Eddie Palmieri – The Sun Of Latin Music

Eddie Palmieri's The Sun Of Latin Music (1974) is a landmark album that pushed the boundaries of salsa and Afro-Caribbean jazz. With this record, Palmieri won the first-ever Grammy for Best Latin Recording, cementing his reputation as a bold innovator. The album features dense polyrhythms, blazing horn arrangements, and exploratory piano work that blurs the line between traditional Latin dance music and avant-garde jazz. It’s celebratory and deeply complex—an album as much for the head as for the hips.

Anchored by tracks like “Un Día Bonito” and “Nada de Ti,” the record showcases Palmieri's willingness to experiment with song structure and harmonic language while staying grounded in the groove. His band, including the powerhouse vocals of Lalo Rodríguez (just 16 at the time), delivers performances that are fiery and technically dazzling. The Sun Of Latin Music isn’t just a classic of salsa—it’s a daring artistic statement that redefined the possibilities of the genre.

Reviews

"Palmieri's blend of salsa with jazz textures and classical overtones made The Sun Of Latin Music feel almost symphonic in its scope." – DownBeat

“This is salsa at its most sophisticated—Palmieri was painting with a full palette, and the result is dazzling.” – All About Jazz

“Lalo Rodríguez’s vocal debut here is nothing short of astonishing, made all the more impressive by the rhythmic complexity of the music surrounding him.” – Pitchfork

“The Sun Of Latin Music stands as a vital turning point in the development of Latin jazz and salsa, and still sounds ahead of its time.” – The Guardian

“Eddie Palmieri didn’t just play the piano—he played the whole band, and this record is the proof.” – NPR Music