salsera's blog

The Curtis Brothers--bassist Luques and pianist Zaccai--might have featured their mentor, Eddie Palmieri, on their debut quartet album Blood Spirit Land Water Freedom. Instead, they asserted their artistic independence by joining forces with other young lions. The results are fresh and revelatory, like spring growth in the garden of Latin jazz.  READ MORE>>>>

Angolan singer Ricardo Lemvo, born in The Congo and based in L.A., celebrates his 20-year recording career, NOT with a "best of" compilation, but with ALL NEW recordings of favorite tunes spanning five albums. Confidently expanding on hits like "Mambo Yo Yo" and "Yiri Yiri Bon," and including two never-heard bonus tracks, Retrospectiva was well worth the effort. READ MORE>>>>

FANIA is back! After the transfer of the classic salsa catalog to Código Music* in 2009, the future of the remastering begun by Emusica in 2006 was in limbo. Never fear: Código, in conjunction with Wax Poetics, picks up where Emusic left off with Tito Rodríguez: "El Inolvidable," their first addition to the "A Man and His Music" 2-CD compilation series. READ MORE>>>

WXDU's DJ Santa Salsera will do a special Azucar y Candela LIVE set this Thursday (1/21) at Mosaic Wine Lounge in Raleigh. No-Cover event features FREE, LIVE LATIN MUSIC by Guillo Carias Trio from 9 pm. Salsera spins classic Nuyorica plus Afro-Cuban grooves, old and new.

Don't forget to tune in here for the regular radio edition Wednesdays 6-8 pm!

More info on Facebook:  "Santa Salsera"

Join DJ Santa SALSERA for the Mystery Show, our open specialty slot, THIS SUNDAY (Jan. 10) from 10-11 pm.

My past mystery show themes have included "Do The Latin Hustle," and "Salsa Electric Guitar Solos," so expect Latin with a twist!

Listen: AZUCAR y CANDELA Wed 6-8 pm. On Facebook:  "Santa Salsera"

Featured review:  MIGUEL ZENON, "Esta Plena"

Electrifying, reverential and profound, "Esta Plena" is a never-before-seen melding of plena and Latin jazz, as coequal partners. Though Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zenon had experimented with his native island's folk rhythms on the earlier Jíbaro, this is a much deeper foray into ancestral territory.  <<READ MORE>>

My guest on Mondo Mundo this week:  Raleigh musician Frake Hunsel who will share his collection of classic Surinamese vinyl and CDs in the musical styles of Kaseko, Kawina, Aleke, Motjo poku, KasKawi, Groot Bazuin and more!

Special:  Music of Suriname
MONDO MUNDO Dec. 19, Saturday, 2-4 pm
WXDU 88.7 FM www.wxdu.org
Host:  Santa Salsera with guest Frake Hunsel  

This is a rare opportunity to hear and learn more about Surinamese artists such as: <<<READ MORE>>>

AZUCAR y CANDELA (W 6-8p) Featured Album, 11/11/09:  CALLE REAL, "Me Lo Gané"

BEST timba album from Sweden this year--and yes, there has been more than one! The land of ice and snow is quite the "home away from home" for this hot Havana dance rhythm. With only one Cuban in the band (conguero Rickard Valdes, son of Bebo and brother of Chucho) CALLE REAL is made up of mostly Swedes--although singer Thomas Eby just might fool you into thinking otherwise, with his mastery of Cuban accent and colloquialisms. READ MORE>>>

AZUCAR y CANDELA every Wednesday 6-8 pm. Join Santa Salsera on Facebook for album reviews and more!

11/4/09 Featured Album:  ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, Timba Talmud

Called "Latin klezmer," Roberto Rodriguez Sextet's 4th dazzling album (executive produced for Tzadik by John Zorn) barrels straight out of the Cuban rhythm canon.  Percussionist Rodriguez, a Cuban Jew, displays all the cardinal virtues of "not having to choose" among his musical heritages...READ MORE>>>

Join Santa Salsera on Facebook! Listen to Azucar y Candela every Wednesday 6-8 pm. Featured Album:  CHEMBO CORNIEL, Things I Wanted To Do

Nuyorican percussionist Wilson "Chembo" Corniel's dry tone, impeccable timekeeping and super tasty playing make him one of the most sought-after congueros in New York. Known as a team player in small ensemble settings, Chembo's roots as a salsa sideman go back to the 70s. In recent years, Chembo has forged a respectable role for himself as a Latin jazz leader, and this is my favorite of his three solo albums to date.  READ MORE>>>