Putumayo Presents: The Caribbean (CD - 2006)

Various Artists: Claudius Philips, O.R.E.O., Waldo Mendoza.

A nice collection of relatively easygoing music from around the Caribbean. Putumayo Presents: The Caribbean makes a point of hitting on some of the lesser islands, which is a nice change from the usual reliance on reggae and soca for Caribbean compilations. Here, there's a bit of biguine from Martinique, courtesy of Kali, along with mento and ska from Jamaica, rather than reggae. Cuba is represented by a bit of timba, rather than son or salsa (though there's also a nice bit of Cuban-influenced ska here as well). Thanks to performers such as Jab Jab, Claudius Philips, and Marce et Toumpak, there are also some interesting pan-Caribbean works included, fusing soca with zouk, African rhythms with calypso, and the like. For the most part, this album doesn't the high-energy dancehall sound that many may recognize as Caribbean fare. Instead of the vacationers' club sound, it's a relaxed afternoon beach sound. Worth a listen or two by any measure. ~ Adam Greenberg minimize