Latin Beat Magazine: Congress: magic mix of music, dancing

With its white, multi-level tents, multi-colored lights and a crowd that soared to 23,000, converging over several city blocks in the parking lot of the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood, California, the West Coast Salsa Congress conducted on this year's Memorial Day Weekend grew to semi-Disneyland proportions. But this magic kingdom known as Salsaland and created by Albert Torres Productions, swore its allegiance to salsa lovers, and the seventh annual event, held from May 26 to May 29, continued to show why it is, as Torres puts it, "a place where dreams come true" for dancers, musicians and music aficionados.

Indeed, the kick-off event on Thursday evening, the 2nd Annual International Salsa Musicians Seminar Band, fulfilled the wishes of those students who had enrolled in a week-long course in piano, trombone, timbal, and other instruments taught by such masters as Oscar Hernández, Andy González and Manny Oquendo, and then were given the opportunity to climb on stage for a performance with their instructors. Lighting the tire to what *vas meant to be ah unforgettable weekend, their set included such interesting numbers as Tambori, Pueblo Latino and Bailadores. Then, with the baton passed to Manny Oquendo & Libre, it was time for the legends to take over. A highligbt was the performance of Andy González, who had been unable to attend last year due to illness. González, with his signature tumbao, once again demonstrated why he is one of the greatest bass players in Latín music. Cuando Se Acabará, a guajira inspired by Manny Oquendo, paved the way to what shaped up to be a great performance. Saoco completed their set, with Jimmy Bosch on trombone and Frankie Vázquez on vocals. At times, it seemed like a Libre reunion, with standard repertoire and former members taking the stage. Later that evening, "El Rey del Ritmo" (Willie Rosario) enchanted everyone with his well-tailored salsa orchestra. Interpreting several of Rosario's classics, like Recordando a Miguelito Valdés and Cuando Se Canta Bonito, Rosario's singers embellished many of the coro sections, as the songs were stretched out for everyone to enjoy. Then, the eagerly awaited Tony Vega hit the stage, interpreting handpicked hits from the '80s such as Busca El Ritmo, Mi Amigo El Payaso, and A Todo Cuba Le Gusta.

Friday night was one to remember in the realms of salsa history. Diego Galé's latest project, King Bongó, represented Colombia with a familiar swing that mirrored Sonora Carruseles. Later that evening, the highly anticipated performance of Bobby Valentín's orchestra did not disappoint. "El Rey del Bajo" laid down an impeccable set that included a cover of the Rubén Blades classic Juan Pachanga. Featuring some of Puerto Rico's up-and-coming singers such as Héctor Iván Rivera and Harold Montañez (Andy's son), Bobby Valentín set the blueprint to what many thought was the highlight of the congress. Before the night was over, the crowd surged to the stage to enjoy Ven Rumbero, Linda Teresa, and Jacobo Basura, delivered by Frankie Vázquez. Huracan de Pasión featured an impressive trombone solo by Eliut Cintrón, and it felt as if the crowd was listening to salsa from the heavens.

By Saturday night, Salsaland was bulging with a ticket line snaking around the block. The first showcase was José Alberto "El Canario," whose danceable music included the popular tunes Baila Que Baila and Quiero Salsa. Later in the evening, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, led by Oscar Hernández, presented a strong set with songs from its Grammy-winning CD, Across 110th Street. Domingo Quiñones, alongside trumpeter Charlie Sepúlveda, also hit the stage to pay tribute to the late, great sonero Héctor Lavoe. As Quiñones lit up a cigarette and put on shades, he impersonated Lavoe to perfection, singing a medley that included El Cantante and Periodico de Ayer. The finishing touches on the night included Quiñones, Willie Torres, Marco Bermúdez and L.A. favorite Chino Espinoza exchanging soneos in a descarga, demonstrating that the art of vocal son interpretation is still alive and well.

Sunday served up some of the most popular musical acts in salsa. Jimmy Bosch's orchestra opened up the evening with music from its latest album El Avión de La Salsa. Bosch also performed Otra Oportunidad (from a previous albura) and its deep message was well received by the crowd. With its coros, "Yo no quiero morir, lo que quiero es vivir," his band's vibrant performance had the crowd singing along. Closing the congress was crowd pleaser Oscar D'León. D'León tore through his standard classics (such as Llorarás and Me Voy Pa' Cali) and through material from his latest release, Así Soy. Many called it the "Greatest Salsa Show on Earth, Part 2." Hints were already circulating that next year's congress lineup would tentatively include a Típica '73 reunion, plus the Puerto Rican Masters with special guest vocalists, and the Tito Puente Orchestra.

Meanwhile, whether salseros were grooving in front of the band or on the two outer dance floors, Salsaland proved again why it is a dancer's paradise. In grand style, at a massive adjoining tent, attendees also enjoyed the nightly parade of performances from around the world. Even non-salsa aficionados were covered, with the addition of a separate dance floor pumping non-salsa music such as reggaetón, and where late night impromptu dance "duels" sparked up between such a mix as Al "Liquid" Silver, Ismael Otero and a fierce new kids' group from New York. An international food court, featuring everything from sushi to pupusas kept the dancers fueled, and a dizzying array of vendors tempted with t-shirts, shoes, CDs and salsa vacations.

And dance dreams carne true as well this year in two memorable performances. One included a standing ovation for a woman in her seventies from Madrid, who took up her dance shoes once again when her husband of 50 years died. The other was for a 21-year-old Brazilian girl with the Edwin Rivera dance team who suffers from cancer, and who had been bravely timing her chemo treatments so that she could rehearse and perform for the congress. During the group's tearful finale, Torres gently suggested the crowd could make donations to her care as she had no health insurance, and has since scheduled a July 8 fundraiser for her. Salsaland worked its magic once again.