Dominican Merengue

Stripped or ripped parrot, perico ripiao, the favourite dish of country parties in the Dominican Republic, has given its name to the bands that created a frenetic dance music to accompany the plate. With direct, spirited vocals, dramatic flourishes on the tambora drums and the marimba thumb piano and, above all, spectacular melodies played on button accordion, the perico ripiao bands play essential merengue that is still the backbone of the commercial dance style now famous all over the world.