El Condado De La Salsa y Jazz Latino-The Best Salsa Recordings of 2019

By Nelson Rodriguez

One of the greatest things God has given us is the ability to make our own judgements, choices and individual tastes in everything including music choices. I love salsa that swings, has great arrangements and excellent collaborations. I love concept recordings and recordings that make a statement while offering the dancer memorable music. While I love my ‘old skool’ Salsa Dura I also love what is being produced today.

I have been formulating this list of the best Salsa recordings, since February, keeping in mind key elements that helps me in my selections. My cut-off date for these selections is in November which means I include recordings released in November & December from the year before. It cannot be an EP (usually a recording of 4 to 6 songs) less than 7 songs. It can be from the previous year or longer if it was never released before (ie. A recording from the 80’s being released now for the first time as in the case of Van Lester scheduled to be released soon). You can make my list if you have Pop, Latin Jazz or other genres in the recording but in the case of Pop you will be low on my list. I’m sorry to the fans of Pop but to me I only except Pop in a Salsa form or Latin Jazz for the purpose of this ‘Best of’ list.

Why do I bring this up? Because of the recent Latin Grammy Salsa award that went to Tony Succar’s “Mas De Mi”. Just to be sure about my decision I went back and heard the entire CD to make sure I did not make a hasty judgement and I still contend that the nominees Mario Ortiz All-Star Band, Eddie Palmieri and the Quintero Project had better recordings. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tony Succar and he has done some great recordings that should have gotten nominated, but “Mas De Mi” should not even been nominated. While I truly loved “Sentimiento Original” featuring Haila & Issac Delgado (the collaboration theory), Jean Rodriguez’ voice and the arrangement on the sensual “Uno De Los Dos”, the rest of the CD was primarily Salsa Romantica with POP songs. I know why Tony produced it and I commend him but a salsa Grammy winner it is not. With that said I congratulate Tony Succar on the win.

It’s my opinion but I know many who agree with me and I can safely bet that some who agree with me are on this ‘Best of 2019’ list which many Salsa fans will also agree with. Remember ‘para eso se inventaron los colores’ (That’s why colors were invented) which allows us to pick our favorites. Here are the recordings everyone was talking about in 2019. br>
1-Mario Ortiz All Star Band- 55 Aniversario

2-Eddie Palmieri- Mi Luz Mayor

3-Alfonso Osuna Big Band- Sabrosura Full

4-Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña- Cultura y Sabor

5-Eduardo Zayas y su EZ Banda- Nacido Entre Titanes

6-Tommy Olivencia Jr. y La Primerisima- Plante Bandera De Nuevo

7-Don Goro- Para El Mundo Latino

8-Charlie Cruz- Recordando El Papa De La Salsa 20 Años Despues

9-Ruben Blades & Wynton Marsalis- Una Noche Con Ruben Blades

10-Alain Perez y Amigos- A Romper El Coco

11-Luisito Ayala y La Puerto Rican Power- 40 Años De Power

12-VibraSon- Llego VibraSon

13-Pete Perignon- Blanco y Negro

14-Elito Reve y su Charangon- Dos Leyendas De Reve a Van Van

15-La Paris All Star Orchestra- R&B and Pop Hits in Salsa

16-Orquesta Irawo De Mexico- Con Salsa De Verdad

17-Julito Alvarado Del Sur Al Norte- Aniversario (Keep on Keeping On)

18-Dorance Lorza & Sexteto Café- Tributo Desde Londre a Cali

19-Issac Delgado- Lluvia y Fuego

20-Orchestra Fuego- Vengan Todos A Bailar

21-Tromboranga- Te Voy a Cantar

22-8 Y Mas- Otra Ruta

23-Monika Mesa- La Suerte Es Loca

24-Leonardo Garcia- Doce

25-Marlow Rosado- Feminomania

26-The Echo Park Project- El Pin Pin Pon

27-Jeremy Bosch- Prefacio: The Music of Cheo Feliciano

28-Yanela Brooks- Featuring Tops of Cuba

29-New Swing Sextet- Lo Que Traigo Yo

30-Congana 2

31-Haila- Canta Armando Manzanero (Con Todo Respeto)

32-Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco- Para Bailar Este Son

33-La 33- Si Tu Quieres Salsa

34-Johnny Cruz & Adalberto Santiago- Trayectoria De Clasicos

35-La Picante- La Rumba No Para

36-Orquesta La Potente- Viajando En El Tiempo

37-John Upegui- Legado

38-Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra- Dialectica

39-Josean Rivera- Un Sonero Para El Pueblo

40-Mercadonegro- Somos Del Barrio

41-Maykel Blanco y su Salsa Mayor- Que Tiene Que Te Mueve

42-Pedro Ortega & Orquesta Corporacion Latina- Un Regalo Para El Mundo

43-Lisset Morales & Reinier Bonachea- Otra Oportunidad

44-Gilberto Santa Rosa- 40…y Contando (En Vivo Desde Puerto Rico)

45-Allan Cate- Recuerdos De Cuba

46-Cal State LA Afro Latin Ensemble- 70

47-Frank Marquez-Hijo

48-Conciencia Clasica- Entre Cielo e’ Infierno

49-Kharim Santos- Mi Tiempo y En Mi Esquina

50-Alex Torres- Guarapo y Mermelada

51-Orquesta Magia Caribeña Federico Jr- 30 Aniversario

52-Marc Anthony- Opus

53-Tony Succar- Mas De Mi

54-Orquesta Mulata Son- No Vale Rendirse

55-Conjunto Caribeño- Original Y Sabroso

56-Enrique Alvarez y su Charanga Latina- Pa’ Que Se Acabe El Comentario

57-Renzo Padilla- El Borincaico

58-Kiki Valera- Vivencias En Clave Cubana

59-Diego Gale y su Quinto Mayor- Callejero

60-David Morales (El Capitan De La Salsa)- El Original

61-Septeto Acarey- La Llave Del Son

62-Luchito Muñoz- Antagenico

63-Orquesta Asiel- Pero Llegaste Tu

64-Maikel Dinza Y Soneros De La Juventud- Pa’ Que Bailen To

65-Panchito Amat y su Cabildo Del Son- El Swing del Son

66-Rigo y su Obra Maestra Presenta a Betsy Lopez- Le Cantare Al Bailador

67-Canarias Salsa All Star

68-Mas Bajo- Tiempo A Tiempo

69-Papo Medina- Nunca Es Tarde

70-Yellow House Orchestra- Pop

71-Pibo Marquez y La Colombiana- Agradeciendo

72-Victor Maldonado & Orquesta Novedades- Soberania

73-David Lenis- Señales de Humo

74-Chispa y sus Complices- Cuba Me Llama

75-Pedrito Calvo- A Mi Manera

76-Mosie Gonzalez su 4.40 Havana- Irrepetible

77-Hector Aponte- Matices De La Musica

78-Roberto Armas y los Conquistadores De La Salsa-

79-Raul Gallimore y La Inmensidad- Positivo

80-Sitara Son Ft. Lazaro Galarraga- Sentimental Reason

81-Son De Obano Orquesta- Soy Original

82-Sol Caribe De Cuba- Soy Del Caribe

83-Charley Hernandez- La Distancia

84-Potente Urbano- Enterate

85-Luis Papo Marquez- Primogenito

86-Son De Oro- La Gran Pelea

87-Manana Club y Papucho- Pa’ Cualquiera

88-Conexion Cubana- La Maravilla

89-Roberto Santamaria- Cuban Soul Train

90-Pelusa y La Banda Caramba- Salsa A Domicilio