The sound of Latin-American music – here is the best of the hugely popular Edmundo Ros Band from its vintage years.

For many, Trinidad-born Edmundo Ros (1910-2011), who died last October at the age of 100, simply is Latin-American music. Coming to London in 1937 as a drummer (he even recorded with Fats Waller), he formed his Rumba Band in 1941. It was a huge and long-lasting success and he went on to purvey Latin-American music to two generations of listeners as the king of samba and rumba.

“Cuban Love Song” (the band’s signature tune) offers a Retrospective of the very best of the various Edmundo Ros bands for their first 17 years. It spearheads an irresistible sequence of 28 Latin-American numbers – sambas, rumbas, boleros, calypsos and so on – starting with five of his early Parlophone recordings from 1941/2 (including Los Hijos de Buda, the big UK wartime hit of summer 1941).

14 tracks feature Edmundo Ros’ own distinctive vocal tones (No Can Do, A Rainy Night In Rio, The Coffee Song, I Talk To The Trees etc.). These of course include The Wedding Samba, Ros’ biggest success; a top international hit, it sold three million copies. In addition there are 11 catchy instrumental tracks (Tico-Tico, I Got The Sun In The Morning, Mambo Jambo . . .), concluding with a spectacular trio from the early stereo classic Rhythms Of the South. Take your partners!