Salsa Swingoza "Aqui Se Puede" (ewe 2007)

Gen Ogimi – Vocal, Conga
Yuichi Nakagawa – Bongo
Juan Carlos Lopez – Timbales
Hiroshi Sawada – Bass
Toru Nakajima – Piano
Hideaki Nakaji – Trombone
Gakutaro Miyauchi – Trombone
Takemi Kosaka – Trombone
Masaki Domoto – Bass Trombone
Kenjiro Iwamura – Vocal
Manny Mendez – Vocal
Special Guest: Frankie Vazquez – Vocal     

With the release of this CD, Salsa Swingoza is on its way to making itself the best salsa band in Tokyo. While those music fans never out at Tokyo Latin happenings might scoff at that statement, those who know the Latin scene in Tokyo is wild, thriving and (perhaps unexpectedly) huge, know that commendation means something. Among the many great Latin groups in Tokyo, Salsa Swingoza is one of the most intense.

Led by conga player Gen Ogimi, a real firecracker on stage, the band all have serious Latin chops. Most of them hardly mix their gigs with jazz any more and stick only to Latin at the many live houses and clubs in Tokyo and Yokohama that feature more and more Latin music. Trombonist Hideaki Nakaji, who leads his own Latin bands, helps arrange many of the songs here, from everyone Ruben Blades to Ogimi's originals to Beatles covers. "I Feel Fine" never sounded so picante as here!

Nakaji's presence is always the seal of Latin approval for any band, and the other musicians all have their own Latin projects as well. Getting them all together from their other regular gigs must have been a scheduling chore in itself. The rhythm section is packed with intensity here, starting with Ogimi and including Juan Carlos Lopez who came to Tokyo from Havana to the amazing pianist Toru Nakajima. All these musicians have not just the feel and expertise for Latin, but know how to work those little "extras," amazing piano breaks, intense timbale bridges, and a smoldering Latin swing.

Vocals are no less in evidence: local Latin fave Manny Mendez, together with Kenjiro Iwamura, the lead vocalist from one of the earliest and wildest Tokyo salsa groups, Grupo Chevere, and special guest Frankie Vazquez (on three numbers) along with the chorus of everyone in the band, really lay down the vocal side of Latin passion. The horn section, mostly arranged by Nakaji, energizes every tune with great solos. Their horns take a tune like "Juan Pachanga" and open it up wide into a huge brassy sound.

This CD will appeal to fans of intense Latin dance music since it hardly slows down for the obligatory slower, older rhythms. The lovely "Lamentacion" is the great exception to dance-ready clave that proves the rule: with sexy, slow vocals. "Ogun," also slows to a steadier pace with tricky modal-based jazz harmonies, but still rides along with great soloing. Those listeners not yet into Latin will find this the perfect introduction. Everything works in and of itself, without referencing any past styles just to pay historical respect or overdoing the pyrotechnics to appeal to newbies. This is great Latin music at its Tokyo best!