June 2008

Papa Mambo
Crooked Cha
Uncontrollable

By Forrest Dylan Bryant

Hailing from Winnipeg, Canada, Papa Mambo is an intrepid ensemble that mixes up Latin styles old and new. On their second CD, percussionist/bandleader Rodrigo Muñoz keeps the band grounded and grooving as they meander from traditional South American rhythms to son, salsa and even reggaeton. This quirky group flourishes in the giddy title track, the oblique melody and complex handclap beat of “Tornado,” and the kitchen-sink mashup “New Dirt,” but the straightforward and danceable “Convidame” also stands out.