The end of summer is upon us and there is no end to the hot new releases that have been coming out or are scheduled to be drop before the year ends. One of the hottest new CD’s is the long awaited “R and B Pop Hits in Salsa” by the Paris All Stars Orchestra with Salsa covers of Frankie Valli’s “Swear To God”, Chaka Khan’s “Through The Fire”, Jeffrey Osborne’s “On The Wings Of Love”, Chicago’s “Hard To Say I’m Sorry”, All 4 One’s “I Swear”, Atlantic Starr’s “Always”, Tevin Campbell’s “Can We Talk”, Ne Yo’s “One In A Million”, Debarge’s “A Dream”, and Wham’s “Careless Whisper” as a Salsa instrumental with guest Jose Valentino on sax & flute. Jose Valentino I first discovered in YouTube several years ago. What makes this CD a generational one is producer Eric Maldonado’s use of some great new voices in Salsa that include Cienna Alida, Rich Rivera, Devin Velez, Dre Lewis, Josh Cruz, Lena Morriseau, Carmen Mercado and the veterans Edwin Lebron & Jorge Laureano. Great job by all the vocalist, musicians and arrangers in what will be one the years top CD’s.
Latin Jazz has been amazing this year and some of the best is scheduled to drop soon but a great advance release is pianist Bill O’Connell and the Afro Caribbean Ensemble’s “Wind of The Hudson” with an all-star line-up of Andrea Brachfeld, Conrad Herwig, Lincoln Goines, Robby Ameen, Roman Diaz, Craig Handy, Ralph Bowen, Gary Smulyan and Alex Sipiagin. While having two great versions of “Perdido” and “Oye Como Va” my favorites are “Jerry’s Blues”. “Wind Of The Hudson”, “C Jam Blues”, “Transition” and “Discombobulation” that is highlighted by the soloists and O’Connell’s piano work that has made him a favorite for many decades.
The long-awaited sophomore release by Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre, “Love The Moment”, is also a big contender for Top 10 honors in the Latin Jazz category and like Bill O’Connell a Grammy nominee. This new CD is a continuation into the mind of one of today’s most accomplished pianist and his journey introduces us to 10 original compositions by Oscar himself. The awesome quintet features hall of famers Justo Almario, Oskar Cartaya, Jimmy Branly, Christian Moraga (Conganas) and guest’s trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos and violinist Dayren Santamaria in one of the years finest releases.
The following list has been on my playlists, at Alma De Barrio (88.9 FM), throughout the summer and many will probably make my best hits of the year list.
Top Hits of the End of Summer
1-Charlie Cruz- Salsa Buena
2-Johnny Rivera & Adalberto Santiago-Dos Historias En Dos Tiempos
3-Edwin Rivera Ft. Isidro Infante- No Tengo Dinero
4-La Paris All Star Orchestra Ft. Jorge Laureano- Swear To God
5-Kiki Sanchez- Canta Sonero
6-Pedro Ortega & Corporacion Latina- Pelee Con Un Payaso
7-DJ Andy- Consejo Salsero
8-Edwin ‘El Calvito’ Reyes- Bailar Con Ella
9-Orchestra Fuego- Bien Diferente
10-Bill O’Connell &The Afro Caribbean Ensemble- Jerry’s Blues
11-Oscar Hernandez & Alma Libre- Otro Nivel
12-Issac Delgado- Oriente/Cita A Las Seis
13-La Maxima 79- Colada (The Official Anthem)
14-Johnny Rodriguez- Johnny’s Place
15-Alexander Abreu Havana D’Primera- Que Rico Esta Esto
16-Josean Rivera- Sigo Siendo Callejero
17-Tito Rojas- Vivo Feliz
18-Julito Alvarado Del Sur Al Norte- El Fin De Semana
19-Mambo Lebron Orchestra- Salsa Y Control
20-Son Del Bronx- A Puerto Rico
21-Poncho Sanchez- Blue Train
22-Conjunto Caribeño- El Carbonero Llego
23-Johnny Vega- Homenaje A Celia Cruz
24-Orquesta Olympus- Havana
25-Josimar y su Yambu- Salsa Pa’ La China
26-Roberto Armas y Los Conquistadores De La Salsa Ft. Mayito Rivera- Amigo El Raton Del Queso
27-Van Lester y Los Generales de La Salsa- No Queda Nada
28-Miguelito El Asunto- Brujeria
29-Mario Ortiz All Star Band- Doña Intranquilidad
30-DJ Naghi- Zoo Melody
31-People Of Earth- Chiki
32-Nic & N’Taya- Mi Amiga Mela
33-Marlon Steven- Tecun
34-Alfonso Osuna- El Perro
35-Don Goro- Para El Mundo Latino
36-Gilbert Feliz- Yo Soy Cheo
37-Dave Santiago- Si Tu No Me Quieres
38-Eduardo Zayas Ft. Manny Fuentes- Tierra De Gigantes
39-Jose Sanchez Papito- Baila Carola
40-Arjan Ft. Gilberto Santa Rosa- Una Noche
41-Tony Succar Ft. Issac Delgado y Haila- Sentimiento Original
42-Riverita y su Orquesta Noche Caliente- La Dama Del Swing
43-New Swing Sextet- De Que Te Quejas
44-Dante Vargas y Val- Vete Ya
45-Paulo FG y su Elite- Up And Down
46-Johnny Cruz y Adalberto Santiago- Anacaona
47-Yellow House Orchestra- Los Cenotes
48-Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet- Take Five
49-Kayvan Vega- Ahora Es Cuando Es
50-Ivan Montero- Melao De Caña
51-India- Solamente Una Noche
52-La 33- La Majadera
53-Miles Peña- Ven
54-Ocho y Mas- Cuidado Campeon
55-Mercadonegro- En Mi
56-Son Past’A- La Salsa Vive
57-Orquesta Bembe- Amigos N0 Por Favor
58-Diego Gale y su Quinto Mayor- Guaguanco Del Adios
59-Lucy Grau y Rojitas- Si Piensas Que Si
60-NG2 Ft. Luisito Carrion, Johnny Rivera & Perico Ortiz- No Es Pa’ Tanto
61-Fernando Aguirre- Pagina Del Alma
62-Pete Perignon- Y Sigue Molina
63-Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco- Que Se Fuñan
64-Karlos Polo Ft. Tirso Duarte y Papo Sanchez- Amigo
65-Azucar Negra- El Evento
66-Enrique Alvarez y su Charanga Latina- Me Están Mirando
67-Daniela Darcourt- Señor Mentira
68-Pepe Rios y La orquesta Mancha- Con La Trova Mente
69-David Lenis- Salsa En Colada
70-El Segal De La Salsa- Señora
71-Carlos Garcia- Si Supieras
72-Maykel Flores- Pa’ La Farandula
73-Orquesta Nueva Impresión- Medley Viven
74-Radio Bembe Orquesta- El Tiempo
75-Charanga Siete Ft. Nestor Pacheco- Una Sola Bandera
76-Robert Vilera- Canto Para Ti
77-Doris Lavin- A Santa Barbara
78-Stephen Giraldo Ft. Guicho y Armando Vasquez- La Salsa No Para
79-DJ Ricky Campanelli- Echale Madera
80-Sonysabor Orquesta- Detras De Ti
81-Leoni Torres- En Tu Mirada
82-Salsa Brava- Maldito Licor
83-Yanela Brooks- Un Clavo Saca Otro Clavo
84-Choco Orta Ft. Diego Gale- Lo Suyo Es Mentira
85-La Pregonera Orquesta- Razones
86-NYC Salsa Jamm- Norma
87-Tony Vega- Deseperado
88-Elito Reve y su Charangon- Ibiano
89-Julio Albino y su Orquesta Secreto A Voces- El Son Llega A La Cuidad
90-Lefty Perez- Mi Joven Señora
91-Orquesta La Potente- La Pagaras
92-Armando Quintana- Si No Sabes No Te Metas
93-Cabanijazz Project- Super Mega Ultra Funky
94-Marc Wilkins- Amolao
95-Yoshi Yamada- Mi Vida
96-Jhojan Barreto y su Salsa Brava- Que Palo
97-Jay Lugo y Pirulo y La Tribu- Aguacero
98-Sonora Carruseles- Latinos
99-Omar Negron- Pruebame
100-Ray Rivera-Salsarealo
101-Charly Hernandez Ft. Osvaldo Roman- Me Despido
102-Alfredo Bridon- El Son De Alfredo
103-Yuli Ley- Si No Estas
104-Nathan Rodriguez y su Conjunto Borinken Ft. Ramon Rodriguez- El Barrendero
105-Kintero Orquesta- Cali Venga y Goce
106-Orquesta Antonetti- Algo Tiene
107-Luis Blassini y Iroko Banda- Necesito Una Chica
108-Orquesta Internacional S.D.C.- Barro A La Deriva
109-Angel Junito Matos y Amigos Musicales- Paso Fino, Autentico y Natural
110-Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña- Algo Nuevo
111-Nino Segarra- Lo Llevo La Salsa
112-JJ Ruiz- Mis Dos Camisas
113-Porfi Baloa Ft. Irving Manuel- Amiga Mia
114-Septeto Acarey- Contigo Peru
115-Carlos Nevarez- No Me Comprende