The following are the recordings in Salsa, Musica Cubana and Latin Jazz that impressed me during this challenging year of 2020. I included the Top Singles category for the first time since that was a dominant trend in artists putting out singles rather than full length recordings in music this year. Let’s move past this difficult year and move towards a better, positive year for everyone! Here are my picks on the best of 2020.
SALSA
Gilberto Santa Rosa/Colegas/Sony
Eddie Montalvo/Señor Tambo/Señor Marcha
Javier Fernandez Big Band/The Eternal Classic 3-Tributo A Las Reinas/Javier Fernandez
Quinteros Salsa Project/Tributo A La Dimension Latina/Quinteros Music
Tromboranga/Salsaterapia/Tromboranga
Herman Olivera/Recuerda Que Te Quiero/Infinity
Little Johnny Rivero/Golpe Duro/Mod Squad
La Excelencia/Machete/Cali York
Ricardo Lemvo y Makina Loca/N’Done Ponte/Mopiato Music
Edwin Perez/Street Corner Chronicles/Zonero Music
MUSICA CUBANA
Adalberto Alvarez y Su Son/Various Artists/Son Para Un Sonero (2 cd set)/BIS
Orlando “Maraca” Valle/Esa Flauta/Egrem
Orquesta Aragon/Icono/Egrem
Los Van Van/Mi Songo/Egrem
Orquesta Failde/Failde Con Tumbao/Egrem
Manolito Simonet Y Su Trabuco/La Vida Cambio(cd); Mente Positiva(single)/Endirecto
Alexander Abreu Y Havana d’Primera/Quiero Verte Otra Vez/HDP
Harold Lopez Nussa w/Cimafunk/Te Lo Dije feat El Buey Cansao/Mack Avenue
Bobi Cespedes/Mujer Y Cantante/Bobi Cespedes
Gonzalo Rubalcaba-Aymee Nuviola/Viento Y Tiempo-Live at the Blue Note-Tokyo/Top Stop Music
LATIN JAZZ
Spanish Harlem Orchestra/The Latin Jazz Project/Artist Share
John Santos Sextet/Art Of The Descarga/Smithsonian Folkways
Pacific Mambo Orchestra/The III Side/PMO
Conrad Herwig/The Latin Side Of Horace Silver/Savant
Papo Vasquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours/Chapter 10: Breaking Cover/Picaro
Brian Andres Trio Latino/Mayan Suite/Bacalao
David Sanchez/Carib/Ropeadope
Daniel Amat Big Band/Daniel Amat Big Band/Daniel Amat
Ray Mantilla/Rebirth/Savant
Key Elements/Arrival/Patricia Thumas
Cabanijazz Project/Hellasonic/Little Campana
TOP SINGLES 2020
Wito Rodriguez/Negra Baila Comigo b/w Que Revienten Los Cueros/NMJ Animal Music
Jeremy Bosch-Alain Perez/Hoy/Jeremy Bosch
Sonora Ponceña/Jubileo 65/Pianissimo
Eric Maldonado & the Paris All Stars feat Pichie Perez/El Sonero Del Bailador/Paris Studios
Vission Latina w/Alberto Alberto/El Pan De Juan/Vission Latina
Choco Orta/Amanecer Borincano/Chocolocoton
Don Perignon y La Puertorriqueña/A Romper El Coco/Don Records
Luis Gonzalez “El Tsunami De La Salsa”/Receta Pa’l Bailador/Tsunami Records
Fernando Quiroz w/Marcial Istruiz/La Fiesta Es Hasta Las Tres/Fernando Quiroz
Grupo Gale/La Gente Pide/Co-discos
Live Appearances
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