Of all the -many and excellent- Cuban descargas that ever have been, this one we proudly present you has been the most influentual, hot and important of them all -and allegedly the first one. Which is the logical accomplishment of an outstanding musician and conductor. Israel Cachao Lopez has been compared with Duke Ellington by sociologist Raúl Fernández, who explains that this double bass player transformed Cuban music in the same way that the Duke did, making Jazz evolve from a dance form into a more abstract style for the listener. Fernandez argues that Cachao had the same influence in Cuban music. For the first time, Cuban popular music was presented as a music that could be actually listened to, rather than just danced to. This miniature Descargas, recorded in 1957 live at the studio for the Panart label -after the success of the live sessions of the same name at the Tropicana club-, were named that way because of the maximum time (from two to three minutes) that the musicians had to record each piece, and they really were equally influenced by Son and Rumba rather than only by Jazz. These fabulous live acts brought fame to many of the musicians involved in them, such as Tata Güines, a master percussionist, whose influentical conga style was required in New York. So was Cachao, who flies to New York to be part of the Tito Rodríguez orchestra from 1964 to 1966. Admiring personalities include Andy García, who has been fighting to get Cachao nominated for the Grammys and claims this album to be the best bogaloo recording ever made. The Cuban Regime would end with these Jazz sessions in the 60’s. But we still have here the wonderful, unique Cuban jazz flavor, trapped and recorded at its peak in Cachao’s Descargas, presented here in TWO DIFFERENT LP’s (number 1 being the original album and number 2 songs from the same 57-61 era) and a digipack CD (which combines both LPs). 3 different ways to feel the heat of the best Cuban music.