Avenida B - Ten Cuidao

I really like Avenida B. They utilize smooth melodies and new awesome grooves to classic mambo. It's Dura in many ways, but not overly so, if that makes sense to you. Dancers ought to rejoice at Orquestas like this because it brings so much to the dancing plate! Clear and clean breaks give partnerwork a nice rest before continuing and dyamic beats ensure that your Salsa doesn't not feel monotonous even if you're going with the 'no-shines' method.

Have a listen by clicking on the link below:

Avenida B - Ten Cuidao

What do you think?




Disclaimer: The views published in the above article are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable wit the views stated above, you can bugger-off. The rights are reserved for the written article only, and I obviously don't own the song nor do I own YouTube, so don't be a dumb-ass. This article may be reproduced with permission from the author. If you intend to reproduce this article for the purpose of general mayhem, video proof is required for entertainment and administrative purposes. Unauthorized reproduction or usage of this article may result in prostitution to the full extent allowed by Malaysian law. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.

Conjunto Jaguey - Maruca

Continuing Day 3 of DJ Dom's 7 Days of Salsa, I bring to you the Song of the Day, Conjunto Jaguey's 'Maruca'!

In following a personal principle when it comes to music for dancing, you don't have to play the exact same songs for dancers. Even if dancers like a particular song, we can always find alternatives with similar or identical sounds. This may well keep dancers happy and at the same time, it improves the salsa 'vocabulary' of dancers. Win-win, don't you think?

Of course, there are also a small minority of dancers who strongly feel that Marc Anthony is the only authority on Salsa music... but I digress.

About roughly 10 years back, up to today (in a limited context), Columbian boogaloo was pretty popular in the local Salsa scene, in particular Colombian giants, Sonora Carruseles. Hits like 'Ave Maria Lola' are still being played in clubs today. Colombian boogaloo had catchy, energetic and simple grooves, which meant beginner dancers found it easy to dance to and advance dancers could have a lot of fun with the songs.

If like Sonora Carruseles, you might enjoy the sounds of Conjunto Jaguey, another Columbian orquesta. Bloody hell, apparently they even have the trumpets from Los Hermanos Lebron playing for them. My take? Classic Columbian boogaloo, soft to moderate beats (easy on the ears) danced to a nice pace. Not too zealous and a great song to relax the energy but not to totally slow it down to a crawl. Warm-down music even. Also I'm a sucker for trumpets - I feel it adds character to some music.

Conjunto Jaguey - Maruca

I'll see you guys on the dance floor real soon!

Disclaimer: The views published in the above article are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable wit the views stated above, you can bugger-off. The rights are reserved for the written article only, and I obviously don't own the song nor do I own YouTube, so don't be a dumb-ass. This article may be reproduced with permission from the author. If you intend to reproduce this article for the purpose of general mayhem, video proof is required for entertainment and administrative purposes. Unauthorized reproduction or usage of this article may result in prostitution to the full extent allowed by Malaysian law. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.

Edwin y La Fusion Mambo - Novelera

Welcome to the Second Day of Dom's Seven Days of Salsa!

A couple of years ago, I was dancing in Salsa Havana at the Federal Hotel. It was late on a Saturday night and the crowd was slowly winding down. I noticed a Swiss gentleman dancing with a friend of mine, right in front of the bar (if you've ever been there, you know there is a thin strip of floor between the bar and the furniture). What transpires next has inspired me for years after that...

I don't remember the song but I do remember being fixated with that dude's dancing. He had an awesome amount of musicality - hitting every break and grooving every rhythm. Mind you that was during the earlier years of my Salsa but I was so inspired! I never forgot that and I've been working towards that ever since.

Related to this sharing exercise is the fact that my brand of music may not always ring well with the Masses, or the Common Crowd. I tend to look out for amazing grooves in my music, which of course in turn inspires a more dynamic, free-style kind of Salsa dancing. One example is La Fusion Mambo's 'Novelera'. Have a listen by clicking on the link provided below and tell me what you think about it.

Edwin y La Fusion Mambo - Novelera

Its totally easy to mistaken a set of memorized and rehearsed steps as pure groove, but imagine having no idea of what to do on the dance floor, and then letting the music move your body. Pure bliss.

I'll see you guys on the floor soon!

Disclaimer: The views published in the above article are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable wit the views stated above, you can bugger-off. The rights are reserved for the written article only, and I obviously don't own the song nor do I own YouTube, so don't be a dumb-ass. This article may be reproduced with permission from the author. If you intend to reproduce this article for the purpose of general mayhem, video proof is required for entertainment and administrative purposes. Unauthorized reproduction or usage of this article may result in prostitution to the full extent allowed by Malaysian law. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.

Sever Combo - Mashkara

I'm back after some lay-off! A ridiculously busy schedule, including a superb performance in the Penang Salsa Festival 2015 as well as teaching a host of amazing and awesome Salsa and Rueda classes mean that my amateur DJ career is not the smoothest, but that's how things are. There's a time and place for everything, right?

Today's Song of the Day is by a Russian band, Sever Combo, which apparently roughly translates as 'Northern Combo'. The title of the song is 'Mashkara'. Click on the link below and have a listen and tell me what you think about it:-

Sever Combo - Mashkara

Because many of the songs are in Russian, for a non-Russian speaking dude, its really tough to find their songs but I've found a way (as only the madness of Dom can). Still, good luck in finding more of their songs.

This group packs a full band with trumpets, saxophones and the works. The style of their music, at first listen, doesn't sound entirely Latin, but that's a good thing. They managed to incorporate a local sound and marry it with Salsa, making Sever Combo one hell of a band if you're looking for different sounds to groove to.

Any friends in Russia? I'd like to find out more about these guys!

Disclaimer: The views published in the above article are the author's and the author's alone. If readers are not agreeable wit the views stated above, you can bugger-off. The rights are reserved for the written article only, and I obviously don't own the song nor do I own YouTube, so don't be a dumb-ass. This article may be reproduced with permission from the author. If you intend to reproduce this article for the purpose of general mayhem, video proof is required for entertainment and administrative purposes. Unauthorized reproduction or usage of this article may result in prostitution to the full extent allowed by Malaysian law. Thank you for reading this disclaimer.