Salsa and high energy latin jazz album suggestions


Category: Music

I am setting this thread to provide to others some of the great salsa and high energy latin jazz of yesterday and today. I will start by recommending the last Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz "sonido bestial" concert album. The music in this album is so dynamic and rich, just figure an orchestra with bongos, timbales, drums, congas, six trumpets, three trombones, etc........ The jamming is incredible. I used it to test a musical fidelity system in Tennessee and the store manager asked "what was that.....is all latin music that complex and rich......it really pushes any system". The best part of the album is in track 6 of disk 1 - Richie Ray plays a Stravinski interlude midway through the song. This is followed by a congas, timbales and bongos jam.........trust me you will enjoy this one!!
salsero
That "Latin Jazz" stuff is not to my tastes--usually.

Here's a partial list of groups you can find on CD:

1) Eddie Palmieri
2) Charlie Palmieri
3) Ray Barreto
4) Bobby Valentín
5) Fania All Stars
6) Sonora Ponceña
7) Willie Colón/ Hector Lavoe
8) Ismael Rivera
9) Cortijo
10) Richie Ray/ Bobby Cruz
11) Celia Cruz
12) Roberto Rohena
13) Cheo Feliciano
14) Ismael Miranda
15) Larry Harlow Orchestra
16) EL Gran Combo
17) Orquesta Broadway
18) Oscar de León
19) Machito
20) Tito Rojas
21) Raphy Leavitt
22) Grupo Niche
23) Fruko y Sus Tesos
24) Gilberto Santarosa
Start here:

"Rythm Machine", by the Fania All Stars.

It's available on CD (Columbia Records). Columbia's first attempt at marketing Fania All Stars to the jazz crowd. It was also marketed to Hispanics, so it's a nice blend. The story says that the Columbia rep showed up at the recording session w/ a metronome to "help" the musicians keep the beat!!! Well recorded, and a mix of jazz, tropical and some *very* heavy duty salsa. Totally recommended as a starting point. Their next album was "Spanish Fever", also on Columbia. Also an excellent dual market project.

On these albums you'll hear singers and players from the above list. Then pick up what you like best. There's a whole lot more to this than the "Buena Vista Social Club".

Just remember most of that crossover stuff if sold in a *predigested* form...and that's why it sells.
Any more sugestions? Particularly albums?
I find Bebo De Cuba's albums to be quite satisfying.
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Absolute Quintet-Dafnis Prieto (fabulous drummer)
Michel Camillo
Tony Martinez
Carribbean Jazz Project.