merengue (dominican republic)

this whole exercise in documenting songlines magazine 50 rhythms of the world
is not only an education in music but also in geography
if pressed i would be fumbling to explain where the dominican republic is situated
wiki to the rescue - it borders haiti on a common island in the caribbean
previously a spanish colony this latin-american country of 10 million people now enjoys independence
baseball is the most popular sport - music is the most popular pastime
the national dance music of the dominican republic, merengue moves to a driving 2/4 rhythm
originally acoustic and rural and involving guitars, accordians and percussion
and marimbula (box thumb piano), bubbling tambora drum and sharply slashed metal guiro (scraper)
it was adapted for 50's society bands by the dictator-president trujillo
and subsequently influenced by rock and salsa by johnny ventura and wilfrido vargas
there are a number of fine examples of merengue on youtube
most of them demonstrating the fast and very percussive beat
similarly most of them displaying scantily clad women movin' and groovin'
i came across this one example featuring an artist recommended by songlines named kinito mendez
the mandatory it seems sexy lady makes an appearance
but so too does a young boy doing a verse of a very recognisable tune
and it's always good to see a live performance of a newly discovered rhythm
(26 of 50)