Even those familiar with names such as Cal Tjader, Clare Fischer, Francisco Aguabella or John Santos often have a sketchy idea about the history and present of the West Coast Latin scene. Here is an all-in-one refresher course and teaser.
Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 2 is a two-CD compilation that follows up what was originally a companion CD for The Last Mambo, a documentary about the Bay Area salsa and Latin-jazz scene that filmmakers hope to complete and release this year. While Vol. 1 addressed the scene from 2000 to 2010, Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 2, subtitled “Hoy y Ayer” (“Today and Yesterday”), covers it from the late 1980s to 1999 and then from 2010 to 2013. It is a broad view, and while certain players contribute to various groups, underscoring the notion of a close-knit community, most artists and bands are represented by a single track. The exception is Estrellas de la Bahia, an orchestra with a classic salsa sound anchored by trombonist, composer, producer and scholar Wayne Wallace, the founder of the release’s label and one of the forces behind this project.
Various Artists: Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 2: Hoy y Ayer–A Collection of SF Bay Area Salsa and Latin jazz
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