One of the greatest things God has given us is the ability to make our own judgements, choices and individual tastes in everything including music choices. I love salsa that swings, has great arrangements and excellent collaborations. I love concept recordings and recordings that make a statement while offering the dancer memorable music. While I love my ‘old skool’ Salsa Dura I also love what is being produced today.
I have been formulating this list of the best Salsa recordings, since February, keeping in mind key elements that helps me in my selections. My cut-off date for these selections is in November which means I include recordings released in November & December from the year before. It cannot be an EP (usually a recording of 4 to 6 songs) less than 7 songs. It can be from the previous year or longer if it was never released before (ie. A recording from the 80’s being released now for the first time as in the case of Van Lester scheduled to be released soon). You can make my list if you have Pop, Latin Jazz or other genres in the recording but in the case of Pop you will be low on my list. I’m sorry to the fans of Pop but to me I only except Pop in a Salsa form or Latin Jazz for the purpose of this ‘Best of’ list.
Why do I bring this up? Because of the recent Latin Grammy Salsa award that went to Tony Succar’s “Mas De Mi”. Just to be sure about my decision I went back and heard the entire CD to make sure I did not make a hasty judgement and I still contend that the nominees Mario Ortiz All-Star Band, Eddie Palmieri and the Quintero Project had better recordings. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tony Succar and he has done some great recordings that should have gotten nominated, but “Mas De Mi” should not even been nominated. While I truly loved “Sentimiento Original” featuring Haila & Issac Delgado (the collaboration theory), Jean Rodriguez’ voice and the arrangement on the sensual “Uno De Los Dos”, the rest of the CD was primarily Salsa Romantica with POP songs. I know why Tony produced it and I commend him but a salsa Grammy winner it is not. With that said I congratulate Tony Succar on the win.
It’s my opinion but I know many who agree with me and I can safely bet that some who agree with me are on this ‘Best of 2019’ list which many Salsa fans will also agree with. Remember ‘para eso se inventaron los colores’ (That’s why colors were invented) which allows us to pick our favorites. Here are the recordings everyone was talking about in 2019.
1-Mario Ortiz All Star Band- 55 Aniversario
2-Eddie Palmieri- Mi Luz Mayor
3-Alfonso Osuna Big Band- Sabrosura Full
4-Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña- Cultura y Sabor
5-Eduardo Zayas y su EZ Banda- Nacido Entre Titanes
6-Tommy Olivencia Jr. y La Primerisima- Plante Bandera De Nuevo
7-Don Goro- Para El Mundo Latino
8-Charlie Cruz- Recordando El Papa De La Salsa 20 Años Despues
9-Ruben Blades & Wynton Marsalis- Una Noche Con Ruben Blades
10-Alain Perez y Amigos- A Romper El Coco
11-Luisito Ayala y La Puerto Rican Power- 40 Años De Power
12-VibraSon- Llego VibraSon
13-Pete Perignon- Blanco y Negro
14-Elito Reve y su Charangon- Dos Leyendas De Reve a Van Van
15-La Paris All Star Orchestra- R&B and Pop Hits in Salsa
16-Orquesta Irawo De Mexico- Con Salsa De Verdad
17-Julito Alvarado Del Sur Al Norte- Aniversario (Keep on Keeping On)
18-Dorance Lorza & Sexteto Café- Tributo Desde Londre a Cali
19-Issac Delgado- Lluvia y Fuego
20-Orchestra Fuego- Vengan Todos A Bailar
21-Tromboranga- Te Voy a Cantar
22-8 Y Mas- Otra Ruta
23-Monika Mesa- La Suerte Es Loca
24-Leonardo Garcia- Doce
25-Marlow Rosado- Feminomania
26-The Echo Park Project- El Pin Pin Pon
27-Jeremy Bosch- Prefacio: The Music of Cheo Feliciano
28-Yanela Brooks- Featuring Tops of Cuba
29-New Swing Sextet- Lo Que Traigo Yo
30-Congana 2
31-Haila- Canta Armando Manzanero (Con Todo Respeto)
32-Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco- Para Bailar Este Son
33-La 33- Si Tu Quieres Salsa
34-Johnny Cruz & Adalberto Santiago- Trayectoria De Clasicos
35-La Picante- La Rumba No Para
36-Orquesta La Potente- Viajando En El Tiempo
37-John Upegui- Legado
38-Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra- Dialectica
39-Josean Rivera- Un Sonero Para El Pueblo
40-Mercadonegro- Somos Del Barrio
41-Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor- Que Tiene Que Te Mueve
42-Pedro Ortega & Orquesta Corporacion Latina- Un Regalo Para El Mundo
43-Lisset Morales & Reinier Bonachea- Otra Oportunidad
44-Gilberto Santa Rosa- 40…y Contando (En Vivo Desde Puerto Rico)
45-Allan Cate- Recuerdos De Cuba
46-Cal State LA Afro Latin Ensemble- 70
47-Frank Marquez-Hijo
48-Conciencia Clasica- Entre Cielo e’ Infierno
49-Kharim Santos- Mi Tiempo y En Mi Esquina
50-Alex Torres- Guarapo y Mermelada
51-Orquesta Magia Caribeña Federico Jr- 30 Aniversario
52-Marc Anthony- Opus
53-Tony Succar- Mas De Mi
54-Orquesta Mulata Son- No Vale Rendirse
55-Conjunto Caribeño- Original Y Sabroso
56-Enrique Alvarez y su Charanga Latina- Pa’ Que Se Acabe El Comentario
57-Renzo Padilla- El Borincaico
58-Kiki Valera- Vivencias En Clave Cubana
59-Diego Gale y su Quinto Mayor- Callejero
60-David Morales (El Capitan De La Salsa)- El Original
61-Septeto Acarey- La Llave Del Son
62-Luchito Muñoz- Antagenico
63-Orquesta Asiel- Pero Llegaste Tu
64-Maikel Dinza Y Soneros De La Juventud- Pa’ Que Bailen To
65-Panchito Amat y su Cabildo Del Son- El Swing del Son
66-Rigo y su Obra Maestra Presenta a Betsy Lopez- Le Cantare Al Bailador
67-Canarias Salsa All Star
68-Mas Bajo- Tiempo A Tiempo
69-Papo Medina- Nunca Es Tarde
70-Yellow House Orchestra- Pop
71-Pibo Marquez y La Colombiana- Agradeciendo
72-Victor Maldonado & Orquesta Novedades- Soberania
73-David Lenis- Señales de Humo
74-Chispa y sus Complices- Cuba Me Llama
75-Pedrito Calvo- A Mi Manera
76-Mosie Gonzalez su 4.40 Havana- Irrepetible
77-Hector Aponte- Matices De La Musica
78-Roberto Armas y los Conquistadores De La Salsa-
79-Raul Gallimore y La Inmensidad- Positivo
80-Sitara Son Ft. Lazaro Galarraga- Sentimental Reason
81-Son De Obano Orquesta- Soy Original
82-Sol Caribe De Cuba- Soy Del Caribe
83-Charley Hernandez- La Distancia
84-Potente Urbano- Enterate
85-Luis Papo Marquez- Primogenito
86-Son De Oro- La Gran Pelea
87-Manana Club y Papucho- Pa’ Cualquiera
88-Conexion Cubana- La Maravilla
89-Roberto Santamaria- Cuban Soul Train
90-Pelusa y La Banda Caramba- Salsa A Domicilio