A while back, I made fun of LA peeps claiming that they had a better salsa scene than you can find in the genre's birthplace, Nueva York.
And now I run across this quote, from an LA Times story by rockero Ernesto Lechner on becoming a born-again salsero:
"I know it's kind of incredible to say this, but Los Angeles has more of a salsa scene than New York these days," says Oscar Hernández, leader of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the most successful and respected salsa combo in the U.S. "In New York, the quality of the music may be a bit higher, but the generation that supported salsa 30 years ago has moved on. In L.A., Latinos from all walks and nationalities are getting into this music, which explains why the scene is bigger here."
SHO is one of the best examples of old-school salsa big bands around. Oscar and his bandmates all played with the biggest bands of salsa's heyday. And they've been touring quite successfully of late, behind their third record, so they'd have a good national perspective. Plus, according to the story, Hernández last year married and left his upstate NY home for sunny Los.
I just can't buy this, and it's not just New York nationalism. But it's a little hard for me to get the data to back my gut feelings, that salsa's NY demise is greatly exaggerated.
How do you take a scene's vital signs? There is the complaint that NY salsa is dominated by dance-school showoffs (and for my taste, there are definitely too many of those). And there are several neighborhood spots that have shifted from having live bands and dancing to bass-heavy DJ music (I miss you, 200 Fifth!), though there are other corners where it seems to hold strong. The closing of the Copa was seen as the sign of the end of an era.
Lechner points to lots of "duro" bands that have an active performing life in LA. I've seen several of them, they are great, especially Ricardo Lemvo's Makina Loka (Cuban plus Congolese, baby!). But there are lots of good bands here too, which end up playing in restaurant corners because small clubs are hard to come by.
I just can't tell. But I also cannot let this challenge stand. Anyone have any sense of this, ideas of scenes where salsa lives?
[pix of Son Mayor by Lawrence K. Ho via LAT]
It ain't so...it ain't soooooo
Posted by: Latino Pundit | September 14, 2007 at 12:24 PM
I haven't come across a young Latino cat or kitten listening to salsa in Lord knows how long. It's reggaeton, hip-hop, bachata, and occasionally merengue that they seem to be grooving to. And if that's their bag and "the generation that supported salsa 30 years ago has moved on," what's left?
As for L.A. maybe the fact that it's even farther away from the ancestral inspiration grounds of salsa, aka el Caribe--not to mention the birthplace itself--makes it prime for nostalgia. Perhaps?
Posted by: Kiko Jones | September 14, 2007 at 03:07 PM
Caro,
Not sure if I agree with this article.
But I can tell you that Salsa lives each and every Wednesday at LQ’s (hey Debbie).
Also, if your really a Salsa fan, mark this date on your calendar (it’s in a year from now) August, 27, 2008 to August 31, 2008.
Check out NYC Salsa Congress for more info.
Peace.
Richard
Posted by: Richard Liriano | September 14, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Thanks for your comments, Pundit, Kiko and Richard.
LQ is great, but alas, does not a scene make. What we need to asses is who listens to salsa here, where can they go dance, and what are the demographics? Seems like a good Sound Taste research project! Getting my dancing shoes now!
Posted by: Caro | September 14, 2007 at 04:02 PM