If the words Latino rock and soul immediately having you digging through your ’70s Santana record collection then you’re in the right territory with Eddie Benitez & Nebula. These are two albums from that golden period (1976 and ’79 respectively), where searing guitars, smooth sleazy Hammond and Latino percussion melded into an incredibly distinctive rock, funk and soul sound. Yet Benitez’ compositions aren’ such a relentless guitar onslaught as the better appreciated work of Carlos Santana. Benitez is not afraid of a good lick and loves to move towards the searing high pitched solo, but he doesn’ necessarily spend too long there, making way for the keys, which actually at times do tend to tangent off in incredible funky directions for long periods. Predominantly instrumental with a few vocal tracks, the music is vibrant, upbeat conga-driven charges and smooth funky ballads. At the time of these releases, Benitez and his band Nebula were travelling in the same Latin rock circles as Santana and Journey, though ultimately illness (a cancerous tumour after signing to Island Records) and bad luck have prevented from Benitez from receiving the recognition that his tasteful licks and smooth grooves deserve.
Bob Baker Fish
