Interested in knowing which DJs you people like for Congresses, Socials, Clubs, etc. and also why you like or don't like them. For example, I think the DJ at LVG in NYC is one of the best around because of his selection of music. On the other hand, I've never been a big fan of Henry Knowles because I've heard him mixing salsa at Congresses and also don't particularly like his selection of songs.
Best and Worst Salsa DJs?
- Thread starter AguaDulce
- Start date
el_flaco_rumbero
Changui
In LA, the guy at Steven's Steak house used to be the bomb......I don't know his name, nor do I know if he is still there....but about 4 years ago, on Sundays the guy smoked!
PielCanela
Changui
the worst djs is whoever mixes salsa, or tampers with the tempo in anyway.... anything else i can handle it.
Guess it's all a matter of preference. Recently, I've seen Henry working the empty Hustle room at the NY Salsa Congress, which is where I think he belongs because he reminds me more of a disco era DJ. I often hear him play bubblegum remakes instead of the hardcore classics and hardly, if any, guanguanco. The fact that he mixes salsa is enough for me to avoid him.
desconocida
Son
Ok, just to keep it "international" 
...
I try to avoid djs who mix salsa, but also the ones who confuse "hard salsa" with "fast salsa". In my experience DJ Lubi (UK) belongs to the latter group playing sth like 300 bpm for hours
I'm not a huge fan of DJ Duste (I hope it was him!) who I've heard dj'ing at the Hamburg Salsa Festival and who has also been mixing, pitching and yelling in the mic (I really, really hope I'm not getting him confused - if I do, please correct me!), his picks were good though.
And of course I'm one of those Henry Knowles anti-fans
Not only does he mix salsa, he sometimes also plays reggaeton en masse at congresses :doh:
Now to the "best" part:
I really like DJ Mauri (NL), DJ Dave (Ger), DJ Mano (Ger) and DJ Willy.
The best music I ever heard in a social/club setting was probably in Paris - in the club "Les Etoiles" played by DJ Philippe. But overall it seemed like Paris' DJs are just great in general.
Never been to a LVG social - but after hearing all that music at the Nuevotec gallery - that dj would probably rank highest in my personal list if I had the chance to hear him djing a whole night long.
...I try to avoid djs who mix salsa, but also the ones who confuse "hard salsa" with "fast salsa". In my experience DJ Lubi (UK) belongs to the latter group playing sth like 300 bpm for hours
I'm not a huge fan of DJ Duste (I hope it was him!) who I've heard dj'ing at the Hamburg Salsa Festival and who has also been mixing, pitching and yelling in the mic (I really, really hope I'm not getting him confused - if I do, please correct me!), his picks were good though.
And of course I'm one of those Henry Knowles anti-fans
Not only does he mix salsa, he sometimes also plays reggaeton en masse at congresses :doh:Now to the "best" part:
I really like DJ Mauri (NL), DJ Dave (Ger), DJ Mano (Ger) and DJ Willy.
The best music I ever heard in a social/club setting was probably in Paris - in the club "Les Etoiles" played by DJ Philippe. But overall it seemed like Paris' DJs are just great in general.
Never been to a LVG social - but after hearing all that music at the Nuevotec gallery - that dj would probably rank highest in my personal list if I had the chance to hear him djing a whole night long.
I Djed with Martin at the LA Congress a few years back and he played some heavy stuff. Still haven't been able to make a Tuesday night at Stevens. Maybe in 2010.
DJ Nik
DJ Nik
lyndwode
Changui
No you are quite correct - although it might have been DJ Dave too, I made a post about it when I decided not even to go to the sunday nicht party because of the horrible music.
this is what I wrote in my rage:
thanks Nik,
lets not talk about this Hamburg weekend, it was a musical disaster, or at least I felt so at some points each evening...And you could only dance to the DJ once all the meglomaniacs that call themselves artists got off the stage...At one point either Albert Torrez or Mr. ET2 himself said something to the effect of "I know all of you out there want to dance, so lets get the music started" but some of the "Artists" did not think it was time to start dancing, so they stayed on the stage to shoot the **** for a while, and tell everyone stuff they really didn not want to hear. When will this end??? When will a party be for the dancers again?!?!?!
If you come to berlin in september, this WON'T happen. IT'll be all dancing!
Mixing salsa music is just wrongalthough I do have to say, this MIX in particular, was pretty cool! hahaha, it was DJ Dave, I believe.
And of course I'm one of those Henry Knowles anti-fans
What does he not understand in "dont mix salsa"...
Well, Mauri and Willy (Paris) are both the at the top of my list. There is another willy from Holland, he is great too. Paris is just amazing for music and dancing...
DJFreddy
Changui
I don't believe you guy's are talking smack about Henry Knowles out of all people. This guy is the hardest worked and most traveled DJ I have seen. He must be doing something right when he is the most requested Salsa DJ and has played in so many places that many would love to. If he is as bad as some here say I don't think neither Bacardi nor Denon would use him to promote Salsa. Maybe if the dancers wouldn't think that every time they are on the dance floor they are performing a show, they can stop and appreciate the work of a DJ. We are not going to please everyone every time. Just like all ladies will not like the way you dance. He, nor I, nor you, will ever please everyone, we capture the majority of the audience which is what he does. That is why he gets called time and time again to DJ the Salsa events.
BTW.... I will link this post to his Facebook page so he can defend himself.
BTW.... I will link this post to his Facebook page so he can defend himself.
He mixes, which most dancers I've talked to don't like. Regardless of his selection, dancers tend to not like DJs that mix salsa. In the disco or hip hop era this was good. But like Piel said, any DJ that manipulates salsa is not good. Its about the music and not about the DJs. The problem is that many of these DJs think they are stars. Just play the music in a danceable format for the dancers - we are the ones that pay for the event - not the other way around. I've heard better DJs with an IPod or computer and a good playlist. If you stick around long enough people may think you're good and you get a rep, but that doesn't really mean you are good. It's just hype. Don't believe the hype. No one is running to Taj to hear Henry on Mondays. Maybe he has developed relationships with promoters, but he needs to think about what dancers want to hear.
There are many intersting djs on the scene, not necessarily big names that spin at huge salsa events. Also being the best is very subjective it just means that dj has similar taste in music to yours. I personally like music played by Gabriel from Paris and Pablo Bat from Argentina, first because I like to dance to it (it's really swinging) and second because they play more often then the other djs songs that I do not know.
I prefer Gaby from Paris over Willy. Willy is a nice guy, but sometimes he plays music that is too fast. A few people have said they like Mauri. I've heard him play twice and he was mediocre. However, what I didn't like is what he said on the mic. Maybe I caught him at a bad time. I saw a vid of him playing in Athens and he was singing over the song with a mic? Again, play the music. Its not about a DJ being a personality or star. A lot of dancers have better music than the DJs. We just want to hear danceable music that isn't mixed.
I agree. Also, Michelle from Hong Kong was also good when I heard her.
el_flaco_rumbero
Changui
Oh sweet! Now I can seek him out on my home visits! Where do you Dj, Mambo T? OC is where I call home...............and yes! Some dj's make you want to wear earplugs....hahaha......
lyndwode
Changui
Lets address what makes a good DJ, and I dont want to sound like that funny on2 purist...
Playing "amazing music" is not that easy. It is always a battle between personal taste and the taste of the dancers, which varies depending on location, country, event etc...
Things like mixing, looping, cutting off the end of songs...are nonos in my book, they drive me nuts. A good DJ will pace the music he plays, sometimes slow, building up to faster, changing the tempo and the style of the music is a good recipe for success, I think. Mauri tells me he just opens up his case and randomly picks out a CD (sorry Mauri, if I have given away your secret...
I was in Wuppertal in the summer - a Mambo festival - there was a lot of music played that I had never ever heard, it was great music, but I dont like to go a whole night without being able to dance to some farmiliar songs (I have reasonably large repertoire nonetheless, I enjoyed the parties and heard a bunch of cool new music (for me).
Similarly, in Athens, one DJ played 2 hours of absolutly incredible music. Also incredibly rare, because I had never heard most of it...Shouldn't he have mixed in some more well known stuff?
A
Playing "amazing music" is not that easy. It is always a battle between personal taste and the taste of the dancers, which varies depending on location, country, event etc...
Things like mixing, looping, cutting off the end of songs...are nonos in my book, they drive me nuts. A good DJ will pace the music he plays, sometimes slow, building up to faster, changing the tempo and the style of the music is a good recipe for success, I think. Mauri tells me he just opens up his case and randomly picks out a CD (sorry Mauri, if I have given away your secret
...I was in Wuppertal in the summer - a Mambo festival - there was a lot of music played that I had never ever heard, it was great music, but I dont like to go a whole night without being able to dance to some farmiliar songs (I have reasonably large repertoire
nonetheless, I enjoyed the parties and heard a bunch of cool new music (for me).Similarly, in Athens, one DJ played 2 hours of absolutly incredible music. Also incredibly rare, because I had never heard most of it...Shouldn't he have mixed in some more well known stuff?
A
DJFreddy
Changui
Wow talk about getting defensive.......
Most of the ones I talk to don't care! As long as it is good salsa they dance cause that is what they love to do. No matter if they mix or not.
That is your opinion....some do some don't care as long as it is good to dance to.
Or maybe it could be that the dancers think they are the stars and everytime they dance they are in a contest.
Just because you pay does not mean that everyone will bow down to you and do it your way. Different DJs have different styles. Some you will like some you will not. I know many clubs that don't want a salsa night since Salsero's do not spend money in the bar, does that mean that everyone will stop doing them? Different strokes for different folks!
Sounds to me like a personal vendetta here.
No that usually means you are doing something right if you are in business that long.
Relationships with Promoters? Do you seriously think they would use him if they are not making money in return?
Wow Henry, what did you do to this guy? LOL..........