The Venezuelan Zinga Son Vol. 1 2LP

The Venezuelan Zinga Son, Vol. 1 happened because David Byrne found one of this band's CDs just sitting there, left behind in a New York record store, and signed them to Luaka Bop on the spot in 1996. Masters at Work's "Little" Louie Vega produced the thing after the band moved to New York off the strength of Arepa 3000, then somehow landed a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. It's disco, acid jazz, and funk run through Venezuelan rhythm, closer to a block party than a listening room.