Cha Cha

Unlike most of Costanzo's other records, Mr. Bongo Plays Hi-Fi Cha Cha is real Cuban music. The vocalists, featured on all twelve tracks, either solo or in tandem, are the true stars. Costanzo's bongos figure high in the mix, of course, but not to the point of severe distraction or camp. Kaskara had performed with Perez Prado and Rene Touzet before joining Costanzo, so there is no question about his credentials. This one cooks. Except for two cheesy-but-delightful, syncopated cha cha chas sung in English ("Jack, Jack, Jack" being a tribute to the master), it sounds more like salsa than cha cha cha. There is a serious, uptempo, monster session beneath the jacket of what looks like just a budget-label trifle.

With her sophomore album, 2020's magical and earthy Cha Cha Palace, singer/songwriter Angelica Garcia embraces her family's Mexican and Salvadoran roots, crafting an explosive collage out of her varied influences. A Los Angeles native, Garcia grew up listening to an eclectic combination of mariachi music, Latin pop, jazz, country, and indie rock.