Mad About has done another serious music archaeological find – and thus underpinned the fact that words – the name of the label – are followed by deeds. The PR text, which must be quoted at this point to at least create some clarity and prevent Buena Vista Social Club comparisons, reveals: Leo Acosta was born in 1925 in Mexico, was a drummer, composer, arranger and usually extremely pissed off during studio sessions when his comrades-in-arms made a mistake. In this his last album, which he recorded in 1970 with a small cast, it was different, Leo Acosta had been mild and reclined. Without knowing the gentleman or his complete works more closely, one thinks to be able to hear that. It doesn’t get much catchier than in the opener »Rencorosa«, but that’s what makes the album special, since Acosta was noticeably no longer in the mood to fulfill the hit specifications of record companies. Jazz meets funk, jamming dreamlike secure vocals, Hammond organ guitar and trumpet. Not only because of the recording quality – better listen with stereo, the musical set pieces are strictly separated in stereo sound on headphones – you feel transported to decades far back. This becomes especially clear in the album’s centerpiece, »Carga Pesada«. Acosta is presumably in a nightclub, cheerful laughter resounds again and again, and tries to pick up a lady from Chicago, who only smokes menthol cigarettes, with all kinds of capers and advances, quite the unpretentious charmer. Content not necessarily aged well, but it’s an interesting document anyway.

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Leo Acosta
Acosta Black Vinyl Edition

from 25.99€