The Jazzmen Of Salsa

The Jazzmen of Salsa - Les Jazzmen de la Salsa

As their name implies, the group attempts to add jazz elements into an underlying salsa beat and style. They do this without being repetitive, and are able to change things to keep things from becoming tedious. The song titled Hip Salsa Hop has a typical salsa keyboard pattern at first but unexpectedly breaks into a jazzy styled break. The tune definitely makes one want to hop, especially to the tight horns and saxophone playing off one another. Hip hop it is not, but the smooth blues style of this song definitely makes one wish it wouldn't stop.

As for the song titled Cowboy's Salsa, the humour of such a combination really shows itself in this tune. It is fun and demonstrates the composer's creativity and the musician's ability to adjust to the fusion of styles. The clave in combination to the music makes one wonder if a whinnying horse will crash through with a cowboy at any point. There is a video on the group's website that shows a couple named Eve and Thomasz dancing to this song in costume, and are a fun complement to this song.

Salsa's Boogie sounds like somebody convinced a Dixieland jazz band to play salsa. At times it is hard to pick out the salsa in this song, but the the clave is there and it is difficult to fault someone for trying something new and fresh.

So in general, this group does well to bring something new to the salsa world. More for those with an open mind than a purist, the manage to bring a bit of both genres without ruining either. Not an easy task, and that in itself deserves an applause. This band looks like a fun group, so hopefully you will get the opportunity to see them live.
LES JAZZMEN DE LA SALSA, The Next Generation

1- Hip Salsa Hop (Salsa Fusion) 4:53 min

2- Cowboy’s Salsa (IMJ)* 4:41 min

3- Please Help Me To Dance The Salsa (IMJ)* 4:28 min

4- I Miss You Forever (Salsa Fusion) 4:52 min

5- Mambo’s Romance (IMJ)* 5:45 min

6- Salsa’s Boogie (Cubop) 3:32 min

7- I’m Coming Back Home Rock & Roll Girl (IMJ)* 4:48 min

8- Rythmic Solo For The Lady Styling 4:54 min

9- Rythmic Solo For The Mambo’s And Salsa’s Footwork 3:17 min

10- Rythmic Solo For The Professional Dancers 2:33 min

Alain St-Marseille, founder, contractor, composer, first arranger, drums and percussions, tracks 1 to 10

Jean-François Ouellet, flute, tenor and alto saxophone, musical director and 2nd arranger tracks 1 to 6

Éric St-Jean, piano, 2nd arranger, tracks 3 and 7

Samuel Blais, baryton saxophone, Tracks 1 to 7

Serge Arsenault, trombone, Tracks 1 to 7

Jean Félix Mailloux, acoustic bass, electric bass, Tracks 1 to 7

Serge Hamelin, drums, tracks 2, 4 and 6

Andi Pema, drums, tracks 1, 3, 5 and 7

Jocelyn Couture, trumpet, tracks 3, 5 and 7

David Robitaille, trumpet, tracks 1-2; 4, 6-7

* IMJ for Instruental Mambo Jazz