Buscando Un Tema
Buscando Un Tema means searching for a song and signifies my constant desire to find the next hidden gem. For salsa (or collectors of any genre), feeding this desire is part of the thrill of hearing a song for the very first time. These moments of discovery often give me goose bumps; as was the case with Craneo Coco y Cerebro by Johnny Nelson. For those that know me well, rest assured that when you receive a random email imploring you to “Yo… Check this out!”, it’s usually after a discovery touched that core desire within. Those that have found a passion in life can understand. Buscando Un Tema includes songs I either came across or rediscovered during my first three months of living in Medellin.
1 Las Malas Lenguas – Nelson y Sus Estrellas
2 Asi Es La Vida – Perucho Torcat
3 Felix Llego – Felix del Rosario
4 El Colectivo Amarillo – Toño Reyes
5 Oiga El Tambo – Hector Rivera
6 Complaciendote – Johnny Zamot
7 Craneo Coco y Cerebro – Johnny Nelson
8 Porque me Engañas – Charlie Palmieri
9 Yo Te Lo Dedico – Eddie Lebron
10 Yo Soy La Alegria – Johnny Ventura
11 La Rumba Te Espera – Bobby Valentin
12 Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir – Bernardo Ortiz
13 Mujer Bonita – Don Juan y Su Orquesta
14 A Camaguey – The Latinaires
MetaMovements Sunday Social Mix
1 El Alacran – Ray Perez y Los Dementes
2 Mucho Guaguando – Orquesta Salsa Latina
3 Apeate y Oye – Agustin Arce
4 Dame Tu Corazon – Charlie Palmieri
5 Descarga 4 – Joe Cotto
6 Tapate Consorte – Chaparro
7 La Guerra – Johnny Zamot
8 Tu Amigo No – Victor Irizarry y Su Orquesta
9 Triste Realidad – Nelson Feliciano
10 Falsos Rumores – Orquesta Internacional
11 Las Morenas – Wito Velez
12 Tu y Yo – Rafi Val y La Diferente
13 Pa’ Que Lo Puedan Gozar – Hector Rivera
14 Agua Limpia – Federico y Su Combo
15 Mas Salsa Que Pescao – Louie Colon
16 Dame Felicidad – Pete Rodriguez
Las Siete Potencias
Cover Under Construction
One of my collecting tricks is to think of the underlying themes of salsa clasica and search for albums containing such songs. When deciding on whether to purchase an album, I look for albums that have songs dedicated to Afro-Cuban gods or saints from the Santeria religion. My theory is that the afro-centrism of these songs increases the possibility of finding a kick ass album. In an attempt to prove this theory correct I decided to come up with Las Siete Potencias. Although the mix isn’t exclusive to the seven deities of Santeria (Obatalá, Elegguá, Changó, Oggún, Orunlá, Yemayá and Ochún), it’s my dedication to the religion and culture that’s the root of salsa clasica. This mix was also what inspired the theme for DJ Johnny G’s Ritmo Salsero Radio Show that aired back in March of this year. I had the pleasure of sharing the mic as a guest DJ with Yesenia Fernandez Selier for the show; a teacher, dancer and scholar of Afro-Cuban culture. Yesenia is extremely knowledgeable and further energized my desire to learn more regarding Afro-Cuban dance and culture.
1 Las Siete Potencias - David Cedeño and his Orchestra
2 Canto a Chango - Mike Rosario
3 El Hijo de Elegua - Orquesta Creacion 75
4 Oracion A Chango - La Poderoza
5 Implorando a Babalu - Los Barbarians
6 Babalu y Yemaya - Impacto 71
7 A Chango y Yemaya - Principe Y Su Sexteto
8 Yemaya y Obatala - Orquesta Dee Jay
9 Chango - Saoco
10 Yo Soy Babalu - Ricardo Ray
11 Llame a Chango - Roberto y Su Nuevo Montuno
12 Los Santos - Orquesta Expose 1
13 Para los Santos - New Generation
14 Siete Potencias - Chivirico Davila
Throw Me a Killa Bone
Cover Under Construction
I’m a sucka for trombones. Throw Me a Killa Bone is my tribute to this wonderful and intoxicating instrument. It’s the instrument I feel most closely identifies salsa dura from the late 60s and early 70s. Starting with Eddie Palmieri and Barry Roger’s use of the bone in the mid 60s followed by Willie Colon in the early 70s, the golden years of salsa clasica are marked by its sound. Most of the bands I love that didn’t get much airplay during that era because of Fania’s stronghold over the market where trombone based bands. This instrument is why I fell in love with Venezuelen salsa with bands such as Ray Perez y Los Dementes, Federico y Su Combo Latino, and Orquesta Los Juniors that used this instrument to put their own pique to the new sound coming from the New York scene. It’s not a coincidence that my first album purchase was Reincarnation by Orquesta Narvaez, a New York trombone based band, which sparked my addiction to salsa clasica and my love for that deep harsh sound. The larger than life sized instrument is also my favorite to watch a musician play live and brings back the memory of an Eddie Palmieri show I saw a few years back at the Scullers Jazz Club in Boston where the trombone seemed to drug the musician to a different level.
1 Paz En El Alma - Los Nuevos Dementes
2 El Poeta - Ray Olan Y Su Sason
3 El Bembe - Tony Rojas
4 Las Malas Lenguas - Orquesta Dee Jay
5 El Tubo - Orquesta La Moderna
6 Juliana - Pete Rodriguez
7 Llego Para Quedarme - Orquesta Colon
8 Rompe Ya - Super Combo Bellamar
9 Bendita Illusion - Joe Acosta
10 Huyan De Todo - Raphy Leavitt y La Selecta
11 Rompelo - Ray Perez
12 Te Vi Pasar - Orquesta Mega Uno
13 Sueltame Hilo - Orquesta La Combinacion
14 Se Que Volveras - Federico Y Su Combo
15 Obra Del Tiempo - Orquesta Narvaez
16 Te Estan Buscando - Willie Colon
