Me Voy A Puerto Rico

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Tickets are in hand, and the bags are packed. I’m off with my girl friend and parents to spend Christmas and New Years in Puerto Rico. With this trip in mind naturally my ears have been tuning to the sounds of musica puertorriquena more and more, specifically christmas music from the pearl island. For most of my life I’ve hated Christmas music. But that was when I thought all Christmas music was either Christmas carols or sappy nostalgia records. I was overjoyed when I finally found Christmas music that was rich with all the ingredients for the pelanga we love to cook up. There is a wealth of Christmas cumbia, merengue and guaracha that goes perfectly with dancing, drinking and lechon. Here are some of my favorite jíbara records that I’ve I packed for the trip.

Fiesta Campesina—El Gran Trio

Fiesta Campesina

Cadenas NavideñasEl Chuito de Bayamon, an absolute legend of the jíbaro tradition and someone who we’ll feature more of soon.

Caneas Navidades

Consejo de NavidadDavilita

Despierta Ciriaco—Machuchal

Gozando la Navidad—Jose Santiago Vega con el Conjunto Los Sureños de Lajas y Coro

Gozando la Navidad

As a little present you can download all these songs plus few more here. ¡Feliz Navidad!
-pozole