Latin Dance Tracks for March

Song (iTunes)	Artist	Category	Origin
Descarga Gaélica – The Tall Islands	Salsa Celtica	Salsa Fusion	Scotland
Yo Me Voy II – The Tall Islands	Salsa Celtica	Salsa Fusion	Scotland
Ven Guajira Ven – The Tall Islands	Salsa Celtica	Cha Cha Fusion	Scotland
Esperanza – El Camino	Salsa Celtica	Cha Cha Funsion	Scotland
Maestro – El Agua de la Vida	Salsa Celtica	Salsa Fusion	Scotland
Pa’l Rumberos – El Camino	Salsa Celtica	Salsa Fusion	Scotland
Chica Mala – Cubaneo	Pedrito Calvo JR & Su Orquesta	Timba	Cuba
Claro Que Te Amo – Latin Hits 2014 Club Edition	Yoskar Sarante	Bachata	D. Republic
Darte un Beso (Merengue Version) – Darte un Beso – Single	El Combo Dominicano	Merengue	D. Republic
Ne t’en va pas – Ne t’en vas pas – Single	KIM & Marvin	Zouk

 

 

The Tall Islands – New Music from Salsa Celtica

Scotland, the home of haggis, scotch, highland dancing and great Latin music?  This small country that makes up the top part of the United Kingdom is very near the bottom of the list of locations that I associate with Latin music and yet it is home to one of the most unique and exciting groups in Latin music today, Salsa Celtica.  The origins of Salsa Celtica go back to 1995 when a handful of young musicians got together in Edinburgh, Scotland with the intent of reinventing Celtic music by fusing it with global rhythms.  The result of these ‘jam sessions’ was the birth of a band that would be dedicated to making original salsa with a Scottish tinge.  Within two years Salsa Celtica had released their first album Monstruos y Demonios and shortly there after were performing their unique style of world music in the village halls of Scotland’s Highlands and at Jazz and Celtic festivals around the UK.

That was 17 years ago and since that time Salsa Celtica has released 4 more albums and has toured the world performing concerts attended by hundreds and sometimes even thousands of fans.   However, it has been 8 long years since we have heard anything new from this amazing group.  That all changed this year with the release of their 5th album, The Tall Islands.  Not surprisingly, the album is built on the collective Celtic and Latin roots of the group’s 17 members whose origins include Scotland, Cuba, Ireland, Argentina and England.   And what inspired Salsa Celtica to write and record new music after an eight year hiatus?    Apparently, nothing more than a short tour of the Scottish islands as well as a unique experience headlining a salsa carnival in the Canary Islands (notice the island theme).

If you head over to the Salsa Celtica website you’ll find that they describe The Tall Islands as an album that is more appropriate for listening to than for filling a dance floor.  After having listened to it a few times myself I have to disagree.  I can see how some of the songs may be more suited for enjoying in the comfort of your home but, in my humble opinion, The Tall Islands definitely has it’s fair share of dance floor filling, celtic soaked, Latin music goodness.  You can listen to a very season appropriate track above and I have included a few of the tracks that I  consider to be very dancable in this months’ play list.  Check them out and see if they don’t get your feet moving.

Questions, comments, requests? Send me an email

-clavecito