[Nomad]

Go and buy the DVD "Calle 54". And the soundtrack too if you can. It is a movie/documental about latin jazz when you can see some of the best captures of the best performances of the best latin jazz artists (Tito Puente among them for example).

This is a great starting point. You can look for the work of the artists you like the most in there later.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...v=glance&n=130

Trust me. I'm Spanish.

 

[LFF]

Completely second the Calle 54 recommendation - fantastic latin jazz.

Highly recommend this.

Here are some other ones.

Ruben Blades - Siembra
Willie Colon - El Malo
Hector Lavoe - La Voz

and anything else by fania - HERE is a great link for you.

 

[wakeride74]

Pepe & The Bottle Blondes is a must have!

Listen here

 

[rsaavedra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by will75 I guess it would be classified as latin or spanish. Looking for a fast-paced sound with trumpets blaring and lots of cool drum beats.

Sounds like what you are looking for is not really Salsa but Merengue, especially Dominican Merengue. The Dominican Republic is usually regarded as the birthplace of Merengue. Also Dominican merengue is among the fastest kind, if not the fastest, with extremely fast trumpets. Dancing this music is really doing an aerobics session.

Check out in particular song #14, Kiliki Taka Ti, and really any other in this link. That guy, Toño Rosario, is one of the Gods of Merengue in DR.

Check out also "Es Mentiroso" by Olga Tañón, #4 in this other link.

And another huge name in Merengue: Juan Luis Guerra, check out "Si tú te vas", song #3 here.

Some info on Merengue in general:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merengue_(baile)


PS. Oops I now realize the OP is from 2003

 

[antiant]

wow can't believe you guys didn't mention Celiz Cruz "queen of salsa" http://www.celiacruzonline.com/ or La India "the princess of salsa" http://www.elmundodeindia.com/ in fact one song they did together that i know of is "La Voz De La Experiencia" very good song imo

 

[LFF]

Quote:

Originally Posted by antiant wow can't believe you guys didn't mention Celiz Cruz "queen of salsa" http://www.celiacruzonline.com/ or La India "the princess of salsa" http://www.elmundodeindia.com/ in fact one song they did together that i know of is "La Voz De La Experiencia" very good song imo

There are some fine Celia Cruz recordings in the link I provided above.

 

[antiant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LFF There are some fine Celia Cruz recordings in the link I provided above.

ahhh ok then i must be blind lol

 

[wakeride74]

Not sure if you've heard of this one but I found Jessie Marquez on CDbaby last night and she has a pretty good sound, worth checking out IMO.

 

[FalconP]

Another nice group is the Spanish Harlem Orchestra -- although they're more Afro-Cuban than your average salsa.