The greatest show on earth: the 6th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress

Latin Beat Magazine, May, 2004 by Rudy Mangual

SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA: NEW YORK CITY'S SALSA SOCIAL CLUB

Led by pianist/arranger/musical director Oscar Hernández (of Rubén Blades' Sies del Solar and Son del Solar fame), Spanish Harlem Orchestra is on all-star ensemble of veteran players coming together to document the true sounds of New York City's urban salsa music. The young orchestra released its debut CD Un Dia En El Barrio on September, 2002 to glorious reviews worldwide due to its aggressive hard-edge arrangements and interpretations of the salsa classics Mama Guele, Aprende a Querer, Pueblo Latino, and Llegó La Banda, among others. Its second disc is scheduled to hit the streets this summer, anticipated to be one of the year's best releases. The core members of the orchestra include percussionists Bobby Allende, George Delgado, and Pablo "Chino" Nuñez, bassist Rubén Rodriguez, trumpeters Raúl Agraz and Ray Vega, baritone saxophonist Mitch Frohman, trombonist José Antonio Dávila and singers Herman Olivera and Ray de la Paz.

NORA & ORQUESTA DE LA LUZ: SALSA FROM JAPAN

The Japanese salsa band Orquesta de la Luz built a substantial following in its homeland as well as abroad during the early to mid-1990s, riding on the initial success of their 1990 self-titled debut album, their 1991 sophomore release Sin Fronteras and their 1992 release Somos Diferentes. The focal point of the group was primarily on lead singer Nora and when the band disbanded in 1995, Nora continued her career as a soloist. Though initially thought of as a novelty act, Orquesta de la Luz proved to be a legitimate musical outfit through the talents of its members. All the band members are trained professionals and practitioners of diverse musical genres besides Latin music such as classical, popular and jazz music. Co-producer Sergio George provides occasional keyboards and arrangements while pianist Shiro Sasaki leads the band and helps with arrangements as well. This year's West Coast Salsa Congress reunites Nora with many of the original members of Orquesta de la Luz for a very special night of "Salsa from Japan."

EL GRAN COMBO DE PUERTO RICO: THE SALSA AMBASSADORS TO THE WORLD

In May, 1962, seven members of the popular Puerto Rican band Cortijo y su Combo left the band to form a new group under the leadership of pianist Rafael Ithier, thus El Gran Combo was born. The new ensemble rapidly gained the respect and loyalty of the Puerto Rican people proclaiming them one of the greatest tropical dance bands of its times. Four decades after their inception, the veteran company continues to inspire dancers from all corners of the planet with their simple yet always perfect brass-accented tropical compositions full of lush vocal harmonies. The Puerto Rican Senate officially proclaimed them "ambassadors of our music," but their fame and popularity stretches throughout all of Latin America and beyond where they ore nicknamed Los Mulatos del Sabor, Los Embajadores de la Salsa, La Universidad de la Salsa, La Bandera de la Salsa and El Combo de Rafael Ithier. Known for its vocal excellence, the group has been the home of star singers and soneros Pellín Rodríguez, Chiqui Rivera, Andy Montañez, Marcos Montañez, Charlie Aponte, Jerry Rivas and Luis A. Rosario. With over 60 albums, the list of hit songs is endless: Mima, Jala, jala, Don Goyo, El Arbolito, Achilipú, La Muerte, Brujeria, Ojos Chinos, Y No Hago Mas Na', Se Me Fué, El Menú, Azuquita Pa'l Café, Julia, Timbalero, Sabor A Pueblo and Me Libaré. With no signs of slowing down any time soon, El Gran Combo continues to be one of the main exponents in the world of salsa music.