BLOQUE 53
Bloque 53 is part of the new generation of salsa orchestras, and have differentiated themselves as one of the premier dance bands to evolve over the past several years. Fortified with vibes and trombones, the band, led by percussionist Joaquin Arteaga, seamlessly mixes cutting edge salsa dura with the heavy swing of classic roots salsa auténtica. Singers Yadira Ferrer, Damian Alonso “el Bombon” and Freddy Ramos quickly bring their latest production, Tumba Puchunga, to a full sizzling boil. A Big DJ Alert and Very Highly Recommended. - elW
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BLOQUE 53
Tumba Puchunga (2012)
DJ and audiophile alert! Download NOW in HIGHEST QUALITY FLAC file, or our standard high quality mp3/320. You chose! Do it fast, because Bloque 53 is back with a swinging vibes-based salsa project that will seduce you right on to the dancefloor. Get ready to be reminded why you fell in love with salsa in the first place. With this, their third release, Joaquin Arteaga and his crew, all craftsmen of clave, continue to raise the bar for Afro-Antillana dance music. Very Highly Recommended.
“Integrado por musicos de la nueva generación de la salsa de Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, y Catalunya, con una amplia trayectoria musical, Bloque 53 enciende las pistas de baile con un sonido caliente y a su vez mentolado por el timbre del vibrafono. Han tenido un excelente reconocimiento de los críticos mas duros de la salsa en el mundo.”
BLOQUE 53
Te Hace Mover Los Pies (2011)
53 are back with a superb vibes-based dance album that will but the swing back in your salsa.
Something magical happens when salsa dura and the vibraphone engage in musical discourse. Ice melts, clouds part and the soundtrack to a groove-driven life is revealed. The instrument, when handled by someone like Marcel Pascual, makes even the most gritty of urban Latin dance music disarmingly sexy. Like the famous quote from The Godfather, Part III: Just when you thought you were out, they pull you back in. And you happily go. That’s because pianist-composer Andrew Cañadell and percussionist Joaquin “Joaco” Arteaga know what works. They had tremendous success with their first album, La Ruta de la Salsa, and, with Te Hace Mover Los Pies, they continue to push the envelope. Take no prisoners: move them to the dancefloor. Here’s a big DJ Alert, and perfect timing for your New Year’s Eve party. – elW
BLOQUE 53
La Ruta De La Salsa (2010)
One of the tastiest salsa releases so far this year comes from Barcelona, Spain. This vibes-based smoker is lead by timbalero-bongocero Joaquin Arteaga who knows how to lay down rich grooves. I’m a sucker for salsa with vibes (Louie Ramirez, Dorance Lorza, Black Sugar Sextette, Grupo Latin Vibe etc.), and, if you are too, this one, folks, is a no-brainer. Check out the tracks “Baila La Negra,” the fiery “Ese Dolar” or the rumba “Barcelona Tiene!!!” deftly handled by vocalist Diana Feria. Most of the tracks were composed by Arteaga, including the gem “Ya Yo No Sufro.” And there is a jazzy dance number, an interpretation of Robert Wright and George Forrest’s “Stranger in Paradise.” All good stuff and…
Highly Recommended.
