Two Fish “Latin Influenced”
In this latest episode, Patrick and Keith go Latin.
Patrick delves into music with a Latin influence whereas Keith goes more hardcore and revisitsmusic from a later vintage.
A Man Called Adam – “Estelle” – Duende – 1998
Patrick Writes:
This track first appeared in the mid-’90s and reissued in 2024—celebrated for its soulful flute, percussion, and a vocal performance from Sally Rodgers that sits somewhere between poem and prayer.
The track debuted on José Padilla’s original Café del Mar in 1994, pairing Rodrigo’s poetic vocals with samba, congas, bongos, kalimba, and Eddie Parker’s flute. Formed in the late 1980s, A Man Called Adam initially gained attention with dance music releases on Acid Jazz and Big Life Records. Over time, they became more associated with the Balearic scene.
Tito Puente – “El Cuyuco” – Essential Recordings – 1958
Keith Writes:
Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. more commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, timbalero, and record producer.
Puente composed dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz music. He was also known as “El Rey de losTimbales,” or “The King of the Timbales.”
Kebu – “Samba Saturn” – 2012 – To Jupiter and Back – 2012
Patrick Writes:
Kebu is the stage name of Sebastian Teir a renowned Finnish composer and live analogue synthesist. The track Merges “samba”—the rhythmic Brazilian dance style—with “Saturn,” the planet symbol of cosmic wonder. It’s a playful cosmic samba; a journey into space funk.
Coleman Hawkins – “Desafinado” – Desafinado – 1962
Keith Writes:
Coleman Randolph Hawkins nicknamed “Hawk” was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.
On this track, Hawkins taps into the emerging Bossa Nova that became extremely popular in the late 50s and early 60s.
Paul Simon – “The Obvious Child” – The Rhythm of The Saints
Patrick Writes:
Drum-driven opening track of Paul Simon’s 1990 album “The Rhythm of the Saints”. Following the massive success of “Graceland”, Simon continued to explore world music influences—this time shifting from South Africa to Brazil, weaving. The track is driven by the thunderous drumming of the Brazilian percussion group Olodum, recorded in Salvador, Bahia. Their Afro-Brazilian samba-reggae rhythms give the song a ceremonial, almost spiritual energy.
Los Zafiros – “La Luna en tu Mirada” – Bossa Cubana – 1962
Keith Writes:
Los Zafiros (The Sapphires) were a Cuban close-harmony vocal group working from 1962 until 1976.[1] The group were inspired by American doo-wop groups such as The Platters. Their music was a fusion of Cuban genres, such as the bolero, with doo-wop, ballads, R&B, calypso, Bossa Nova and early rock and roll.
Chicane – “Low Sun” – Behind The Sun – 2000
Patrick Writes:
“Low Sun” is an instrumental track by Chicane, featured on his album “ Behind The Sun”, released in 2000. This album helped establish Chicane—aka Nick Bracegirdle—as a key figure in the emerging trance and ambient dance scenes.
Oscar Peterson – “Wave” – Motions and Emotions – 1969
Keith Writes:
Oscar Emmanuel Peterson was a Canadian jazz pianist and composer. As a virtuoso who is considered to be one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, Peterson released more than 200 recordings, won eight Grammy Awards, as well as a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy, and received numerous other awards and honours. He played thousands of concerts worldwide in a career lasting more than 60 years.
As with Coleman Hawkins (above) Peterson delved into the vibrant sounds of Brazil.
George Duke – “Brazilian Sugar” – Brazilian Love Affair – 1979
Patrick Writes:
A smooth, upbeat jazz-funk instrumental by George Duke, it’s a standout track that showcases Duke’s signature blend of funk, jazz, Latin, and fusion, wrapped in bright melodies and rhythmic sophistication.
Antonio Carlos Jobim – “Stone Flower” – The Stone Flower – 1970
Keith Writes:
Antônio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim also known as Tom Jobim was a Brazilian composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and singer.
Considered as one of the great exponents of Brazilian music, Jobim merged samba with cool jazz in the 1960s to create bossa nova, with worldwide success. As a result, he is regarded as one of the fathers of bossa nova, and as one of the most-celebrated songwriters of the 20th century.
Jobim was a primary force behind the creation of the bossa nova style, and his songs have been performed by many singers and instrumentalists internationally since the early 1960s.
Stone Flower was later covered by Carlos Santana on the album Caravanserai
Santana – “Oye Como Va” – Abraxas – 1970
Patrick Writes:
One of Santana’s most iconic songs—an electrifying fusion of Latin rhythm, rock guitar, and Afro-Cuban groove. Released in 1971 on the album Abraxas, the track helped introduce Latin rock to a global audience and remains a cornerstone of Santana’s legacy. The song was originally written and recorded by Tito Puentein 1962. The title “Oye Como Va” means “Listen to how it goes” — a phrase often used in Latin music to direct attention to a rhythm or groove.
Eumir Deodato – “Also Sprach Zarathurstra” – Prelude – 1970
Keith Writes:
Eumir Deodato de Almeida (Deodato) is a Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger and record producer, primarily in jazz but who has been known for his eclectic melding of genres, such as pop, rock, disco, rhythm and blues, classical, Latin and bossa nova.
Deodato was nominated for three Grammy Awards and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance in 1974 for “Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001).”
The song peaked at number 2 on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 in March 1973. It reached number 7 on the British charts.[7][8]
Prelude also features one of the most heavily sampled drum breaks in the early hip hop cannon. The opening bars of September 13 features a legendary break beat used in many classic hip hop songs.
Bob Dylan – “Romance in Durango” – 1976
Patrick Writes:
From his 1976 album “Desire”, co-written with lyricist Jacques Levy. It’sa vivid, narrative-driven track that blends Dylan’s folk-rock storytelling with a rich Mexican musical influence.
Victor Jara – “No Puedes Volver Atras” – Victor Jara – 1973
“You Cannot Go Back”
Keith Writes:
Víctor Jara was a Chilean teacher, theater director, poet, singer-songwriter and Communist political activist.
After the coup of 1973, Pinochet’s soldiers rounded up Chileans who were believed to be involved with leftist groups, including Allende’s Popular Unity party. On the morning of 12 September 1973, Jara was taken prisoner, along with thousands of others, and imprisoned inside Estadio Chile. Soon after, according to the BBC he was killed with a gunshot to the head, and his body was riddled with more than 40 bullets
Jara was first separated from the other detainees, then beaten and tortured in the bowels of the stadium. At one point, he defiantly sang “Venceremos (We Will Win)”, Allende’s 1970 election anthem, through split lips. On the morning of the 16th, according to a fellow detainee, Jara asked for a pen and notebook and scribbled the lyrics to “Estadio Chile”, which were later smuggled out of the stadium: “How hard it is to sing when I must sing of horror. / Horror which I am living, horror which I am dying.” Two hours later, he was shot dead, then his body was riddled with machine-gun bullets and dumped in the street. He was 40.
Silvio Anastacio and Simon Le Bon – “Save A Prayer” – From The Heart – 2002
Patrick Writes:
A collaborative reinterpretation of the iconic Duran Duran song “Save A Prayer” originally released in 1982. This 2002 version appears on the compilation or project called “From The Heart”. Silvio Anastacio was a Brazilian singer, musician, and composer known for his unique fusion of Brazilian rhythms with various musical genres.
M.A.K.U. Soundsytem – “Canto Negro” – Makumbala – 2011
The immigrant experience is an opportunity to create, to find a voice that speaks loud and proud, to connect past and future. A chance to make history. That’s what the eight-piece M.A.K.U. Soundsystem does on their fourth album, Mezcla (‘Mix’). Through the eyes and ears of Colombians who’ve arrived and made their homes in New York City, it is, in every way, a mix, an invitation to think and to dance.
David Bowie – “Volare” “Absolute Beginners” OST 1986
Patrick Writes:
A classic Italian pop standard originally titled “Nel blu, dipinto di blu”, written and performed by Domenico Modugno in 1958. It became an international hit and one of the most famous Italian songs worldwide.
“Absolute Beginners” is a British musical film released in 1986. It tells the story of a young photographer’s experiences in London during the late 1950s.
The film explores themes of race, youth rebellion, and cultural change. Though the film was a commercial disappointment, its soundtrack became much more popular and critically acclaimed.
Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos – “El Gaucho Rojo” – Muy Divertido – 2000
Marc Ribot and The Fake Cubans – “The Red Gaucho” – Very Entertaining – 2000
Keith Writes:
Marc Ribot is an American guitarist and composer. His work has touched on many styles, including no wave, free jazz, rock, and Cuban music.
Ribot is also known for collaborating with other musicians, most notably Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Vinicio Capossela and John Zorn.
¡Muy Divertido! (Very Entertaining!) is a studio album recorded in New York City with Los Cubanos Postizos.
