1. La Excelencia - 'Mi Tumbao Social'
This is the new album from New York's La Excelencia. We first got a spicy taste of their salsa dura in 2006 with Salsa Con Conciencia; now they're back with Mi Tumbao Social and salsa that is bigger and bolder than ever. Mi Tumbao Social is the perfect way to heat up a winter evening and chase away those post-holiday doldrums.
2. Tito Puente - 'The Complete 78s Vol. 3'
Tito Puente recorded 156 78-rpm records for Tico from 1949 and 1955; the first 2 volumes out of the conceived 4 volumes were released in 2008. Now Volume 3 is here with 40 more tracks of music that 60 years later is still fresh and exciting.
3. Duna - 'El Presidente'
Coincidental with the presidential inauguration, Vallejo, CA group Duna brings fans some fresh rap /hip hop with an R&B flavor in their new album El Presidente.
4. Madera Limpia - 'La Corona'
Madera Limpia is from Guantanamo, Cuba and their music adds a contemporary twist, including reggaeton, to more traditional Cuban rhythms.
5. Marcos Granados - 'Music of Venezuela'
Venezuelan flautist Marcos Granados returns with a new collection of contemporary Venezuelan music.
6. Humberto Rivera - 'The Original Recordings'
If you're a tropical jazz fan, you're probably familiar with Puerto Rican brassman Humberto Ramirez. With his band called the 'Jazz Project' he released a number of great recordings in the 1990s; this collection contains some hard to find jazz tunes from that decade.
7. 'Super Bachata 2009'
I don't usually include this type of collection in the new releases but there weren't many new bachata albums released last year. So - for those of you who are starved for some of your favorite music, the album contains songs by Aventura, Toby Love, Kinito Mendez, Andy Andy and more.
