Cumbia

In the old days (1975 or so), Putumayo, a New York retail store, introduced an American audience to handicrafts from around the world. As an offshoot of that business, in 1993 the owner launched what would become an influential world music production company, creating CDs of traditional folk tunes and rhythms from everyone, everywhere: Brazil, Nigeria, Inuit, reggae, ska, Cuba, Cape Verde, Italy, Louisiana, Congo, Irish pub songs, African dance rhythms. You get the idea. Putumayo World Music introduced me to cumbia, a form of traditional Latin music that originated in Colombia, blending African, European and indigenous styles using instruments such as drums, flutes, maracas and accordions. You'll find many different styles based on where it’s played, and countries across Latin and South America all have their own distinct cumbia variations. What they have in common is that they are percussion-heavy, with a signature double beat played on a maraca or drum. So go ahead and wiggle your hips to one of my favorite songs, Cumbia del Caribe, from one of my favorite Putumayo CDs, Latin Party. The CD is hard to find now, so check Spotify, Apple Music and others for individual tracks.