Tributo a La Salsa Colombiana 2

Tributo a la Salsa Colombiana (2007), the second album by Alberto Barros, the Columbian bandleader, arranger, and trombonist otherwise known as El Titán de la Salsa, was so successful from both a critical and commercial perspective, he followed it up with a second volume two years later. Anyone who enjoyed the first album is sure to enjoy Tributo a la Salsa Colombiana, Vol. 2, which is essentially a continuation of its predecessor with new material and different collaborators. Produced by the barranquillero himself, the album includes an array of Columbian salsa favorites along with a couple songs by Barros ("Como Duele," "Descarga Colombiana"). Among the songwriters whose material Barros covers are Jairo Varela, Joe Arroyo, and Nino Caicedo, all of whom were also covered on the first volume. Varela, the bandleader of Grupo Niche, is particularly well represented on Tributo a la Salsa Colombiana, Vol. 2 with three of his songs performed ("Sin Sentimiento," "Cali Ají," "Gotas de Lluvia"). There are also a couple of medleys that bookend the album, the latter of which includes an exciting dash of "La Vida Es un Carnaval," a salsa classic forever associated with the late Celia Cruz. While there is no shortage of highlights, a couple of standouts worth noting are "En Barranquilla Me Quedo," which features vocalist Daniel Silva of Grupo Niche, and "Descarga Colombiana," one of the songs that Barros wrote himself. In addition to Silva, other featured vocalists include Saulo Sánchez, Carlos Mario, Cali Alemán, and Arnold Moreno. Like the prior volume, Tributo a la Salsa Colombiana, Vol. 2 is a fantastic effort by one of salsa's best. Fans of the style would do well to pick up not only this volume but the first as well.