Recorded several years before he moved to New York,
Tocoloro consists of 19 songs, all but one recorded at either of two sessions from 1946 and 1948. The jubilant conjunto includes fabulous playing by trumpeter
Rafael Corbacho, pianist Luis Lili Martinez, conga player Felix Alonso, and lead vocalist
René Scull. Its leader, on tres guitar, contributes much to the collection's highlight, "Dame un Cachito Pa'Huele."
Tocoloro also includes several classic
Rodriguez compositions, among them "Juventad Amaliana," "La Vida Es un Sueño," and "A Belen Le Toca Ahora." Though the sound quality is definitely of mid-'40s vintage, the quality of playing is unparalleled in Cuban music of the time.