Cuchi-frito
The Night Latin Cool Was Born “from the book Mambo City by Bobby Marin”
I received a call one day from a gentleman named David who was interested in starting a record label. Intrigued, we agreed to meet for drinks at a club in Manhattan to talk it through. What began as a casual conversation quickly turned into something much bigger. By the end of the night, we had made a decision—we would move forward, form a new label called Latin Cool, and begin the search for great music.
The club, owned by the legendary empresario Ralph Mercado, was alive with energy that evening. On stage was maestro Larry Harlow and his Latin Jazz Encounter, delivering a performance that perfectly captured the spirit of the scene. Over dinner, we soaked it all in, mapping out our plans as the music carried the night forward.
During a break, I turned to David and asked if he’d like to meet Harlow backstage. He didn’t hesitate. When we got there, Harlow mentioned he had recently recorded a live session at Birdland on Broadway. That immediately caught my attention.
I asked him who was going to release the masters—and what he wanted for them.
Without missing a beat, he looked at us and said, “You guys.”
Just like that.
He handed me a copy of the recording along with his asking price. The next day, I gave it a careful listen. It didn’t take long to realize what we had—an expertly produced session featuring some of the finest musicians around. I turned to David and said, “Pay the man.”
We drew up a contract, and just like that, Latin Cool had its very first release.
Recently, I revisited that recording and pulled out one of its standout tracks, “Fried Neckbones,” originally composed by Willie Bobo. I made a few changes, gave it a new twist, and retitled it “Cuchi-frito.” It’s a fresh take on a classic, and I’m proud to share it again.
The session itself featured an incredible lineup: Larry Harlow on piano, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax and flute, Bobby Sanabria on drums, Mac Gollehon on trumpet, Eddie “Gua Gua” Rivera on bass, and Chembo Corniel on congas—a true gathering of masters.
Looking back, it’s amazing how quickly it all came together. One phone call, one meeting, one unforgettable night of music—and just like that, a record label was born.
