THE ORISHAS IN MUSIC (by artist)


LEGEND

+ Recording featuring primarily traditional Orisha songs performed in a traditional manner.
@ Recording featuring primarily nontraditional interpretations of traditional Orisha songs
§ AfroCuban, Latin, Brazilian or African music with significant Orisha-religion content
ø Secular Latin/AfroCuban/Brazilian/African recording featuring small number of Orisha-related songs. Includes salsa, latin jazz, samba, etc.
Æ Non-Orisha tradition recording featuring a small number of Orisha-related songs
_ Recording featuring traditional songs outside but related to Orisha religion
# Multi-artist compilation
* Inferior packaging with minimal recording information or credits. In many cases suggests also inferior recording quality
© Cassette only
O/P Recording known to be out of print.

Unless noted all information is for Compact Discs.
This is not an offer to sell, buy, trade, or record copies.


GENERAL LISTINGS

+ Francisco Aguabella y su Grupo Oriza Bembe Y Afrocuban Music OLM Records nd. Traditional chants; unlike many of the recordings featured here this CD includes mostly guiro style chanting rather than bata.
+ Francisco Aguabella y sus Tambores Bata Oriki Ara Oko OLM Records nd. Traditional chants.
Francisco Aguabella y sus Tambores Bata Santeria Oro Cantado con Tambores Bata/Religion Africubana, vols 1 and 2 GD Records, nd. Traditional chants.
ø Airto The Other Side Of This, Rykodisc 1992. Solo album from master Brazilian percussionist includes two Afro-Cuban Orisha songs.
ø Albita Dicen que..., Crescent/Epic Moon 1996. Wonderful set of old-fashionedy songs from Cuban exile; many casual references to Orishas.
ø Xiomara Alfaro Siboney: Lo Mejor de Xiomara Alfaro Vol. 1, BMG Tropical 1993. Featuring "Ochún" from 1957.
ø Xiomara Alfaro Lamento Borincano: Lo Mejor de Xiomara Alfaro Vol. 2, BMG Tropical 1993. Featuring "Drume Negrita" from 1958.
+ John Amira The Music of Santería: The Oru del Igbodu, White Cliffs Media 1994. 32 instrumental cuts of batá drumming to many, many Orishas.

§ Ase Drumming Circle Souls A'Gathered Tu Spearitz Records (NYC) 1994. All women's percussion and singing group. Includes title cut dedicated to Egungun, "Oshun's House," "Shangoya!," "The Circle," etc.
+ Emilio Barreto Santisimo: Divine Expression Through Sacred Worship Luz Productions 1996. Beautifully arranged chants with bata.
ø Ray Barretto Indestructible Fania 1973. Includes "El Hijo de Obatalá."
+* Candita Batista y sus Tambores Bata Ritmo de Santo Maype, undated. 1950s(?) era songs, including 6 chants.
ø Mario Bauzá and his Afrocuban Jazz Orchestra My Time Is Now Messidor 1993. With Rudy Calzado and Milton Cardona. Featuring "Ifá."
§ Paulo Bellinati and Monica Salmaso Afro-Sambas GSP Recordings, 1998. Lovely gentle recording of Baden Powell and Vinicius de Moraes' devotional songs to the orishas with just voice and guitar.
§ Steve Berrios and Son Bacheche First World Milestone 1995. Latin jazz with significant Orisha themes interwoven throughout
§ Steve Berrios and Son Bacheche And Then Some Milestone 1996. Latin jazz with significant Orisha & Palo themes interwoven throughout
ø Maria Bethania A Arte de Maria Bethania Polygram 1988. Includes "Iansã," "Oração de Mãe Menininha," "Filhos de Gandhi."
ø Maria Bethania Canto do Pajé/Song of the Shaman Polygram 1990. Featuring "Awó/Inhansã."
ø Andy Bey Shades Of Bey, Evidence 1998. Includes a beautifully sung "Drume Negrita".
@ Chief Bey and Ile Omo Olofi Hamiet Bluiett Explorations 11/Children of the House of God Mapleshade 1997. Absolutely stunning arrangements of orisha songs and percussion weaving in and out of African-American Christian spirituals.
ø Angela Bofill Angel of the Night Arista 1979 (o/p). Featuring "The Voyage" praising Yemayá.
_ Boukman Eksperyans Vodou Adjae Mango 1991. Haitian Vodou pop.
_ Boukman Eksperyans Kalfou Danjere/Dangerous Crossroads Mango 1992. Vodou-inspired Haitian pop.
ø Leci Brandão Comprometida Copacabana (Brazil) 199?. Includes "Saudação a Xangó."
§ Jane Bunnett Spirits of Havana Messidor 1993. Canadian jazz artist goes to Cuba, with Grupo Yoruba Andabo and Merceditas Valdes. Includes beautiful songs to Ochún and Yemayá.
+ Milton Cardona Bembé American Clave 1987/1994. 12 cuts led by legendary NYC akpwon and percussionist. An essential recording!
§* Celina y Reutilio y su Conjunto Típico A Santa Barbara Suaritos nd. 1950s (?) classic.
ø Celina y Reutilio Rezos y Cantos Guajiros Ansonia Records nd. 1957 recording featuring "Assoyi Assoyi, "Agallu Sola.".
§* Celina y Reutilio Santa Barbara Antilla nd. 10-cut 1950s (?) classic. "Caridad del Cobre," "Qué Viva Changó," "Flores para tu Altar," "El Hijo de Eleggua," etc.
@ Steve Coleman and the Mystic Rhythm Society; with AfroCuba de Matanzas The Sign And The Seal RCA/BMG 1996. Jazz saxophonist explores traditional Santeria and Abakua chants.
ø Conjunto Cespedes Una Sola Casa Xenophile 1993. Featuring "Po Iban Eshu," "Virgen de la Caridad."
§ Conjunto Cespedes Vivito y Coleando Xenophile 1995. Produced by John Santos. Featuring "Que Viva Changó," "Alafia," "Dibuljonji," etc.
§ Conjunto Cespedes Flores Xenophile 1998. Produced by John Santos. Featuring beautiful "A-ide-u" "Flores para tu altar"
§ Celia Cruz Homenaje a los Santos TH Rodven 1988. 18 cut compilation of traditional chants and Orisha-devoted pop songs.
§ Celia Cruz Homenaje a los Santos Polydor Tropical 1994. 12 cut compilation of traditional chants and Orisha-devoted pop songs.
§ Celia Cruz La Incomparable Celia Palladium 1989. Featuring "Chango Ta'Veni.".
ø Descarga Boricua ¡Esta, Sí Va! Tierrazo Records (Puerto Rico) 1993. Featuring terrific blend of chant and salsa on "Canto A Eleggúa."
Æ George Duke Reach For It Epic/Sony 1977, 1991. Featuring instrumental cut "Omi (Fresh Water)."
Æ 808 State Pacific 1990 Tommy Boy. Groundbreaking dance music; one remix on CD single incorporates song to Shango.
ø Fourth World featuring Airto Moreira and Flora Purim Fourth World B&W Music 1993. Features beautiful song "Starfish"
+* Fuerza Santera Carlos Cruz/Santero SLP-17. 12 song CD made from a warped LP. Yecch.
ø Gilberto Gil/Jorge Ben Gil e Jorge Polygram 1975 Includes "Filhos de Gandhi" dedicated to a Candomble Ilé.
ø Celina González ¡Que Viva Chango! Qbadisc 1993. More recent Cuban songs including remake of her famous title cut.
ø Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band Obatalá Enja 1989. Live jazz concert featuring title cut sung by Milton Cardona.
ø Jerry Gonzalez Ya Yo Me Cure Sunnyside 1995. Cooking jazz featuring Milton Cardona.
+ Grupo Afrocuba de Matanzas Rituales Afrocubanos Egrem (Cuba) 1993. Lucumí, Arará, Bantu songs.
+* Grupo Folklorico de Cuba Toques y Cantos de Santos, Vol. 1 Cubilandia (nd).
+* Grupo Folklorico de Cuba Toques y Cantos de Santos, Vol. 2 Cubilandia (nd). 14 cuts featuring "Canto para Elegua," "Rezo para Oddua," "Macuta Canto de Palo," etc.
+ Grupo Folklorico Nacional de Cuba Musica Yoruba Bembe Records, 1996. Featuring Lazaro Ros, Zenaida Armenteros, others. Bata songs to 8 orishas.
ø Grupo Folklorico y Experimental Nuevayorquino Concepts in Unity Salsoul Salsa 1994. 1975 recording including "Canto Asoyin," "Canto Hebioso," "Iyá Modupue."
+ Grupo Ilu Anya Ilu Ana Fundamento Productions 1995. Featuring Amelia Pedroso and others on chants, oru seco and rumba.
+ Grupo Oba-Ilu Musica Afrocubana: Santeria Soul Jazz Records 1998. Beautifully recorded in Cuba; with bata.
Æ Herbie Hancock Dis Is Da Drum Polygram 1994. African influenced jazz-funk, featuring "Mojuba," "Juju." Francis Awe on Yoruba vocals.
Æ Conrad Herwig The Latin Side Of John Coltrane 1996 Astor Place. John Coltrane's work recast in a latin-jazz mode complete with occasional lucumi chanting.
ø La India LLegó La India via Eddie Palmieri, Soho Sounds/Sony 1992. Includes "Yemayá y Ochún" starting off traditionally with Milton Cardona and ending as Salsa with Eddie Palmieri.
+ Iluyenkori Cuban Drums Playa Sound (France) 1990/1992. 14 instrumental and vocal cuts, including songs to Eleggúa, Chango.
+ Iluyenkori Cuba-Tambors Bata <<Homage a Yemayá et a Ochún>> Playa Sound (France) 1994 (also US version 1995?). 10 vocal cuts, traditional batá drumming with harmonized female voices.
ø Irakere Misa Negra Messidor 1987/1991. Big band Latin jazz interpretation of a Lucumí ceremony; featuring Jesús Chucho Valdés.
ø Antonio Carlos Jobim Echoes of Rio RCA/BMG 1989. Compilation of 1970s material not released previously released in US. "Samba Do Avião" begins with invocation to Xangó. O/P?
ø Joyce Feminina/Agua e Luz EMI Brazil 1993. Featuring "Aldeia de Ogum" from 1980.
Æ Juju Message From Mozambique Strata-East 1973/Blackfire Records1994. Seventies Afro-centric jazz includes Orisha chants.
ø Miguel Kertsman.Camerata Cantione Antiqua/Angaatanamu Amazonica Sony Classical 1997. Beautifully recorded overview of Brazilian classical and indigenous musics including a song to Xango.
ø Angelique Kidjo Ayé Mango/Island 1994. Afropop from Beninois singer. Featuring "Yemandja," "Tambo."
ø La Lupe La Lupe Es la Reina/The Queen Tico 19769. Featuring "Guaguanco Bembe."
ø La Lupe That Genius Called the Queen Tico 1970. Featuring "Moforibale," "Por Caridad."
ø La Lupe La Lupe en Madrid Vol. 17 Tico 1971. Featuring a cover of Celina & Reutilio's classic "A La Caridad del Cobre."
§ The Machete Ensemble Africa, Volume 1 Earthbeat 1990. Featuring John Santos. Includes "Oba Lube," "Asesú."
ø Bobby Matos and the Heritage Ensemble Heritage Nightlife Records 1993. Includes "Guiro Elegguá," "Bembé/The Promised Land," and a version of Pharoah Sanders' "The Creator Has a Masterplan" with Lucumí lyrics.
ø Bobby Matos Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble Chango's Dance CuBop Recordings/Ubiquity 1995. Including "Elegguá Suite," "Chango's Dance," "Bata Interlude."
ø Bobby Matos Afro-Cuban Jazz Ensemble Footprints CuBop Recordings/Ubiquity 1996. Including "Oferere"
Æ Malcolm McLaren Duck Rock Island 1982. Eclectic celebration of early '80s NYC urban culture via Trevor Horn, Art of Noise, Keith Haring, early hiphop rappers, and batá drums. Includes: "Obatala," "Legba," "Song for Changó."
ø Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 Foursider A&M 1972/1988. Hits compilation features Dorival Caymmi's song to Iemanjá "Promise of a Fisherman."
@ Sergio Mendes & Brasil 77 Primal Roots A&M 1972--no CD. Back to basics with songs to Pomba Gira, Iemanja and others from various Brazilian folk traditions.
@ Silvestre Méndez el Rey del Canto Afrocubano y su Orquesta Oriza: Afro-Cuban Rhythms Seeco/Peerless (Mexico) 1991. Bigband Latin music (of unknown vintage) including "Cabiosile, "Ye Ma Ya," "Laye Laye," "A Bailar Oriza," etc.
ø Helcio Milito Kilombo Antilles/New Directions 1987. Eclectic Afro-Brazilian recording featuring "Lamento Negro (Xango)," "Kilombo," "Mãe Preta."
ø Los Muñequitos de Matanzas Rumba Cliente 88/77 Qbadisc 1992. Featuring "Mi Arere," "Abacua #5."
ø Los Muñequitos de Matanzas Cantar Maravilloso Globestyle/Ace Records (UK) 1990. Featuring "Lo Que Dice El Abakua," "Iyá Mi Ile," "Aragua," "Mi Arere."
+ Los Muñequitos de Matanzas Ito Iban Echu: Sacred Yoruba Music Of Cuba Qbadisc 1996. Chants and Oro Seco, mostly with bata
_ Milton Nascimento Missa dos Quilombos Polygram (Brazil/US) 1982. Pop inflected Afrocentric mass to Mary, Mother of God (sometimes referred to in the songs as "Iyá") featuring occasional praise and reference to Obatalá, Olorum, Xangó.
ø Ocho The Best Of Ocho Universal Sounds 1996. Compilation of 1970s Afro-Latin jazz from legendary NYC group.
§ Olatunji Drums of Passion Columbia 1959. Hugely influential music from Nigerian master drummer reissued on CD, featuring "Shango," "Oya," "Odunde! Odunde!," more.
Æ Oneness Of Juju African Rhythms Blackfire Records 1975/1994. Seventies Afro-centric jazz includes Orisha chants.
Æ Oneness Of Juju Space Jungle Luv Blackfire Records 1976/1994. Seventies Afro-centric jazz includes Orisha chants.
ø Orquesta Batachanga featuring John Santos, Rebecca Mauleón and Orestes Vilató Mañana para los Niños Earthbeat/Bembé! Records 1989/1995. Featuring "Bárbara Milagrosa," "Yambatá."
ø Eddie Palmieri, Leyendas/Legends: Lucumí, Macumba, Voodoo Sony Tropical 1975/1995. Salsa-funk on "Lucumí, Macumba, Voodoo," "Mi Congo Te LLama," etc.
Æ Ivo Perelman Children of Ibeji Enja 1992. Avant garde/free jazz from Brazilian saxophonist featuring instrumental cuts "Chant for Oshum," "Chant for Ibeji," "Chant for Oshalá," etc.
ø Danilo Perez The Journey Novus/RCA 1994. Latin jazz features Milton Cardona singing beautifully to Obatalá on "Chains."
ø Daniel Poncé Changó Te LLama Mango/Island 1991. Featuring Milton Cardona. Includes title cut and "Oferere."
§ Baden Powell Afro Sambas JSL/Media 7 (France) 1990. Brazilian master guitarist sings mostly to the Orixas: "Canto de Xango," "Canto de Iemanja," "Lamento de Exu," etc.
§ Tito Puente Top Percussion BMG Tropical 1992. Classic 1957 performance features Mongo Santamaria, Francisco Aguabella, Merceditas (Valdés?) on "Eleguara," "Obatala Yeza," "Obaricoso," more.
ø Tito Puente y La Lupe The King and I/El Rey y Yo Tico Records 1971. Featuring "Rezo a Yemayá."
ø Puerto Rican All Stars Tribute to the Messiah Combo Records (Puerto Rico) 1993. Featuring "Pa' La Ocha."
ø Flora Purim Speed of Light B&W Music 1995. Includes "Goddess of Thunder," "A Secret from the Sea."
Æ Dianne Reeves Never Too Far EMI 1989. Features "Fumilayo."
Æ Dianne Reeves Quiet After the Storm Blue Note 1995. Features "Yemanja/Sargaço Mar."
ø Elio Reve y su Charangón Papa Elegua Egrem (Cuba) 1993. Yes, the title cut begins with "Ave Maria."
+* Ritmo de Santo de la Tierra de Africa en Arará Rezo de Santo Maype n.d. Gilberto Valdes, director. "San Juan Bautista, Orgun en Africano," "Ochose, El Cazador," "Santa Teresa, Oya la Dueña del Cementerio," etc.
§ River Ocean featuring India The Tribal EP Strictly Rhythm 1994. 8 versions of "Love and Happiness (Yemayá y Ochún)", disco single also features Tito Puente and Milton Cardona.
ø Alfredo Rodriguez Cuba Linda Root Jazz/Hannibal 1996. Pianist on some beautiful old Afro-Cuban songs.
@ Lázaro Ros and Mezcla Cantos Intuition 1992. Chants sung by legendary Akpwon set to Cuban synth pop arrangements recoded in Havana.
+ Lázaro Ros Asoyi: Cantos Arará PM Records (Spain) 1994. A capella chants, chants with clapping, plus "Afrekete," "Jerbioso," "Awueyi," "Asoyi," etc. Recorded in Cuba.
+ Lázaro Ros & Grupo Olorun Olorun 1 Egrem (Cuba) 1992. Recorded in 1990: "Elegba," "Oggun," "Yewa," "Olokun," "Orishaoko," etc.
+ Lázaro Ros and Olorun Songs For Eleguá Ashé Records 1996. An entire album of songs to the orisha of the crossroads.
+ Lázaro Ros Asoyi: Cantos Arará PM Records (Spain) 1994. A capella chants, chants with clapping, plus "Afrekete," "Jerbioso," "Awueyi," "Asoyi," etc. Recorded in Cuba.
Æ Michele Rosewoman Harvest Enja 1993. Jazz pianist and group on "The Egun and the Harvest," and others, including Eddie Bobé's Yoruba vocals on "Warriors (Guerreros)."
Æ Michele Rosewoman Spirit Blue Note 1996. Jazz pianist and group on "For Agayu".
ø Gonzalo Rubalcaba Antiguo Blue Note 1998. Electric jazz features Lazaro Ros & others on "Ellioko" and more.
ø Bobby Sanabria & Ascensión ¡N.Y.C. Aché! Flying Fish 1993. Latin jazz set opens with traditionally sung "Elegba: Guardian of the Crossroads," plus "Bembé Para Los Ancestros" featuring Tito Puente.
Æ Pharoah Sanders, Journey to the One Theresa Records 1980. Features jazz instrumental "Yemenja."
§ Mongo Santamaria Our Man in Havana Fantasy 1993. Double album CD reissue also includes 1960 album Bembé in its entirety. Featuring Willie Bobo, Merceditas Valdes, Macucho, Carlos Embale etc. on "Tele Mina for Changó," "Yemayá Olodo," "Ochún Mene," "Olla de for Olla," etc.
§ Mongo Santamaria AfroRoots (reissue of Mongo and Yambu) Fantasy 1989. Exploration of African based rhythms from the late 1950s: includes beautiful "Ye ye" sung by Mercedes Hernandez. Also featuring Francisco Aguabella and Willie Bobo.
ø Santana Borboletta Columbia 1971. Includes instrumental version of Caymmi's song to Iemanjá "Promise of a Fisherman."
ø Santana Shangó CBS 1982. Featuring "Oxun (Oshún)," and the instrumental title cut.
ø Santana Zebop! Columbia 1981. Featuring "Hannibal," praising Changó.
§ John Santos and the Machete Ensemble Machete Xenophile 1995. Featuring Linda Tillery, Rebeca Mauleón, Orestes Vilató, Cachao, etc. on "Elegua Ago," "Modupue," "Iyá," and the beautiful arrangement of Aberigutu awa leriso "Health Is Our Only Wealth."
@ Síntesis Ancestros Qbadisc 1992. Traditional chants arranged to a variety of Cuban pop styles, recorded in Cuba in 1987. Featuring Lázaro Ros on one cut. "Asoyin," "Eyeleo," "Oyá," "Titi-Laye," etc.
@ Síntesis Ancestros 2 Qbadisc 1994. 11 more Orisha songs set to a variety of modern pop styles: "Assokere," "Aguanileo," "Iyaoromi," "Ochimini," etc.
@ Síntesis Orishas Milan Latino/BMG 1997. A third album of 11 more Orisha songs arranged in mostly rock-ish ways. Some moments but the formula is getting a little weak.
Æ Snowboy And The Latin Section Something's Coming Acid Jazz 1993. British acid jazz pioneer percussionist with very straighforward "Salute to Elegua" and "Chant to Aggayu."
@ + Michael Spiro and Mark Lamson Bata Ketu: A Musical Interplay Of Cuba And Brazil Bembe Records 1996. Featuring traditional Afro-Cuban chants against Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Gladys Bobi Cespedes is among the singers.
@ (Ildásio Tavares) Os Orixás Sigla/Cast (Brazil) 1994. With vocalist Eloah. 12 songs to the Orishas sung in Yoruba and Portuguese arranged to a jazz samba beat. "Exú," "Omolú," "Yansan," "Xangó," etc.
+ Dudu Tucci Orishás WeltWunder-Records (Germany) 1994. Hypnotic instrumental and vocal tracks from Brazilian percussionist living in Europe.
+ Twins Seven Seven Nigerian Beat King Record Co. (Japan) 1991. Amazing drumming from Nigerian musicians on 16-minute "Shango," 14-minute "Osun".
ø Jesus Chucho Valdés Lucumi Messidor 1988/1991. Solo piano from former Irakere member. Includes "Oshun."

Merceditas Valdés Aché Egrem-Artex (Cuba) n.d. (1990?). Classic singing recorded in Cuba. "Elegua," "Lacho," "Chango," "Drume Negrita," "Ochun," more.
Merceditas Valdés y los Tambores Batá de Jesús Pérez Cuba ASPIC (France) early 1990s? Features much of Aché album plus "Osain," "Yemayá," more.
+ Merceditas Valdés Tumi Cuba Classics Volume 2: Afro-Cuban Tumi (UK), 1995. Beautiful Santeria chants.
+ Merceditas Valdés and Grupo Yoruba Andabo Aché IV Egrem, Cuba, 1995. Beautiful Santeria chants plus a spiritist song.
ø Dave Valentin Legends Arista/GRP 1978. Version of jazz classic "Afro Blue" features Milton Cardona on batá and Lucumí vocals.
ø Dave Valentin Musical Portraits GRP 1992. "King of the White Cloth" features Milton Cardona singing beautifully to Obatalá.
ø Carlos Varela Monedas al Aire Qbadisc 1993. Dissident Cuban singer is not exactly pro-Orisha religion, but mentions it a bit in his songs about decay, despair and hope in modern Cuba.
ø Papo Vasquez Breakout Timeless Records 1992. "Chango y Yemaya" features Milton Cardona on vocals.
_ Vodu 155 Vodu 155 Island 1995. Haitian Vodou pop with Bill Laswell etc. "Vodu Funkadelic," "Zaka" etc.
Æ Caron Wheeler Beach of the War Goddess EMI Records, 1992. Afro-Centric British funk singer's 2nd solo album. Title cut includes beautiful Yoruba invocation to Eshu sung by Fabemi Fashina.
Æ Paul Winter Common Ground A&M 1978. Features "The Promise of a Fisherman (Iemanja)"
 

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