Customer Reviews

The Salsa Never Ends

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this CD based on a recommendation from a well respected DJ of Salsa music. I did enjoy listening to it and I thought her style was unique. As for dancing, there were three tracks: Elegua, Tambo and especially La Salsa Nunca se Acaba. The other tracks were nice, jazzy tunes, but not what I would consider Salsa dance music.

The Salsa Never ends is the perfect cd for salsa dancers, and Afro-Cuban jazz lovers alike! Susie Hansen plays electric violen, and Jorge sings in a traditional Cuban jazz style(he sand with Tito Puente), the horn sections is allowed to play some great solos, and the percussion is downright exotic! The band sounds right out of 1953 Cuba. They even do some Orquesta Aragon, and celia Cruz 50's arrangements, including an Orchuesta Aragon arrangement here on thsi hot & spice cd! Also a highlight is "With Each Beat of My Heart", and a jazz merengue, as well as the title track. The entire cd sizzles with exciting pounding percussion, perfect for dancing!

Most Salsa dance cd's have very little jazz content, unless you buy a Tito Puente cd. So this cd is a real treat. Hansen plays hot jazz violen solos, and there are plenty of horn jazz solos too, yet the music is all very danceable, some salsa, extreme salsa, and other styles of latin dances as well can be danced to this very adventurous music. The music is irrisitable to dance to, and is pure listening pleasure. Exellent cd, with great vocals en espanol!

I'm an afro-cuban jazz and salsa aficionado. I bought the cd based on Susie's participation to Jose Rizo's Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars CD where she delivers sizzling violin performances, in particular on the 'Mujer Chicana' tune which is one of my favorites on that very highly recommended recording. And I thought: if she can shine in this all-star line-up, then she should also deliver with her own band!
And to be sure, Susie is a first class musician. Unfortunately, I was slightly disappointed. The CD is OK, but not one I would highly recommend. A couple of the tunes deliver the uptempo energy that salsa dancers appreciate, though I'd argue that quite a few contemporary salsa combos do an even more compelling job -for example the remarkable Jimmy Bosch, the ever-reliable Wayne Gorbea & Salsa Picante, or Colombia's hottest new combo 'La 33'.
On the jazz dimension, though I found Susie's work commendable, I felt the band's overall effort felt short, as if there were too few powerful voices in the combo to play - or sing - back to Susie's strong violin.
To conclude my review, I offer three conjectures, in no particular order:
- Does Susie give enough space to her musicians to express themselves -in particular in the jazz pieces?
- I have not had the opportunity to see the band 'en vivo': does it make a difference?
- The 1960's afro-cuban 'charanga' format of violin-led bands has a long and proud heritage -but is Susie's formula bold and innovative enough to break new ground and rejuvenate that tradition?
This said I have to admit that I fully support Susie's work. I wish her the best in her future projects, and I hope that she'll prove me wrong and deliver soon a killer recording, worthy of the potential she exhibits in her collaborations with the Jazz on the Latin Side All Stars.

I like neither salsa nor latin jazz; however, I purchased the album just for the Elegua track, which I find terrific, and closer to the cuban son montuno which is my favorite. There is also a cha-cha that I find pretty good. The other tracks are OK, but not my cup of tea. In any case, the musicianship is excellent, in particular Susie on the violin. Good work!