NewGenSalsa’s mission is to support and introduce it’s growing number of members to new artists in an effort to keep salsa music alive and thriving for generations to come.
With that mission in mind, we also have our finger on the pulse of the genre with established artists who year after year, decade after decade, continue to provide us with great music with their signature sound.
One such group is Conjunto Classico. With roots tracing back to the conjunto sound of Cuba, Conjunto Clasico has maintained a level of excellence for many years and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Incorporating the traditional Puerto Rican and Cuban influences plus the aggressive New York style of harmony and arrangements, is what sets Conjunto Clasico apart from all the rest.
Under the direction of Ray Castro, Conjunto Classico has given birth to some of the finest vocalists and arrangers in the salsa music industry. Among them are vocalists Tito Nieves, Johnny Rivera, Tito Allen, Rafael De Jesus and the legendary Daniel Santos come to mind and arrangers like Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Marty Sheller, Ricky Gonzalez who are considered some of the best in the business, are also alumni of Conjunto Clasico
Conjunto Clasicos latest release “Este Es MI Conjunto” is right on the money with the addition of singer David Millan formerly with Conjunto Imagen. Many recordings by other artists have just one or two cuts that are good but this production has multiple cuts that smoke. They make me want to bust out my “air maracas and guiro” for sure.
We are featuring the track “Don Felo El Bodeguero”.
NewGenSalsa peeps…..the Conjunto Clasico tradition continues!
Till next time, yours “in clave!”
Ray Cruz
Hawaii Public Radio
Pacific Rim Contributor for NGS.