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Essential Salsa Songs?

m0nst3r

m0nst3r

Jul 9, 2005
278
17
Bay Area, California
www.freewebs.com
#1
Hey guys/gals,

I'm seriously considering joining a salsa band or even starting one, and I just wanted to know some of the songs you other salsa bass players would consider "standards" that pretty much every working salsa bass player, or even band, should know. I know salsa is a vague term, but I'm mostly thinking about stuff you would hear at salsa night clubs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. :)

Thanks,
-Alex-
 
#2
Really? Nobody is a working Salsa bassist that can shed some light on the subject? Hmmm, maybe I should start off the list. Personally, I don't think I've ever met a Salsa band or bass player that didn't know "Mambo Influenciado" by Chucho Valdés or "Indestructible" by Ray Barretto, so I would pretty much consider those standards. Any other thoughts?
 
#3
I love salsa and go to clubs and stuff but I never know what any of the songs are except Lloras, El Preso, and Quitate La Mascara. Now that I have Shazaam on my phone that will change...
 
#4
I don't play salsa, but I grew up listening to my dad playing his records. These are songs I consider to be standards:

Invalid Link Removed
El Ratón Cheo Feliciano
Invalid Link Removed
Quimbara Invalid Link Removed

and how to forget on of the songs written in honor of my natal city:

Cali Ají Grupo Niche

There are many styles related to Salsa and I think you should check this book out "Afro Cuban Bass Grooves" it is an excellent source for learning how to play many styles related to salsa, son and more
 
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#5
subscribed. I have also had this question, but it was more directed to cumbia and merengue, but salsa as well. I live in So Cal and get request for more latin all the time for our cover band (beyond the 6-7 latin songs we already do, and that's calling Santana songs latin), so adding to the set list is a priority.
 
#6
some tunes from my Salsa days, mostly Tito Puente & Cachao stuff

Oye Como Va
Lagrimas Negras
Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos
Guayaba

Ran Can Can
Cayuco
Vámonos pal monte
Ti Mon Bo
Trombon Criollo
Tanga Pa Katanga


ans yes, Evil Ways by Santana. We were on the cheesy end of Salsa.
This was the only salsa band I was ever in, so I have no idea how standard many of them are.
The first 4 I have seen also performed by others however
 
#7
Are you going to sing the tunes in Spanish?
Then, you should have a few tunes from each of these artists:

Bobby Valentin
Willie Colon
Ruben Blades
Cheo Feliciano
Hector Lavoe
Celia Cruz
Tito Puente
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico
To name a few.
It all depends on the style you are looking after and the audience.
 
#8
Hellbastard said:
I don't play salsa, but I grew up listening to my dad playing his records. These are songs I consider to be standards:

Invalid Link Removed
El Ratón Cheo Feliciano
Invalid Link Removed
Quimbara Invalid Link Removed

and how to forget on of the songs written in honor of my natal city:

Cali Ají Grupo Niche

There are many styles related to Salsa and I think you should check this book out "Afro Cuban Bass Grooves" it is an excellent source for learning how to play many styles related to salsa, son and more
Click to expand...

mambo4 said:
some tunes from my Salsa days, mostly Tito Puente & Cachao stuff

Oye Como Va
Lagrimas Negras
Como Mi Ritmo No Hay Dos
Guayaba

Ran Can Can
Cayuco
Vámonos pal monte
Ti Mon Bo
Trombon Criollo
Tanga Pa Katanga


ans yes, Evil Ways by Santana. We were on the cheesy end of Salsa.
This was the only salsa band I was ever in, so I have no idea how standard many of them are.
The first 4 I have seen also performed by others however
Click to expand...

Great! This is exactly what I'm looking for. I definitely recognize a lot of songs on those lists.

And yes, the songs are going to be sung in Spanish. There are songs that aren't? I would love to hear those.

Here are some examples of the styles of salsa that I am looking for:

Ray Barretto - Indestructible

Chucho Valdés - Mambo Influenciado

Invalid Link Removed

Willie Colon/Hector Lavoe - Calle Luna Calle Sol

El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico - Don Goyo

El Gran Combo De Puerto Rico - La Muerte

I'm even looking for stuff like this:

Cambo Sabroso - A Night in Tunisia
 
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#9
There are lots of terrific Salsa tunes! Anyway, Rubén Blades' "Pedro Navaja" is one example of what I consider an "essential Salsa song" that hasn't been mentioned yet. Sonora Ponceña's "Fuego En El 23" is another awesome tune. BTW, check this video I uploaded some time ago, transferred from a Betamax tape I recorded back in 1987. Although the song is edited, the performance is completely live and still gives me chills every time I hear it.
 
#11
Holdsg said:
subscribed. I have also had this question, but it was more directed to cumbia and merengue, but salsa as well. I live in So Cal and get request for more latin all the time for our cover band (beyond the 6-7 latin songs we already do, and that's calling Santana songs latin), so adding to the set list is a priority.
Click to expand...

In SoCal, cumbia is king.

Cumbia Raza:

And if you don't do Sabor a Mi, learn it.
 
#13
I don't know if they are 'essential,' but here are a few of the songs my group is doing:

El Gran Combo: Me Libere and El Menu
Ray Barretto: Indestructible and Amor Artificiar
Hector Lavoe: Paraiso de Dulzura
Conjunto Classico: Senora Ley
Rueben Blades: Camaleon
Tito Puente: Dejame Sonar
Willie Rosario: Enamerado a lo adovino
La Gran Manzana: Tus Besos (merengue)
Ray de la Paz: Mentirosa
Joe Arroyo: Rebellion
Frankie Ruiz: El Camionero and Tu me vuelves loco.

There are more, but this is what I can think of right now.
 
#15
#17


i love frankie...wish he was still around

I got the Tranquilo album after I heard Ironia. Masa is a great song too.

Whats kinda funny is when I first heard Ironia I thought it was a chick singing lol
 
#19
elgecko said:
I don't know how "standard" these are but they're super tasty!

Not a great version but a great tune!
Click to expand...


I was actually in the Afro-Cuban Latin Jazz Band instructed by Wayne Wallace at SJSU. We even played that song, along with a lot of his other originals. I learned so much from him. The guy really knows his stuff, and, not to mention, he's a beast of a trombone and piano player. :)

There's lots of great stuff guys! Keep it coming!
 

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