Hansen, Susie: Representante de la Salsa

So, what does a girl with two Master's degrees in electrical engineering do with her life? She makes music of course, more specifically salsa, sprinkled with a heavy helping of South American flavoured jazz. Hansen proves to be an excellent violinist and her Latin band, together for the last twenty years, play with a fresh attitude and vigor that is totally infectious. Representante de la Salsa totally grooves with infectious Latin rhythms and feel good salsa beats that will have you moving your feet to the music from the first song to the last.

After listening to the opening title track you will know what to expect from the rest of the CD. Upbeat, feel good salsa grooves with outstanding musicianship from the entire band. The lead vocals are also very good as George Balmaseda has a deep rich timbre and Hansen's violin is excellent. The tempo slows down with the salsa inflected ballad "Te Quiero, Te Amo" with its pretty melody infusing both salsa and Latin jazz. "Vehicle" is an excellent Latin style jazzy number that has a definite Blood Sweat and Tears sound. If there is such a thing as a feel good track this is it. One of my personal favourites is "Frank Sinatra Cha Cha Cha", Hansen's tribute to the original jazz standards including reworkings of four classics – "Fly Me to the Moon", It Could Happen to You", "It Had to Be You" and "All of Me". The songs segue together beautifully with the sweet piano noodling in "It Could Happen to You" being a high point. The rest of the songs are equally as memorable and there are really no duds amongst the bunch.

Hansen and her band have put out a classy CD of salsa and Latin jazz that is sure to please anyone interested in the genre and is one I can safely recommend.

Track Listing:
1. Representante de la Salsa
2. Te Quiero, Te Amo
3. Vehicle
4. Frank Sinatra Cha Cha Cha
5. No Te Metas Conmigo
6. Si No Contigo
7. I Want To Love You
8. Si Me Vas a Querer
9. Las Calles de Chicago
10. Beyond the Sea
11. Y Sigue Pensando

Added: September 4th 2010
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1716
Language: english

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