Jose "Chepito" Areas, released in 1974 on Legacy Recordings, stands as a distinctive entry in the Latin jazz and Latin rock canon. Areas, known primarily as the percussionist for Santana, steps forward here with a solo project that blends Afro-Caribbean rhythms and rock sensibilities with an unmistakable Chicano edge. The record unfolds across nine tracks, including “Cerro Negro,” a piece that exemplifies Areas’ deft hand at melding syncopated percussion with swirling melodic lines.The album’s palette ranges from the funk-inflected “Funky Folsom” to the more contemplative “Remember Me,” all underscored by Areas’ mastery of congas and timbales. Recorded at a moment when Latin rock was crystallizing its identity, this artifact offers a snapshot of the era’s cross-cultural ferment, pulling from Nicaragua and broader Latin American influences. Though lightly circulated—its listenership remains modest—this record’s resonance within the Latin jazz lineage is assured, a worthy find for those tracing the genre’s textured history.

Jose "Chepito" Areas, released in 1974 on Legacy Recordings, stands as a distinctive entry in the Latin jazz and Latin rock canon. Areas, known primarily as the percussionist for Santana, steps forward here with a solo project that blends Afro-Caribbean rhythms and rock sensibilities with an unmistakable Chicano edge. The record unfolds across nine tracks, including “Cerro Negro,” a piece that exemplifies Areas’ deft hand at melding syncopated percussion with swirling melodic lines.The album’s palette ranges from the funk-inflected “Funky Folsom” to the more contemplative “Remember Me,” all underscored by Areas’ mastery of congas and timbales. Recorded at a moment when Latin rock was crystallizing its identity, this artifact offers a snapshot of the era’s cross-cultural ferment, pulling from Nicaragua and broader Latin American influences. Though lightly circulated—its listenership remains modest—this record’s resonance within the Latin jazz lineage is assured, a worthy find for those tracing the genre’s textured history.