This CD is the busy soundtrack for a movie that has yet to be made. . .  by you.

We hear chimes, wine pouring into a glass, a whistle going loco, a wind up chime box accompanied by an electric guitar, cuero, maracas, bongo, cuica, didgeridoo - these are but some of the ingredients you will find in "Pura Salsa" by Azuquita Y Su Orquesta Melao. The songs on this album go between the festive and the sensual, yet never stray from the unusual. In keeping with many popular albums from the seventies, the songs tend to fade out at the end instead of having that strong ending that a lot of dancers need. Apart from the fading, the tunes themselves are magic and in need of longer, stronger, extended remixes without the fading out. I wonder if Azuquita's ever thought about doing that?
 
1) The first song, "California", is the first song of your soundtrack. It's a dreamy cha cha/boogaloo/disco seventies sexy tune with plenty of room for relaxation. Sometimes it's a fun song to play at the very end of a night when some are picking up their coats and heading for the door and others are heading for the bar.
 
2) The second song, "Coco De Maria" will get people dancing a little differently. It's a short and sweet interlude. Your dancers will hear the congo hit the beat where we expect the cowbell. But that shouldn't stop them from enjoying the didgeridoo. Here's the crazy loco whistle to accompany the horn section. There's confetti in this song, too, but I'm not sure what beat it's on.
 
3) "Salsa Na' Ma'":  The steamy sex scene is here. This slow cha cha boogaloo tune is actually sexier than "California".
 
4) "Cuarto Bate":  A hot dance tune about baseball. It's unquestionably a homerun. The ball never comes down and the players make their way casually and rumbetically to the homeplate. The only other thing I can say about this song is that I wish it were longer. Unfortunately, it fades out way too soon. Extended remix, please!
 
5) "Guajiro Bacan":  After a two-minute jungle of rumba, the protagonist emerges - an enlightened rumbero - wandering inconspicuously among the dormant masses of the city, but still there are those sentient few who can see his guaguanco.
 
6) "El Tranquilo":  This must be the ancient ancestor of merengue.
 
7) "Saludo A Panama":  Chilling out on a peaceful evening in Panama.
 
8) "En Casa Si Na Jacinta":  Another entirely danceable tune, this song is pure salsa. There is plenty of rhythm but no obvious "1" or "2", so dancers will have to use the force. Sadly, this song fades out at the end. Is anyone up for a remix?

 

Musicians:

Jimmy Johnson - drums
Barry Rogers - trombone
Adalberto Santiago
Joe Beck - guitar
Ray Armando - conga drum, bongos, percussion
Louie Ramirez - timbales
Jimmy Sabater
Steve Berrios - drums, timbales
Rodgers Grant - Fender Rhodes piano
Paul Cohen - trumpet, flugelhorn

 

Submitted by,

Mr. Elliot

Kobe, Japan

 

Mr. Elliot is an expert salsa DJ. He was born from a little salsa egg in Africa, Taiwan. He has been expert salsa DJing expertly since before he was born. Mr. Elliot grew up around noises and switches and bumpy stuff banging around. Inserting CDs and pressing play comes naturally to him. Sometimes, the music is so hot that it melts the equipment. Then it's time to bang on stuff and keep the crowd moving. The show must go on. 
 

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