¡Ay Caramba!
(Cumbancha)

Ska Cubano's island-hopping dance grooves make perfect sense. Jamaica has always been influenced by its larger neighbor Cuba. From socialism to plantains, Jamaicans have ingested plenty of ritmos y tradiciones. That cross-Caribbean connection was never stronger than in the late 1950s and early '60s when Jamaica jazz, or ska, was ascendant. The premier ska ensemble of the time, the Skatalites, recorded "Latin Goes Ska," and legendary ska musidans Roland Alphonso, Rico Rodhguez, and Laurel Aitken were all Cuban natives.

But ¡Ay Caramba! has more twists to offer beyond its musical trysts. For instance, several hot Colombian cumbia numbers like opener "Soy Campesino" and the brass-led "No Me Desesperes" show case phenomenal horn arrangements from Japanese saxophonist Megumi Mesaku and 74-year-old Eddy "Tan Tan" Thorton. Then, of course, there are fiery ska jams like "Tabu," Jamaican standard "Big Bamboo," and the jovial "Cachita." which features Beny Billy, an eccentric Cuban vocalist recruited for this project.

Alongside Billy (who claims to be the living incarnation of Cuban legend Beny Mor, a boast borne out by his pipes), singing duties are handled by dapper Londoner Natty Bo, who adds campy fun to SC's "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" cover. A comic raucousness permeates ¡Ay Caramba!, as if daring the listener to keep a straight face imagine Groucho Marx conducting Carl Stallings's Orchestra. With war and conflict rampant, the sun might be setting on the West, but it's still smiling on the islands. (Tomas Patermo)

SKA CUBANO
Sun/6, 2 p.m.
Stem Grove. 19th Ave. and Sloat, SF
Free

(415) 252-6252

www.sterngrove.org