50 Mejores de la Salsa 2015 / Top 50 Salsa CD’s of 2015
By Nelson Rodríguez
(El Condado De La Salsa Y Jazz Latino)
It is always hard to pick Salsa releases each year because while receiving many of them from the artists and/or labels, many good ones do evade me. Many artists forget the #1 key point to a good promotion is simply…send the CD to the media outlets that will help promote the material to get the buzz out to the Salsa fans. Thanks to Willie Otero of Latinos Unidos Record Pool Online whom sends many awesome gems and every month some vintage recordings surprises come along not seen for decades, and sometimes simply never have crossed my desk at all. From Colombia, our friend DJ El Chino has been one of the biggest supporters and is by far one of the best at receiving music from all corners of the world. And with his shared knowledge and materials has helped us get educated to what is being released worldwide.
Of this year’s batch and my Top 50, only thirteen did not come to us directly from the artists and the rest through Latinos Unidos. Having the complete original CD to appreciate each masterpiece and consider all of its creation such as the package, the credits, the artwork, etc. before making my choices makes a big difference in creating this list. Only six artists (Mickey Cora, La Solución, Manolito Simonet, Ruben Blades, Alfredo Linares and Conjunto Imagen) are veterans that had been recording prior to the 80’s. Only 13 of these recording were led (titled) by the main vocalist.
Interesting enough for 2015, there were two tributes to Michael Jackson (Tony Succar & Patax) each very different from one another and made them both very interesting.
Zaperoko - Mucho Mas Loco
(compartido por Rhythm of Life)
Top 50 CD’s of 2015
01-Zaperoko- “30 Aniversario”
02-Jose Alberto & Septeto Santiaguero- “No Quiero Llanto- Tributo a Los Compadres”
03-The Metropolitan Salsa Orchestra- “Primer Asalto” (Chile)
04-Luis Gonzalez- “Si Te Preguntan”
05-Dorance Lorza & Sexteto Cafe- “Latin DNA” (London)
06-Edwin Bonilla- “Back To The Basics”
07-Ray Rodriguez & Swing Sabroso- “Salsa Pal Mundo Entero”
08-Requena y su Melao- “Pa’ La Calle” (Venezuela)
09-Nils Fischer & Timbazo- “Rumberos Al Montón” (Holland)
10-The Echo Park Project- “La Hora De Bailar”
11-Orquesta Abran Paso- “Back To The 70’s”
12-Carlos Mojica & Sonido Criminal- “Sin Competencia Ninguna”
13-Tony Succar- “Unity”
14-La Solución- “Viajero Del Tiempo”
15-Pete Perignon- “Aquí Estoy”
16-Wito Colon- “Historia Nueva”
17-La 313- “Luis Disla Presenta La Universidad De La Salsa”
18-Santiago All Stars- Para Gozar y Bailar” (Perú)
19-Yamila & Yalil Guerra Orchestra- “Soy Una Mujer”
20-Raphy Leavitt y La Selecta- “Hasta Siempre”
21-Doug Beavers- “Titanes Del Trombón”
22-Rey Serrano- “El Rey De Los Mendigos” (Venezuela)
23-Comjunto Imagen- “Los Intocables”
24-”Quarter Street” (Australia)
25-Patax- “Patax Plays Michael”
26-Lula All Stars- “Salsa De La Buena” (Canada)
27-Wito Rodriguez- “Un Mundo Maravilloso”
28-Conjunto Sabrosura- “Hecho En Puerto Rico”
29-Maite Hontele- “Te Voy a Querer” (Colombia)
30-Luisito Rosario- “Vengo A Mi Moda”
31-Jorge Sánchez ‘Papito’- “Sandunga”
32-Charlie Donato y su Son Ideal- “Gracias”
33-Alberto Rodriguez & His Brick City Orchestra- “La Salsa de Los 70’s”
34-Daniel Silva- “El Chico Candela”
35-Tromboranga- “Golpe Con Melodía” (Spain)
36-Afinca’o- “Prepárate”
37-Angelucho Copacabana- “Soy Latino”
38-Mickey Cora y su Orquesta Cabala- “40 Años”
39-Rafi Marrero- “Realizando Un Sueño”
40-”Tarzana”
41-Rigo y su Obra Maestra- “Nuevos Horizontes”
42-Charlie Aponte- “Una Nueva Historia”
43-Lucy Grau- “Alocada”
44-Dislocados- “Calle Victoria” (Ukraine)
45-Carlitos Guzmán- “Mi Sueno Realizado” (Venezuela)
46-Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco- “No Puedo Parar”
47-Ruben Blades y Roberto Delgado- “Son De Panama” (Panama)
48-Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor- “No Me Quiten La Fe”
49-Alfredo Linares- “Salsa Pa’ Todo El Mundo”
50-Julito Alvarado Del Sur Al Norte- “Somos Salsa”
Other strong candidates considered were Nestor Pacheco, Cita Rodriguez, Guerrero, Trina Medina, Mulenze, José Aguirre, Pedro Conga, Grupo Niche, Yova Rodriguez, Tiempo Libre, Impacto, Victor Manuelle, Edwin Clemente, Elito Revé, Mike & Kenny, Los Van Van, Dante Vargas & The Cat Band, NG La Banda, Mayito Rivera, Tito Rojas, Tumbao Habana, Millie Puente, Porfi Baloa & Adolescents, Elio Pacheco, Alberto Martínez, Los Gemelos De La Salsa, Los Hacheros, Pedro Lugo Martínez y Son De Nene and Orquesta El Cimarrón.
While there were others
contenders on the list, we never received materials from artists like Dante Vargas & The Cat Band, Kimbaya, La Cali Charanga, Son
de Brooklyn, Juaco Salsa, Negroson, Lazarito Valdés y Bamboleo, Leslie Cartaya, Sin
Miedo Live, Jorge Emilio Fadul, Alfredo Naranjo, Carlos Manuel, Ray Olan,
Pupy Santiago and Ángelo Davila’s Big Band. The year 2015 had a nice
mixture of 'old skool' and the 'new'. There were some bands delving into
the 70’s and the international presence was again great proof of the
musicians' accomplishments worldwide.
Another common element in Salsa music is the return of veterans to celebrate an anniversary and every year we have a few (Mickey Cora, Zaperoko, La Solución). In this list we had 16 debuts which is always fun for the hope of better things to come.
For the new year there are a legion of new releases expected that have been announced and some that will surprise us all. Of the ones we know and are still in the works are El Gran Combo, Nueva Manteca (already out), Sonora Ponceña, Rica Obsesión, Chino Núñez, Mercadonegro, Eddie Palmieri, Mambo Legends Orchestra, Willie Rosario, Eddie Montalvo, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Edwin LeBron, Jimmy Morales, Bobby Valentín (already out), Cabocubajazz, Van Lester, Mulenze (already out) and Lucas Van Merwijk & the Cubop City Big Band.
In recent years, and at the start of 2016 we lost some great names in our music: Chocolate Armenteros (January 2016), Raphy Leavitt (August 2015), Tony Cofresi (2013), Alfredo Valdés Jr., Chico Sesma, Raúl Rekow (2015), Chuito Nevarez, Guillermo Rubalcaba (September 2015), Elliot Feiyoo (January 2015), Louie Cruz, and a good friend Willie Medina residing in New York.
There are many artists which one would love to see in 2016 with new
recordings such as Orquesta Guayacán, Adalberto Santiago, Tito Allen,
Ray de La Paz, Herman Olivera, Isidro Infante, Tommy Olivencia Jr.,
Juan
Luis Guerra, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Gerardo Rosales, Johnny Cruz, Ismael Miranda, Papo Pepín, Rumbankete, Ray Ramos,
Henry Fiol, Noel
Quintero, Michael Stuart, Los Jóvenes Del Barrio, Frankie Vázquez, New
Swing Sextet, Oscar D’León, Ray Sepúlveda, Tony Vega, Típica 73,
Orchestra Broadway, Charlie Santiago, Steve Guasch,
Siguarajazz, Kenny
Quintero, Luis Gonzalez, Javier Fernández, Conjunto Clásico, El Nino
Jesús, Fay Roberts y su Charangoa, Ronny Cabarrocas, JJ Olivera,
Alfredo
De La Fe, Tito De Gracia,
Lucky 7 Mambo, Mikata, LeBron Brothers,
Luisito Carrión, Pedro Brull, Carlos Cascante, Jimmy Delgado, Jimmy
Bosch, Frankie Morales,
Cándido Fabre, Charanga Habanera, Choco Orta,
Richie Ray y Bobby Cruz, Timbongo, Son Mayor, Batacumbele, Johnny El
Bravo, Orestes Vilato, Típica Novel,
Rebecca Mauleon, Alfredo Linares,
Bailatino, Charlie Cruz, NG2, Grupo Salsafon, Yolanda Rivera, N’Klabe,
Magia Caribeña, Wiwi Buznego, Mauricio Silva, Jerry Medina, Daniel
Silva, Orquesta Borinquén, Arte Mixto,
Orquesta La 33,
Bloque 53, Maraca, Orquesta Espada, Eddie Montalvo, Johnny Ray,
José Rizo’s Mongorama, Wito
Rodriguez, Papo Sánchez, Roberto Roena, Ray Viera, Marlow Rosado, El
Maestro Seda, Lips Morales, Grupo Gale,
Cuban All Stars, José Mangual
Jr., Papo Pepín, Luis Mangual,
Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willie Moreno (or Hermanos Moreno), Orquesta Macabeo, Fruko y sus Tesos, Abrahim
Rodriguez, Azuquita, Calle Real, Orquesta Sabadonga, George Delgado,
Perico Hernández, Pedrito Martínez, Eddie Resto, Charanga Cubana, Chino
Espinoza, Naborí,
Susie Hansen, Orquesta América, Rojitas, Giro, Cita
Rodriguez, Avenida B, Juan Pablo Barrios, La Kshamba, Papagofio Jr.,
Vanelis,
Bio Ritmo, Pupy y Los Que Son Son, Son Cafe, La Cali Charanga,
La Misma Gente, Alberto Barros, Pupy Santiago, Wichy Camacho, Julio
Salgado, Dante Vargas, Don Perignon, Pete Perignon, Dorance Lorza, Luis
‘Perico’ Ortiz,
Alexander Abreu Havana D’Primera,
Orquesta Tokun,
Afinca’o, Larry Harlow, Joel Uriola, Andy Montañez, Puerto Rico All
Stars, Johnny Cruz, Willy García, Grupo Caribe, Luis Centeno y Melaza,
Nora, Junior Rivera, Ray Martínez, Julito Alvarado, Sammy García, Pichie
Pérez,
Isaac Delgado, Pedro Conga, Rikoson, Elio Revé Jr., La Solución,
Pachito Alonso, Cintrón, Tony Cala, Lissett Morales, and Osvaldo Román.