Salsa (and related) Recordings 2003/2004

[HothouseSalsero]

I'd like this to be a thread for talking about salsa and related music recordings that came out in 2003 or that have come out this year (or will come out later this year).

I'm not going to attempt to write actual reviews, but here are my responss to some of the recordings I heard last year:

Eddie Palmieri: Ritmo Caliente. By far, my favorite track was the remake of his old song "Lo Que Triago es Sabroso." Other than that, I like the first songs, "La Voz del Caribe" (though it sounds a little too familiar--too much the standard Palmieri sound of the last few years), and a cha cha cha (or something like that) somewhere near the middle. Otherwise, it's not something I have any real desire to listen to, but I'm not a big fan of most Latin jazz. This CD made a lot of Latin music "best of the year" lists, but I don't see it. (On the other hand, maybe it didn't have that much competition.)

Los Soneros del Barrio: Siguiendo la Tradicion. Honestly, I was disappointed with this as well. The first two sons do a lot for me, but after that it's kind of blah. It's not bad, but it doesn't excite me. I can't point to anything specific that I don't like about Frankie Vasquez's singing style, but I can't get into it.

Yerba Buena: President Alien. Not really salsa. A mixture of Afro-Cuban and other Latin American rhythms with hip-hop and other stuff. Once again, I was disappointed. Some of the rapping seems a little strained for me. It has some good moments, but not my sort of thing. (I'm actually pretty down on rap, in general, but on the other hand, I think I was enough of a fan at one point to make some sort of judgment.)

Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban: Mambo Sinuendo. Not exactly salsa either. I listened to this a few times, but I'm afraid I found it pretty boring.

Elio Villafranca: Incantations/Encantaciones. Latin jazz. Predictably, I was not that taken with it. I have seen Elio Villafranca play live about three times, since he lives in the area, and he's an amazing musician. But he's very enthusiastic about jazz.

My favorite Latin CD of 2003 was a collection of previously released material: Lost Classic of Salsa Vol.1. This pulls together things that were originally released in small quantities on small labels (back in the 70's I think). There's not a single track on this that I feel the desire to skip over. Some of it may be a little rough around the edges, but I like it. (It's definitely a bit lo-fi at times, since I don't think they were able to find the master recordings for any of this.)

[HothouseSalsero]

One that I haven't heard yet in its entirety is El Gran Combo's Salsa Classics Revisited. These are Gran Combo songs remixed by djs (with Alfredo de La Fe adding some violin at times). I'm pretty sure I heard at least one song from this in a club last time I went out and it sounded good. As long as the remix doesn't subvert the rhythm to the point where you can't dance salsa to it, I am willing to keep an open mind.

[pygmalion]

Thanks for starting this topic, HotHouseSalsero. Since I'm lookinh to learn, I'll keep an eye on this one. 8) :D

[peachexploration]

.....Eddie Palmieri: Ritmo Caliente. By far, my favorite track was the remake of his old song "Lo Que Triago es Sabroso." Other than that, I like the first songs, "La Voz del Caribe" (though it sounds a little too familiar--too much the standard Palmieri sound of the last few years), and a cha cha cha (or something like that) somewhere near the middle. Otherwise, it's not something I have any real desire to listen to, but I'm not a big fan of most Latin jazz. This CD made a lot of Latin music "best of the year" lists, but I don't see it. (On the other hand, maybe it didn't have that much competition.)Yeah, I have this CD. I generally listen to it when I'm in my intellectual mode. (Whatever that means) 8) My favorite is "La Voz del Caribe" which I love as well. But the rest is more latin jazz concept music. He also mixes latin rhythms with classical music, "Gigue (Bach Goes Bata)" which is pretty cool.

.....Yerba Buena: President Alien. Not really salsa. A mixture of Afro-Cuban and other Latin American rhythms with hip-hop and other stuff. Once again, I was disappointed. Some of the rapping seems a little strained for me. It has some good moments, but not my sort of thing. (I'm actually pretty down on rap, in general, but on the other hand, I think I was enough of a fan at one point to make some sort of judgment.) I haven't purchased this one because I only like one song, "Guajira (I love You Too Much)". (This is also a free download at amazon.com) I must say that while watching Yerba Buena perform this song was amazing. There's is alot great energy is this group. I really like them but the CD only has one song that appeals to me. :?

[danceguy]

My favorite Latin CD of 2003 was a collection of previously released material: Lost Classic of Salsa Vol.1.

This is a great CD...I just bought it a few weeks ago and have really enjoyed it. The first tune on the CD always makes me get up and start dancing, although I've yet to hear it when I'm out in the clubs. :(

SG

[HothouseSalsero]

There's a new Sonora Poncena CD. I heard one cut from it last night, and liked what I heard.

Victor Manuelle's new CD is out. Again, heard a cut from it last night. It was okay. I think he needs some sort of change of pace. It seems like almost everyone has been saying that he is stuck in a rut for the last four or five albums.

There's also a new Joe Arroyo, which hopefully will mostly be salsa.

[Vin]

I think the Cha Cha on Ritmo Caliente that you are talking about is Lazaro y el Microfono, by far my favorite track on this cd. I do also like lo que traigo es sabroso but I actually like the title track better.

[aragonh]

Hi to all,

I just happened to come about this site and i think its cool.

Anyways, the album Im thinking of is:
Susie Hansen - The Salsa Never Ends

It came out in Aug 2002 but I first heard it in Feb 2003. While most of the songs will fall under latin jazz, the one song that makes this album a hit is the salsa song:

La salsa nunca se acaba.

That is just an awesome song to dance to.

Aragon H

[pygmalion]

Hi Aragon. Welcome. 8) :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome to the Forums aragonh! :D

[MacMoto]

Aragon H, welcome!
Susie Hansen - The Salsa Never Ends

It came out in Aug 2002 but I first heard it in Feb 2003. While most of the songs will fall under latin jazz, the one song that makes this album a hit is the salsa song:

La salsa nunca se acaba.

That is just an awesome song to dance to.

Aragon H
I wonder if this is the song that goes "Suena la clave, suena el bongo..." (or something like that -- I don't speak Spanish) in the intro? I've been meaning to track down the artist of this song. If it is the song, I'd like to add my vote and say it's brilliant. If not... can anyone help?

[MacMoto]

I've only started collecting salsa music recently, but can I mention:

Salsa Celtica: El Agua De La Vida
I wouldn't say all the tracks in it are great, but there are some truly good ones. Maestro and Ave Maria De Escocia Medley (minus first 2 minutes) get played a lot here in Scotland (home of Salsa Celtica of course) and are both great floor fillers. I also love the whisky-fuelled (:wink:) title track.

Orquesta La Palabra: Breakthrough
I haven't got the CD yet (Amazon UK hasn't got it -- I think I will have to buy it from the US) but I like the tracks I've heard. My favourites are Mi Nueva York and Y Yo Va Pa' Shenzhen.

I'm a big Africando fan and love their album Mandali, but I've heard that their new album Martina is even better. True?

[cupojoe2]

Eddie Palmieri: Ritmo Caliente. By far, my favorite track was the remake of his old song "Lo Que Triago es Sabroso." Other than that, I like the first songs, "La Voz del Caribe" (though it sounds a little too familiar--too much the standard Palmieri sound of the last few years), and a cha cha cha (or something like that) somewhere near the middle. Otherwise, it's not something I have any real desire to listen to, but I'm not a big fan of most Latin jazz.

This is one of the reasons I moved to a mp3 player and downloading just the one or two songs I enjoy. I just grew tired of paying $10-$15 (US) for a CD with 1 or 2 good songs on it.

[aragonh]

Aragon H, welcome!
I wonder if this is the song that goes "Suena la clave, suena el bongo..." (or something like that -- I don't speak Spanish) in the intro? I've been meaning to track down the artist of this song. If it is the song, I'd like to add my vote and say it's brilliant. If not... can anyone help?

Yes it is.
:)

[HothouseSalsero]

I haven't heard Martina, but I don't understand Afrincado's appeal. Aside from the remix of "Yay Boy" I haven't heard anything by them that I like.

[MacMoto]

I don't understand Afrincado's appeal. Aside from the remix of "Yay Boy" I haven't heard anything by them that I like.

I suppose, as you can probably tell from other recordings on my list, I like songs that sound a bit different from "plain vanilla salsa" :roll: when it comes to buying music rather than just dancing to it (I dance to anything :oops:). I liked African music before I took up salsa (ever since I heard Youssou Ndour's voice in Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes, er, -- oh dear, that's 17 years ago!), so Africando to me represent a happy marriage of two music styles I like. The same goes to Salsa Celtica.

[Vin]

One from 2002 that I just got, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra,
Un gran dia en el Barrio. Excellent CD, My personal favorite is La Musica es Mi Vida, but every song is great, a couple of Cha-Cha's as well to mix it up.

[Sagitta]

I don't understand Afrincado's appeal. Aside from the remix of "Yay Boy" I haven't heard anything by them that I like.

I suppose, as you can probably tell from other recordings on my list, I like songs that sound a bit different from "plain vanilla salsa" :roll: when it comes to buying music rather than just dancing to it (I dance to anything :oops:). I liked African music before I took up salsa (ever since I heard Youssou Ndour's voice in Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes, er, -- oh dear, that's 17 years ago!), so Africando to me represent a happy marriage of two music styles I like. The same goes to Salsa Celtica.

Revisting the music threads this weekend...and I too like Africando for teh reasons you mention MacMoto. The reason that I was drawn to salsa was due to the African rhythms. I didn't really dance when young but I grew up in Africa and I could hear the african influence that came from the background muisc of my youth, unlike swing music.

[SDsalsaguy]

They (Africando) played at this weekend's LA salsa congress. I'll be interested to see what the DF members in attendance have to say about them listening/dancing to them live.

[Pacion]

They (Africando) :wink: played in London on Wednesday gone, on their way to LA. I really enjoyed them but there were issues with the venue and I think they started their set late, as they didn't play an encore or Aiysha :shock: :lol:

Oh, and one of the singers (very tall) had an amazingly deep speaking voice :kitty: I don't even remember him singing :oops: :lol:

It was an interesting experience because when I was dancing by myself, I found that I was really listening to the song and somehow, even though it was a song I had never heard, I was still hitting certain accents :banana: so it would be fair to say that I enjoyed myself :lol:

[HothouseSalsero]

So far this year, I've been buying a fair amount of current salsa. Here are my impressions, starting with my two favorites.

Sonora Poncena: Back to the Road. This is easily my pick for the best 2004 salsa CD I've heard. It's nicely varied. They cover some newish Cuban songs, play a couple instrumentals, do a danza (or what I'm told is actually a pseudo-danza), and get into some deep grooves combined with their usual intricate arrangements and extensive soloing. I'm not religious (as some of you may remember--heh heh), but my favorite track here happens to be a Christian praise song. I think I like the mixture of textures: it starts with a brief choral introduction, goes into a standard salsa sound, and ends with recitation over percussion only. In between there are some really great musical ideas. It's a funny album in a way. It's not especially contemporary sounding (although, at the very least, by covering songs by recent Cuban songwriters, they are certainly acknowledging the present), and yet they don't sound like they are trying to recreate a sound from the past. I think they are just off on their own being Sonora Poncena, creating a distinctive mix of Ponce localism and a cosmopolitanism that isn't totally dominated by commercial concerns.

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Across 110th Street. This is my second favorite salsa release so far this year. I have to say that I did not like their first album. I could never really pin down what was missing, but it just didn't do it for me. This is something else again. Maybe they are a little less busy this time trying too hard to be an example of "real salsa." (Sorry, I think that can be self-defeating.) Of course, it doesn't hurt that Ruben Blades appears on the CD, and yet the tracks without him sound as strong to me as the tracks where he appears. The vocals are especially strong this time around (except maybe the coros on some tracks--especially the first).

Next in line would probably be Grupo Niche's Imaginacion. There aren't any tracks that I feel compelled to skip over here (and while Grupo Niche have done some of my favorite tracks in the last 15 years of salsa, they've also recorded a lot of songs that I'd rather never hear again). There is here nothing as inventive as "Cielo de Tambores" or "Han Cogida la Cosa," but there are some good songs. I especially like "Culebra" (which is already a hit, I believe), which combines stacatto vocal parts with smooth, jazzy (but not necessarily "smooth jazzy") instrumentation. The addition of a cumbia adds some variety, along with "California" (which they are calling a guajira but sounds more cha cha cha to me--but keeping those two sorted out is a continuing puzzle). Okay, it may not be a great CD, but it's pretty solid.

Victor Manuelle: Travesia. This was a disappointment. Like most salsa fans, I agree that he has a great voice and can put it to good use when he gets the chance. I do not like the production on most of this. I like the two relatively old school songs near the middle, but I haven't even been going back to put them on much.

Gilberto Santa Rosa: Autentico. (Is this the year of the one-word salsa CD title?) Again, I think Gilberto Santa Rosa is a great singer, and he's done some of my favorite songs, but a lot of what he puts out is just filler to me. I'm afraid that I mostly just like the last three, old school, songs here (especially the first of the three with the lengthy percussion solo). I just got this very recently, so I'm still making up my mind about the songs that come earlier on.

Son de Cali: Creciendo. One of many Grupo Niche spin-offs. This was a disappointment. "Ta Loca" can get my blood flowing, and I bet it will sound great when I finally hear it in a club setting, but there's not much else here that does anything for me.

Melcochita: Lita Branda and Melcochita Present the First Family of Salsa. This has a fair amount of good material, though I would cut some of the songs out, if I were in charge. My favorite cut is "Mi Barrio." Maybe Melcochita's sound is a little too specialized for me to want to hear a whole CD worth.

El Gran Combo: Salsa Classica Revisited. Remixes. I'm not a purist about this sort of thing. I like some of the remixes that Baron Lopez, for instance, has done in the past; and I like some more pop-oriented salsa things where the singer is secondary to the remix (e.g. "Que Te Vas" by George Lamond). However, for the most part, I didn't find that these remixes added much. As the descarga.com catalogue puts it: "It's not a disaster." Not strong praise.

Don Perignon Presenta a la Orquesta Puertoriquena. I keep forgetting that this is not a live recording. This contains features a bunch of guest artists, including Andy Montanez and Victor Manuelle. (My favorite track features Pupi Cantor.) The grooves are good. I find it a little self-indulgent at times. The recording seems to be overwhelmed by its function as a 20th aniversary celebration, and the songs don't always stand up so well on their own.

Haven't heard the new: Fruko y Sus Tesos, Marc Anthony, Jose Alberto, Victor Hugo (who was or is with Grupo Niche). A lot of the big Cuban timba names also released material this year, but I've heard very mixed reviews of all those releases from fans of the genre. Tirso Duarte seems to be getting the most consistent praise though, if you are looking for some current Cuban material.


*

(Wow, I actually remembered my password. I'm not really back yet, just stopping in.)

[youngsta]

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Across 110th Street. This is my second favorite salsa release so far this year. I have to say that I did not like their first album. I could never really pin down what was missing, but it just didn't do it for me. This is something else again. Maybe they are a little less busy this time trying too hard to be an example of "real salsa." (Sorry, I think that can be self-defeating.) Of course, it doesn't hurt that Ruben Blades appears on the CD, and yet the tracks without him sound as strong to me as the tracks where he appears. The vocals are especially strong this time around (except maybe the coros on some tracks--especially the first).

I love this album! It's been in heavy rotation in my car for a few weeks now. Their rendition of Cuando te Vea is just amazing, I actually like it just a smidge more than Tito Puentes version...just a smidge!

[HothouseSalsero]

Youngsta, I like the fact that a small label salsa release like Across 110th is actually selling better than the new Victor Manuelle (at least going by Billboard's Tropical Album chart). They do have good distribution. I saw copies in Tower Records here in Philadelphia (but I don't know if that's partly because it's a Pennsylvania label and Aaron Luis Levinson is a well-connected Philadelphia producer/DJ).

Some of my favorite salsa/salsa-related purchases from this year, but necesarilly recent releases:

Sabor con Angel Canales
Sonora Poncena: Grandes Exitos
Eddie Palmieri: Eddie Palmieri
Various: Salsa con Sabor [Discos Fuentes]
Conjunto Guaguanco Matancero: Guaganco--Con Papin y Sus Rumveros: Guaguanco
Joe Cuba Sextette: Diggin’ the Most (Some of this is too dated, especially for me, especially the English language stuff, but most of the Cheo Feliciano tracks are really great, and he does a wonderful version of "Oye Como Va.")
Hector Lavoe: The Fania “Legends of Salsa,” Vol. 2
Willie Rosario: Atazame el Fogon [new reissue]

[youngsta]

Youngsta, I like the fact that a small label salsa release like Across 110th is actually selling better than the new Victor Manuelle (at least going by Billboard's Tropical Album chart). They do have good distribution. I saw copies in Tower Records here in Philadelphia (but I don't know if that's partly because it's a Pennsylvania label and Aaron Luis Levinson is a well-connected Philadelphia producer/DJ). [new reissue]
I hear ya. I found it at Borders here in Colorado Springs so they're doing an awesome distribution job.

[cocodrilo]

One from 2002 that I just got, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra,
Un gran dia en el Barrio. Excellent CD, My personal favorite is La Musica es Mi Vida, but every song is great, a couple of Cha-Cha's as well to mix it up.
Right-o, Vin! "Un Gran Dia" is SUPERB! The '03 Sonora Carruseles' "Las Salsa la Tragio yo!" is good, too! My absolute favorite new one is by my absolute favorite group, Manolito y su Trabuco, "Locos po mi Habana" It's simply hot, full of lotsa "feel good" tunes! :D

[borikensalsero]

Sonora Poncena: Back to the Road. This is easily my pick for the best 2004 salsa CD I've heard. It's nicely varied. They cover some newish Cuban songs, play a couple instrumentals, do a danza (or what I'm told is actually a pseudo-danza), and get into some deep grooves combined with their usual intricate arrangements and extensive soloing. I'm not religious (as some of you may remember--heh heh), but my favorite track here happens to be a Christian praise song. I think I like the mixture of textures: it starts with a brief choral introduction, goes into a standard salsa sound, and ends with recitation over percussion only. In between there are some really great musical ideas. It's a funny album in a way. It's not especially contemporary sounding (although, at the very least, by covering songs by recent Cuban songwriters, they are certainly acknowledging the present), and yet they don't sound like they are trying to recreate a sound from the past. I think they are just off on their own being Sonora Poncena, creating a distinctive mix of Ponce localism and a cosmopolitanism that isn't totally dominated by commercial concerns.

I had this album on my hands the other day, but decided against it as I had not heard anything about it yet. So i decided to go with Brithday party which is awasome... thank you for the review I might just really have to check it out. La Sonora is my fav band!


The Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Across 110th Street. This is my second favorite salsa release so far this year. I have to say that I did not like their first album.

There was no flavor in the first album, it was just a band showing that they can play. But the second one, when I first heard it, the first words out of my mouth were, I can finally say that SHO has flavor!

[HothouseSalsero]

I had this album on my hands the other day, but decided against it as I had not heard anything about it yet. So i decided to go with Brithday party which is awasome... thank you for the review I might just really have to check it out. La Sonora is my fav band!

One reason you might not have heard much from it is that it's on an independent label (presumably their own, since it's "Pianisimo 001"). I think I have underestimated this band, because I bought one of their CDs a while back that I didn't like. But I'm beginning to really appreciate their shiny, clean, precise horn arrangements, for one thing. But the whole Poncena package is great. I am often blown away by the percussion. They seem totally grounded in the folkloric, very much at home with the intricacies of the most African rhythmic elements of the music, but still able to absorb advanced jazz harmonic ideas. (I'm over my head trying to talk about this, since I don't know music theory.)

They don't really have a stand-out vocalist, to my ears anyway, but I like the way they take turns singing lines of their songs, which gives it a collective spirit. (I think El Gran Combo opperates this way a lot of the time too.) My only real complaint with the album is that the cover of "Mack the Knife" drags on for too long, though even that has its moments.

I recommended one of my favorite dance teachers in the area (who I haven't even taken classes with yet, except in a club setting) to teach a salsa workshop for a youth program here at the library. I caught the tail end of his lesson, and guess what album he was playing? Yes, Back to the Road.

[borikensalsero]

I had this album on my hands the other day, but decided against it as I had not heard anything about it yet. So i decided to go with Brithday party which is awasome... thank you for the review I might just really have to check it out. La Sonora is my fav band!

One reason you might not have heard much from it is that it's on an independent label (presumably their own, since it's "Pianisimo 001"). I think I have underestimated this band, because I bought one of their CDs a while back that I didn't like. But I'm beginning to really appreciate their shiny, clean, precise horn arrangements, for one thing. But the whole Poncena package is great. I am often blown away by the percussion. They seem totally grounded in the folkloric, very much at home with the intricacies of the most African rhythmic elements of the music, but still able to absorb advanced jazz harmonic ideas. (I'm over my head trying to talk about this, since I don't know music theory.)

They don't really have a stand-out vocalist, to my ears anyway, but I like the way they take turns singing lines of their songs, which gives it a collective spirit. (I think El Gran Combo opperates this way a lot of the time too.) My only real complaint with the album is that the cover of "Mack the Knife" drags on for too long, though even that has its moments.

I recommended one of my favorite dance teachers in the area (who I haven't even taken classes with yet, except in a club setting) to teach a salsa workshop for a youth program here at the library. I caught the tail end of his lesson, and guess what album he was playing? Yes, Back to the Road.

La Ponceña is considered one of the most innovative, bestest salsa bands ever, it doesn't fall short against any other band period.

The "leader" (Papo Lucca), well, really his father is the leader, Papo is the musical director, is Salsa's, heads above shoulders against all of his contemporary pianist, the most amazing virtuoso piano player to every play Salsa. People even argue that he is among the best of the best Piano Players in the world, even if far fetch. He is said to play lines no other Salsa piano player can play, or even dream of playing. He is so vast in knowledge that, as you have noticed, can go from Classical sound to Rican Folkloric.

More along the same line, his recordings and piano solos are said to only be able to be done by old (already passed away) cuban pianists if that, not even Charlie nor Eddie can touch this guy's mastery over the piano.

By delving into la ponceña you will noticed how fresh and hardcore this band really is, at times by-passing the ear of non-musicians.

I was reading faces of salsa the other night, and the author, (forget his name at the moment) mentioned how he witnessed a duel between La Sonora Ponceña and Tito Puentes band in mexico, and how Tito Puente eventually bowed to the impressive repertoire and extent of sound coming from Papo Luca's Sonora Ponceña. He goes on to say that that day, there was no doubt who the king of salsa sound was.

There is also a story that says that during the FANIA MSG performance in the 70s, (Papo replaced Larry Harlow as FANIA’s main pianist, I think in 72 or 73), there was a piano solo that night that to date has never been paralleled by anyone, nor even there been another pianist that can come close to playing it.

Papo Lucca is looked upon by all of his contemporaries as a source of creativeness, skill, flavor, and ultimate musician. The more songs you get to hear from this fierce "relatively" unknown band outside of the US, PR and hardcore salseros, the more you like them.

It is to note that he is so vast in musical knowledge that his sound within salsa goes from Brazilian feel to Classical, of which a deeper understanding more than that of typical salsa sound has be in effect to get a full feel of what this guy is doing to his songs. The more I learn about music and salsa the more I like them!

BTW... those trumpet lines are only found in la ponceña, I can tell that it is la sonora just by hearing the horns... simply unmistakable. I’ve set out to get all of their recordings, the place I go to has them all, and I shake every time I see them. Currently I have about 10 of their albums.

They have been hurt by not having that strong vocal lead for a while. I do love the voice of Yolandita when she sang with them! HOT HOT HOT!!!

It might be worth to mention that he is said to sound that much different from all the others because he has a percussion feel to his piano, he even says that to him it is like a conguero playing, he feels like he is striking the congas as opposed to the piano, so his technique is very percussive like.

[alvaro]

Hi!
i'm new here, so first congrats for a nice forum!.
I'll join the group of people on the 'across 110th street' bandwagon. Also, i hated gran combo's '... revisited'.
I'll try to get sonora ponceña's, they are great!

also,
MacMoto...
I wonder if this is the song that goes "Suena la clave, suena el bongo..." (or something like that -- I don't speak Spanish) in the intro? I've been meaning to track down the artist of this song. If it is the song, I'd like to add my vote and say it's brilliant. If not... can anyone help?

yes, it is.

[Sagitta]

Thanks and welcome to df. :)

[MacMoto]

Here are my impressions, starting with my two favorites.
...
Thanks for the reviews -- great help to the likes of me who are salsa dancers but don't know much about salsa music.

(Wow, I actually remembered my password. I'm not really back yet, just stopping in.)
I look forward to your (full) return -- nice to have you around again. :D

[HothouseSalsero]

(Wow, I actually remembered my password. I'm not really back yet, just stopping in.)
I look forward to your (full) return -- nice to have you around again. :D

Thanks. I guess I am halfway back. I just had to leave for a while because I haven't been dancing, and it's just frustrating to read this board when I'm not dancing. I've had a lot of other stuff to take care of, and it's still going to be difficult for me to dance very often in the coming year, but I think it will be a little easier than it has been. But I should really be thinking about leaving my job, my city, and possibly even my country.

*

I closely follow the new releases as listed on the Descarga web-site, and I see that Jimmy Bosch has a new CD. I have to admit, I really don't usually care for his soloing style. For that matter, I frankly don't have much interest in hearing trombone solos at all. I like trombone mixed in with a bunch of other horns, but I think it should stay out of the spotlight. But anyway, I could still end up getting this once I've heard some cuts from it. He's working with top-notch people, as usual.

There's a new Tito Nieves CD. I caught one song from that last night and it was okay. I think I need to take it easy on buying new salsa CDs. Out of the nine or ten I've bought this year, only three are really very satisfying, though most of the others have at least one stand-out song. (But that's not enough!)

[cocodrilo]

Just picked up 5 new CDs, including some new ones. I will comment. The Huey Dunbar solo CD "Music for my Peoples"(he's the singer of the now defunct DLG, btw) is good if you like Huey or DLG. Too much rap in it for me. One or two decent songs.
N'Klabe's new "Salsa Contra Viento y Marea". These boys are HOT! New, fresh, fun, easy to dance to. I just love it!
Also picked up the new Fruko y sus Tesos "Soy como Soy". It's in my CD autochanger in my car & I haven't gotten to hear it yet :oops: . I love all of the Fruko power salsa, so I'm sure this one will be more of the same!

[mhgroove]

The Spanish Harlem Orchestra: Across 110th Street. This is my second favorite salsa release so far this year. I have to say that I did not like their first album. I could never really pin down what was missing, but it just didn't do it for me. This is something else again. Maybe they are a little less busy this time trying too hard to be an example of "real salsa." (Sorry, I think that can be self-defeating.) Of course, it doesn't hurt that Ruben Blades appears on the CD, and yet the tracks without him sound as strong to me as the tracks where he appears. The vocals are especially strong this time around (except maybe the coros on some tracks--especially the first).

I love this album! It's been in heavy rotation in my car for a few weeks now. Their rendition of Cuando te Vea is just amazing, I actually like it just a smidge more than Tito Puentes version...just a smidge!


I just bought this CD a couple of days ago! An excellent recommendation HotHouse Salsero! Very nice! However, Youngsta..I do like their version of Cuando Te Vea..but not better than Tito's...No! No!! No!!! Ha! Ha!

[cocodrilo]

My CD shop didn't have the above Spanish Harlem Orchestra CD :cry: .
I'm going to have them order it for me...

[HothouseSalsero]

My CD shop didn't have the above Spanish Harlem Orchestra CD :cry: .
I'm going to have them order it for me...

Probably because it's on a small, independent, label. As I was saying above, I'm impressed with how well-distributed it is in the U.S., but maybe the international market is another matter.

[cocodrilo]

My CD shop didn't have the above Spanish Harlem Orchestra CD :cry: .
I'm going to have them order it for me...

Probably because it's on a small, independent, label. As I was saying above, I'm impressed with how well-distributed it is in the U.S., but maybe the international market is another matter.
You would be amazed at the huge selection of latin music we have here. There is one store I shop at that carries almost nothing but latin music, from bossa nova to Brazialian pop to salsa! (& even a hip selection of rai!) I purchased the last Spanish Harlem CD here(in Osaka) and they had most of the other new stuff I wanted in stock. I can have them order it at my store and probably get it within a week. Wish me luck! :wink:

[HothouseSalsero]

My CD shop didn't have the above Spanish Harlem Orchestra CD :cry: .
I'm going to have them order it for me...

Probably because it's on a small, independent, label. As I was saying above, I'm impressed with how well-distributed it is in the U.S., but maybe the international market is another matter.
You would be amazed at the huge selection of latin music we have here. There is one store I shop at that carries almost nothing but latin music, from bossa nova to Brazialian pop to salsa! (& even a hip selection of rai!) I purchased the last Spanish Harlem CD here(in Osaka) and they had most of the other new stuff I wanted in stock. I can have them order it at my store and probably get it within a week. Wish me luck! :wink:

Actually, I've seen people joke about Japan as the magical land where every album is always in print. Over and over again, albums by U.S. jazz artists, for instance, that have been unavailable here, will only be found in print in Japan. Or, as another example, there is a Velvet Underground album that I think has never been released in the U.S. (or hasn't been available for years), despite all the archival recordings that have been put out by that band; and yet, it's available from Japan. So I'm not sure I would be that surprised.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra has switched labels since that first release.

[HothouseSalsero]

Also, Osaka is a pretty happening place from what I know about it. There is an interesting music scene there, if you like avant-rock/experimental type things (which I do--sometimes).

[cocodrilo]

Also, Osaka is a pretty happening place from what I know about it. There is an interesting music scene there, if you like avant-rock/experimental type things (which I do--sometimes).
I go there to eat! :lol:

[HothouseSalsero]

So does anyone else agree that 2004 has shaped up to be the best year for salsa releases, or at least mainstream salsa releases, since maybe 1999? Which maybe not be saying much, since it was kind of dry there for a while, but still, I find it encouraging.

I haven't really been out in the clubs or salsa parties this year though. What does it sound and feel like out there? I would think that if anything it sounds better. (There are always enough good new individual tracks at least to keep things moving. If this has been a pretty good year for albums, then there should be even more good tracks.)

I like the two songs I've heard from Tito Nieves' new CD. I confess that I like the one with La India and a couple reggaeton people.

There is a new Jimmy Bosch album. I'm not sure I've heard anything from it yet, but there is a fairly convincing buzz around it. I heard something good tonight from Edwin Bonilla that I think was from his new album.

[youngsta]

The saddest part about Denver is the DJ's here don't have a clue! All this great music released in 2004 and ont one of them has played even a single track from any of these albums. I plan on changing that though 8)

I keep hearing great things about "El Avion De La Salsa" too (Jimmy Bosch), think I'm going to pick it up. I'm also picking up "Las Estrellas Del Pueblo" by Jazz Hamilton y Las Estrellas Del Pueblo. Keep hearing good stuff about it too.

[HothouseSalsero]

The saddest part about Denver is the DJ's here don't have a clue! All this great music released in 2004 and ont one of them has played even a single track from any of these albums. I plan on changing that though 8)

I keep hearing great things about "El Avion De La Salsa" too (Jimmy Bosch), think I'm going to pick it up. I'm also picking up "Las Estrellas Del Pueblo" by Jazz Hamilton y Las Estrellas Del Pueblo. Keep hearing good stuff about it too.

Is the Jimmy Bosch actually out in the stores yet? I thought I saw that it wasn't available to October, but maybe that changed. (Obviously, there are review copies floating around.)

I'm not familiar with this other CD you mention. Is it salsa or Latin jazz?

[youngsta]

Jimmy comes out this Tuesday if I'm not mistaken. The other album is salsa.

[HothouseSalsero]

I think I'm going to try not to buy another salsa CD until I've gone out (salsa) dancing at least four times. It may seem kind of weird to have to use rewards for going out, but I need to rediscove the fact that it is its own reward. Once I get out of a habit that has a social dimension, it's easy for me to retreat into hermit-dom.

(I do have other things I need to focus on more, but this is ridiculous--I probably haven't been out dancing since February.)

[Sagitta]

Once I get out of a habit that has a social dimension, it's easy for me to retreat into hermit-dom.

(I do have other things I need to focus on more, but this is ridiculous--I probably haven't been out dancing since February.)

:shock: I'm still reeling!!

[HothouseSalsero]

Oh, I'm sorry I said anything about it, really.

[Sagitta]

Oh, I'm sorry I said anything about it, really.

Don't be. I'm just glad that you are going to venture outside once more. I have quite a few people for whom dance is not really doing it for them anymore, in the various dances from salsa, to swing, ballroom and Argentine tango. Not sure what it is. PLus the last few dances have been sparsely attended, starting from the Tuesday latin night. I'm just wondering what is going on. :?

[HothouseSalsero]

It's not that dancing isn't doing it for me anymore, it's that life is doing it to me again. Anyway, I overreacted, but it's better for me not to talk about it. I'm basically very unhappy with my life, and the problems are in areas of life where dancing doesn't help.

[Sagitta]

It's not that dancing isn't doing it for me anymore, it's that life is doing it to me again. Anyway, I overreacted, but it's better for me not to talk about it. I'm basically very unhappy with my life, and the problems are in areas of life where dancing doesn't help.

Okay. I know, however, that talking with friends has helped me out, often, even when I never thought it would. Something to consider.

And back to the topic of salsa recordings...It is a given that the clubs won't play the good music, and new or different music. I'm not suprised that a lot of 2004 recordings are not played. That's what the house parties are for, for me. For isntance, take some old recordings like Juan Luis Guerra and Orquesta Guayacan. Not played, but almost every night I still hear Ya Boy by Africando. :-(

[Lucretia]

I fell in love with a song called Aicha. There is one recording made by a Danish group called Outlandish. But I believe the first recording was made by someone else. Does anyone know the name of the original group?

/Luc

[MacMoto]

I fell in love with a song called Aicha. There is one recording made by a Danish group called Outlandish. But I believe the first recording was made by someone else. Does anyone know the name of the original group?

The original song is by Khaled, an Algerian singer based (I believe) in Paris. You can hear audio clips of the song here:
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1187479

Africando made a salsa version of this song, which was a big hit.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000DD6Q/102-0640112-3140112?v=glance
This was the version of Aicha I heard first -- people who heard the original first say they killed it, but I love the Africando version.

Luc, do you know if there are any clips of the Danish version of the song?

[Lucretia]

Tanks McMoto!

Here you will find the Danish version. http://www.outlandmoro.dk/elmoro.htm

It's videoclips from a live consert. høj means broadband. lav means modem (RealPlayer)

/luc

[Lucretia]

MacMoto,

I love both recordings. I want to buy them both. But I believe the recording I heard was in Spanish. Could it be true?

/Lucretia

[cocodrilo]

What an eerie coincidence! I have Khaled's CD in my car now and it has the song "Aicha" on it. (French)

[MacMoto]

But I believe the recording I heard was in Spanish. Could it be true?
I've never come across a Spanish version of the song. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist though.

I have Khaled's CD in my car now and it has the song "Aicha" on it. (French)
I like Khaled's version too, although it's not very danceable (I suppose you can dance something to it -- any suggestion? -- but not salsa).

[Lucretia]

After a few more listenings .....yes it was Africandos recording. I will buy Baloba tomorrow. It seems to be a lot more of dancable salsa on that recording.

(Yes it is awailable in Sweden at Bengans in Gothenburg )

Thanks!

/luc

[MacMoto]

(Yes it is awailable in Sweden at Bengans in Gothenburg )
Then you are luckier than I am -- I've never seen Africando CDs in shops in Scotland. Most CD shops only have a few salsa complilations, so I rely on the Internet for music buying. I was surprised to see the Spanish Harlem Orquestra's "Across 110th Street" in a shop in Glasgow the other day :shock:.

[Lucretia]

But you can buy Salsa Celtica?
I cannot :cry: -

I hate to send my credit card number over internet so I never shop this way. I have tried to persuade Bengans recordshop to import it for me. But they tell me to go for internet shopping instead. :cry: Perhaps I one day send an order by fax to a recordshop at GB.

/Luc

[Lucretia]

MacMoto - do you have any good internet-recordshop-link to send me? The shop has to be placed in Europe (EU) to avoid tax/toll and other expences.

/Luc

[MacMoto]

But you can buy Salsa Celtica?
Well, CD shops in Scotland always have a "Scottish music" section, and that's where I usually find their CDs, not the "Latin music" section with other salsa recordings :lol:.

do you have any good internet-recordshop-link to send me? The shop has to be placed in Europe (EU) to avoid tax/toll and other expences.
I've only used Amazon so far -- both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com. I wasn't charged import duty/tax on the CDs I bought from Amazon.com because the amount was below the exemption limit. If you use Amazon's European sites (UK/Germany/France), there will be no duty/tax although the shipping charge will obviously be higher than for domestic deliveries.

[MacMoto]

Heard the latest Sonora Carruseles album (my DJ friend's new acquisition). I like it :).

[cocodrilo]

Guys- I order through Amazon as they have an amazing selection and order, at minimum, 6 CDs at a time and am not charged duties. They will have evrything you are looking for with many options of purchasing through other sellers at better prices(also offer used CDs). I don't get the CDs in one lump sum which is probably why I don't have to pay the tariffs. 8)

[Sagitta]

Try islamusical.com coco. And half.com They sometimes have things that amazon doesn't, or they have things cheaper.

[Lucretia]

I will check these websites as well. A first glance at Amazone made me realize how cheap CD's are in Sweden. Including freight it will be more expensive than going to Bengans in Gothenburg. But Amazone has a lot of records Bengans doesn't have.

There is another recording I'm looking for. It is Magdalehna made by Sergio Mendez. I cannot find anything that fits. The only Sergio Mendes/Mendez I find seems to play a completely different kind of music. This song is a african-back-to-the-roots song. Lots of drums and vocals and not the big band style Sergi Mendez seems to play.

Does anyone know about this song?

/Luc


ps.
Perhaps Africandos Aicha arrived just now ... I hear something on the groundfloor.....exciting.... a friend of mine promised to buy it for me today.

[Lucretia]

I think I have found it. It is spelled Magalenha and is found on Dance With Me (1998). His name is spelled Mendes.

/Lucretia

[youngsta]

I just bought this CD a couple of days ago! An excellent recommendation HotHouse Salsero! Very nice! However, Youngsta..I do like their version of Cuando Te Vea..but not better than Tito's...No! No!! No!!! Ha! Ha!
I said I like it just a smidge better...a smidge! :lol: I think it's because it has more energy than Tito's. His version is more laid back. I love them both though!!

[HothouseSalsero]

Has anyone heard the new Cuco Valoy CD? It's supposed to be salsa, merengue and reggaeton.

Also, there's a big intreview on descarga.com with Dorance Lorza, a verteran of the Colombian salsa scene who just put out a CD called Salsa Pa' Ti, which sounds like it should be interesting (his own spin on a vibes-based approach a la Joe Cuba).

[HothouseSalsero]

More 2004 CDs:

Dorance Lorza & Sexteto Cafe: Salsa Pa' Ti

I mentioned this in my last post to this thread, and I've now heard it and consider it my #2 salsa CD pick from 2004. It includes a really distinctive cover of "El Negro Bembon." Very danceable overall (though so far I've only danced to it in my kitchen and livingroom).

Jimmy Bosch: El Avion de la Salsa

Hardly bad, but. . . I'm just not feeling most of the music coming out of the NYC salsa dura scene, including this. I'd like to hear Rey Bayona in a different setting. I just think New York based salsa bands have gotten kind of boring. (Maybe it's all the on-2 fundamentalism in the environment. :twisted: )

Diego Gale Presenta a King Bongo: Salsa y Descarga

Not recommended. The first track has dancehall and timba elements, not particularly well done to my ears (but I hardly like any timba--or dancehall for that matter, but in the case of dancehall I at least sometimes like it as a flavor added to salsa--see Grupo Niche). It seems as cranked out as it no doubt it. My favorite song is actually "Cumbia Boogaloo" which is mostly a cumbia. (Maybe because I haven't heard much of the genre, I'm less critical of cumbia songs when I hear them.)

Marc Anthony: Valio la Pena

(I waited to borrow this one from the library.) I like the title track, the last track ("Lamento Borincano"), and maybe "Ahora Quien," but I'm not sure I wouldn't say I really love any of them. I think I'm tired of Marc Anthony. The singing gets to be tedious, to me.)

Not salsa, but woth a mention:

Basically an expanded line-up of the band Grupo Cimarron: Si Soy Llanero: Joropo Music from the Orinoco Plains of Colombia. I don't think joropo will be conquering the international dance scene any time soon (certainly not in this relatively traditional form), but this CD is really hot. The singing is somewhat reminscent of flamenco. The rhythms are careening and intricate, and sometimes a harp takes the lead playing these very hot, fast rhythms. This is not your grandmother's harp music (unless she happened to be from certain parts of Latin America or an ethnomusicologist, or. . . And actually my grandmother liked Blondie.)

Oh, hi. Just checking in again, for now. I haven't lost interest in the music, or in salsa dancing. I've just had other things to focus on.

[HothouseSalsero]

Despite slandering the current New York salsa scene, I do very much like Spanish Harlem Orchestra's cover of "Cuando te Vea," like youngsta. That's one that gets me up on my feet.

[alemana]

the SHO record is great. i hope you don't suggest seriously that the salsa musicians in ny or anywhere else take which beat we cultish dancers break on when they write or record music - that's just silly.

[HothouseSalsero]

i hope you don't suggest seriously that the salsa musicians in ny or anywhere else take which beat we cultish dancers break on when they write or record music - that's just silly.

I was thinking more of a what I perceive (as a pretty distant observer) as an overall NYC salsa atmosphere of knowing what the one true salsa is and should be. But the fact that Jimmy Delgado, for instance, has taken sides in the on1/on2 suggests that musicians aren't above the fray. I don't think it's far-fetched to think that musicians who regularly play live salsa for a heavily on2 crowd might not emphasize the more mamboesque side of the music.

[Pacion]

Marc Anthony: Valio la Pena

(I waited to borrow this one from the library.) I like the title track, the last track ("Lamento Borincano"), and maybe "Ahora Quien," but I'm not sure I wouldn't say I really love any of them. I think I'm tired of Marc Anthony. The singing gets to be tedious, to me.)


:lol: I am guessing it is from this album but there is a song I have been hearing recently here in London and I absolutely love it :banana: :lol:

His songs (and Victor Manuelle's) allow you (me!) to go into the heartzone without having to be on the alert for being spun 20 times in a row :? :lol:

[alemana]

it's pretty funny to hear an argument about what new york salsa musicians ostensibly think about the on-2 scene because the on-2 scene has very little, if nothing, to do with the live music scene. they are largely separate worlds.

most of us overwhelmingly prefer a DJ, usually one we know and trust. i happen to have fallen for latin music before i learned to dance, but i never go to a salsa show expecting to dance.

in the summer there are lots of outdoor dancing events with bands, but almost invariably they don't understand how to play for dancers. personally i almost always wish they'd take their break already so the DJ can spin.

[alemana]

and moreover, even if we're not talking LIVE music, the records of contemporary new york salsa bands don't get played at the dances i attend... the on-2 crowd simply isn't the target consumer of this music. for instance, i have never heard Spanish Harlem Orchestra (to my mild dismay, cuz i like them) at a Sunday social or in a class, ever.

what i DO hear are decades-old El Gran Combo tunes. a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

new york dj steve shaw has an excellent discussion of all this over on salsanewyork.com, if you're interested.

[HothouseSalsero]

what i DO hear are decades-old El Gran Combo tunes. a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

new york dj steve shaw has an excellent discussion of all this over on salsanewyork.com, if you're interested.

Well, I salute the taste of people playing and listening to decades-old El Gran Combo songs. That band continues to amaze me, and their songs from the past do seem to hold up exceptionally well for dancing, maybe because El Gran Combo is so focused on being a dance band.

Will check out that discussion.

[Sagitta]

it's pretty funny to hear an argument about what new york salsa musicians ostensibly think about the on-2 scene because the on-2 scene has very little, if nothing, to do with the live music scene. they are largely separate worlds.

most of us overwhelmingly prefer a DJ, usually one we know and trust. i happen to have fallen for latin music before i learned to dance, but i never go to a salsa show expecting to dance.

in the summer there are lots of outdoor dancing events with bands, but almost invariably they don't understand how to play for dancers. personally i almost always wish they'd take their break already so the DJ can spin.

I know. It is so sad when a dj can please dancers better with canned music then a live band can. :? Like the band playing at my regular Tuesday venue tomorrow night. Not going.

[aragonh]

I know. It is so sad when a dj can please dancers better with canned music then a live band can. :? Like the band playing at my regular Tuesday venue tomorrow night. Not going.

I too prefer a DJ, but it has too be a good DJ. There so many bad DJs out there.

However, any day, I prefere a Good Live Band. Especially if they know how to improv. I remember in 2003 (or was it 2004) when El Gran Combo played Timbalero. They extended that for an extra 5+ minutes. It was just awesome!!!

Also, Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta II was just awesome live.

[HothouseSalsero]

Has anyone else heard the Anthony Blea y Su Charanga CD from last year, Virgen de la Caridad. As I've said elsewhere, I don't generally like charanga (although there are enough exceptions, that I'm willing to keep trying it out). But this CD has some amazing stuff on it. I'm particularly impressed with the title track and with the instrumental "Tumba Randy," which has a recognizable rumba melody played on violin (by Alfredo de la Fe), as well as a duet by Blea and la Fe (both on violins). "Virgen de la Caridad" has a fairly traditional charanga feel at times, but moves into brilliant horn arrangements, adds some rhythms that sound Brazilian to me, and arrives at a timba-like montuno. But despite the fact that I can pull out these different strands in the music, all these elements have been pulled together and aren't running around loose. It doesn't feel like a collage at all. And damn, I don't like charanga or timba very much, but I think this song is great.

[aragonh]

Has anyone else heard the Anthony Blea y Su Charanga CD from last year, Virgen de la Caridad. As I've said elsewhere, I don't generally like charanga (although there are enough exceptions, that I'm willing to keep trying it out). But this CD has some amazing stuff on it. I'm particularly impressed with the title track and with the instrumental "Tumba Randy," which has a recognizable rumba melody played on violin (by Alfredo de la Fe), as well as a duet by Blea and la Fe (both on violins). "Virgen de la Caridad" has a fairly traditional charanga feel at times, but moves into brilliant horn arrangements, adds some rhythms that sound Brazilian to me, and arrives at a timba-like montuno. But despite the fact that I can pull out these different strands in the music, all these elements have been pulled together and aren't running around loose. It doesn't feel like a collage at all. And damn, I don't like charanga or timba very much, but I think this song is great.

Never heard of them. Will have to keep an eye out for them.

As for charanga bands, I would recommend orquesta broadway. In particular their cd "Como Me Gusta" is one awesome cut!!

[HothouseSalsero]

There are generous samples on the cdbaby.com website. I didn't link to it, since linking to a commercial site is forbidden, or at least discouraged. Hopefully it's okay to mention it. (This CD was also on descarga.com's list of the best Latin CDs of 2004.)

[HothouseSalsero]

Although I like some of the tracks on the Blea CD, I have trouble with some of the timbres. I hate the muted trumpet sound here. This is strictly a matter of personal taste in sound at a simple level, but there is just something about the sound of the muted trumpet in this that really bugs me. (I don't like muted trumpet in generall though--yes, including Miles Davis.)