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| The Arabs gave the world the concept of zero. America’s own School House Rock taught us that “three is a magic number.” And Chinese numerologists revealed which numbers carried good luck and bad. All these developments set the stage for the release of eight songs recorded by eight Puerto Rican-born African-American musicians who took their name from the Spanish word for the number eight, Ocho. One of the defining bands of the ‘black and proud’ NuYorican scene of the early 1970s, Ocho masterfully fused elements of Latin, funk and jazz. From 1973-75, they recorded four LPs (all reissued by Soul Jazz Records) that are on par with almost anything released by Ray Barretto, Joe Bataan, and Eddie Palmieri. The cream of the crop is Ocho 1, a glorious record loaded with exactly the kind of sounds I have in mind when I tell people that I’m into Latin music. The absolute best track on the album is “Undress My Mind,” which I first heard on Rhino Records’ excellent Afro-Latin groove collection, Sabroso! This was the song that got me deep into Ocho. “Undress My Mind” could have easily shot up the charts to number one, if only the great Latin artists of the ‘70s had enjoyed the same media hype of today’s dubious talents (think Ricky Martin). The song starts off with a cool chorus of voices singing over a soft yet propulsive rhythm. Midway through the timbales and electric bass kick in, launching into a funky groove that climaxes with the heated vibes solo of band-leader Chico Medoza. Perfectly blending schmaltz, soul, and hard driving salsa, “Undress My Mind” reflects the changing face of Latin music in New York during the early '70s. Throughout the album, super heated drum and percussion rhythms cook behind James Brown-tight horn arrangements, giving rise to one spicy jazz funk workout after another. Saxophonists Billy Phipps, Charlie Marshall and Herbie Morgan are unstoppable, breaking frequently into impassioned solos and exchanges, giving the band the upper hand in the swing department. For the few short years that they remained together, Ocho was one of the toughest acts to beat on the Afro-Latin music scene. Their small but essential catalogue of recordings remains highly influential and enjoyable. --John Ballon (email)
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