Pambiche


Pambiche is a Dominican music genre and dance form derived from merengue típico, the traditional style of merengue. It has a slower tempo than standard merengue and its tambora rhythm is based on the cinquillo.
This style of merengue was originally known as merengue estilo yanqui or "Palm Beach one step", from which the term pambiche stems. It is said to have originated from the americanized versions of merengue that the US military personnel performed during the occupation of the Dominican Republic. It is considered one of the most difficult americanized Latin American dances.

Recordings

Dominican accordionist El Prodigio released an album entitled Pambiche Meets Jazz in which he combined traditional merengue rhythms with American music styles such as jazz, rock and blues.
Both pambiche and merengue are included in Jean Françaix's suite "Cinq Danses Exotiques".