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PRE-EVENT POST | POST-EVENT POST Salsa is for everyone, and it shows.  Across the planet, wherever salsa dancers go — at least in main cities — it seems you can find a local salsa scene, however big or small. This speaks volumes of the universal appeal of the music style rooted in the Caribbean which flourished in New York, Cali, Caracas (and elsewhere) and then gained momentum to spread across the globe, in part by the Latin diaspora but also by local musicians who got hooked on the salsa sound. You cannot go very far when exploring context in salsa songs before being amazed by all the incredible information and depths of meaning involved Among the salsa-loving communities spanning the globe are dancers who pair up at events to share their interpretation of the music, with body movements in varying degrees of complexity and timing. Go to any salsa dance event and you can witness the passion and joy apparent in dancers as they find ways to connect with the music played by the DJ or live band.  A view of the dance floor at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival The joy, appeal, inclusivity, and inspiration that salsa music offers is impressive. When we consider the musical components which inspire salsa dancers, we can recognize the accessibility that polyrhythm, melody, phrasing, and syncopation have. What is interesting, however, is the role that lyrics play in the sound of salsa as a whole. The lyrics are, by default — with few exceptions — sung in Spanish, a language inaccessible to most dancers you may see at an event in Berlin, London, Istanbul, Nairobi, Tokyo, Taipei, Montréal, San Francisco, or (your city here).  Yet the lyrics are an integral component of a salsa song. They are intended to be more than just a sound like that of an instrument to juxtapose or work in tandem with other instruments. They are the carefully composed ideas, observations, or pronouncements that are heart-fully expressed by vocalists, and often the central force of the song. It is in the lyrics where we find a message, however simple, poignant, or profound it may be. Furthermore, beyond the words and phrases which make up the song composition, there is a background story to that composition, with roots in varying degrees of social, cultural, and historical contexts, giving it even deeper meanings to explore. Dancing to "Balafon" (Calle Vapor) and "El Aguacatólogo" (Manny Martinez) at 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival We can note then that salsa music has powerful appeal and can be enjoyed immensely without understanding a word of the lyrics — and of course, that is fine. No one can say that you cannot dance to your heart’s content or physically interpret salsa in your own unique way without understanding the lyrics. However, one might add that there is much to be appreciated when you actually know the meaning of a salsa song. In fact, knowing a song’s message allows a dancer to appreciate it more and to find inspiration for physically interpreting it with more feeling.  Simply put, context matters. This blog contains a few posts about songs that have already been discussed with regard to context.  Cheo Feliciano’s “Anacaona” (1974) is particularly interesting for its historical background as well as its relevant message today ;  “Pueblo Latino” by Spanish Harlem Orchestra (2002) is important for the cultural identity it celebrates ; “Volare” by Cortijo y Su Combo (1960) is interesting for its interpretation of a popular Italian song at a time when the term "salsa" was not in use to describe a musical style . Salsa in Context You cannot go very far when exploring context in salsa songs before being amazed by all the incredible information and depths of meaning involved. This is what inspired me to deliver an introductory presentation titled "Salsa in Context" at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival (Nov 22-24), where I also selected tunes for the dance floor on Friday and Saturday night. The event featured many international attendees, including performers, instructors and DJs. It was an absolutely fantastic experience; however, it was also a great opportunity to have an audience to share some ideas about context in salsa. I kept it simple and had modest expectations in the form of an introductory presentation because I don't claim to be an expert; I just wish to share what I can. Presenting 'Salsa in Context' at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival Thirteen songs were spotlighted, some in more detail than others. All the songs contain fascinating context to raise awareness about the importance of meaning and the background story in salsa. First, I presented the relevance of two songs, one by Ray Sepulveda with Johnny Rivera, and one by Jimmy Saa. "No vale la pena" is what started me thinking about context, as this song was incredibly popular in Japan when I started deejaying, and it was intriguing how dancers would joyfully react to what they must have assumed was just a cheerful, romantic song. While the song indeed had an upbeat vibe, the message in the lyrics could not have been more contrasting, with lines such as "it's not worth falling in love" and "love gives you life, but it also takes your life away". "No vale la pena" -- the Spanish lyrics and the English translation The song "Si Dios Quiere" by Jimmy Saa has always been a personal favorite, but it was not until I went over the lyrics carefully that I grew even fonder of the song. It has a deep connection with me. The video below is illustrative as a live performance, but the studio version is better. Live version: Studio version: "Si Dios Quiere" -- the Spanish lyrics and the English translation Additionally, eight songs were discussed briefly, covering a range of contexts, each represented by their album covers, pictured below. Anacaona, Cheo Feliciano Indestructible, Ray Barretto Rebelion, Joe Arroyo Sujetate la Lengua, Eddie Palmieri Otra Oportunidad, Jimmy Bosch Juanito Alimaña, Hector Lavoe Salao, Grupo Niche El Mundo al Revés, Tromboranga Focus on “La Profe” The main spotlight was on the song “La Profe” by Manny Martinez. It is very impressionable, not just for dancing but also as an entertaining and well-crafted music video. “La Profe” was a good choice of material to focus on at this early stage in my exploration of context in salsa, while I leave more profound songs for later. Manny Martinez spent most of his childhood in Puerto Rico but resided in New York and San Francisco before moving recently to Cali, Colombia, where in the last two years he has found the space and time to focus on music. He is most well-known for the groundbreaking album Azabache (2000) which he co-produced with his brother. Several solo albums followed, most recently In the Zone  (2024). Fortunately, he agreed to an interview on short-notice just before my trip to Taipei. I was keen to listen to his insight behind three of the songs included in the latest album, one of which is "La Profe". Click below to watch the interview. Main points of the interview Salsa can be enjoyed regardless of whether you understand a song’s meaning. A song's lyrics represent a composer’s observation of life and is part of a story-telling art form. A deeper appreciation of a song can be achieved by understanding its meaning. Cultural, social, and historical contexts are areas to look into as well. Three songs from Manny Martinez's latest album In the Zone (2024) are provided with a background story and some context. The song "La Profe" ("The Teacher") was inspired by the Van Halen song "Hot Teacher". The wit, meaning, and context of "La Profe" can be better appreciated by watching the music video. "El Aguacatólogo" ("The Avocado Expert") was the result of Manny's wife commenting on how good he was at knowing which avocados were perfectly ripe; also relevant are the charm and appeal of street vendors hawking their products: both his local avocado-seller where he currently lives as well as the neighborhood bread-seller from his childhood in Puerto Rico. "Los Buenos Somos Más" ("There Are More of us Good People") was a phrase he overheard a salsa DJ saying, and the song reiterates the point that despite the general negativity around us, we should be confident that everything will be fine because there are more good people than bad people. Community, Awareness, and More Knowing the meaning of a song and understanding its context are avenues to enrich the dancing experience, develop a dancer’s artistic expression, and deepen their connection with the salsa community — not only in the present but also in the past. That is to say, acknowledging the forerunners of this global community we now belong to is also significant. This belonging obliges recognition of those who passed the music down to us. Such recognition could extend further into the past, to the crossroads of 19th century Cuba where the rich musical traditions of Africa and Spain/Europe were set to meet. This may culminate perhaps even with a spiritual experience, where some wisdom develops a deeper appreciation of Afro-Caribbean music that promotes respect, awareness, and peace both on and off the dance floor.  Conclusion While salsa music evidently has universal appeal within an inclusive, global community, it is noteworthy that many of its enthusiasts probably do not understand the meaning of the songs they are dancing to. This is not a critical judgement; it is just an observation. However, as explained in my presentation at the 2024 Taiwan Salsa Carnival, being aware of a song’s meaning and context can elevate a dancer’s experience — spotlighting Manny Martinez’s song "La Profe" is a simple example. Acknowledgements Heartfelt thanks to Manny Martinez for his talents, insights, and sharing time with me. Thanks as well to the Taiwan Salsa Carnival, and especially its organizer, Calvin Wang, for providing support and a setting for my presentation.  Manny Martinez Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | YouTube Taiwan Salsa Carnival Instagram | Facebook < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Episode 40 highlights salsa songs with a great solo section, whether with piano or other instrument types like strings, brass, percussion, and bass. Replay below (2:05:07, 24 tracks). I will guess that most DJs and salsa enthusiasts are in agreement that songs with a solo part have special appeal compared with those without a solo. It is certainly a thrill to hear a musician given some time during a song to add their personal flair on the instrument of their choice. At times, a solo comes across as the work of a genius. This episode of Encanto TropicaI contains 24 such tracks which especially ring true for me -- I emphasize the selection is highly personal in nature and not meant to be authoritative. Surely, there are hundreds of amazing salsa songs with 'fabulous' solos. While the most common kind of solo in salsa might be with the piano, I wanted to also include solos with other instruments, such as the trombone, trumpet, saxophone, congas, bongos, contrabass, violin, cuatro/tres and electric guitar. Featured artists include Larry Harlow, Mongo Santamaria, Alfredo de la Fe, Israel Lopez 'Cachao' and José Mangual Jr, to name only a few well-known salsa musicians. Some of the music on Encanto Tropical 40 There is so much material to work with that I can easily imagine a Part 2 on this theme. Stay tuned. In the meantime, I hope listeners can enjoy these 24 tracks -- some of which are commonly known, but others may not be. Full attribution is provided on the show. Replay below. Pa' gozar! REPLAY EPISODE 40 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Episode 17 is available for replay -- see below for the link (2hrs 11mins, 21 tracks). The guest is DJ Bongohead, whose roles in the Latin music industry go way beyond just deejaying. He is a very knowledgeable writer, curator, researcher and record label co-owner. See the pre-show post for Bongohead's introduction on Encanto Tropical. Show Highlights: Introductory salsa session: ~15:29 featuring 3 tracks by El Super Combo Los Diamantes, Julian Y Su Combo, and Estrellas de Chocolate. Spotlight 1 (New salsa releases): 15:30~ featuring CSAN-II, Donny Reyes Feat. La Maxima 79, and Pablo Perez "El Alcalde de La Salsa" Guest Showcase: Interview with Bongohead, Part 1: 30:38~ featuring Chapuseaux Y Damirón and Conjunto Siglo 21 Spotlight 2 (Latin music by Japanese artists) 51:19~ featuring Orquesta del Sol, Sayaka Y Su Palma Habanera. and Aya Nakano & Central Guest Showcase: Interview with Bongohead, Part 2: 1:07:01~ featuring Bio Ritmo, Orquesta El Macabeo Guest Showcase: Interview with Bongohead, Part 3: 1:25:19~ featuring Ola Fresca Spotlight 3 (Covers of Cuban music): 1:34:44~ featuring Abraham Rodriguez Jr, La Maxima 79, and Rafael "Pollo" Brito and Edwin Pulgar. Spotlight 4 (Guest showcase - song selection): 1:52:29~ featuring Frankie Figueroa, Joe Acosta, and Los Dementes Concluding track: 2:06:50~ featuring Chano Pozo Replay Episode 17 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Latest upload: an all-salsa mix recorded live at my gig at "Mambongo!" special event last Saturday in Tokyo. Listen online (MixCloud) below! The live recording was edited a bit to remove all the bachata --- so it’s over three hours of non-stop salsa, with a tinge of color added to the sound quality from the pre-amp included in my DJ setup. Listen on MixCloud.... Replay Recorded on Dec 3, 2022. Mambongo! Much gratitude to the Mambongo event organizers who hold their monthly salsa social on the 1st Saturday at Studio Pepe 2 in Roppongi, Tokyo. Check out their Facebook or website for upcoming events. MORE MIXES Check more mixes on my Mixes page or on my MixCloud ( Latin / African / Other ). < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Coming soon on Encanto Tropical... Episode 17 features DJ Bongohead as the guest! Tune in on December 8 for an exclusive interview. The prolific writer Pablo Yglesias, aka Bongohead, regularly demonstrates his vast knowledge of the history and scope of Latin music in his posts on Instagram . Also significant is his work as curator, not just in media (poster and album cover art for exhibition purposes), but also in reissued albums and compilations, most recently for VampiSoul (Munster Records). In addition, he stays busy as a regular DJ and in co-managing the record label Peace and Rhythm . Although Bongohead and I have never met in person, it has been a pleasure knowing him for a few years now. While our communication is limited to email chats, I am always humbled by his generosity in sharing his deep knowledge of the Latin music scene. It's rather impressive the many roles he assumes, so it's a pleasure to have him as a guest on Encanto Tropical! Examples of Bongohead's activities in the world of Latin music are listed below. DJ Bongohead: Links 1 Album Contributor List of contributions on Discogs.com 2 Record Label Co-Founder/Co-Manager Peace & Rhythm Records 3 Gallery Exhibit Curator Visual Clave Gallery 4 BlogGER On Joe Bataan On Latin album cover art "Y qué se sepa?" 5 DJ Gladys & Palmera mix 6 INSTAGRAMMER @bongohead_peaceandrhythm Episode 17 will deviate from the usual format. Instead of a 30 minute mix to open the episode, we will start almost immediately with the guest interview, since it is about 25 minutes in length -- this will be split over several parts, interspersed with relevant choices in music, such as songs from compilations that Bongohead has been involved with. In his talk, Bongohead generously provides a lot of interesting information and details! In addition -- as is the custom for the guest on Encanto Tropical -- he selects three special tracks for us to listen to. Encanto Tropical comprises four spotlights which form the main part of the show: New salsa releases Latin music by Japanese artists Covers of classic Cuban songs Guest Showcase See the Program Description for more information about the structure of the show, especially the spotlights. Tune into World Salsa Radio for Episode 17 of Encanto Tropical with Bongohead on December 8th! < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

It’s been two years, but I’m back in the Kansai region for the winter break with three nights behind the decks! Come say hi in Kobe, Kyoto, or Osaka… Check the Facebook Event page links for more information. Dec 30 Fri (Kobe) Latin Lounge: Year-End Party in NISHINOMIYA Feat. Yacel Sagarra (live Cuban music) Casablanca Nishinomiya 兵庫県西宮市西波止町1−2 コンパス西宮ビーチリゾート 2階 Tel 080-8808-5376 ¥1000 17:00-22:00 (Live 20:00 & 21:00) > Event Information Jan 6 Fri (Kyoto) Latin Digs: All-Vinyl Lounge Session Feat. Craft beer and sake! Hachi Record Shop & Bar 京都市下京区平居町19 Tel 075-746-7694 ¥500 18:00-22:00 > Event Information Jan 7 Sat (Osaka) Pegao Social NY Special Feat. Kanae (Lesson) / DJ Shigeru Voxx 大阪市西区江戸堀1-15-30 B1 Tel 06-6225-2100 2500円 (Lesson & 1 Drink) 16:00-20:00 > Event Information < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

It's been a little while since I did a show, but I'm back with Episode 19 of Encanto Tropical for World Salsa Radio . Replay at the bottom of this page. Episode19 is an eclectic salsa mix -- on the playlist are some old and new songs which are a bit left-field -- but the highlight is "Danza para los difuntos", an exquisite instrumental track by bassist Rubim de Toledo from Edmonton, Canada. There is also one non-salsa track from the Cuban-American pianist, Enrique Chia, about halfway through the session. Playlist 1. Conjunto Imagen - Estamos en Salsa 2. Pazcual Villaronga - Bongo habla otra vez 3. Grupo Galé - Parece Mentira 4. Bobby Valentín - Me Abandonaste 5. Michi Sarmiento y su Combo - Corazon de Araña Negra 6. Alfredo Linares y Su Sonora - Boogaloo Girl 7. Ray Pérez y Perucho Torcat - Lengua de hacha 8. 5 En Clave feat. Tato Peña - La Temeridad 9. Joseph Torres Y Orquesta Curaré - Yo Te Curaré 10. Rubim de Toledo - Baile para los Difuntos 11. Afia Mala & Orquesta Aragon - Lonlon Vanvan (Edit Version) 12. Manyoma Brothers - La Flor de los Lindos Campos (feat. Adalberto Santiago) 13. Pedro Lázaro Ordóñez Padrón (Papucho) & Manana Club - A la Rumba 14. Enrique Chia - Siempre En Mi Corazon 15. Cuban Masters - Toca la Flauta Fajardo 16. La Maxima 79 - El Pasillito 17. Orquesta Capri - Guaguanco de Los Indios 18. Conjunto Mamborama - Tu Por Aqui, Yo Por Alla 19. Jomed - Montuno Norteño 20. Belisario López y Su Charanga - Caña Y Coco 21. Massimo Scalici & Manfredi Caputo - Suavecito 22. German Medina & Nell Figueroa - La Cuna Del Son 23. Chelosaoko - Baila Mi Ritmo 24. El Trabuco Venezolano - Yo Soy La Rumba 25. Tony Ávila - Timbiriche 26. Irving Manuel - Todo Se Derrumbó 27. Tommy Olivencia - Tu No Haces Falta Replay Episode 19 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Coming up is Episode 20 featuring the dancer Rumbera la Andaluza as guest. Up to now, guests on my show have been musicians, DJs, and dance instructors. This is to be expected, but I think a dancer’s perspective is great to spotlight, as well. A frequent traveler to dance events around Europe and a keen audience member of salsa radio shows and live streams, Rumbera la Andaluza embodies the same level of dedication to salsa that my past guests show, too. Tune in to hear her thoughts* and of course her selection of 3 songs in Spotlight 4 for the show! *NOTE: the interview is in Spanish, but an English transcript is provided on the highlights page. Other spotlights feature new salsa releases, songs by Japanese musicians, and cover versions of classic Cuban songs. This is all material I’m happy to research and share with listeners of the show. The show starts with a short mix of songs taken from the playlist of my recent live stream for El Parche Cucarron -- with many thanks to the organizers, especially Carlito Lopez, for having me on April 1. Episode 20 of Encanto Tropical broadcasts on April 13th. Join me and see you in the chat! < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Coming up... today! I am marking my birthday with a fundraiser for Médecins San Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). It will be great fun with salsa and DJ mates. Five great DJs are joining me for a 6-hour live stream on Facebook: DJ Eddie Hunt (UK) DJ Hong (USA) DJ Atsushi A-Chango (Japan) DJ Mosquetero (Spain) DJ Nik (USA) The kick off is at 19:00 (Japan time) with my set. Join us and say hi in the chat! 03:00 PT / 05:00 COL / 06:00 ET / 11:00 BT / 12:00 CET For more information, including international times, check the event page . Donations for MSF are welcome on the Donation page . MSF is a great charity doing very important work around the world. It is a non-profit organization providing humanitarian medical assistance in crisis zones -- it is currently operating in more than 70 areas. Its many dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff need our support. It runs almost entirely on donations, so let's make a difference. Please donate. Check the MSF website to learn more. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

A week ago my home studio was the venue for a salsa live stream event and fundraiser where 5 invited DJs and me marked my birthday. The event was great fun, there was a good audience, and we managed to collect about ¥149,000 (US$1100) in donations for one of my preferred charities, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders. MSF is an important organization that provides crucial humanitarian medical assistance in several hotspots around the world, often under dangerous circumstances for its dedicated medical works and staff. It relies almost entirely on donations, so it’s crucial for gather grassroots support for support it. I’m very pleased and proud of the team of DJs and our generous audience for crossing the US$1000 threshold. In the big scheme of things, it’s not that much, but every little bit counts. The spirit of collective action and awareness-raising is important, too. Find out more about Medecins Sans Frontières. This fundraising project is a yearly event. I do it every birthday for MSF. Participating DJs this year were DJ Eddie Hunt, DJ Hong, DJ Atsushi Umeda, DJ Mosquetero, and DJ Nik. What lineup! The video of the event, Angel's Birthday Salsa , is available for replay on my Facebook timeline . Six hours' worth! Check it out! With warm thanks to everyone who contributed who contributed to the cause. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Last week’s Encanto Tropical (2:04:44, 21 tracks) is ready for replay - see below. This show spotlights 21 salsa tracks which include masterful piano — all from the 1970s. I cover a range of pianists playing in both the roles of background rhythm and piano solo. It’s a high definition recording. This was the 25th edition of Encanto Tropical, so it’s a pleasing milestone for me, however small. Thanks to everyone who has have supported me so far. Full attribution is given in the show. Most of the tracks are standards; my aim was not to showcase rare songs but rather curate mostly classics. Featured pianists are the following. Sonny Bravo Gilberto ‘Pulpo’ Colon Markolino Dimond Andres Dorios Wayne Gorbea Hernán Gutiérrez Larry Harlow Oscar Hernández Rafael Ithier Enrique "Culebra" Iriarte Papo Lucca Eddie Martinez Jorge Millet Charlie Palmieri Eddie Palmieri Ricardo Ray Edwin Rodriguez Joe Torres Javier Vasquez REPLAY EPISODE 25 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Replay Episode 26 using the link at the bottom of this page. Thirty songs (1:57:02). This is an on-the-fly mix featuring mostly vintage salsa. No specific theme. No guest, either. I had no time to prep, so I just played track to track... Good fun! The following artists are featured. Full attribution is given on the show. Alfredito Linares Y Su Orquesta Arley y su Proyecto Blas Duran Y La Nueva Fuerza Bush Y Sus Magníficos Candido Y Su Movimiento Carlos Pickling Y Su Conjunto Chaparro Charlie Palomares Y Su Orquesta Chivirico Davila Danny Gonzalez Y Su Orquesta El Clan de la Salsa El Combo De Pepe El Klan Fuego '77 Gilberto Sextet H.M.A Salsa/Jazz Orchestra Hot Salsa Ismael Miranda Jesus M. Leal Y Su Salsa Johnny Ventura Y Su Combo Los Armonicos Los Kenya Mambo Loco Mario Allison y Su Combo Nuestra Orquesta La Salsa Mayor Orquesta Cali Charanga Pete Bonet Pijuan Y Su Sexteto Ray Terrace Super Combo Bellamar REPLAY EPISODE 26 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >