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Hot Colombian Salsa (July 2006 Update)

SALSA BOOKS

El cuaderno de la salsa : 100 biodiscografías salseras de la Taberna Latina, Cali, Colombia por Gary Domínguez
Ediciones Salsa Latina (2005) ISBN 9588265061

Libro de la Salsa : Crónica de la Música del Caribe Urbano por César Miguel Rondón
Ediciones B (2005), ISBN 9589740537 Second Deluxe Edition. Hardcover.

Available in the LIBRERIA NACIONAL bookstores.

CDs OF COLOMBIAN SALSA

DE RUMBA CON ZAFRA
De Rumba Con Zafra (CD Zafra)
Terrific salsa dura from Colombia. Directed by the esteemed Peruvian pianist and bandleader Alfredo Linares, De Rumba Con Zafra burns through a tasty course of original material like "De La Rumba a La Tumba" (Jairo Gañan) and "Se Prendió La Feria" (Henry Labiano) but also features gilded renditions of some classics like Wayne Gorbea's "Estamos En Salsa," a timbale-fortified dance number that I would put my money on. "Cuca La Loca," Willie Rosario's composition, is also performed with verve. But it's Linares' "Guajira y Son" that gets my blood flowing. This is thick, essential salsa without
filler but with extra soul. High ratings go to vocalist-composers Johnny Lemmy and Jairo Gañan who both do fine work here. Not to be missed. Highly Recommended.
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JUANITO Y LA AGRESIVA
Llegó Juanito Y La Agresiva (CD Envidia)
Why is Colombia's Llegó Juanito y La Agresiva one of my personal favorite recent CDs? It could be the arrangements, all pure unadulterated salsa numbers without pretense. It could be the musicians - all experienced pros delivering crisp, articulated sound. The singers? Kike Harvey (listed in the liners as Kike Arbey), Hermes Manyoma, Jorge "Kini" Murillo and Fabio Castano. Not much room for criticism there, delivering mostly that husky, seasoned sonerismo style that I love. The coro? They've got that great típico nasal Colombian-Venezuelan thing going that works so well.

Any one of the above would be enough to merit repeated play, but the fact that Llegó Juanito embodies all of the above qualities is a recipe for salsa magic. Listen to their beautiful interpretation of "Sin Apariencias." In fact, zero filler material here. A full-hearted DJ Alert stamped all of it. It has found repeated play on my machine. Highly Recommended.
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KING BONGO
Academia De Baile - CD (CD Tropisounds)
If your a fan of the pumped up, high energy, salsa of Colombia, scroll down and click "Add to Shopping Cart" now. This one's the bomb, Salsa on Steroids; the stuff you hear at the Salsa Congress and ask "What was that!?" This new Diego Gale project is destined to become a pop salsa classic, but there are some caveats. In front of Gale's primo rhythm section, King Bongo's singers are John William Upegui, Jairo Andrade, Jonathan Bentancur, and Oti Osorio. But does that matter? Several of the tracks here are extended versions of Sonora Carruseles tracks ("Micaela," "La Comay" etc.). Whatever the name is on the cover, Gale Productions are Gale productions. It's a widely held view that, while there's not much difference or individuality to the bands produced by the Gale factory (just change a few singers), the product is a perfect means to an end. This is a well greased, finely tuned machine that has taken over. Listen to the timbales in overdrive on "Hasta Que Se Rompa El Cuero" - it's got breakneck speed almost beyond what's humanly possible. This is the track that will bring the house down.
On Academia De Baile, Gale went wild. Here, he looked deep into his bag of tricks and selected only those hooks he knew would work. And those hooks are sharp. Every track here is white-hot sizzling, and guaranteed to have the dancers scrambling to find a place on the dancefloor. From the opening track, "Academia De Baile" to "Levántate Bailador" to the incredible "La Comay," Acedemia De Baile will barely allow you to breathe. It is a ruthless killer disguised as a disk. Protect yourself... RUN! Listen closely: Big DJ Alert. A record spinners must-have.
Just in time for your summer party.
Very Highly Recommended.
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LA PRESION
Salsa De Ayer Con El Sabor De Hoy (CD JYM Productions)
Excellent salsa born of international alliance. The idea was conceived by French producer Jean-Yves Moreno-Guzman who
partnered with another Frenchman, composer Toni Bolanos who is also one of the lead singers of La Presión. The music was recorded in both Colombia and the United States. And while the two partners wrote the songs (they are all originals), they were smart to pull in veteran Colombian bandleader-trombonist Alberto Barros (leader of Los Titanez) to arrange the compositions and direct the band. Barros knows how to make salsa rock, and on Salsa De Ayer Con El Sabor de Hoy, he earned his pay.
It's "old school Salsa with a modern touch," says Mr. Moreno-Guzman.
And he's right. Building on the tradition of classic salsa, club-ready tracks like "Amistad a La Basura" and "Calle Dura" are self-igniting DJ Picks.
In addition to Bolanos, participating singers are Diego Javier González (from Grupo Galé), Charlie Gómez (Grupo Raíces), Los Titanez' own Diego Morán, and a young rookie named Tommy Jr. Ruiz who recently joined Los Titanez.
Highly Recommended. (BP)
Details

Reviews from http://www.descarga.com

By platano on Jul 1, 2006, 00:18 in Friendly Talkzone.

platano says on Jul 11, 2006, 16:48:

More Colombian Salsa in CD and DVD... VARIOUS ARTISTS DVD
Los Grandes De La Salsa Dura - DVD (DVD Codiscos / Salsa Power)
***EditorsPick: Compilation of hard swinging salsa bands produced by
Diego Gale in Colombia. Features Quinto Mayor, King Bongó, Grupo
Galé, Carlos Guerrero, Richie Valdés, Wilson Saoco, and Maelo Ruiz.
Details

ALFREDO DE LA FÉ (Cuban who lived in Medellín and is loved by paisas)
Esta Es Mi Salsa (CD Fuentes)
***EditorsPick: Excellent De La Fe salsa y charanga. However, except
for one or two tracks, it's virtually the same as his previously
released "Latitudes" CD. Here's what we said about Latitudes when it
first came out in 2003:
With its unencumbered feel (even a bit of Brazilian flavor is added
to the mix) this highly anticipated new release by De La Fé will not
disappoint. De La Fé, a veteran in the salsa and charanga scene since
the sixties, has an eclectic approach that allows him the freedom to
experiment with the essential Afro-Cuban building blocks. His mastery
of the violin is evident, but the unusual twists and turns it takes
never ceases to surprise. He also plays violas, cellos, congo vocals,
piano, and accordion on this record.
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GRUPO GALE
15th Aniversario En Concierto 2 CD Set (CD Tropisounds)
Category: SALSA/SON; SALSA COLOMBIA; COLOMBIA
***EditorsPick: Here's the 2-CD set audio version of the recent DVD
of the same title. Galé ordered the songs a bit differently on these
CDs: CD-1 is called Galé Rumbero. CD-2 is called Galé Romántico. You
get the picture.
Here's what I said about the DVD, which holds true for this CD set:
Arguably the hottest salsa band in Colombia, Diego Gale and his crew
performed a sizzling 15th Anniversary concert in a swanky Medellín
nightclub. Opening with their imprint "Descarga Galé," these guys
ignite one relentless, juiced up, number after number. Gale performs
many of his big numbers including "No La Descuides" which may just
cause your TV set to explode. Be warned. Also includes an
enthusiastic tribute to El Gran Combo featuring guest vocalist Carlos
Guerrera who does a terrific job here. The crowd ate it up...
Highly Recommended. (BP)
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plátano

plátano

0 funny, 0 helpful.

zat1 says on Jul 11, 2006, 21:54:

Alfredo? Alfredo de la Fé, paisa? methinks not. He's Cuban.

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platano says on Jul 11, 2006, 21:59:

ooopppps! Alfredo de la Fe says: "The Golden Key is a compilation of all the happy moments I lived in Medellín. It's a statement of my gratitude to this land of God. It's the summary of my love for these mountains and those Paisas who are unique in the whole World ."

I saw the man so often in Medellín and he plays so damn well, I just thought he was paisa. I'll correct the post above. Thanks for the correction. plátano

plátano

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