How do you like your brass sections?

[Flujo]

I was going through some songs on Pandora looking for good albums to add to my wishlist and realised that some songs, while good danceable Salsa overall, were harder to listen too than others.
After thinking about it and making some comparisons, it seems like the reason for this was the balance between the brass and the rest of the instruments. I've found that songs with very pronounced brass sections tend to drown out some of the more subtle elements in the song.

My question is, does the prominence of the brass section influence your decision on whether or not to listen to a track? If not, then what other instruments or elements (if any) do you have a preference for when choosing your music?

Examples of persistent but balanced brass section include:
Tommy Olivencia - Evelio Y La Rumba (on Plante Bandera)
Wayne Gorbea - Que Linda Va (on Salsa Picante/Cogele El Gusto)


edit: I ditched the ambiguous subject for something more to the point

 

[Salsabor!]

I personally have no preference. However, I do agree that songs that are arranged to incorporate more brass can get annoying or be hard to listen to. I think it also depends what brass instruments are incorporated more. Trombones for example are not highly annoying. Trumpets on the other hand can become very annoying especially if a note is repeated heavily during a song, which is highly common in Salsa.

I'm a fan of straight ahead Puerto Rican style Salsa which incorporates more trombones then trumpets, sometimes no trumpets at all.

 

[Flujo]

Listening to some Puerto Rican style Salsa now "Puerto Rican Allstars feat Kako" (it says Puerto Rican on the tin) and hear what your saying. It's a less piercing sound when they use the Trombones - this stuff is good!
I like the screaming trumpets that are all over this style as It goes with the energy and pace of the music. Plus they have the balance just right. At this time though I can't say why it doesn't do it for me in the other styles so will have to do some more listening and see.

Do you have any recommendations for PR Salsa?

 

[sagitta]

I was going through some songs on Pandora looking for good albums to add to my wishlist and realised that some songs, while good danceable Salsa overall, were harder to listen too than others.
After thinking about it and making some comparisons, it seems like the reason for this was the balance between the brass and the rest of the instruments. I've found that songs with very pronounced brass sections tend to drown out some of the more subtle elements in the song.

My question is, does the prominence of the brass section influence your decision on whether or not to listen to a track? If not, then what other instruments or elements (if any) do you have a preference for when choosing your music?

Examples of persistent but balanced brass section include:
Tommy Olivencia - Evelio Y La Rumba (on Plante Bandera)
Wayne Gorbea - Que Linda Va (on Salsa Picante/Cogele El Gusto)


edit: I ditched the ambiguous subject for something more to the point

Yup. I'm not a big fan of brass. Prefer percussion..drumming or flute...

 

[Salsabor!]

Do you have any recommendations for PR Salsa?

Orquesta La Solucion - they use a rich trombone base. They rarely use trumpets.


EDIT: Call me stupid but how could I forget the king of trombone himself Willie Colon.

 

[Flujo]

Do you have any recommendations for PR Salsa?

Orquesta La Solucion - they use a rich trombone base. They rarely use trumpets.


EDIT: Call me stupid but how could I forget the king of trombone himself Willie Colon.

Oh yes! i put his Siembra album on my wishlist.
Edit: by the way, your CD list is HUGE. Do you Dj?