La Playa Sextet - La Plata Swings Jumps The Charanga (1961)

"La Playa Swings / Jumps The Charanga" is a studio album by the renowned Latin American ensemble La Playa Sextet, released in 1961 on the iconic Mardi Gras Records label.

This release came at the height of the "charanga boom" that swept New York City dance halls in the early 1960s and became a shining example of how Puerto Rican and Cuban rhythms were adapted for the American urban scene.

While the classic charanga lineup necessarily required the dominance of flute and violins, La Playa Sextet approached the genre with their own signature, unique style. The group's signature feature was the use of electric guitar (played by leader Papo Felix) as a lead instrument, a complete innovation for Latin American music at the time.

On this album, they masterfully crossed traditional Cuban vibes, the crazy energy of pachanga, and light American jazz swing.