Salsa Del Soul is a local band that has been a staple of the Jazz Festival in recent years. The 10-year-old band boasts a diverse range of musicians hailing from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the United States, and Israel. They are some of the finest talents in the Twin Cities Latin music scene. They perform in the genre of Son, Son Montuno, Plena, Cha-cha-cha, Bachata, Timba, and, of course, Salsa! They have been performing locally in restaurants and bars, jazz and Latin festivals, private engagements, and other locations and events.
The style of music of Salsa Del Soul:
- Bolero:
Started in the nineteenth century, Bolero is a musical genre which is slow, romantic, and whose musical relatives include La Habanera and La Musica Trovadora.
- Cha-Cha-Cha:
Created by Enrique Jorrin, Cha-Cha-Cha is a Cuban dance popularized by the Cuban “Charanga” bands of the 1960s.
- Salsa:
This style of music is a combination of traditional and contemporary styles of Cuban music as well as Puerto Rican music styles along with American Jazz.
- Bachata:
It started in the Dominican Republic. It’s a hybrid between the Bolero and the Cuban Son; it uses a rhythm of strings and percussion.
- Plena:
Rafael Cortijo and Ismael Rivera are known for integrating Plena with contemporary Puerto Rican music giving birth to a new style of music. Plena originated in the Ponce and is a traditional Puerto Rican musical genre.
The Musicians of Salsa Del Soul:
- Vocals – Gloria “La Niña” Rivera
She is the daughter of the well-known Cuban tres player and composer of Cuban music, and has performed and appeared on national and international stages with such artists and musical ensembles as Chuchito Valdéz, La Orquesta de Joseito Fernandez, Los Van Van, Orquesta Revé, etc.
- Trombone -David Graf
David Graf, one of the most versatile trombonists in the Twin Cities, has performed in a wide variety of musical settings, including jazz, Dixieland, big bands and shows, salsa and Brazilian music, and other recordings. In the jazz arena, Dave has performed with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Jack McDuff, and the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band
- Trombone– Scott Agster
Scott Agster is a freelance trombonist, teacher, and arranger in the Twin Cities area. He is also into other genres such as jazz quintet (Snowblind), hip/hop (G8), New Orleans brass band (Jack Brass), and big band (Bellagala Big Band).
- Piano– Bryan Rossi
In May 2008, he was inducted into the Mid-American Music Hall of Fame for his work with the Judd Group. Currently, he performs with salsa del sol and his own group, the Latin Jazz Ensemble.
- Electric Bass -David Martin
He is a composer, arranger, teacher, and performer. He played in the Columbus area for several years, then moved to Minneapolis, MN, and lived there 13 years. He has been back in Minneapolis since September 2010.
- Congas -José “Freddy” Reyes
Reyes has been an integral member of such groups/ensembles such as Sabrón, The Latin Sounds Orchestra, Sabor Tropical, Proyecto La Plena, and Sensación Latina.
Salsa del Soul has contributed a lot to the dance music around the Twin Cities and the Midwest region for more than a decade, providing top-notch talent delivered in the most professional fashion consistently and expeditiously — the fruits of which can be recognized in Salsa del Soul’s long list of clients and long-standing performance venues.
