Searching on the web for the next congress I happened across one in Miami during the first week of August (5th Annual Miami Salsa Congress). It sounds like a fun time and I’ve signed up, but still trying to get more info on the "free hotel night stay" if you purchase the all access event pass. Aparantly, the free night is good if you purchase by the end of Friday April 21st. http://www.miamisalsacongress.com/
Monthly Archive for April, 2006
1. Marc Anthony Live at Madison Square Garden This is by far the best produced concert footage I have ever seen. It was an HBO special from a couple of years ago and the quality was so good that I ripped the audio and put it on my iPod. Special guest Tito Puente joins in on No Hay Nadie Como Ella and his performance of "Preciosa" will give you chills. Marc brought his A game for a full hour and a half. 2. Celia Cruz: Azucar It was a toss up between Marc Live and this Celia Tribute because it was equally well done. Just prior to her death, the latin music community came together and did this amazing All-Star tribute to the queen of Salsa. I mean every one that is someone came together for this Univision special to perform Celia covers, Marc, Gloria Estefan, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Victor Manuelle,etc. You name em, they were performing. I couldn’t help but get welled up toward the end as she, in her failing health did her best to bring it one more time. It was one of the most moving performances I have ever seen. This is a must have DVD. 3. Celia Cruz and Friends This was a PBS special done in ‘99. She performs all of her hits w/ Special guests Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco and La India. Very well done. 4. Salsa: The flim If you want a good historical perspective of Salsa, this is a must have. Geraldo Rivera narrates this 1976 documentary. The quality is very poor but you do get some good footage of some of the greatest Salsa legends, Larry Harlow, Ray Barreto, Hector LaVoe, Ricardo Rey and all of the rest of the Fania All Stars. 5. Celia and Fania All-Stars in Africa I am reluctant to put this one on my list just because the quality is so poor, even worse than "Salsa, the film" but nonetheless the music was good and it has great historical value. So if you are willing to tolerate the low budget very early Seventies’ edits, go for it. All of these DVDs can be found at Netflix. If you sign up, I think the first month is free. It is tough to find good live and contemporary Salsa DVDs, so if anyone knows of some other, more recent DVDs out there, please let me know so I can add it to my collection. Contact me at kanemaster@mac.com. It would be greatly appreciated. I know there is some pretty good stuff out there on VHS but I am trying to stay with DVD.
Hope you are enjoying our podcasts. This episode will basically cover some simple moves that are basically universal — in the sense — that everyone who does salsa knows how to do. It is interesting to note that some of the more complicated salsa moves actually end up being variations of these combos.
I know it has been a while that we have really talked about music, so I decided to add more music related stories and resources on our website. I was asked a while back ago to a list more salsa songs that people could download. I was also asked, specifically, to what I actually like to listen to. I decided to do both.
Below, I have made links to the songs in iTunes from my current favorite playlist. If you don’t know my style just yet, I’m a fan of classic-orquestra style danceable songs. I think these songs are great and if you will probably hear them at a good salsa club (if the DJ knows his latin music).
Now, I know not everyone may like some of the songs I recommend here. You might have to remember that I take into account, the rhythm changes, the instrument solos, the singer and the lyrics (I know spanish). So, just because a song might be slow, it does not mean it is not a good song. Some of the best songs are made by powerful lyrics which help with the rhythm become a great danceable song…
If you would like to recommend a song, use the forums and provide feedback on what artists you like for others to listen to.
Como el Morivi
Indestructible
Payaso
El Negro Bembon
El Temblor
Me Dejo en el Aire
Todo Se Derrumbo Dentro de Mi
Todo Tiene Su Final
Yo Me Quedo
A la Hora Que Me Llamen Voy 
So, I haven’t done one of these recommendations in a while, but after everyone has been asking me for this song, I thought I might as well publish it as an article.
This album has the song that everyone has been asking me for. The artist name Rey Ruiz, and he is famous in the salsa world. I use some of his songs during class time. The song you might recognize is ‘El Diablo Anda Suelto’ (The devil is loose) which is the cha-cha song I use to teach people how to salsa. This cha-cha song, I think, is very good. If you have trouble with finding the beat in regular salsa, this song has a good enough beat during the whole song to get you started. Also, its a tight song.
Now, the salsa songs that I prefer from this album are: ‘Creo En El Amor’ (I believe in love) and ‘Mi Tentacion’ (My temptation). Please do not buy tracks that are not salsa (8,9 or 10).
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