Ray Perez Y Sus Kenyas – Ra!..ray!..

Ray Perez Y Sus Kenyas – RA!..RAY!.. is the kind of record that spent decades buried in obscurity before the right people finally paid attention, and this Vampi Soul reissue makes a compelling case for why it deserved better all along. Venezuelan pianist Ray Perez sits at the centre of this LP, and his approach balances heavy salsa dura energy with a quirky, restless eclecticism that sets the record apart from more straightforward genre entries of its era.

The Music on Ray Perez Y Sus Kenyas – RA!..RAY!..

The nine tracks here cover a lot of ground without losing focus. Cuts like Tengo Control and San Juan Guaricongo anchor the record in hard-driving salsa territory, while titles such as Como Bagk and Chocolate hint at the stranger, more adventurous corners of Perez’s musical instincts. Mi Sonsito and Uvas Verdes round out a tracklist that rewards full-album listening rather than cherry-picking. This is a record built with intention, and the sequencing reflects that.

Pressing and Label Details

This reissue comes from Vampi Soul, the Barcelona-based label with a long track record of careful, properly licensed Latin reissues aimed squarely at serious collectors and dancers alike. Catalog number VAMPI 277, released January 18, 2023. The audio has been remastered from the original tapes, meaning this is not a needle-drop or a compromised digital bounce. Crucially, the original Pyraphon artwork has been preserved intact, so what you are holding is as close to the spirit of the original release as a reissue can responsibly get. Full licensing means the artists and rights holders are compensated, which matters.

Why This Copy Belongs in Your Collection

Venezuelan salsa of this character does not get rescued often. When it does, it tends to happen once, in a single pressing run, and then disappears again into the secondary market at multiples of its original price. Vampi Soul’s commitment to sourcing original tapes rather than working from degraded copies means the audio fidelity here is genuinely good, not just acceptable. For collectors focused on global salsa dura, Latin piano-driven records, or simply well-produced reissues with honest archival intent, this LP checks every box. The combination of sonically restored audio, original artwork, and proper licensing makes VAMPI 277 the definitive way to own this music on vinyl.

Tracklist

1. TENGO CONTROL
2. UVAS VERDES
3. SAN JUAN GUARICONGO
4. PILAR
5. LINDA CANCION
6. COMO ME VOY A REIR
7. MI SONSITO
8. COMO BAGK
9. CHOCOLATE