Markolino Dimond - Brujería (Remastered 2026) (2026) [Hi-Res]

Brujería is the debut — and most celebrated — solo album by pianist, arranger, and composer Mark "Markolino" Dimond (1950–1986), a cult classic among salsa and Latin jazz collectors that seamlessly fuses Afro-Cuban rhythms with progressive jazz sensibilities. Raised on New York City's Lower East Side, Dimond began his professional career as a teenager alongside the legendary duo of Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe, contributing the composition "Te Están Buscando" to their 1969 LP Guisando: Doing a Job.
In 1971, Dimond formed Conjunto Sabor and recorded Brujería for the Vaya label, a Fania subsidiary. Produced by salsa heavyweights Harvey Averne, Larry Harlow, and Johnny Pacheco, the album features vocalist Angel Canales in his recording debut, alongside bassist Andy Gonzalez and Eddie "Gua Gua" Rivera. Every one of the eight tracks was written and arranged by Dimond himself — a remarkable feat for a debut release.
The album's title translates as "witchcraft," a fitting description for its hypnotic power. Dimond's piano drives the entire ensemble with explosive virtuosity, and his solos on "El Barrio" and "Aguardiente" have long been considered benchmarks of the salsa piano tradition. Critics have compared his combination of boldness and warmth to the playing of Eddie Palmieri.
Long out of print for more than half a century, Brujería returns to vinyl as a Record Store Day 2026 exclusive from Craft Recordings. The reissue is limited to 1,500 copies, pressed on 180-gram vinyl with fully analog (AAA) mastering, available at participating independent stores from April 18, 2026. Tragically, Dimond's brilliant career was cut short by addiction; he died in 1986 at just 36, leaving behind only two albums under his own name. Brujería stands today as a cornerstone of salsa dura and one of the most sought-after Latin recordings of its era.

Tracklist:
1-1 Markolino Dimond - Brujería (Remastered 2026) [4:52]
1-2 Markolino Dimond - Mi Irmita (Remastered 2026) [5:25]
1-3 Markolino Dimond - Aguardiente (Remastered 2026) [5:41]
1-4 Markolino Dimond - Tiene Sabor (Remastered 2026) [5:24]
1-5 Markolino Dimond - Mariquita (Remastered 2026) [7:20]
1-6 Markolino Dimond - Yo No Tengo Pena (Remastered 2026) [6:12]
1-7 Markolino Dimond - El Barrio (Remastered 2026) [5:44]