Los Dementes - Descarga a la Ray (Venezuela, 1966)

(Prodanza - LP 1240).

First LP from Ray Perez with Los Dementes, playing in Caracas from the mid 60s. I found this Venezuelan version in Colombia. Los Dementes used the word "salsa" as a music style before it became widely used in New York, and this LP includes boogaloo, guaguanco, pachanga, and salsa. Despite the rough mix, "Descarga a la Ray" is totally crazy, also very innovative at this period comparing to famous local bands such as Billo and his Caracas Boys... 

Starlite Band at FESMAN Festival Mondial des Arts Negres (Dakar, 1966)

(Philips).

This LP presents the musical contributions from different african countries to celebrate the 1st FESMAN (Negro Arts Festival) hold in Dakar in 1966. This Festival, impulsed by Leopold Sedar Senghor after the independances, was the 1st major cultural event including all art disciplines (music, litterature, theater, paintings...) from Africa, and countries from african diaspora (check the great track B1 from Ghanaian band Star Lite, tittled Baba Yara, from the name of the 60s football star).

A second edition took place in Nigeria in 1977 (FESTAC) and a 3rd historical (although controversial) edition is hold in Senegal again from 10th to 31rd december 2010 (http://blackworldfestival.com/), including artist from all over Africa, Brasil, USA, the Caribbeean, Latin America.

Russ Henderson - Caribbean Carnival (Tropical jazz, 1966)

(Allegro ALL 817).

Russ Henderson, piano and steel pan player, moved from Trinidad to England in the 40s. For this LP he gathered musicians from West Indies to play some really fresh and rythmic versions of calypso and blue beat standards.