Latin Beat Magazine: The 7th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress

Hailed as "The Greatest Salsa Show on Earth" last year for its amazing lineup of superstar salsa performances, dance workshops, and dance exhibitions, this year's event will surely be known as "The Sequel to the Greatest Salsa Show on Earth." What makes this congress so majestic and important to salsa music and its aficionados is first and foremost the vision and efforts of its producers at Albert Torres Productions.

Since the "Salsa Explosion" of the early seventies in New York City and Puerto Rico, many historical concerts and events have been deemed as special salsa events, gathering thousands of fans under one roof to enjoy the magic of the music. In South America, salsa concerts and special events are known to bring together as many as fifty thousand people at a time to witness the performances of salsa superstars. So what makes the West Coast Salsa Congress the granddaddy of all salsa events? For starters, a complete state-of-the-art tent city (Salsaland) is erected on the grounds of the Hollywood Park Casino facilities in Los Angeles to house the numerous venues, workshops and exhibitions, which are a part of this one of a kind event. From May 23 through 29, Salsaland in Los Angeles will become the epicenter for everything salsa under the sun and the stars, attracting an average of five thousand people each day from all walks of life and from all corners of the earth.

The 2nd Annual International Salsa Musician's Seminar spearheads the event on May 23, featuring tutorials and hands-on instruction by top salsa professionals including Oscar Hernández, Manny Oquendo and Andy González, among others. The University of Salsa Seminar runs May 25-27, revealing the history and evolution of this infectious music. The Pre-Congress Dance Party takes place on May 25 (featuring some of Los Angeles' top salsa acts) leading to the official opening day of the 7th Annual West Coast Salsa Congress on May 26. Over 100 dance troupes featuring some of the world's best salsa performers will be performing nightly prior to the evening's concerts. More dancing will be done thanks to international salsa DJs who will be mixing their best tracks each night.

A "Salsa Dance Competition" to qualify for "The World Salsa Competition" (to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada in December 2005) will also be a major part of this year's event. The days will be chock-full of workshops and seminars covering all different levels of salsa dance skills. Salsaland will also feature a complete village of amenities with eateries and shops to cater to all the needs of the salseros, such as shoes, clothing and accessories. The West Coast Salsa Congress is a one of a kind event that every true salsero should experience at least once.

Headlining this year's exuberant cast of musical talent will be:

Spanish Harlem Orchestra

2005 Grammy winners for Across 110th Street as "Best Salsa Album of the Year," the Spanish Harlem Orchestra was founded in 2000 by Aaron Levinson (Libertad Records) and salsa giant Oscar Hernández, with the main purpose of preserving the roots of classic Latin dance orchestra music while continuing to produce new music for the modern generation of salsa lovers. Almost immediately the group earned worldwide recognition for its contagious interpretations of old classics and new powerful scores. The all-star cast includes Bobby Allende, Pablo "Chino" Núñez, Raúl Agraz, Jimmy Bosch, Rubén Rodríguez, Dan Reagan and Mitch Frohman. Under the musical direction of Oscar Hernández, the crew is further enhanced by the frontline vocals of Ray de la Paz, Marco Bermúdez and Willie Torres. Special guest vocalist Domingo Quiñones will join the orchestra during this year's congress performance as well as many other participating vocalists in a special musical set billed as "The Battle of the Soneros."

Oscar D'León y su Orquesta

The pride of his native Venezuela, Oscar Emilio León Dionisia is without a doubt the hardest working man in salsa music. Besides being an outstanding sonero/bass player/percussionist and bandleader, he is also a showman who knows how to entertain an audience. With a career that started in 1972 as a member of the popular orchestra Dimensión Latina, he formed his own band, La Salsa Mayor, four years later and soon thereafter enraptured the world with his sensual salsa and improvisational skills. D'León has recorded over 60 albums, toured the entire world several times and worked together with megastars Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, José Alberto "El Canario" and India, among many others. Throughout his career D'León has recorded numerous bit songs, many of which went gold (Se Necesita Rumbero, Monta Mi Caballo, and A El), received several nominations and awards (Grammy nomination in 1997 for his album El Rey de los Soneros), and has earned a place among the greatest soneros in the world. His worldwide fan base has dubbed him "El Sonero del Mundo" and "El León de la Salsa."

Bobby Valentín y Su Orquesta

Born Roberto Valentín in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, Valentín has gained the reputation as one of salsa's foremost bandleaders and arrangers in his more than 40-year career. Known as "El Rey del Bajo" (The King of the Bass), he also mastered the trumpet, trombone and flugelhorn. He started playing professionally at age 17 in New York City with the bands of Willie Rosario, Joe Quijano, Charlie Palmieri and Tito Rodríguez. In 1965, he formed his own band, later signing with Fania Records and releasing nine albums on the label between 1966 and 1974. His early bands featured the vocals of Marcelino Morales, Frankie Hernández and Marvin Santiago, among many others.

In 1975, Valentín founded Bronco Records, releasing two consecutive pivotal albums: Vaya la Cárcel Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, recorded live at the State Penitentiary of Puerto Rico. Singer Johnny Vásquez succeeded Hernández as lead vocalist around 1976 with Luigi Texidor coming onboard in 1978, performing the hit track Nací Moreno. Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Bobby Valentín's orchestra featured the added vocals of Cano Estremera, Rafael Warner, Luisito Carrion and Joaquin Peña, generating the bits La Boda de Ella, Cuando Uno Se Enamora, La Gringa, and Mas Amor. Today, Valentín continues to be one of the top bandleaders in the international salsa scene, recently releasing his latest album La Gran Reunion (2004) that reunited many of his former vocalists with newcomer Héctor Iván Rivera.

Willie Rosario & His Orchestra

A native of Coamo, Puerto Rico, Fernando Luis Rosario Marín, professionally known as Willie Rosario ("Mr. Afinche") for his impeccable groove control as a percussionist and bandleader, has been one of the leading exponents of tropical dance music for almost half a century. Inspired by a performance by the great, late Tito Puente at the famous Palladium in New York City in the late 1940s, a young Rosario was compelled to study percussion. Before forming his own band in 1958, Rosario played with the bands of Panchito Riset, Noro Morales and Johnny Segui. Since his first signing with Alegre Records in 1962, Rosario's bands have been stepping stones for many salsa artists such as singers Frankie Figueroa (of Tito Puente's band), Adalberto Santiago (Ray Barretto's band), Junior Toledo, Bobby Concepción, and the dynamic duo of Gilberto Santa Rosa and Tony Vega.

In 1968, Rosario added a baritone saxophone to his four-trumpet brass line, creating a monster sound that he has retained until the present day. In 1980, Rosario celebrated the 20th anniversary of the formation of his band with the release of the album El de a 20 de Willie, which was dedicated to Max Salazar (Latin music historian and Latin Beat Magazine senior contributing writer). Other standout albums by the Willie Rosario Orchestra include The Portrait of a Salsa Man, Nuevos Horizontes, A Man of Music, and Return to the Fifties.

José Alberto "El Canario" y Su Orquesta

Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and raised in Puerto Rico since age seven, salsa vocalist/bandleader José Alberto, also known as "El Canario," is noted for his exceptional voice, unique style and superb improvisational skills. He relocated to New York City in the early 1970s, where he honed his talents performing with many of the popular orchestras of the time, including Típica 73. By 1983 he had established (me of the most spectacular and danceable groups in New York City--José Alberto "El Canario" y Su Orquesta. The rest is history. He has recorded numerous albums including Dance With Me, Llegó La Hora, On Time, and Back to the Mambo: Tribute to Machito. He has also performed and recorded with many great contemporary artists including Johnny Pacheco, Tito Puente, Johnny Rodriguez, Mario Rivera and Celia Cruz.

Manny Oquendo & Libre

Percussionist/bandleader Manny Oquendo is a living legend and master percussionist who has remained true to the traditional forms and disciplines of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music. For almost 40 years, Oquendo has been the leader of one of New York City's most distinguished and respected Latin music ensembles, Conjunto Libre, currently known simply as Libre. The group is unique for its instrumentation of an airtight rhythm section under the musical direction of master bassist Andy González and the percussion savvy of Oquendo, framed by a solid wall of trombones. Since its beginnings, Libre has been a fountain of musical knowledge and a training ground for many of today's salsa and Latin jazz artists, including founding members Jerry González, Papo Vásquez and Jimmy Bosch, as well as singers Hermán Olivera and Frankie Vásquez. The group's powerful sound and old school flavor continues to make it a favorite of salsa dancers and listeners worldwide.

Jimmy Bosch & His New York Band

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey to a Puerto Rican family, Bosch began playing the trombone at age 11, making his first public debut at age 15. He polished his skills for many years, performing with many of the leading salsa bands including Manny Oquendo's Libre, Ray Barretto, Eddie Palmieri, Rubén Blades, India and Celia Cruz. He also served as musical director and featured soloist for Marc Anthony and performed and recorded with Cuban living legend and Grammy recipient Israel "Cachao" López.

Bosch made his debut as a bandleader in March 1996 at the famous S.O.B.'s nightclub in New York City. He released his debut album Soneando Trombón in 1998 featuring an all-star cast, including trumpeter Alfredo "'Chocolate" Armenteros, bassist Andy González, and vocalists Jimmy Sabater and Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez. His main purpose then and today is to revive salsa music to its "Golden Years," the era of pure, old school, salsa dura (hard salsa) of which Bosch is a leading exponent. His latest album, El Avion de la Salsa, finds Bosch (aka "El Trombón Criollo," as his fans and peers call him) at the top of his game with this best production.

Diego Galé & King Bongo

This latest incarnation of Diego Galé (one of Colombia's leading percussionists/bandleaders and innovators of salsa) finds him heading his latest creation, King Bongo, best described as the ultimate Galé orchestra. After almost single-handedly crafting the modern Colombian salsa sound of today through his works with Grupo Niche, Quinto Mayor, Sonora Carruseles and Grupo Galé, among others, Diego brings it all together to keep the dancers moving hard, fast and furious with King Bongo. This new concept band reiterates his commitment to making quality tropical music as well as allowing the music to evolve with the times. The percussion-heavy ensemble features Diego Galé on all percussion instruments with brother Jimmy Galé on timbal, Morist Jiménez on congas, Leon Piedrahita on bongós, and Frato Fatiu Benítez on minor percussion.

Special Guests

Johnny Pacheco

One of the most influential figures in the world of salsa for decades, Johnny Pacheco has been the sun of the Latin music universe as an impresario as well as a musician. His numerous Grammy nominations, gold records and many awards pay tribute to his creative talents as composer, arranger, bandleader and producer. Johnny Pacheco is the original pioneer of the "Salsa Explosion" that changed the face of Latin music history. He has written over 150 songs, most of which are considered classics, such as La Dicha Mia, Quitate Tu Pa' Ponerme Yo, Acuyuye, and El Rey de la Puntualidad. He is currently enjoying the release of his latest CD, Entre Amigos, a project reminiscent of the early sounds and styles of salsa, featuring an all star cast of Latin music luminaries.

Alfredo de la Fé

Cuban-born Alfredo de la Fé moved to New York City in 1965, performing Mendelssohn and Tchaikovski violin concertos at Carnegie Hall at age 11, and winning a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music. The same year he started to play at the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. In 1966, he switched from playing classical music to playing Latin music as part of the José Fajardo orchestra. He met Eddie Palmieri in 1972 and became the first solo violinist in salsa music. Soon thereafter he went on to perform with the likes of Cheo Feliciano, Héctor Lavoe, Fania All Stars, Tito Puente, Roberto Torres, Charanga 76, and Ismael Miranda. With numerous recordings to his credit and extensive touring throughout the world, de la Fé is another legendary pioneer of salsa music.

Hermán Olivera

One of New York City's most sought after salsa singers, Hermán Olivera polished his vocal skills for many years performing with some of the city's best, including a long session with Manny Oquendo's Libre. He's currently the lead vocalist for the Eddie Palmieri Band and continues to work with others, including the Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto Amistad, with whom he will be performing officially ar this year's West Coast Salsa Congress.

Frankie Vásquez

Another disciple from the school of Manny Oquendo & Libre, Frankie Vásquez worked alongside Hermán Olivera for several years as one of two of the finest lead singers of the band. Like Olivera, Vásquez also worked with just about everyone in the New York City's salsa scene and in Puerto Rico during his early career. He currently leads his own band, Los Soneros del Barrio, one of the top salsa bands in the country.

Representing Los Angeles this year at the congress will be Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto Amistad and Chino Espinoza y Los Dueños Del Son.