 Title - ‘Salsa Around The World’ (Putumayo Records)
Artist - Various
Salsa is a delectable melange of Cuban and Puerto Rican traditions plus brassy American big band arrangements - shaken not stirred! The term translates as "sauce," no doubt referring to what goes into making music spicy enough to tempt the Latin appetite! So fanatic adherents from all over the globe are found on this wonderful collection, including Japan's Orquestra de la Luz and Scotland's Salsa Celtica - who perform in kilts, quote centuries-old Irish tunes, and sometimes explode into bagpipe solos! Italy's Havana Mambo features a baroque harpsichordist gamely pounding out montunos. Curaçao's own Arnell i Su Orkesta obviously admire Africando and other Senegalese salseros, while Shaan, from India, with their Santana-esque guitars and demented keyboards, are a Bollywood-tinged fever dream.
Reviewed by S. Hickson
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