Hot salsa for every salsa-taste, from swingin' dance-floor power packers by Conjunto Colores, El Gran Combo, and Victor Cruz, to smoother, more romantically swingin' tunes from Jose Alberto, Lalo Rodriguez, and Michael Stuart. Then, a sampling of some of the fusion work going on in salsa, with a plena-flamenco fusion from Plena Libre, a conga-salsa-jazz fusion from Descarga Boricua, and a cumbia-salsa-compas fusion from Joe Arroyo. A little Cuban sound lovingly done by Colombian band Orquesta Sublime, then yet another Cuban homage from that classic '75 collaboration of Celia, Johnny, Justo, y Papo. Eddie Palmieri surprises once again, and we finish with a live number from Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound.

A great lineup of mostly classics this time, and a great sampling of all the various styles of salsa. We start with another dance-floor hit from Chino Nunez, then we hear the song that launched Frankie Ruiz's career, the one song that puts him in the company of salsa's greatest. We hear rich performances from La Sonora Poncena, Cheo Feliciano, and Eddie Palmieri's orchestra, then a cover of Roberto Roena's classic "Parece Mentira" from Orquesta Tabaco y Ron. Next, a special look at one of salsa's supergroups--the 1975 collaboration of Celia Cruz, Johnny Pacheco, Justo Betancourt, and Papo Lucca that gave us "Recordando el Ayer," one of the finest albums from the Fania catalog. Then, the purely Cuban sound of Manuel Licea, and Africando delivering an homage to Cuban guaracha. And we close with La Sonora Dinamita from Colombia, in one of their early hits.

Fired up after the Oscar D'Leon concert... This week, we offer a review of that concert, with a brief sample to give you a sense of what it sounded like. But there's much more in this week's show, too: Tito Puente with a tasty mambo, then back to Colombia, for Fruko y Sus Tesos, Sonora Carruseles with Gabino Pampini, and Tupamaros. From Puerto Rico, Pedro Conga's orchestra; then Celia Cruz, and some mellower tunes from Tito Nieves, Jorge Cabrera, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, and Gilberto Santa Rosa in a set of hits from the '90s. And you'll hear a very early example from Eddie Palmieri--1962! And we close with an equally vintage one from Cortijo y Su Combo with Ismael Rivera.

So get ready... The Lion of salsa has been loose in Korea! And we're still recovering from it!

Oscar D'Leon is on a tour of Japan and Korea, si senor! And that's not all! Salsa is in the news for the month of August, with Oscar's tour, plus the release of "El Cantante"--the film about Hector Lavoe.

This podcast--the second within a week--is equally eventful, with a look at where Oscar and his band will be performing while in Japan and Korea, and later, a closer look at what the critics are saying about "El Cantante". Plus, we feature Ruben Blades' unique classic, "Buscando America."

And the music is as hot as ever, or as beautiful: Besides tracks from Oscar, Blades, and Lavoe, we have Orquesta de La Luz from Japan, Chino Nunez, a rare '60s boogaloo from Ray Rodriguez, more Cuban son and timba from Sierra Maestra, Albita, and Celina Gonzalez, and closing with another groovy Colombian number from Quinto Mayor.

Yes, salsa is in the news, and we hope this podcast puts us in the news too--at least for you!

We're back from vacation and ready to swing with more salsa! This week, it's another set of classics, but this time a bit more laid back. We start with Willie Colon in one of his 90's hits--a tune everyone will know. Then, Poncho Sanchez in a live salsa jam, and Ray Barretto once again. We've got more of the Latin Brothers, too. Then, we take a look at the piano work of Oscar Hernandez, comparing his sound in Barretto's band with some of his more recent work with Ruben Blades. Next, we dance to Africando, then more of the classic Cuban sound with Sierra Maestra and Carlos Embale. Jimmy Bosch gives us a sample of his hard-hitting salsa with a social edge, and Hector Lavoe treats us to one of his great Cuban covers. Roberto Torres closes the show. That's more than an hour, and one of the most fascinating sets yet, from Radio Macondo.

It's an hour of salsa fuerte this week on RADIO MACONDO, with lots of hot, powerful grooves, and a generous serving of classics. Artists include Edwin Bonilla y Su Son, Nora from Orquesta de La Luz, the Colombia All-Stars, Luis Perico Ortiz, Tito Rojas, Willie Rosario, Justo Betancourt, Poncho Sanchez, Ray Barretto, Oscar D'Leon, and an obscure but fun one from the '60s by Bobby Montez. It's RADIO MACONDO... for that extra kick.

A real mix this week, with some of the finest examples of classics, Colombian hits, and hot Cuban grooves. We start with a 1978 track by La Salsa Mayor, then into contemporary salsa romantica  from Edgar Joel and Hector Tricoche. Next, off to Colombia for Los Nemus, Tupamaros, and the Latin Brothers. Plus, a gorgeous, soulful track from Africando. Then, more classics--three in a row from the Fania label, with Johnny Pacheco (Fania's founder!), Louie Ramirez, and the Blades/Colon duo once again. We seal it all up with two hot numbers from Cuba: Isaac Delgado and Charanga Habanera.

More of that tasty Macondo blend this week, with swinging modern hits from Edwin Bonilla, George Delgado, Frankie Ruiz, Jose Alberto, Victor Manuelle, and Eddie Santiago. Then a hot classic set from Africando, Tito Puente, Hector Lavoe, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz, and El Gran Combo as it was in the 60s. Then, closing with a smooth cha-cha from Chocolate Armenteros.

It's the first podcast in two months, and we can't wait to dance that salsa once again! We're back every week through the summer, and we kick things off with a great lineup of hot Colombian, smooth romantica, and classic mambo and charanga. Artists this week: N'Klabe, Alberto Barros y Los Titanez de la Salsa, Yorman D'Leon, Johnny Rivera, Tito Rojas, Mimi Ibarra, Roberto Blades; then classics from Conjunto Rumbavana, Beny More, Ray Barretto, Hector Tricoche, Fruko y Orquesta, and Africando. We have missed that Macondo blend, and now we can't wait to get another cup!

You've found the only podcast on the Internet with a full hour of hot, classic-edged salsa, spiced with a touch of Cuban son. That's RADIO MACONDO.

Back for a another cup of the Macondo Blend? Each week, we serve it up hot, in a brew of new and classic together. It simmers, it boils, and sometimes it steeps, smooth and mellow. This week's artists, in the order we drop them into the pot: First, the hot set, with Sonora Carruseles, cuz we know how much you like that; Yolanda Rayo; Frankie Ruiz; Salsa Fever; and Victor Manuelle. Then, the classic set, with Louie Ramirez ; Hector Lavoe; and two from Willie Colon in collaborations with Ruben Blades and Celia Cruz. Then, for that double shot of Cuban, Los Van Van and Son de Aca.

NEW! Buy the music you hear on this podcast at Amazon.com!

Pass your mouse over the artists' names in this week's show notes, and you will see a featured album. Click on the Amazon link in the window, and browse the album.

Every Purchase helps support Radio Macondo!

And visit the new RADIO MACONDO store... click on the link to the left of this blogpage. There you will find the latest salsa releases, offered in association with Amazon.com.

AND NOW... As a public service to our listeners, you can now shop at Descarga.com. Albums not available at Amazon now have links to Descarga.com, the largest Latin music retailer on the Internet.