Posted by Joe
Salsa dura means ‘hard’ salsa, salsa gorda means ‘fat’ salsa.
Both terms are used to describe salsa that retains the basic characteristics of classic salsa: driving rhythms, call and response, ‘montuno’ sections and socially conscious lyrics. Salsa dura is the EverReady battery musical bunny that just keeps going and going, with musical breaks and blaring brass ideal for salsa dancing.
While Puerto Rico was focusing on salsa romantica, Colombia became a bastion of their own style of salsa dura, through the lean years and remain one today. As a result, Colombia can boast some of the finest, mature salsa dura bands in the world. With groups like Grupo Niche, Sonora Carruseles, Joe Arroyo and Fruko y sus Tesos, Colombia has a clear claim to call itself the salsa dura capitol of the world.
In the last few years, young salseros in New York have also been turning to salsa dura. The Spanish Harlem Orchestra has perfected the big band salsa sound of the Fania years while Jimmy Bosch, Wayne Gorbea and La Excelencia are becoming instrumental in the rise and popularity of salsa dura around the world.
September 9th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Hi Douglass Cieslik right here. Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based on the same information you discuss at http://www.rumbaconson.biz/salsa-dura and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.