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It was great fun doing Episode 21. Replay is available below. The theme was salsa from the 1970s. Twenty-eight tracks were selected -- both well-known standards and rarities -- by the following artists. Roberto Angleró y Su Combo Conjunto Borincuba Angel Canales Willie Colón & Hector Lavoe Mickey Cora y Orquesta Cábala Chivirico Davila Nelson Feliciano & His Orchestra Fuego '77 Wayne Gorbea y Su Conjunto Salsa Kako The Lebron Brothers Los Hermanos Lopez Ismael Miranda con Orchestra Harlow La Muralla New Swing Sextet Ray Olan Tommy Olivencia y Su Orquesta Orquesta Revolucion '70 Tony Pabón y La Protesta Ismael Rivera y Sus Cachimbos The Tony Rojas Orchestra Jimmy Sabater Luis Santi Gilberto Sextet Bobby Valentin Javier Vázquez y Su Salsa Tata Vazquez & His Orchestra Johnny Ventura y Su Combo Show REPLAY EPISODE 21 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

[Pre-Show Post] Up next is an all-Cuban mix for Episode 23 of Encanto Tropical on World Salsa Radio. Tune in for some fire... Arrancando motores para el próximo show de mi programa radial Encanto Tropical (#23) a través de WorldSalsaRadio. Es una mezcla de música cubana contemporánea (información de abajo). World Salsa Radio の次回の Encanto Tropical 放送に向けてプレイリストを準備中です。すべて現代キューバ音楽。 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Number 22 is now up (1:58:45 / 24 tracks). Click the replay link at the bottom of this page. This version has no guest showcase or spotlights. Instead, I feature songs played from my gig at last Saturday's Mambongo! 5/6 (Sat) in Tokyo... and *only* songs that I have never played on Encanto Tropical. Spinning at Mambongo was certainly great fun -- as always -- and I hope listeners enjoy this selection of tracks from that night. Artists featured are the following. Listen to the show for full attribution. Anaïs Abreu, Pio Leyva, Rudy Calzado, Tata Güines Rey Caney Con Orquesta Antonio Cartagena Oscar D'Leon Alexander Guerra, D'Nuevo Son Bentho Gustave Titiou Emilio Campos Conjunto Selección de Philadelphia Irving Manuel DJ Maurizio Doná La Maxima 79, DJ Pepe Bassan Grupo Nueva Gente Angel Melendez, Big Band Maquina New Swing Sextet Pablito y Su Charanga (DJ Venot Remix) Papa Orbe & Los Científicos del Sabor Eduardo Padua, Dominique Patrick Noël Rikuson All-Stars Los Rocket's Ruben Salas and His Salsa Orchestra La Santa Rumba The Tony Rojas Orquesta Tromboranga Hector Zalsumba Rivera REPLAY EPISODE 22 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Episode 23 is up (2:00:24 / 27 tracks). Click the replay link at the bottom of this page. Featured is the unique Cuban salsa sound, including both non-Cuban and Cuban musicians, with a balance between Cuban-based musicians and those in the diaspora. There was a huge range of material to select from, so choices were limited to fairly new releases. Still, there are a number of songs I had to pass over due to the time limit, but it will be easy to make up for this with another "Cuban session" in the future. Stay tuned. Full attribution is provided in the show. The artists are as follows. Alberto García & Alcibiades Durruthy (feat. Juan Munuía) Alexander Abreu Alexander Guerra, D’Nuevo Son Berna Jam Christian y Rey Combinación de La Habana Criss y la Descarga Eduardo Sandoval El Micha El Rubio Loco Elito Revé y su Charangón Formell y Los Van Van Havana D’Primera Issac Delgado Joel Torres El Cata Manana Club y Papucho Manolito Simonet Y Su Trabuco Maravillas de Florida Maurizio Donà Maykel Flores Mixael Cabrera Pascualito Cabrejas y su Tumbao Habana Plena 79 Ray Garcia DJ, DJ El Dan (feat. Dayan) Soneros All Stars Sounds of Cuba Timbalive Willy Chirino REPLAY EPISODE 23 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

[Pre-Show Post] Episode 25 is a sort of milestone, however small. It spotlights the piano in 1970s salsa. The piano has versatility in salsa for its roles in rhythm, melody, and harmony. Although easy to hear, sometimes the piano just blends with other percussive instruments. At other times it switches from this background role to function as a prominent element of a song, such as in a solo. Whether as a solo or part of the multilayered rhythms comprising a salsa tune, the piano has special appeal for me. When considering salsa's golden era -- let's say the 1970s -- there are several pianists that come to mind, such as Eddie Palmieri, Markolino Dimond, Joe Torres, Papo Lucca, Javier Vazquez, Alfredito Linares, and Larry Harlow, to name just a few. In this edition of Encanto Tropical we will listen to them and others. I have highlighted the piano in salsa on other occasions, such as the following. Episode 25 of Encanto Tropical compiles another two hours' worth of songs with amazing piano work -- all from the golden era of salsa. In truth, there are too many great examples to squeeze into one show, so my selection will be limited, and in no way are my choices meant to be authoritative. This is not about the "best" in salsa piano; it is just a small selection of songs which I find noteworthy. I hope listeners enjoy it and find inspiration to seek other great examples of 'salsa piano'. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

This weekend I'm meeting up with DJ Frankie Flores, who is visiting Japan. Together we share some tunes in a Facebook live stream with lots of underground salsa. Join us! Sofrito Guest DJ Frankie Flores Facebook Live Saturday, July 8: 09:00-11:00 (Japan time) 5pm PT / 8pm ET July 7 / 02:00 CET July 8 See the FB Event page for details < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Last week my set opened the 3 Year Anniversary Fundraising event for World Salsa Radio . It is great to be a part of the DJ team! See below for replay. For this one hour session, my playlist is made of 11 preferred tunes from the last three years. It was a very simple setup because I did not have much time to prepare! Full attribution is provided in the show. The artists are as follows. Angel Melendez & Big Band Maquina DDLO Fresto Music Gerardo Rosales Luis Vazquez El Nene León New Swing Sextet Orquesta Yare Papa Orbe & Los Científicos Del Sabor Ricky Campanelli Tromboranga REPLAY WSR - 3 Year anniversary Set 1 (DJ Angel) < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Every DJ needs their cave plus more. I just recently moved house and am working on the new studio -- almost finished! It's mostly just the artwork for the walls that is left to do. This studio is a haven. Every early morning when the kids are asleep I find myself! Today I was prepping for my set at Paco’s Social later this afternoon in Nagoya. That's a 4-hour trip including the bullet train, so I must be selective with the vinyl to keep the weight manageable. But there will be crackers for sure! It's been a while since I posted something. There was a lot to prioritize last month. I am also on Instagram and Facebook - have a look and follow me there! As for today's event, I'm looking forward to the reunions and a great time… Come say hi in the DJ booth! Paco’s Social 9/17 (Sun) 17:00~ Club Mago, Nagoya FB Event page < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

September’s ten salsa songs for Encanto Tropical are actually DJ Rem’s choices — he kindly accepted my invitation to select them as my special guest. His choices are great, of course. Check them out. DJ Rem, who is based in France, has been tremendous in building up a Spotify playlist for salsa released in 2023 , one in which he invited me as a contributor, much in the same way we collaborated on a playlist for 2022 Salsa . They have been fun projects, but I am rather busy (job, family, etc), so I haven’t been able to participate as much as I would like. Occasionally, I have time to search and discover new salsa songs, but when I attempt to add something to our list, I often discover that DJ Rem already chose it. He’s quick! DJ Rem is a busy guy these days. If he's not spinning somewhere, he is likely working on either the Spotify playlist or his YouTube channel , where he features songs from records, sometimes very rare ones. It is a project he started during the pandemic and the channel lists almost 400 videos to date. Clearly, whatever DJ Rem plays -- old or new -- it shows good taste. And it is commendable to find a salsa DJ as committed to finding new releases as to exploring vintage songs. As for that Spotify playlist, most of the credit goes to DJ Rem for the time and effort he has put into compiling it. I wish I was able to contribute more. With two and a half months remaining for material, I will try! It is from our Spotify playlist that I select my 10 monthly “Picks” for Encanto Tropical. Choices for any given month are limited only to tracks that have been released within four months prior. To see other salsa charts (commencing from January 2023) see the Charts page. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Replay Episode 29 using the link at the bottom of this page - twenty-six songs (1:58:29). Continuing from the last episode, the theme is salsa from Puerto Rico. There were so many tracks that I could not play last time that this show (Part 2) is made up entirely of outtakes from the last show. ​ Like Part 1, my selection of songs is not intended as a "best-of list". Tracks were chosen primarily on a personal basis, but on most occasions I also chose songs that were not among the most famous of a given artist. Importantly, I also focused on songs by artists based in Puerto Rico -- as opposed to those who permanently relocated to the United States (with just a few exceptions). The following artists are featured. Full attribution is given on the show. Carlos García Conjunto Imagen La Dominante La Playa Sextet Eduardo Zayas Y Su Ez La Banda Ft Rodrigo Mendoza El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico Gilberto Santa Rosa Ismael Rivera & Sus Cachimbos Jerry Ferrao Jimmy Urbina Y Su Orquesta Revolucion 70 Jose Torres with Mel Martinez & Jorge Nicolai Mickey Cora y Orquesta Cabala Norbert Papo Cocote Pedro Conga Pete Perignon Puerto Rican Power Rafael Cortijo & Su Bonche Sonora Ponceña Rafú Warner Rene Figueroa y Su Orquesta Son Clave Rico Walker Sonora Ponceña Tito Rodríguez Tommy Olivencia Willie Gonzalez REPLAY EPISODE 29 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

DJ alert! Available are new versions of Ayumi "Azúcar" Suzuki's 2016 hits 'Sakura' and 'Maria Cervantes' -- on 7 inch vinyl (not yet on digital platforms). Now shipping from Japan with limited availability. Included are detailed liner notes with song information and musician bios. Label: Ayumigo Records, 2023 Distribution: 東洋化成 (Toyou Kasei) Previews Sakura: Maria Cervantes: Click here to request information about ordering. < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >

Replay Encanto Tropical 32 using the link at the bottom of this page: 26 songs ( 2:01:10 ). Two weeks ago I had the thrill of deejaying at a weekend event in Okinawa marking the 20th Anniversary of MambOki Latin Dance Studio, run by Erik Rodriguez, whose talents as a performer, instructor, and mentor deserve high praise. Congrats to him! ​ Episode 32 is made up of tracks from playlists used for my two sets at the event on Friday and Saturday. Full attribution is given on the show. Featured artists are listed below. Alméstica Antonio Cartagena Benedict & The Magic Band Chuck Velez Coco Garcia Cuba Quartet DDLO Dj Fabrizio Zoro, El Vikingo De La Salsa Dj Maurizio Dona' Dj Ricky Campanelli Eduardo Zayas y Su Ez la Banda El Equipo Del Norte El Tumbao de Ricar Fabio Gianni and LunaMea Quartet Gia Fu Joel Torres El Cata KUARE La Excelencia La Santa Rumba Larry Bass Lucas van Merwijk and His Cu-Bop City Big Band Marco Puma New Swing Sextet Riverita Y Su Orquesta Noche Caliente Ft Danny Rivera Jr REPLAY EPISODE 32 < NEXT POST PREVIOUS POST >