Salsa music that's new / interesting / "different"

[salsero]

I'm hoping some people might be able to point me in a few directions.

One problem I have with a lot of salsa music played in clubs is that it all tends to sound a bit "samey", and it's sometimes hard to tell if something was recorded, say, a year ago or ten years ago or even more.

So whenever I hear something that sounds "new" (at least to my ears), I sit up (if not dancing!) and take notice.

For example, Salsa Celtica, who fuse latin rhythms with Scottish/celtic instruments & melodies:

e.g.
http://www.aurora.musicscotland.com/mp3/SalsaCelticaElAguaDeLaVida.mp3
http://www.musicscotland.com/mp3/other/Salsa_Celtica_-_The_Great_Scottish_Latin_Adventure_-_Track__4.mp3
http://www.aurora.musicscotland.com/mp3/SalsaCelticaMaestro.mp3

Or "Salsa Rai" by Yuri Buenaventura/Faudel, fusing salsa with Algerian rai singing in Arabic:

http://cityguides.salsaweb.com/israel/real/salsa_rai_yuri_buenavenetura.ram

These I like because they fuse the ultra-danceable salsa rhythms with interesting new melodies/languages/instruments.


Although it also qualifies as "new" or "different", I'm not so excited about a capella salsa from the group "Vocal Sampling", since it doesn't really add anything new and the novelty effect tends to wear off.

http://www.deccaclassics.com/media/audio/028946849828_01_02_00.00-01.00_16k.ram
http://www.deccaclassics.com/media/audio/028946849828_01_01_00.00-01.00_16k.ram
from
http://www.deccaclassics.com/newsandnewreleases/july2001/468498.html

And what i'm definitely not interested in is watered-down R&B style "salsa", where the infectious salsa rhythms are simplified/eliminated/slowed-down, perhaps to try to broaden appeal. For example http://www.afrojazz.com/audiohtml/Orishas537Cuba.ram
or most of the music featured in the film "Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights".


Can anyone suggest any artists/tracks to check out that take salsa in new "different" exciting directions (perhaps along the world music "fusion" line of Salsa Celtica or "Salsa Rai", or other ways), but still keep the infectious danceable rhythms?

[MacMoto]

Do you like Africando? Not "new" as in recent but "new" in the sense of "different"...

Salsa Celtica are apparently going to record a new album. Hope it will be as good as the last one!

[MacMoto]

Another thought... I wonder how much of the "samey" feel you are getting at your local clubs are down to the DJ. There are many different styles of salsa music (NY, PR, Colombian, Cuban... also, dura, romantica, etc.), all with distinctive sounds, and some DJs like to play a wide range of music while others like to stick to a particular style. I've been to nights where the DJ played only a very narrow choice of styles (e.g., mambo jazz) and I was frustrated by the sameness of the music.

Almost forgot -- welcome to Salsa Forums!

[salsero]

Hi MacMoto, thanks for your response, and welcome to the forums.

I've heard Africando, but am not a huge fan. :(

Yep, heard about Salsa Celtica album in the works, looking forward to it!

When I referred to music played in clubs, I was really referring to salsa music in general, including a variety of music I have at home. Though I take you point about DJs sticking to particular styles...

[vin]

I went and saw a band this saturday, (yes big concert weekend for me)

I had never heard of them but they were excellent.

Orchestra Baobob, not mainstream salsa but there were a few tracks that were more than just danceable. They are also from Senegal, Macmoto if you like africando I think you will like their stuff. Their stuff was very afro-cuban as opposed to strictly salsa.

[peachexploration]

......And what i'm definitely not interested in is watered-down R&B style "salsa", where the infectious salsa rhythms are simplified/eliminated/slowed-down, perhaps to try to broaden appeal. For example http://www.afrojazz.com/audiohtml/Orishas537Cuba.ram
or most of the music featured in the film "Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights".I don't blame you about this one Salsero. :) Actually, I wouldn't call this salsa at all. To me, this would be strictly R&B or Hip Hop. Even though some of the lyrics are from a cuban song, I wouldn't call it Salsa.

Nothing else comes to mind as far as suggestions for other Celtic and Arabic influences but will post if I think of anything....

[salsero]

Nothing else comes to mind as far as suggestions for other Celtic and Arabic influences but will post if I think of anything....

Celtic and Arabic were only two examples.

Others include, say, salsa in French, e.g. "Probleme" by Fatal Mambo
http://www.calabashmusic.com/sample.php?ID=1297&sample=1301

or Mambomania's "Dame Cinco" (French/spanish rapping and Beethoven riffs)
http://www.salsanama.ch/Mambomania-Dame%20Cinco.mp3

[MacMoto]

Salsero, I LOVE Mambomania! :D

I didn't know Fatal Mambo so searched for the band and found this:
Salsa Mundo (Various Artists)
http://www.towerrecords.com/product.aspx?pfid=1283370

This reminds me... Ricardo Lemvo's music is another fine example of African-influenced salsa. He gets played a lot here and is popular (we have local DJs who are very into African/Afro-cuban salsa...).

Vin, Orchestra Baobab don't get played much but I have heard some of their songs. I might go back and listen again... thanks.
Talking of live concerts, Salsa Celtica are playing in Edinburgh this week... I might go and catch them on Saturday. It's a tiny little cave-like jazz venue with hardly any space to dance, but you get to hear live bands playing right in front of your face. :D

[sweetmoya]

And what i'm definitely not interested in is watered-down R&B style "salsa", where the infectious salsa rhythms are simplified/eliminated/slowed-down, perhaps to try to broaden appeal. For example http://www.afrojazz.com/audiohtml/Orishas537Cuba.ram
or most of the music featured in the film "Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights.

The Orishas track on the Dirty Dancing 2 soundtrack was watered down from the original. On their new album "El Kilo" they have some wicked Cuban beats fused with hip hop. My favourite is "Amor al Arte" and "Naci Orishas".


http://www.orishasthebest.com/

[lucretia]

I love salsaceltica. But I cannot by their records here in Sweden. And the expenses bringing CD's home from Amazone is mostly to big.

Why don't you try Clan 537. I don't have any links to their music. but they are worth every penny.

Clan 537 started up at the "Culture" university at Havanna as a musical experiment. They mix salsa, son and hip hop in the most facinating way. The singer is wounderful....I love his voice it make me shiver.

Perhaps I can make a few soundsamples later....

/lucretia

[lucretia]

I found one sample of clan 537 - not the best song perhaps. The son singer is not at his best in this sample. To much hiphop for my taste.

http://www.salsaweb.be/music/cds/caribbeanbeat8/

[tigre]

Some of my favourite "different but still dancable" stuff:

: Ozomatli (from LA AFAIK, with rock + rap influences, previews e.g. at amazon.com)
:: Timido
:: Chota
:: Cumbia de los muertos
:: ¿Dónde se fueron?
:: Chango (merengue)

: Los de abajo (from Mexico, rock + broad variety of latin rhythms, some songs contain enough salsa to be dancable; no idea where to find samples)
:: Matame amor
:: Pepepez

: Sergent Garcia (French band IIRC, many songs by them are mostly reggae/ska, but some are > 50% salsa, previews at amazon)
:: Rumba sin fronteras
:: No me digas
:: Resisteme
:: Quitate la arena

: Juan Carlos Caceres (Tango Argentino/Milonga/Candombe)
:: Tango negro - this song is in the middle between milonga (dance similar to tango argentino), and salsa - I dance both to it, or a mix. The particular CD "Tango Negro" containing this song isn't listed at amazon.com, but previews should be easily found elsewhere.

Finally, there are some songs from "typical" salsa bands containing rap/hiphop elements without loosing the salsa tumbao, e.g. "Castigala" by Maraca or "Te molesta que sea feliz" by Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso.

[squirrel]

I couldn't be of assistance in this thread as I only like what I call "real Salsa"... meaning Salsa sung in Spanish (preferably by latinos) and with no hip-hop, breakdance, techno etc. in it! I am a Salsa vieja fan, what can I say... :)

[salsero]

Other possible types of new and "different" salsa include taking on board more modern elements like:


Different instrumentation (as in the case of Salsa Celtica with their bagpipes, etc.)

Rapping (e.g. "Mi Libertad" by Jerry Rivera feat Voltio)

Mixing & scratching

Sampling, etc.

Remixes (I only know of a few El Gran Combo remixes, and one Gloria Estefan - Mi Tierra)


Can anyone suggest any more tracks matching any of the above?

[eddiesalsero]

"new" salsa really, In my point of view" is just a fad. There have been times when salsa music has been mixed with other international elements like Rai or Celtic influences or hip hop/reggea influences like regeatton but, in reality, it just isn't salsa. The pure salsa is really the salsa of the Hector Lavoes and the Frankie Ruizes of the world. Today's salsa is not the type of salsa that will last and be acclaimed in 15-20 years. Stick with the BASICS like Ruben Blades, Hector, Frankie and you will never be "out of style"because they are the classics.

[peachexploration]

Hi EddieSalsero. Welcome to Salsa Forums. :)

[Rosa]

I couldn't be of assistance in this thread as I only like what I call "real Salsa"... meaning Salsa sung in Spanish (preferably by latinos) and with no hip-hop, breakdance, techno etc. in it! I am a Salsa vieja fan, what can I say... :)

Me too! :oops: :D

Rosa :)

[lucretia]

My last love in this genre is Orchestra Gitano and the Album Salsa gitana.

Gypsy fiddle and cuban salsa. A wonderful mix.

Complete .mp3 are found here:
w w w.flarecords.com/gitano/

(it looks like a "legal" .mp3 - no filesharing system)

/lucretia

[MacMoto]

My last love in this genre is Orchestra Gitano and the Album Salsa gitana.

Gypsy fiddle and cuban salsa. A wonderful mix.

Complete .mp3 are found here:
w w w.flarecords.com/gitano/
:idea: Thanks Luc! :D I've always liked the song (title track) and now I know the title and artist! Ooooh I love the violin :D.