2024 Vampisoul reïssue from this 1969 Ray Perez y Los Kenya, Venezuelan salsa group. Licensed from Discomoda.
Vampisoul have continued to bring us the finest salsa and boogaloo Venezuela has to offer. And back at you again, comes the great Ray Pérez, pianist and arranger, with his band Los Kenya and Volume 2 of their works. In the late 60s he also fronted Los Dementes and Los Calvos as he was experimenting with different line-ups to create sounds he wanted. But Los Kenya were not a studio band like the other two: they had gigs and their popularity led to six albums released between 1968 and 1972. Despite the title, this was actually their third album and has a lot of breadth and depth in its ten tracks. The key sound is salsa dura, or hard salsa, with hard-hitting congas and bongos behind the piano and brass, there is also kit drums and bass. Overall there`s a great "live" feeling to the tunes as if they were recorded in a long jam session after a particularly good gig. Singers are Carlín Rodríguez (a guaracha and bolero singer who also performed with the other Pérez groups), Dimas Pedroza, and Ray himself on two numbers
LADO A:
1. Melenko No. 2 (ritmo melenkó)
2. Ingrato Corazon (guaguanco)
3. Pa` La Cola (ritmo hoculele)
4. Al Trigueño (guaguanco)
5. El Hijo Desobediente - Corria Sangre
LADO B:
1. Como Las Hojas (rumba flamenca)
2. Pa` Puerto Rico (ritmo hoculele)
3. Un Clavel, Una Tarjeta Y Un Lapiz (surf)
4. Esa Mujer (guajira surf)
5. Carnaval A Lo Ray (jupiray)

cantantes: Carlin, Dimas, Ray Perez

This is one of Ray Pérez’s most highly sought-after albums, not only for its strong salsa dura anthems and funky boogaloo numbers but also for its brave, quirky eclecticism and youthful, rebellious spirit, all of which are reflections of “El Loco” Ray’s unique genius, making him a beloved figure in rare record collector circles everywhere.

The original is not that easy to find today and carries a hefty price. Thankfully, it has been remastered from the original tapes, fully licensed, with the original artwork, preserving and presenting the legacy of this great Venezuelan music for today’s generation.