Groove o' the day: Chico Hamilton — Conquistadores

Here's a little 60's funky LA cha cha (or guajira? Or something— it's not a standard style) from the relatively unsung drummer/bandleader Chico Hamilton. This is Conquistadores, from his 1965 album El Chico:

The right hand plays a guiro part on the cymbal. I've notated it as a rhythm, but as you can hear, it's basically a buzz. Hamilton holds the groove throughout, freeing him up to shout at the band, and generally create a vibe.

Audio after the break:


Evidently they split this track up and put it on both sides of a 45 single:



The B side: