Orquesta 440/Horns in the Night

This is my very first exposure to this riveting band. Their air-tight grooves are reminicent of Oquesta Ritmo Oriental's agressive charanga style. Some of their up-tempo grooves pulsate with a drive that, were it not for the powerfuyl presence of the Cuban clave, could be mistaken for a merengue. Surprising and vibrant - like smoking a Cuban cigar in the park on a spring day after a hard rain.

Cubanismo/Reencarnación

I'm not sure if I would say this album is better than Jesus Alemañy's first two, but it's certainly worth picking up. In Alemañy style, this album delivers fresh, lively Cuban music that's a delight to listen to -- even if the album as a whole is less exciting than the band's previous work. This album does not seem to cover new ground, but then these guys sound so great, I'm not sure it has to.

Poncho Sanchez/A Night with Poncho Sanchez Live: Bailar

I'm only now discovering Poncho Sanchez. This live album is a delight to listen to. Sanchez's sound is refined, polished, and crisp, but honest and rooted -- not at all pretentious. This album delivers "top shelf" salsa and latin jazz that will be enjoyed by dancers and listeners alike.

Juan Formell y Los Van Van/Te Pone La Cabeza Mala
The latest from Juan Formell and Los Van Van -- this is one exhilarating album! If you're a fan of Van Van's songo style, you're going to thoroughly enjoy this high-energy collection of all new tunes.

(If you're not familiar with songo, it is a Cuban style similar to what is generically called "salsa," but has an addictive carnival-like montuno that rises and collapses methodically over a generally more staccato and pulsating bass line.)

Juan Carlos Alfonso y su Dan Den/Viejo Lazaro y Otros Exitos
This superbly recorded album features some high energy tunes, each one a unique adventure. Some of Dan Den's tunes attempt to "fuse" electronic percussion into the classic Son form ala Los Van Van. Dan Den's tight arrangements let them get away with this generally unfortunate practice on all but a few tunes.

Cuba Sexteto Aché/Cuba Sexteto Aché
I have never heard of these guys, but boy what a sound! This new album contains fourteen selections in all, featuring a wide array of forms, from son to guanguanco. This is very soulful stuff recorded by a talented ensemble of young Cuban musicians with a tasteful – but aggressive – sound.

Varied Artists/Cuban Gold Four: ¡Fuego, Candela! The Smokin' 70s
I have Cuban Gold, volumes 1 and 2, which contain some great contemporary Cuban recordings. Volume four contains 19 tunes recorded in the 70s from an array of artists, including Orquesta Aragon, Chappottin, Orquesta America, Los Van Van, and one of my all time favorites, Ritmo Oriental. Cuban Gold Four moves from son to charanga to guaguanco, delivering the brash, earthy sounds of a musically vibrant decade in Cuba.

Ruben Gonzalez & Eliades Ochoa/Buena Vista Social Club
This is my first exposure to Ruben Gonzalez, who has another current album release. Buena Vista Social Club is an excellently produced Cuban recording, but with a different kind of Cuban sound. The grooves are more mellow, and the songs are more folksy than what I'm accustomed to. Yet, it grew on me immediately. The CD comes with a handsomely designed booklet containing all the lyrics, and information on the musicians.

Son14 with Adalberto Alvarez/Tumi Cuba Classics, Vol 4: The Big Sound
A selection of 12 of Son 14's greatest hits. The sample below is of a tune called "Vamos, Hablame Ahora," a tune also recorded by the Puerto Rican All Stars. Every single tune on this "Best Of" CD is saturated with an unwavering bounce and precision that is rarely heard today.

Ritmo Oriental/Historia de La Ritmo, Vol. II
Even better than Volume I. Hardcore Cuban charanga played with a raw intuition about clave. Energetic, witty, and relentless.