraphonist and bandleader Harvey Averne was one of the first and most successful practitioners of this new breed of Latin soul, and Viva Soul is perhaps his best work. Averne’s sultry, vibraphone-led anthem to the good life, “My Dream,” is perhaps the most gorgeous track here, but the whole album shines with a rare brilliance. Dreamy numbers like “You’re No Good” and “You Mess My Mind Up” put a mellow, distinctly Latin spin on the hypnotic soul of American acts like The Impressions and Billy Stewart, while the frantic rave up “Shake Your Money Maker” bids farewell to the boogaloo craze in fine style.