Roberto Roena / Airto Moreira - Que Se Sepa / Peasant Dance

Year Released: 2023 (The track “Que Se Sepa” by Roberto Roena appears on his album Apollo Sound 5, originally released in 1973)
Genre: Latin Funk / Salsa Funk

Description:

Que Se Sepa / Peasant Dance appears as a single release pairing two groove‑driven tracks that sit at the crossroads of Latin salsa and funk instrumentation. On the A‑side is “Que Se Sepa” by Roberto Roena and his Apollo Sound orchestra — a vibrant and muscular track that fuses Afro‑Caribbean percussion, bold brass, and a backbeat rooted in funk. The piece brings together trombone‐led arrangements, timbales, and a vocal chorus chanting the title phrase over a tight rhythm section, making it a favourite for dancers and DJs alike.

The B‑side “Peasant Dance” (sometimes listed as a Brazilian funk‑influenced cut) veers slightly into funk/synth territory: shuffle‑style drums, synth or electric keyboard textures, and a more open groove allow the rhythm to breathe and invite improvisation. Together, the two sides showcase Roena’s ability to bridge his salsa orchestra roots with funk‑inflected, dance‑friendly arrangements.

Musically, this single exemplifies how Latin music in the early 1970s began incorporating funk elements — syncopated rhythms, strong bass lines, and brass accents that lean toward rock and R&B sensibilities while staying firmly grounded in tropical grooves. For collectors and DJs, the record offers both a vocal‐driven salsa funk cut (A‑side) and a more instrumental, groove‑centric funk tune (B‑side) which can serve as a tool for mixing, dancing, or digging.

While not as universally known as some mainstream salsa hits, this release has become sought‐after among enthusiasts of Latin funk, rare grooves, and crossover dance‑music blends. It reflects an era when bold musical experimentation in Latin America and the Caribbean was intersecting with emerging DJ and club‐oriented sensibilities.