LA EXCELENCIA

SALSA BAND

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La Excelencia is co-owned by Julian Silva and Jose Vazquez-Cofresi who in 2005 formed the orchestra in New York City. The orchestra was created with the intention to bring a new outlook to salsa music by being hip, young, writing about social issues, and breaking the mold yet not losing the true roots of salsa. The hard life of the barrio is reflected in La Excelencia music through their hardcore salsa sounds known as ‘salsa dura’. The music of La Excelencia has been referred to as fresh, original, danceable, contagious, and bringing social awareness to all.

In 2006 La Excelencia released their freshman project 'Salsa Con Conciencia' which was highly received through out the world. 'Salsa Con Conciencia' sold over 11,000 units without major distribution. The entire CD 'Salsa con Conciencia' and two singles from the CD "La Salsa y el Guaguanco" and "La Lucha" were chosen to be voted on by the Latin Grammy's and The Grammy's making it as far as the second round. La Excelencia's music can be found on countless salsa/world music compilations, motions pictures, instructional DVDs, and can also be heard on radio stations and satellite radio both nationally and internationally.

With the immediate success of 'Salsa Con Conciencia', La Excelencia began touring extensively headlining some of the top festivals, venues, salsa congresses, and performance art centers around the world. On tour La Excelencia has sold-out venues at maximum capacity and continues to build momentum by garnering a loyal fan base worldwide. A few of the events La Excelencia has performed at are, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (USA), The Afro-Latino Festival (Belgium), New York International Salsa Congress (USA), Oslo Kongressenter (Norway), and Lincoln Center for Performing Arts (USA) to name a few.

After much global anticipation on January 2009 La Excelencia released their sophomore CD 'Mi Tumbao Social'. This CD showcases the versatility of La Excelencia and its many talents within the orchestra. Vocalist Edwin Perez and Gilberto Velazquez do a great job of interpreting ten tracks plus the bonus track sung duo by the two young soneros. The critics have claimed 'Mi Tumbao Social' to be one of the best salsa CD's to come out in a long time. Already thousands of CD's have been shipped around the world and the feedback has been bigger then La Excelencia imagined.

As the success of La Excelencia grows so does the orchestras fan base which is quickly making La Excelencia one of the most sought out salsa orchestras in the world. La Excelencia tour schedule continues to reach further and further across the globe so that fans may catch a glimpse of their favorite salsa orchestra. These young salsa ambassadors our bringing the sounds straight from the streets of New York City to the world.

LA EXCELENCIA - MI TUMBAO SOCIAL (CD-2009)

This sophomore CD by La Excelencia packs one hell of a punch full of conscience lyrics and lots of hardcore salsa known as salsa dura. This is a salsa masterpiece featuring some of the best salsa to come out of New York City since the 1970's

Jorge Bringas Bass
Willy Rodríguez Piano
Charles Dilone Bongo, campana, quinto
José Vázquez-Cofresi Congas, shekere
Julián Silva Timbales, maracas, tambora, catá
Ronald Prokopez Trombone
Tokunori Kajiwara Trombone
Jack Davis Trombone
Sam Hoyt Trumpet
Jonathan Powell Trumpet
Willie Oleneck Trumpet
Edwin Pérez Lead vocal, coro
Gilberto Velázquez Lead vocal, coro, güiro

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LA EXCELENCIA - SALSA CON CONCIENCIA (CD-2006)

New York Times - Ranks this CD as Highly Recommended. It takes just a note or two to hear that La Excelencia is different. This is unprettified salsa dura, with the percussion cranked, lots of breaks, the voices loud, almost distorted.
Willy Rodriguez Piano
Charles Dilone Bongo/Campana
Jose Vazquez-Cofresi Conga
Julian Silva Timbal y percusion
Jack Davis Trombone
Ronald Prokopez Trombone
Sam Hoyt Trumpet
Hector Luis Pagan Coros
Rene Leslie Lead vocals
Edwin Perez Lead vocals

review by Dj Michael

review by Javier Rivera

more tracks can be heard on Vinilemania's Radio Channels