The Essential Guide To Latin Dance

Most people, if asked to define Latin dance music, would give you a description of salsa, and it would be difficult to argue against that, as salsa has dominated the Latin dance scene for at least a half-century. But Latin music does encompass other styles, and what makes The Essential Guide to Latin Dance so refreshing is that it acknowledges that fact right up front by devoting each of its three discs to a different one: salsa, tango, and flamenco/rhumba catalana each get a disc of their own. By opening up the world of Latin dance music, this compilation, from a British label, is a reminder that music of the Spanish diaspora takes on many flavors that should not be treated as alien to one another. The salsa disc makes sure to include some of the biggest names associated with the form: Celia Cruz is represented by Bamboleo, her cover of the hit by the Gipsy Kings, and Buena Vista Social Club alumni Omara Portuondo, Compay Segundo, and Ruben Gonzalez also brighten up the disc, along with legends Joe Cuba, Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco and Tito Puente. For the tango disc, of course theres Astor Piazzolla, whose name is synonymous with the music and who is represented by three pieces, but some of the most impressive tracks come from the likes of Mercedes Sosa, Orquesta Tipica and the Tito Reyes & Nestor Marconi Trio. Finally, the flamenco collection smartly includes both traditional (Paco de Lucia, Ketama) as well as the contemporary, more electrified nuevo evolution of Benjamin Escoriza and Ojos de Brujo. ~ Jeff Tamarkin