Canadian label We Are Busy Bodies may have become one of the key curators of classic South African jazz in the past few years, but it has not been restricted just to that fertile field. These two albums by Venezuelan pianist Virgilio Armas, recorded in the 1970s, are hidden gems from the island that is often overlooked in many historical appraisals of Caribbean music. The Grupo he led is an acoustic sextet which gives a starring role to flautist Domingo Moret on songs that use flickering Latin rhythms that at times are bossa-like in character and have seductively, willowy, if not quite haunting, themes. The trio gives more space to the rhythm section in which double bassist Rodolfo Buenano and drummer Guillermo Tariba form an appealingly cohesive unit. Armas is an accomplished leader-soloist and both bands are effectively steered by his drive as well as lyricism, which shines through on original material as well as standards such as Ellington’s ‘C Jam Blues.’ Interesting releases that shine a light on the hidden talent of an island that usually makes Western news for the wrong reasons.