Panama’s Musica Típica is a universe of music unto itself. Toronto’s Dr. Sean Bellaviti (see his PHD thesis here) has a forthcoming book on the subject, which I can’t wait to read.
Here are three songs I find especially beautiful. The first is “Que Me Lleve El Diablo” by Fray Rivera con Sinda Diaz, Conjunto Estivana. The only other Fray Rivera song I have found was on sello Tipico, and his is not a name you hear often in Típica discussions.
The song deals with a man telling a young woman that he doesn’t care, let the devil take him, but for now she needs to leave her folks and come with him. In that way it reminds me of Jimmy Hughes’ “Steal Away.”
Next is the great Idamerica Ruiz con Osvaldo Ayala y Su Conjunto – “La Guayabita”:
Finally, here is Ceferino Nieto y Su Conjunto Bella Luna – “Tocando y Cantando”, on a 45 Cefe privately pressed that talks about (and really captures the feeling of) Las Navidades, the time at the end of the year when families all over the world come together and rest, and celebrate:
Disfruten!