One salsa song packs as much of a kick as three cups of coffee--or at least that's what DJ John thinks. And how did he arrive at that conclusion? Well, he heaped on 11 scoops of high-energy, big-hit salsa, fine Colombian grade, including Roberto Blades,Yolanda Rayo, Grupo Niche, Orquesta El Equipo, and Colombia All-stars. And just as we were about get a cup, the pot exploded with Tito Puente and La Lupe, followed by Orquesta Gitana. Then, we were finally able to kick back and savor the aroma with some son cubano from Septeto Matamoros and Adalberto Alvarez. And of course, no coffee break would be complete without a generous helping of ... Azuca'!... from the Queen herself, Celia Cruz. And for that extra shot of espresso, we finish with hit mambo-salsa from Cubanismo.

We figure that's the equivalent of 33 cups of coffee for every single listener. But no one's counting...we're too busy dancin'. Yes, you'll be addicted, but with no caffeine nerves afterwards.

Spring is just one week away... the mornings are chilly but the days are gorgeous! And this week on Radio Macondo, we're playing salsa to fit the season, with a great mix of hot stuff to warm you up and cool stuff to help you relax and take in those gentle spring breezes. First, the hot salsa, and we mean fiery: Joe Arroyo with one of his best-known numbers; Kent Gomez with a salsa/boogaloo/jazz fusion from the '70s; and La Sonora Carruseles once again, this time featuring sultry Cubana Raquel Zazoya on vocals. Then, we relax a bit, with mid-tempo bomba-salsa from Ruben Blades and Willie Colon; Willy Chirino, and Peru's own Melcochita. Turning down the heat quite a bit now, it's Victor Manuelle, Ray Sepulveda, La Fuga, and Pedro Conga in a great set of Salsas Romanticas. But, wait, it is nearly spring, after all, so we've got to celebrate with one last, blistering number from Edwin Bonilla (don't dare miss that one!)

RADIO MACONDO gives you the hottest salsa every week, and this one is a scorcher, starting with Sonora Carruseles, then Maraca, Fatal Mambo, La Salsa Mayor, La Sonora Poncena, Oscar D'Leon, Tito Rojas, Orquesta de la Luz, and Orquesta Mulenze. Then, from Cuba, some simmering son, turning hot at the end, with Papo Oviedo, and a new one from Ahi Na' Ma'! Every track just raises the temperature even more, this week on Radio Macondo.