Wayne Gorbea - "Estamo En Salsa"

I’ve always been known for being straightforward and no bullshit. I’d rather speak my mind and be disliked rather than to say what people want to hear and be ‘popular’.

My opinion for the longest time is that many (save a few) Salsa enthusiasts in KL have a limited interest for music variety. Perhaps it is how we’ve been ‘brought up’ – to dance to the exact same songs week in week out. Some of us are comfortable to do so, and some of us have commented amicably on this, but the bottom line is nothing much has changed. Once in a while we have an awesome new song, and everyone overplays it. Every so often we have some ‘Golden Oldies’ which will still be overplayed. But by and large we’ll be listening to the same tunes. For example, everyone knows of/has heard of/has danced to/is bored of the song “Vehicle”, but do you actually know who did that song? (It's Carlos Oliva and his band by the way, which is in turn a cover of Ides of March's 1970 hit song of the same name.)

My point in this discussion is to bring your attention to a very, very popular Salsa tune. I personally like it, despite it being overplayed at one time several years back. You might know - Wayne Gorbea’s “El Yoyo”. It’s an awesome track, no doubt about it – what more sampling the catchy riff in the evergreen “Ran Kan Kan” by El Rey de los Timbales, Tito Puente.

Wayne Gorbea (born 1950), only slightly older than my father, cut his debut studio album in 1973. He has since produced numerous albums and fronted several bands, including Salsa Picante, particularly in his Shanachie debut in 1999 with the album “Cogele El Gusto”. His songs flow freely with groovy melodies, and hard-hitting trumpets, staying true to his Salsa Dura roots.

Why am I bringing Wayne Gorbea into this discussion? Well, methinks if anyone even knows the name of wayne Gorbea, everyone in KL almost always associates him with “El Yoyo” and nothing else. If I’m right about this, then it makes me sad that an amazing musician, composer and producer with tons of amazing songs is not given the due recognition. I will try to rectify this.

Let me introduce Wayne Gorbea’s “Estamo En Salsa”. Here is the YouTube link to the song:-

Wayne Gorbea - "Estamo En Salsa"

I don’t have much information to share with you on this song, but listening to it, it find it smoother than other Salsa Dura I listen to (hard hitting Orquesta LA 33 anyone?). This is light listening but make no mistake, this is totally danceable! His piano and cowbell forms the solid backbone of groovy melody you dance to, and the trumpets are a pleasure to listen to, aural ecstasy for me with the right speakers/headphones. For dancers, the trumpets tell you something different is happening, makes you want to hit those breaks! Length-wise 5 ½ minutes seems rather long but the song keeps things interesting for dancers throughout.

Have a go at it and tell me what you think. Better still, tell me if you want to hear it on the dance floor!

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