The associated compilation is on Bandcamp; I think I might buy it:
https://ansoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/ansonia-records-presents-salsa-con-estilo-dance-floor-gems-from-the-vaults-1950s-1980s
Introducing "Ansonia Records Presents - Salsa Con Estilo - Dance Floor Gems from the Vaults: 1950s - 1980s," a vibrant compilation that traces the musical journey of salsa through the iconic NYC-based Latin label, Ansonia Records and its founder Rafael "Ralph" Pérez. A trailblazer in the U.S. recording industry, Pérez played a pivotal role in shaping the Latin music landscape, particularly during the label's heyday from the 1950s to the 1970s.The album unfolds in two distinct parts: "Roots of Salsa" and "Salsa Boom.""Roots of Salsa" invites listeners to explore the pre-1970s era, delving into the foundational recordings that laid the groundwork for the salsa phenomenon. These tracks boast danceable rhythms, vibrant brass, and the unmistakable influence of Afro-Cuban genres like son, guaguancó, and son montuno. The compilation carefully highlights key elements such as the coro, montuno, moña, and cierre, providing a rich historical perspective on the roots of salsa.In the 1970s, when salsa exploded onto the New York scene, Ansonia faced formidable competition from larger labels. Despite being a small fish in a big pond, Ansonia persevered, releasing fantastic records that held their own against industry giants. "Salsa Boom" captures this dynamic period, showcasing the resilience and talent of Ansonia's artists. Despite limited airplay and media attention, these tracks stand as a testament to the label's enduring impact on the salsa movement.As you embark on this revelatory journey through Ansonia's musical legacy, each track challenges preconceptions about the label. "Salsa Con Estilo" pays homage to one of Ansonia's legendary salseros, Frankie "Mr. Estilo" Figueroa, while celebrating the vibrant dance music that defined the label over the decades. Join us in rediscovering the hidden gems and untold stories of Ansonia Records, a family-run business that left an indelible mark on the Latin audience it faithfully served.
The album unfolds in two distinct parts: "Roots of Salsa" and "Salsa Boom."
"Roots of Salsa" invites listeners to explore the pre-1970s era, delving into the foundational recordings that laid the groundwork for the salsa phenomenon. These tracks boast danceable rhythms, vibrant brass, and the unmistakable influence of Afro-Cuban genres like son, guaguancó, and son montuno. The compilation carefully highlights key elements such as the coro, montuno, moña, and cierre, providing a rich historical perspective on the roots of salsa.
In the 1970s, when salsa exploded onto the New York scene, Ansonia faced formidable competition from larger labels. Despite being a small fish in a big pond, Ansonia persevered, releasing fantastic records that held their own against industry giants. "Salsa Boom" captures this dynamic period, showcasing the resilience and talent of Ansonia's artists. Despite limited airplay and media attention, these tracks stand as a testament to the label's enduring impact on the salsa movement.
As you embark on this revelatory journey through Ansonia's musical legacy, each track challenges preconceptions about the label. "Salsa Con Estilo" pays homage to one of Ansonia's legendary salseros, Frankie "Mr. Estilo" Figueroa, while celebrating the vibrant dance music that defined the label over the decades. Join us in rediscovering the hidden gems and untold stories of Ansonia Records, a family-run business that left an indelible mark on the Latin audience it faithfully served.
I'm not familiar with the label, but the few tracks I've sampled are good.
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 4 April 2024 17:48 (two months ago) link
Ansonia has a lot of releases on their Bandcamp page. The album covers are very old-school, and it's mostly artists I'm not familiar with, though there's a Cortijo album and a Mon Rivera album that both look interesting.
https://ansoniarecords.bandcamp.com/music
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 4 April 2024 17:52 (two months ago) link
Thanks for that.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 4 April 2024 19:22 (two months ago) link
One thing I really appreciate is that the individual album pages often have really detailed notes about the music. Check out the essay Pablo Yglesias wrote about the Cortijo album I mentioned, which is from 1970:
https://ansoniarecords.bandcamp.com/album/noche-de-temporal-2
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 4 April 2024 19:28 (two months ago) link
Good record geek salsa.
Meanwhile more popular salsa still gets some Sirius XM radio play on their Caliente station along side Latin pop, reggaeton, bachata, and a little Mexican regional meets hiphop.
My DC commercial Latin radio station still plays Marc Anthony , Victor Manuelle and others ( and Manuelle has a nearly sold out gig at Kennedy Center tonight. I found that his salsa romantica had more energy live than on recordings when I saw him a few years ago).
― curmudgeon, Friday, 5 April 2024 20:55 (two months ago) link
Saw Orquesta Akokan with new singer last night in DC. Good show. New guy can sing and dance . Nice set of pre-salsa mambo and such
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 11 April 2024 17:54 (two months ago) link
I'm a dilettante, at best, wrt this thread's remit, but I quite like the new Reyna Tropical album
― rob, Friday, 12 April 2024 13:41 (two months ago) link
https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/reyna-tropical-malegria/
I see that Isabelia Herrera likes it too in Pitchfork
The record is an imaginative meditation on the possibilities of diasporic genre collage: Reyna, Díaz, and new collaborator Nay Mapalo collect hues of Peruvian chicha, Mexican zapateado, Congolese soukous, and a handful of other styles, glazing them over each other like a highly saturated watercolor painting. With its loose construction, inventive arrangements, and liturgical tranquility, Malegría is an incisive exploration of the porosity of diasporic life.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 12 April 2024 22:18 (two months ago) link
I like it too.
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 April 2024 03:59 (two months ago) link
And Ned S*blette liked pianist legend Eddie Palmieri on the first date of his Blue Note residency in NYC:
He's back, and as happy as everyone was to be hearing this music again, I don't think anyone was happier than him. It's a thoroughly satisfying, full-force musical experience. After all the times I've heard him play (must be at least 150 over the last 40 years), when he hits one of those fff percussive interjections during someone else's solo I still have the sense that I've never heard that exact chord before . . . as always with Mr. Palmieri, the band is top-notch and they make the arrangements sound: Luques Curtis (whose ongoing bass-and-piano conversation with Palmieri gets more intricate all the time), Jose Clausell, Little Johnny, Luisito Quintero on bongó, Brad Mason, and Jimmy Bosch, no less . . . Louis Fouché played what had been the lead vocal of "Adoración" on alto and rocked the house with maybe four choruses of fire . . . guest spot by Gregoire Maret on harmonica . . . Mr. Palmieri's jokes still need work, though . . . residency continues on April 22 and May 20 and 27 . . .
Ned liked pianist Omar Sosa and his band live too
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 13 April 2024 04:04 (two months ago) link
Tickets for "The Buena Vista Social Orchestra" (whoever they are) are nearly gone and very expensive at the 1800 seat or so Warner Theatre in DC.
Google tells me the group is:
The Buena Vista Social Orchestra, under the direction of trombonist Jesus “Aguaje” Ramos, continues the legacy of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club in an exciting new stage production featuring the ensemble’s greatest hits and deep-dive cuts.
In this inaugural tour, Ramos is joined by an all-star ensemble including three original BVSC members, "Betun" Luis Mariano Valiente Marin (Congas, Bongo), Emilio Senon Morales Ruiz (Piano) and Fabían Garcia (Bass), as they showcase the Cuban musical heritage that gave birth to Latin Jazz, Salsa and many other genres of music as we know them today.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 18 April 2024 04:48 (two months ago) link
Snenie doing the now 21 year old song by Julieta Venegas "Lento"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjGEem0WFbU
― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 April 2024 18:46 (one month ago) link
The SNenie version was highlighted here among other new Latin pop releases
https://remezcla.com/lists/music/15-new-songs-to-listen-to-this-week-from-ca7riel-paco-amoroso-to-luiza-brina/
― curmudgeon, Friday, 19 April 2024 18:47 (one month ago) link
New Marc Anthony album Muevense coming out
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 April 2024 21:03 (one month ago) link
All I can think of is Jennifer Lopez's statement (in the documentary about the making of her recent album and its accompanying movie) that "the world is not clamoring for a new J-Lo record," and wonder who is clamoring for a new Marc Anthony record.
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 25 April 2024 21:23 (one month ago) link
Do you ever say that about jazz musicians who are Anthony’s age or older?
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 April 2024 22:28 (one month ago) link
Jazz and pop are entirely different things and the comparison is absurd. But you know what? My assumption was that Anthony was still out there trying to have pop hits, but looking at Wikipedia it seems like he's spent the last 15 years playing strictly to hardcore salsa fans. He hasn't done a Latin pop record since 2010. So let him do his thing.
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Thursday, 25 April 2024 22:44 (one month ago) link
I think any musician of any age or genre can put out music whenever they want even if "the world is not clamoring for" it. I am saying this even though my late Mom used to say that all old singers and musicians should give it up.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 April 2024 02:48 (one month ago) link
plenty of people have been listening to march anthony's music for years
― dyl, Friday, 26 April 2024 04:17 (one month ago) link
*marc
Yep, I am a fan of Anthony's pop and salsa , and clearly the announcement of his latest album and his recent tours has generated excitement that I have seen. Regarding Unperson saying "he's spent the last 15 years playing strictly to hardcore salsa fans"....Marc Anthony just played the 20,000 seat basketball hall, Capital One Arena in DC in February 2024. Pretty sure not all those folks were hardcore salsa fans. The hardcore salsa acts coming to DC often play places ranging from 500 to 4,500.
Unperson, you don't have to like Latin pop, but cheap shots at the genre versus hallowed old school salsa and jazz, sounds just like the cliched rockists versus pop thing.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 April 2024 19:35 (one month ago) link
And speaking of genre prejudice, I like the Reyna Tropical album (Latin pop with soukous guitar and other influences discussed above in this thread) more than Still House Plants latest (Brit art-rock band on cover of the Wire, and called by a Guardian writer the most import band in Britain) or that acclaimed Cindy Lee album that's just on Youtube.
― curmudgeon, Friday, 26 April 2024 19:39 (one month ago) link
I don't think I said anything in either of my posts about the quality of Latin pop. I haven't heard nearly enough of it to have an opinion. I don't like Bad Bunny because his voice annoys me. That's literally about all I know about Latin pop in 2024. But one thing I do know is that pop music is a young person's game. Old people making pop records, especially after years away, with an eye toward the charts, Marc Anthony or Jennifer Lopez or anybody else, almost always only succeed in embarrassing themselves. The new song is the part of your concert where the audience pulls out their phone to check on the babysitter. It's much better for a performer over 50 to settle into a genre that embraces veteran artists, which is why I think Anthony sticking to salsa is a wise move. Hell, if he made a surprise appearance to sing with Eddie Palmieri's band at the Blue Note some night, that shit would probably be amazing and get him some of the most rapturous press of his life.
― Instead of create and send out, it pull back and consume (unperson), Friday, 26 April 2024 19:43 (one month ago) link
Have seen on Facebook some awesome videos by Colombia band Rancho Aparte at gigs in New Orleans and Lafayette, Louisiana during the festivals happening there.
I read that they’re going to do a US east Coast tour in September and October
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 April 2024 21:03 (one month ago) link
On vacation in Texas and listening to Tejano radio, and might go see hipster band La Lom from Los Angeles who play chicha and cumbia. Saw a banner in San Antonio for a Conjunto festival
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 5 May 2024 20:28 (one month ago) link
Andria Rose who's on the bill with La Lom sounds a bit like Kali Uchis , Latin pop-r&b
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 5 May 2024 21:39 (one month ago) link
Am getting industry emails for Young Miko, hailed by The New York Times as one of the artists “shaping the sound of 2024, and going on tour
In the cover story of its Future Of Music issue, Rolling Stone said, “Funny, charming, and unapologetically raunchy, she’s the Puerto Rican star everyone wants to work with.” Young Miko was named Nuevo Artista Del Año (New Artist Of The Year) at the recent Latin American Music Awards while “Classy 101,” her collaboration with FEID, took honors for Canción Global Latina del Año (Global Latin Song of the Year) and Mejor Colaboración – Urbano (Best Collaboration – Urban). Earlier this year, Young Miko received the Impact Award at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards and was named Best New Artist (Latin Pop / Urban) at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 May 2024 14:48 (one month ago) link
x-post - so down in McAllen, Texas we went to the final night of the 3 night MXlan fest with live music, Mexican Lucha Libre wrestlers, fire-using acrobats, fireworks, and indigenous folk-dancing pole climbers. Music included obscure to us (and based on small size of the Sunday crown at the outdoors stage to everyone) : Sunday May 5 – MXLAN Pepsi Stage artists include:
06:00 – 06:30 – Dani Tiscareno
06:45 – 07:15 – Andria Rose
07:30 – 08:15 – Desta French
08:45 – 10:00 – La Lom
10:15 – 11:00 – Alta Ralea
Saw a bit of San Antonio Latin pop-r&b balladeer Rose with band and liked her. London England's Desta French alternated between sining Spanish bachatas and Latin pop and r& b and talking and rapping in Brit-accented English. Los Angeles' La Lom may be hipster in their choice of chicha and cumbia and surf but I liked their originals and their covers of "Hey There Lonely Girl" and Smokey's ""ooh, Ooh , baby, baby " . We didn't see Alta Ralea. The crowd was 99% Spanish speaking
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 May 2024 14:59 (one month ago) link
Puerto Rican Mother’s Day SalsaLa India sings salsa for Mother’s Day at Lehman Center in Jerome Park, The Bronx; on Saturday May 11, 2024 at 8pm. From $58. 🇵🇷
Puerto Rican FestivalLos Pleneros de la 21 celebrate the Puerto Rican Las Fiestas de Cruz, at Julia de Burgos Cultural Center in “El Barrio” East Harlem; on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 7pm. 🇵🇷
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 8 May 2024 18:53 (one month ago) link
was back at dayjob yesterday after vacation and then wimped out last night on going to see Lido Pimienta open for Chicano Batman. IG story videos I saw this morning of her looked impressive. I like her Latin pop w/ synths and more
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 May 2024 12:46 (one month ago) link
She's Colombian but moved to Canada
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 May 2024 12:47 (one month ago) link
She just did guest vocals on percussionist Mas Aya 's latest
https://www.stereogum.com/2262544/mas-aya-tu-y-yo-feat-lido-pimienta/music/
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 May 2024 12:53 (one month ago) link
Pimienta opened for Chicano Batman in NYC too last night
― curmudgeon, Friday, 10 May 2024 04:04 (one month ago) link
Cool. Didn’t go but at interested
― Billion Year Polyphonic Spree (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 12 May 2024 11:53 (one month ago) link
Am
I don't know if I'd exactly call it a movie, and there isn't a poster, but I want to show y'all an edit I've made (or will have made by then) of footage from our January Postmambo trip La Ruta de los Fundamentos, to sacred sites and events in western Cuba, focusing mostly on Yoruba and Kongo music in Matanzas, Jovellanos, Pedro Betancourt, Pinar del Río, Melena del Sur, and of course good old Havana.
Ned S ia showing this Thursday via zoom
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 May 2024 04:20 (one month ago) link
Gonna miss Ned's Zoom movie thing tonight as I have something else happening
Meanwhile got an email in Espanol for an awards event I never heard of:
Conozca aquí el listado de nominados de los HEAT LATIN MUSIC AWARDS:
MEJOR ARTISTA MASCULINO
Feid
Bad Bunny
Peso Pluma
Carin León
Arcangel
J Balvin
Eladio Carrión
Chayanne
Carlos Rivera
MEJOR ARTISTA FEMENINO
Karol G
Shakira
Young Miko
Maria Becerra
Nicki Nicole
Anitta
Greeicy
Kany García
Kali Uchis
Kenia OS
Natti Natasha
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 15:08 (one month ago) link
More " Heat Latin Music Awards"
MEJOR GRUPO O BANDA
Morat
Eslabón Armado
Piso 21
Grupo Frontera
Los Ángeles Azules
Grupo Firme
RBD
Wisin & Yandel
Fuerza Regida
Reik
Monsieur Periné
Cultura Profética
Rawayana
MEJOR ARTISTA ROCK
Juanes
Molotov
Maná
Belanova
Jorge Drexler
Aterciopelados
Mar Rendón
MEJOR ARTISTA POP
Luis Fonsi
Sebastián Yatra
Manuel Turizo
Camilo
Ana Mena
Aitana
Lasso
Maluma
Fonseca
Chris Lebron
Manuel Medrano
MEJOR ARTISTA URBANO
Wisin
Ozuna
Blessd
Duki
Anuel AA
Mora
Myke Towers
Rels B
Justin Quiles
Yandel
Nicky Jam
MEJOR ARTISTA TROPICAL
(Bachata, Merengue, Vallenato, Cumbia)
Romeo Santos
Carlos Vives
Silvestre Dangond
Prince Royce
Juan Luis Guerra
Grupo 5
Eddy Herrera
Felipe Peláez
Ke Personajes
Charlie Zaa
Olga Tañón
Jorge Celedón
Jandy Ventura
Servando y Florentino
MEJOR ARTISTA SALSA
Víctor Manuelle
Gilberto Santa Rosa
Willy García
Grupo Niche
Alvaro Rod
Christian Alicea
Yiyo Sarante
La India
MEJOR ARTISTA REGION SUR
Ludmilla
Emilia
KHEA
Cris Mj
Trueno
La Joaqui
Amy Gutiérrez
Cielo Torres
Tini
Milo J
Thiago PZK
Lit Killah
MEJOR ARTISTA REGIÓN ANDINA
Mike Bahía
Danny Ocean
Ovy On The Drums
Ryan Castro
Dayanara
Andreina Bravo
Elena Rose
Farina
Jerry Di
Nacho
Fanny Lu
MEJOR ARTISTA REGION NORTE
Lenny Tavárez
Darell
Jay Wheeler
Lola Índigo
Rauw Alejandro
Quevedo
Eladio Carrion
Jhayco
St. Pedro
Kim Loaiza
Lunay
Álvaro Díaz
ARTISTA REVELACIÓN
Xavi
Humbe
Joaquina
Saiko
Gabito Ballesteros
Junior H
Yng Lvcas
Omar Courtz
Santa Fe Klan
Bad Gyal
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 15:11 (one month ago) link
A few more Heat Latin Music Award nominations-
CANCIÓN DEL AÑO
“Luna” -Feid, ATL Jacob
“La Diabla” - Xavi
“Que Chimba de Vida” - Karol G
“Mi Ex Tenía Razón” - Karol G
“Harley Quinn “- Fuerza Regida & Marshmello
“Lala” - Myke Towers
"La Víctima" - Xavi
“El Amor De Su Vida” - Grupo Frontera, Grupo Firme
PRODUCTOR DEL AÑO
Tainy
Big One
Master Chris
The RUDEBOYZ - Kevin y ChaN
Bizarrap
SOG
Sky Rompiendo
Icon Music - Jowan y Rolo
Sergio George
Andrés Castro
Edgar Barrera
ÁLBUM DEL AÑO
“Mañana será Bonito Bichota Season” - Karol G
“Ferxxocalipsis” - Feid
“Génesis” - Peso Pluma
“Colmillo de Leche” - Carin León
“Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana” - Bad Bunny
“El Comienzo” - Grupo Frontera
“Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” - Shakira
“Orquídeas” - Kali Uchis
“Un Sueño Llamado Ranchera” - Felipe Peláez
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 May 2024 15:14 (one month ago) link
dug this one from rels b and junior hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwKqIu-ZMZ8
― the defenestration of prog (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 21 May 2024 17:46 (four weeks ago) link
the beat to "gata only" is a bit mesmerizing, my current lizardbrain obsession
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r687V8yqKY
― dyl, Tuesday, 21 May 2024 18:04 (four weeks ago) link
X-post - like the reggae ish feel on some of that Rels B and Junior H cut.
Need to listen to “Gata Only “ again
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 21 May 2024 18:47 (four weeks ago) link
Puerto Rican parade in NY this weekend
― curmudgeon, Friday, 24 May 2024 21:38 (three weeks ago) link
stumbled on this group by chance. wish i could find out more about them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy8AtVG_daI
― budo jeru, Friday, 24 May 2024 22:42 (three weeks ago) link
i'm thinking maybe there is some crossover with this folkways release in terms of genre. another one of their videos they're playing a style or type of song called "torbellino"
https://folkways.si.edu/afro-hispanic-music-from-western-colombia-and-ecuador/african-american-music-latin-world/music/album/smithsonian
― budo jeru, Friday, 24 May 2024 22:49 (three weeks ago) link
Will check it out. I am listening to WPFW DJ Jim Byers on the Latin flavor show play out of print 1949 Machito music now
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 26 May 2024 22:54 (three weeks ago) link
Romeo Santos & Aventura farewell bachata music tour sells out arenas & is largely ignored by English language music media . Night 2 @ Capital One in DC was the other night. Back in 2007 as a freelancer for the Washington Post I pitched and then did a concert review of them. Washington Post runs less concert reviews now from freelancers alas.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2024 17:39 (three weeks ago) link
x-post re Grupo Palmeras from Colombia. The government of Colombia's Ministry of the arts has a twitter x page and they shared photos and a video clip of the group back in April 2024
https://x.com/mincultura/status/1777798337053262059
Looks like there's a Facebook page also for a band of that name
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 28 May 2024 17:48 (three weeks ago) link
cool!
― budo jeru, Tuesday, 28 May 2024 22:21 (three weeks ago) link
So I have never been to NYC club Terraza -7 but I follow it on Instagram and have seen some cool old school Latin conga jams
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 8 June 2024 00:16 (one week ago) link