Salsa Celtica - En Vivo En El Norte

(April 2010) 13 tracks: Adios, Adios * Pa'l Sonero * Cuando Me Vaya * Pipe Solo * Guajira Sin Sol * El Agua De La Vida * An Cailleach * Rolling Road * Esperanza * Sies Ocho Nueve * Café Colando * Café Colando (part 2) * Encore Set.

En Vivo En El Norte (Live In The North) from the Scottish Latin band featuring pipes, fiddle and banjo in the salsa mix. Recorded live at the Universal Hall in Findhorn, in the north of Scotland.

Started in Edinburgh and Glasgow in 1995, Salsa Celtica have invented their own genre to critical and public acclaim. Their synthesis of Scottish and Irish traditional music with all the Latin American elements of salsa has taken them, and their music, all over the world. After fifteen eventful years on the road, the band have released this, their first live album, capturing them at their best.

Over the last ten years Salsa Celtica has been a hit at major Celtic, jazz, World music and salsa festivals equally. Their albums have topped the European World music, New York and LA salsa charts. The band have previously been nominated for the Radio 2 Folk Awards, and appeared as themselves in a feature film.

The lineup combines some of Scotland and Ireland's most innovative traditional players, together with a stellar group of musicians from Latin America and the UK. One of the most exciting bands on the world music concert circuit today, their live performances are a stunning combination of virtuosity and energy.

For this recording the band were joined by some special guests including melodeon player Dermot Byrne (from the Irish super group Altan) and salsa trombonist Joe De Jesus from the Bronx, New York, who has played with everyone from Tito Puente to David Byrne.

Salsa Celtica and special guests are: Lino Juan Rocha (lead vocals, guiro - Venezuela), Ricardo F Pompa (lead vocals - Cuba), Toby Shippey (percussion, vocals - Scotland), Douglas Hudson (congas - Scotland), Eric Alfonso (timbale - Cuba), Simon Gall (piano, vocals - Scotland), Javier Fioramonti (bass, vocals - Argentina), Steve Kettley (saxophone - England), Joe De Jesus (trombone, flute - New York), Paul Jayasinha (trumpet - England), Ross Ainslie (pipes, whistle, cittern - Scotland), Eamonn Coyne (banjo - Ireland), Chris Stout (fiddle - Shetland) and Dermot Byrne (button accordion - Ireland).

"The rhythmic tics of both traditions come together deliciously, making you consider the musical commonalities between them rather than the differences..." (BBC Music)

"Nothing short of exhilarating... The talents, energy and musical vision of these musicians ensures a dynamic music full of vibrant improvisation and fun..." (Songlines)

"A stunning marriage of musical styles..." (The Scotsman)

"Scene stealers..." (The Observer)

"Not your average salseros, not to be missed..." (LA Times)