Damas and Caballeros, In my second playlist to El Watusi, I bring you Brazilian themes versioned in Salsa. Over the years, many Brazilian songs were translated into spanish by composers like Tite Curet Alonso, for example. But, in other cases, like the Cuban compositions post-’59, some Brazilian compositions received the sadly famous “D.R.” (Derechos Reservados) in the credits. Is true that few Brazilian musicians have excelled in Salsa, but I can mention two that were very important: José Rodrigues (trombonist who worked with Eddie Palmieri, Willie Colón and Fania All Stars) and João Donato (who played trombone with Eddie Palmieri and piano with Tito Puente and Mongo Santamaría).

In my first playlist, I had already included two Brazilian themes: “Berimbau” (Celia Cruz & Willie Colón) and “Ahora Yo Me Río” (Sonora Ponceña), but the list of Brazilian music arranged in Salsa is so extensive that it was possible to create a playlist only with versions recorded over the years. From traditional samba to the romantic ballads, and from bossa nova to the brega music, almost all Brazilian musical styles were covered by the Salsa and Latin Jazz.

I hope you like and download these songs, recorded by artists from several countries: Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia and USA. And I would like to dedicate this playlist to all salseros who attended the Rio Salsa Congress 2011, where I played with DJ Hervé – who is also part of the family El Watusi – among other great DJ’s from Brazil and Peru. Y qué los buenos sonidos les acompañen! – DJ Don Bernardo

Click for DJ Don Bernardo’s The Brazilian Flavour of Salsa Playlist