Essential Merengue - Stripping the Parrots CD

Merengue tightly intertwines the roots of African and Spanish traditions. Merengue, a frenetic dance music, began to gain national popularity around 1850, six years after the Republic's independence from Haiti. (Though Haiti also has a popular style called meringue, it is musically very different.) Typical merengue incudes a diatonic button accordion, the tambora drum, and the marimba bass, a kind of thumb piano. Descriptive bi-lingual notes. 13 songs.

Stripped or ripped parrot, perico ripiao, the favorite dish of country parties in the Dominican Republic, has given its name to the bands that created a frenetic dance music to accompany the plate. With direct, spirited vocals, dramatic flourishes on the tambora drums and the marimba thumb piano and, above all, spectacular melodies played on button accordion, the perico ripiao bands play essential merengue that is still the backbone of the commercial dance style now famous all over the world. A true dish for connoisseurs of great Island music!

"Connoisseurs of folkloric musics from the Caribbean will find this album extremely interesting. Merengue enthusiasts should definitely find this fascinating and add it to their collection." --Hector Resendez, Cash Box

Tracks:
01. Maria Morena Rafaelito Arias y su Conjunto 3:51
02. Que Linda Mama Los Cuatro Alegres Dominicanos 3:14
03. El Guayubin Cuarteto Hernandez 5:30
04. Llamasa Los Cuatro Alegres Dominicanos 3:53
05. Cana Brava Sexteto Peravia 5:15
06. Compadre Pedro Juan Rafaelito Arias y su Conjunto 3:30
07. El Cabo De Vela Los Cuatro Alegres Dominicanos 3:37
08. Desiderio Arias Sexteto Peravia 4:50
09. El Carabine Cuarteto Hernandez 4:01
10. Leyo Yiyo Rafaelito Arias y su Conjunto 3:57
11. Manuelito Barrios Cachucha y su Conjunto 3:41
12. Baile En la Calle Cachucha y su Conjunto 2:07
13. Luz Maria Rafaelito Arias y su Conjunto 4:12