Orquesta De La Luz "Salsa Caliente Del Japon (Hot Salsa From Japan / 日本からの熱いサルサ)" 1990***

With a ridiculous cover like that, you can bet I bought this album for a joke! A Japanese salsa band? Ha! what next? Brazilian death metal? Hasidic Jewish reggae perhaps? How about British blues? Sure it doesn't sound so funny now, but what could possibly those white boys from London or Newcastle have in common with old black cotton pickers from Mississippi? Thankfully Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page never asked themselves this question, they just went ahead and played from the heart. Orquesta De La Luz likewise ignored the fact their Asian heritage is about as far from Latin American culture as it gets, and played the music dictated by their heart - and feet, of course. The band's first (self-funded) New York tour in '89 was warmly received and by the time it was over they were given the chance to record their debut "Salsa Caliente Del Japon". It subsequently spent 11 weeks on the top of the Latin charts - which means that lots of American Cubans and Puerto Ricans bought it. Did they ask whether it was authentically "Latin"? No, they just knew that it was great to dance to.

The band went on with remarkable success, featuring an everchanging lineup of which the only constant was singer Nora Suzuki. This particular incarnation consisted of 12 musicians, including many percussionists (conga, timbales etc) and horn players. There are some variations in rhythm but it's all upbeat and dancey Latin music - I'm afraid I can't describe it any better. You see I like this music but I'm no connoisseur, I can scarcely tell mambo from cumbia and salsa from samba. The only song that sticks out is a cover of Luther Vandross' R&B ballad "There's Nothing Better Than Love". It's also interesting to notice that, although the album is a mix of covers and originals, it is Nora's own compositions that steal the show: "Salsa Caliente Del Japon", "Solo Un Juego", "Cuero Sono" - and that despite the fact that most band members didn't have an idea what they were singing about as they didn't speak a word of Spanish.

**** for Salsa Caliente Del Japon, Solo Un Juego, Tu Eres El Hombre, Salsa Es Mi Energia, Cuero Sono

*** for Tu Me Llenas, Acaba Ya, Tanto Te Ame, No Me Lleves Contigo, There's Nothing Better Than Love