Anthology

This is a well-presented, career-spanning two-disc collection of the work of seminal salsa trombonist and bandleader Willie Colon’s tenure at Fania Records. Colon’s heyday with Fania lasted from roughly 1968 through 1977, and the compilers of Anthology wisely chose to emphasize this period, including a wealth of selections from early Colon efforts like 1968’s The Hustler, 1970’s Cosa Nuestro, and 1973’s Lo Mato. These albums found Colon collaborating with the finest musicians from the Fania stable, including vocalists Hector Lavoe and Ismael Miranda, producer and arranger Johnny Pacheco, and the prodigiously talented pianist Joe Torres. This unparalleled band made tight, infectious dance music that exuded the irrepressible energy of Dominican and Nu Yorican street culture. The bracing, motuno-driven triumph “La Banda” alone has enough power to fuel a dozen block parties, while the unforgettable horn fanfare that opens “Todo Tiene Su Final” is simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting, a combination tempestuous enough to make it an unofficial anthem of true salseros across the globe.