This Pandemic has now been a part of our lives for a year no matter what country you are in and may even have found its way to other planets we do not know about. Before you disagree with me remember we all thought that what happened to us this past year would never happen if we were asked about it in 2019.
If there is just one thing we can take away from this pandemic its that the creative mind of many continued to create. Whether you are a dancer, a painter or a musician everyone’s creative juices were flowing this past year at a high level. At World Salsa Radio.com I have interviewed this past year close to 30 artists/industry influencers (Richie Ray, Chris Washburne, John Santos, Humberto Ramirez, Julito Alvarado, Joe Collado, Jon Fausty, Steve Guasch, Justo Almario, Poncho Sanchez, Josean Rivera, Ben Lapidus, Mario Ortiz Jr, Edwin ‘El Calvito’ Reyes, Papo Vazquez, Jimmy Castro & Miss YaYa, Doug Beavers, Christian Tumalan, Cesar Orozco, Julia Silva. Edwin Perez, Tony Lujan, Noah Bless, Marco Bermudez, Oscar Hernandez, Jose Rizo, Tito Puente Jr., Tito Rodriguez Jr. in a tribute to his dad, David Lucca and the late Jimmie Morales) and the common element was that the musician continued to create with the sources available to them in this new world of ours. Virtual concerts, hundreds of interviews on Face Book or YouTube and many recordings.
When Oswaldo Lucca (Rincon Cultural) came up with the idea to compile and produce a CD/Book project to document the history of Salsa in the Pacific North West (Washington, Oregon & British Columbia, Canada) the perfect person to help him do this was Steve Guasch of Salsaneo Records. The selection of songs Salsa & some Latin Jazz best exemplifies the great music being created in that region since the debut of the band Bochinche in 1985 with their LP “Ahora”.
It is about time that region of the United States gets its recognition for being part of the Salsa community and “Salsa Music in The Pacific NW (A Collective Memoir)” is a collection of 29 songs that will be part of the book slated for a fall release. That Bochinche recording featured pianist/arranger/composer Fred Hoadley who would go on to form the Latin Jazz band Sonando that has had a huge impact in the jazz world.
The 1992 band Caliente features pianist/arranger Julio Jauregui that has become a primary artist in the Seattle market. Manuela y La Mayor, Salsa from 1996, was where Steve Guasch got his start in what has become a great career so far. Orquesta Expresion Latina is where we meet vocalist Francisco ‘Papo’ Medina for the first time.
“Salsa In The Pacific NW” introduces us to Cambalache, Conjunto Alegre, Dean Schmidt, Fito Garcia, Walter A. Torres, Ann Reynolds Clave Gringa, Elspeth Savani & Orchestra Zarabanda, Mazacote, Picoso, Kiki Valera, Grupo Jazz Tumbao, Jim O’Hallaran, Marlin Ramazzini, and the artists on Salsaneo Record label Charley Hernandez, Miguel Angel, Joshuah De Jesus & Buena Vibra Sextet, Steve Guasch y su Orquesta Nueva Era (who is finishing a new CD with his band O.N.E.), his second band Guashara and his latest artist on Salsaneo Alex Rivera y La Sabrosa that is about to drop any day now.
The Pacific North West has also been blessed with some veterans in Paoli Mejias, Raphael Geronimo & Rumba Calzada, Johnny Conga, Carlos Cascante y su Tumbao. Lary Barrilleau & The Latin Jazz Collective and of course the producer of the CD Steve Guasch.
Ladies in music has been at an all time high with a huge number of vocalists in genres from Salsa, Jazz, Folkloric, Fusion, and many groups making their debuts. There is the band Make Sound (two horn players from Venezuela and two from Cuba with percussion) from South America who are creating some fantastic Latin Jazz and Las Guaracheras from Cuba who have the makings of a band that is here to stay.
Las Karamba is a fresh new band formed in 2018 by six powerful women from Venezuela, Cuba, Panama, Argentina and Costa Rica. On The recording “Camino Asi” you can hear a fusion of their cultures, their musicianship and voices that ranges from Cha Cha Cha, Salsa, Rumba, Hip Hop and Timba. I Loved “El Beso”, “Basta Ya”, “Sabana” & “Voy Subiendo” and the lead voice of Paula Grande. The songs are about empowering women all over the world. A must for Salsa fans!
Vikki Romero ‘La Dama Del Sentimiento’, from Brooklyn, is another empowering voice that kills it on her CD. While Vikki comes to us as a seasoned veteran she is a new voice that has joined an extensive list of ladies.
Bobby Cruz joins Vikki on two tracks that have hit written all over them “La Madre Rumba” and “Los Reyes De La Salsa” where Richie Ray joins them on a fantastic piano solo.
You will enjoy “Te Extraño” that starts out as a bolero and kicks into Salsa. “Cultura Con Sabor”, “Se Me Olvido” and “Cuanto Tienes” all swing while her English rendition of Diana Ross’ “Touch Me in The Morning” is a nice touch.
The names in Salsa and Latin Jazz that Vikki joins are Celeste ‘La Fiera’, Rossi Lopez, Patty Padilla, Maria Gracia (Bembe Orquesta), Izis La Enfermera De La Salsa, Leslie Cartaya, Miosotis, Jenny Colon, Melina Almodovar, Michelle Brava, Mayte Perez, Fay Roberts, Zule Guerra, Lazara Cachao, Lissy Alvarez, Lily Hernandez, Zayra Pola, Lucy Grau, Las Musas De La Salsa, Lia Montalvo, Vivian Mojica, Miss YaYa, Rosalee, Prat Solage, Dayren Santamaria, Candi Sosa, Veruska Verdu, Daniela Darcourt, Yamila Guerra, Bobi Cespedes, Aymee Nuviola, Vicky Corbacho, Zoilapianista, Vanelis, Enshawnee, Karmen Muradas, Aquila Fearon, Yahaira Plasencia, Mariaca Semprun, Chrissy I-Eece, Valerie Morales, Alicia Muñoz, Chie Susuki, Yoko La Japonesa, Chiemi Nakai, Karolina Patocki, Lisett Morales, Sol and Arlene G.
And we also have the queens Susie Hansen, Andrea Brachfeld, Lucrecia, Choco Orta, India, Albita, Victoria Sanabria, Cita Rodriguez, Haila Mompie, Nora Susuki, Jane Bunnett & Maqueque and Omara Portuondo.
Alex Matos Has been one of the Dominican Republic’s best representatives this past decade and has become a favorite in many places especially New York. His latest is “Para Ti Anthony Rios- El Tributo” where he pays homage to one of Santo Domingo’s legends, who I met while on tour with Johnny Ventura. The lead singles are “La Mancha” and the pop hit “Fatalidad”.
The CD is Salsa Romantica as showcased on “Droga”, “Luz“, “Cancion Del Adios”, “Como Ayer”, “Si Usted Supiera Señora”, “Imaginacion”, “Si Un Dia Te Sientes Sola”, and “Te Vas A Quedar Sola”.
One of the most active musicians in the industry during this pandemic has been Grammy award winner Doug Beavers who has created a recording production company (Circle 9), a label and produced his own CD “Sol” while working with other artists and constantly pushing the creative side of the music.
“Sol’ is a dream come true for Doug who has been wanting to dive into his 70’s roots that included R&B and Jazz like it was for many of us growing up in New York, California, or any major music market during that time period.
“Sol’ is based on the inspirational success that Doug had with the 2019 Yellow House Orchestra’s “Pop” CD. The CD’s lead singles have had great success in “Mia’ sung by Carlos Cascante and “Clarity” & with Jeremy Bosch that combines Salsa, R&B and Pop and “Quedate’ with Bosch.
One of my favorites is “Sonic’ with special guest Joe Locke and the Roy Ayers’ flavored “Sunshine” with Joe Locke.
Another Grammy winner that has a new CD is Marlow Rosado who joins forces with vocalist Frankie Negron on “Los Colores De La Salsa”. Negron does a very nice rendition of Frankie Ruiz’ “Tu Eres” but the big winners are “No Jodas Mas Con La Salsa” that goes out to all those who believe that Salsa is dead, the current hit “Depende De Ti’, “A Lo Loco”, “Los Colores De La Salsa” and “Aguale”.
Vocalist Wito Rodriguez has been a steady influence in the Salsa world for the past decade and his new CD ‘Reloaded (Recargando)” that features several tracks that we were introduced to in 2020: “Negra Baila Conmigo”, “Que Revienten Los Cueros” and Christmas’ “Bomba Puertorriqueña”. This has given Wito, from Chicago, a huge following on what will be a Top CD in 2021.
The new single is “Basta Ya” with La Machin Orquesta from Mexico to soon be followed by “Ya Me Prepare” and “Sur America”.
On the Latin Jazz side there are new productions coming out with one of the hottest being the Bronx Conexion Latin Jazz Big Band led by Victor Rendon, “Mambo Boulevard” in April, as a Top 10 candidate for 2021. Also due are Henry Brun & The Latin Playerz 30th Anniversary, the 50-year anniversary of Eddie Palmieri’s “Harlem River Drive”, Mario Ortiz, Lary Barrileau & his Latin Jazz Collective, Charlie Sepulveda & The Turnaround in April, and Emedin Rivera’s “Emedin’s Tropical Turbulence”.
Speaking of anniversaries Conjunto Imagen’s ‘30th Anniversary” is in the streets with some great tracks and singers. New will be El Gran Combo’s “En Cuarentena”, Sonora Ponceña “Con Todo …y Pandemia”, Josean Rivera “Esto No Es Secreto”, Jesus Pagan, The Latin Heartbeat, The Echo Park Project, Orquesta Morel Campos, and Eddie Palmieri has seven tracks ready for his Salsa big band to record.