No sooner than the completion of my May article was submitted a slew of new recordings dropped from all corners of the world with about 25 of them are worth talking about. Cuban releases mostly led the way with many veterans starting with Issac Delgado’s “Mira Como Vengo” with the sure shot hits “San Cristobal”, “De Lejitos”, “Son Tallas’, “Mira Como Vengo”, “Juegala Calma O”, “Eso Que Dijiste” and the lead super hit “Tu Pensabas” featuring Alain Perez. The ex-NG La Banda & Opus 13 vocalist also included his own son Issac Delgado Jr. doing the arrangements.
Alain Perez, renown bassist & vocalist, has his own new release, “Bingo”, that has collaborations with Tito Nieves, Luis Enrique and two sure hits, “Bingo” with Issac Delgado and “Andaba Solo” with Gilberto Santa Rosa. I also have three favorites: “Batilongo”, “Gracias” and “El Pistolero”. This brilliant musician never disappoints and is a true vocalist who also records as a fabulous jazz musician.
The Sons Of Buena Vista are Mayito Rivera ‘The Mick Jagger of Cuba’ (one of today’s most active vocalists on so many recordings as a guest), William Borrego (who with Pancho Amat formed El Cabildo Del Son and is also a trombonist), and ‘El Nene’ Pedro Lugo Martinez (who looks and sounds like Ibrahim Ferrer with whom he toured) who continue, with a younger generation, the legacy of the Buena Vista Social Club. We also get to hear a new generation of instrumentalists: Fabian Sirgado Perez (Pailas), Herber Alberto Mendez Gomez (Piano), Lazaro Amaury Oviedo Dilout (Trumpet), Livan Morejon (A.Sax), Carlos Querol Aldana-Tres & Vocals and Rosalia Rosales Rosa (Piano). The key selections here are: “Here Come the Sons”, “Candelita No”, Tu Mala Suerte Eres Tu”, “Como Esta La Cosa”, and “Son Caribeño”.
El Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñiero’s “Suave y Pegaito” continues to bring that rich ‘son’ of the 30’s & 40’s (they began as a sextet in 1927) into modern times, with a newer generation of musicians, that if you have never heard or listened to traditional Cuban son this is where you might start. Listen to “El Guanajo Relleno”, “Confusion”, “Locos Por El Guaguanco”, “Despues De Un Beso” (ft. Alexander Abreu), “Ven a Rumbear”, “Mi Conga Pa’ Guarachar”, “El Velorio De Mi Tia” and “Alma Rumbera”. La tradicion continua con El Septeto Nacional!
Jorge Luis Gomez Navas was an original member and co-founder of Orquesta Candido Fabre for 13 years as pianist and arranger. He then formed Suave Tumbao that just released “Pasale La Cuenta” that came out at the end of 2024. Representing the current Timba sound and the best tracks include: “Pasale La Cuenta”, “La Yuca”, “Tremenda Plaza”, “Sol Yo”, “Palo De Monte” and “Que Mas Quieres”.
Doris Lavin is one of today’s hot vocalists from Matanzas, Cuba, currently residing in Switzerland, and has an impressive new recording “Reminiscencias” that opens with a fabulous version of “Las Caras Lindas”, originally by Ismael Rivera y sus Cachimbos, with special guest Mayito Rivera that also features a nice trumpet solo by Juan Kemell. I loved the arrangement twist that’s given to La Lupe hits “Oriente” & “Que Te Pedi”. This is what artists should be doing when they cover a popular hit to make it their own. Add to this the Sonora Matancera/Celia Cruz classic’s “Saoco” & “Cuando Sali De Cuba” and you get an extraordinary combination of Rumba & Afro Cuban roots.
Albita (Rodriguez) has always had a unique vocal style that is recognizable anywhere in the world and her latest in union with pianist genius Chucho Valdes, “Masters of Our Roots”, is a combo of different rhythm flavors and excellent heritage chemistry. My favorite is “Mi Rumba Echando Candela” plus the standards “Tabu”, “Drume Negrita” (w/ special guest Dianne Reeves), “La Negra Tomasa” and “Hola Soledad”. There is even a special box set with an asking price of $449. What has this world become with these ridiculous prices!
The compilation “Rumba Con Swing- Re-Creaciones de Chano Pozo” is one of my favorites, produced by Neris Gonzalez Bello & Ileano Rodriguez, that features thirteen Pozo gems under the musical director of Joaquin Betancourt. The all-star line-up Includes: Pancho Amat, Alexander Abreu, Yaroldy Abreu, Rumbata, Orquesta Aragon, Rolando Luna, Alejandro Falcon, Mayito Rivera, Ernan Lopez-Nussa, Leo Vera, Issac Delgado, Michel Herrera, Sixto Llorente, Miguel Angel de Armas Jr, Vocal Sampling (acapella band), Emilio Morales, Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco and Cucurucho Valdes. Listen to the well done “Tin Tin Deo”, “Cometelo To”, “Porque Tu Sufres”, “Nague”, “Ya No Puedo Rumbear”, “Guarachi Guaro”, and “Manteca” for a slice of music Pozo created in full or partially.
Ivan Cacu Moreno from Tenerife, Las Islas Canarias (southern part of Spain) formed his band in 2003 and has emerged over a decade with a very popular band that is showcased on the recording ‘A Doble O Nada”. You can easily pick from many great tunes such as “La Salsa Es Mi Cura”, “Resolviendo”, “La Cosa Camina”, “Vendiendo Humo”, “Eso No Es Mio”, “Una Rumba En Tenerife”, “No Creo En Fantasmas” and the bonus track with Edwin ‘El Calvito’ Reyes “No Te Quites”. This young man has a bright future as his music continues to grow internationally.
Edwin ‘El Calvito’ Reyes has been putting together one hit after another for some years now for his latest, “Colabranza Global, Vol. 1”, that compiles ten tracks radio and dancers will love. Check out Fabian Rosales on “El Coqui y El Chileno”, Melina Almodovar on “En Dos Pa’ Lante”, Harold Montañez on “Orgulloso De Ser Latino”, Christian Ray on “Te Presento El Amor” and topped off by “Soneros De Sangre Nueva” that highlights Edwin Lebron, Josean Rivera, Gumby Navedo, Nandy ‘El Sinsonte’ and Edwin Reyes. My other favorite is “Que Siga La Fiesta’ with the soneros joining ‘Calvito’ Carlos Lopes, Luis ‘Jibarito’ DeJesus, & Joe Lopez (ex- Corporacion Latina). ‘El Calvito’ continues to get better each year as a vocalist and business man.
Vocalist/percussionist Edgardo Cambon & Candela have been a staple of the Bay Area ever since arriving from Uruguay and while he was mostly a local artist he has grown in popularity outside of the USA via the internet hence his new CD “For Export”. Fifteen tracks encompass this new project that is co-produced by Pianist/Musical Director/Arranger and now label owner Israel Tannenbaum. The variety of musical genres that Edgardo includes range from Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia and even two Candombes (dance style that originated in Urugauy from African descent). My picks here are “Yo Vine a Bailar La Salsa”, “Tumba, Timba y Trombon”, “Cuando Me Falta El Tambor”, “Rueda Con Ritmo” (released last year as a single), “Cielito Lindo” and “20 Años De Sabor”. I need to also mention Bay Area royalty that back Edgardo on this release Marco Diaz, Jaime Dubberly (who is preparing a new CD), Charlie Gurke, Omar Ledezma Jr, Camilo Landau, David Belove and Livan Montoya.
Long time veteran Pablo Villanueva, known to us all as Melcochita (who began in Peru as a TV comedian), surprised everyone with a very nice new recording “El Sonero Llego”. Many believed Melcochita had retired but the man is impressive with his tribute to some of his idols Justo Betancourt (Pa’ Bravo Yo), Hector Lavoe (El Cantante), Trio Matamoros (Son De La Loma), Joe Arroyo (Pal Bailador), & Celia Cruz (Goza Negra) and La Sonora Matancera (Mix Sonora Matancera).
Anther veteran is violinist Ali Bello & The Charanga Syndicate (his 2nd solo recording) with many pleasant surprises starting off with the Elio Reve song made a hit in New York by Orchestra Broadway in the 70’s “Guaripumpe”. While the CD is mostly Latin Jazz this track features Jeremy Bosch on vocals and Broadways’ Eddy Zervigon on flute sounding like he’s a teenager again. He has some amazing performances by guests Arturo O’Farrill (Emiliando), Manolo Mairena (Tres (y Dos) based on ‘Tres Lindas Cubanas’ and arranged by Sonny Bravo with a reversed clave), Silvano Monasterios (La Comparsa Influenciada), and Ali’s band Dave Santiago Jr, and the keyboardists Marcus Persiani, Gabriel Chakarji, Cesar Orozco and Alex Castro joined by the percussionists Luis Mangual (son of Luis Mangual from the Mangual Dynasty), and Manuel Marquez who are showcased on many of the tracks including “Gina’s Groove” and “Amadeus’ Rumba” (songs dedicated to both his wife and son).
Composer Eduardo Zayas y su EZ La Banda are good for a new CD every two to three years which means that he is on track with the release of “Salsa Con Perfume De Mujer” with a mostly all female outing and all female vocalists that has been in the works for the past six years. And yes, in case you are interested, he is already preparing his next project. It’s an idea Eduardo has had since 2008 and has a great combination of vocal talent that ranges form the iconic Choco Orta & Trina Medina from Puerto Rico & Venezuela (El Coqui y El Turpial), Perla Rodriguez from Mexico (Romantica Rumbera), Lisett Morales from Cuba in Puerto Rico (Vasos De Varios Matices), Rossi Lopez de Panama (Rumbera Hasta La Raiz), Mariana La Sonera de Venezuela (Pajitas En La Calle), Veruska Verdu de Venezuela (Tributo a La Diva Sureña in tribute to Yoalnda Rivera), and Fanny Almenare from Peru (Clave En El Corazon). We also get to hear on the two CD (19 tracks) the musical talents of vibist Monica Castro (Las Guaracheras), Ziolapianista, trombonist May Peters (Holland), trumpeter Kissis Muñoz, pianist Karla Martinez, cuatrista Tanisha Galarza, flutist Viviana Diaz, tresista Yarima Blanco (Cuba), saxophonist Zulieka Martinez, trombonist Issa La Roca (France), and pianist Jessica Andrea Mosquera. These 19 tracks were recorded between Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia, USA, Peru, Italy and Mexico.
Sergio George was talking years ago about his venture into salsa with Urban music as a new wave that we need to take serious because of how the world and the social media influence has impacted what we call Salsa. Now you can listen to what he spoke about and many ‘Old Skool’ salseros closed themselves off to what Sergio was saying. The reality is that Salsa the way we knew it is dead to commercial radio and marketing values.
“Ataca Sergio- Presents Urban Salsa Sessions” is an exploration to Sergio’s salsa arrangements with the young and old talents that include Wisin (La Vida Es Una Fiesta), Oscar D’Leon with Elena Rosa & Skip Marley (Me Das Fever), newcomer Fariana (La Gata y El Raton) based on Cheo Feliciano’s ‘El Raton’ that uses Cheo’s voice, Anthony Ramos (swings on ‘I Was The One’), Jay Wheeler (La Puerta), and Annosofia & Mike Bahia (Gracias).
Jose Alberto ‘El Canario’ has what can easily be one of the top ten salsa albums of the year titled “Big Swing” where we hear a big band swing style similar to what he did in 1997 when he released his tribute to Machito at RMM Records. It’s also reminiscent of the music from the Palladium with great tracks: “Niña y Señora”, “Tiemblas”, “Nego Ñañamboro”, “Tumba Tumbador” (done with Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña and previously released), “No Quiero Piedras En El Camino”, “Negro Bonito” Ft. Pachangaras Big Band, “Esa”, “Juaniquita’, “El Mulato Rumbero”, “La Peleona” Ft. Yolanda Duke (also previously on her CD “Many Moods”) and “La Escoba”.
Jose Fajardo Jr. celebrates the 75 years of his dad’s music in another top ten recording for 2024 “Diamante Homenaje Salsero a La Musica Del Rey De La Flauta Jose Fajardo”. What makes this recording special besides all the guests is the fact that Fajardo’s charanga hits are done in Salsa. My first favorite is “La Calle Esta Durisima” (from one of my favorite Fajardo albums “Fajardo y sus Estrellas Del 75”) that features three ‘charangueros’ in Salsa: Hansel y Raul, Eddy Zervigon and Alfredo De La Fe. Pedro Jesus sings “Ritmo De Pollos” (Ritmo De Pollos), Jose Alberto ‘El Canario” is featured on “Juaniquita” (Cuban Jam Sessions Vol.5), Pedro Brull on “Kikiriki” (Una Noche En Montmarte), Angelo De Nodal on “Fajardo Tiene Un Swing”, Gilberto Santa Rosa on “Fajardo Swing” (El Talento Total), and Danny Rojo on “Los Tamalitos De Olga” (En El Japon).
Sheila E. and Friends is basically the same album, “Bailar”, that came out last year but with the voices replaced by instrumentalists on the ten tracks plus two new (Vuelo and The Glamorous Life) ones retitled “Bailar Instrumental”. Loved “Bemba Colora” with trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, “Gente Buena”, “El Rey Del Timbal”, “Bailar”, “Possibilities”, “The Way That You Do” and “Descarga” featuring Nestor Torres and Pete Escovedo. Excellent concept that now can be played at Jazz stations.
Los Hermanos Rosario are one of the best merengue bands in the history of the genre and they, like many other merengue veterans, are re-doing their merengue classics as Salsa tunes. The album “Infinito Positivo” has Salsa versions of “Morena Ven” sung by Ronald Borgas (that has his own new EP recording “Swing De La Calle”), Victor Manuelle joins the brothers to sing “Esa Morena”, Willy Chirino does “Fin De Semana”, Rey Ruiz is on “Siento”, Grupo Niche is on “Esa Muchacha”, Gilberto Santa Rosa is on “La Dueña del Swing” and even Johnny Ventura’s voice is used on “Brindemos Una Copa Con Amor”.
Trombonist Julio Montalvo y El Huracan De Miami is back after they recorded “Last Dance’ (with Englis vocals) in a big band format he formed in 1998. This time he brings us “Llego El Huracan” with four great vocalists that shine on “Xiomara Mayoral”, “Lo Bueno Llega”, “Los Vientos Soplan”, “Tatuaje” and “En Miami Lo Bailo Yo”. He has also joined with Alain Perez on a new live concert recording.
Grupo Gale had an amazing album at the beginning of the year of pure ‘Salsa Dura’ as La Sonora De Diego Gale titled “Lo Que Tu Querias”, with Marcial Isturiz and Yoamys Jerez, dedicated to dancers with a sound of the 60’s & 70’s. Now Grupo Gale went all romantic with “Sentimientos” that joins a legion of artists recording ‘Salsa Romantica’ especially in Europe, South & Central America and most recently Puerto Rico. Fans of the genre will truly enjoy “Llore”, “Recuerdos De Mi Tierra”, “Un Lenguaje De Dos”, “Un Cariñito”, “Entiendeme” and my favorite “Boromboro”.
After an absence of about sixteen years, from her last Tropical (Spanish) recording, Gloria Estefan releases “Raices” with a variation of formats and some nice danceable tracks and the hit “La Vecina (No Se Na)” as well as “Yo Quiero Ser” and “Tu y Yo”. While it is a nice recording but in no way should be considered a top Salsa album. Let’s wait and see what happens when the album is eligible for the Grammy’s.
Vocalist Luis Figueroa, one of today’s young lions leading the new wave of Salsa Urbana, from Philadelphia, Pa, has been busy the last five years landing one hit after another and making himself one of this generation’s top performers. He has a new recording “Gris” (EP) with the hit “Si Me Llamas” where he’s joined by another hot artist Christian Alicea (who has the awesome hit “Hello, What’s Up”). Figueroa should fare well with “No Se Van”, “Maldito Corazon”, “Karma”, and “Mas Que Un Beso”. Besides Figueroa & Christian Alicea this group of new salseros includes Luis Vazquez, Moa Rivera, Sbm and Pedro Alonso just to name a few.
Orchestra Fuego, led by pianist Marcus Hernandez, has a new fabulous recording “Mambo Mania” with special guests Ray De La Paz (Y Sigue Mentirosa), Izis La Enfermera De La Salsa (Mambo Mania & Lose Control), Jose Alberto ‘El Canario” (Pa’ Gozar), Diego Gale (Timbal Timbalero), Betsy Lopez (Lejos De Ti), and the Latin Jazz gem “The Tampa Mambo”. This one is a great swinging album that will be on everyone’s radar.
CSAN-II, led by Philly bassist Celestino Sanchez, dropped a limited (150 copies) of a vinyl “Fiesta Jazz-The Album” with eight tracks including three new songs: “Fiesta Jazz”, “Jazzeando En El Valle” (my theme song for my show with the same name on WorldSalsaRadio.com on Tuesdays from 4-7pm PST) and the new hit “Brisa Tropical (Ofelia)”. Celestino is working on a new album for 2026.
Matancero Roniel Alfonso is a Cuban Producer/Arranger/Composer who made his solo debut in 2017 with his band Son Del XXI and his current project, “International”, includes Norbert & Gerardo Rivas (ex-NG2) on “Leila”, Willy Garcia on “Esa Mujer a Mi Me Gusta”, Ronald Borgas on “Que Locura”, Jose Alberto ‘El Canario” on “Saludo”, Haila Mompie on “Voy a Prohibirme’ and other performances by Gaby Zambrano, Nikki Alva, El Septeto Acarey de Peru, Leoni Torres, and Eva Ayallon. The entire line-up gives this fine album the international flavor that makes it a winner on all fronts.
Manuel Ramirez is a Tresero/Vocalist from Peru that has a big time score with “Tributo a La Salsa Dura” and covers of Ray Barretto’s “Adelante Siempre Voy” & “Barrunto” (w/ trumpeter Jose Toño Martinez & trombonist Diego Cardenas), Eddie Palmieri & Cheo Feliciano’s “Busca Lo Tuyo” (w/ pianist Emmanuel Ramirez), Ismael Quintana’s “Al Mirarte a Ti”, Roberto Roena’s “Parece Mentira”, The Fania All Stars Ft. Hector Lavoe’s “El Rey De La Puntualidad” and Bobby Valentin’s “Naci Moreno” (w/ trumpeter Hector Zenon).
Some of you may have seen the trend of certain vocalists that appear on recordings of other artists to the point of overkill. It happened years ago with Frankie Vazquez & Herman Olivera and over the last five years it has been Jose Alberto ‘El Canario’, Marcial Isturiz, Mayito Rivera and if Gilberto Santa Rosa hasn’t been the perfect example I don’t know what overkill is. I get it that these artists are getting paid but it’s getting boring.