City Music Guide: Cali

Over the years LatinoLife has built up relationships with amazing DJs around the world; their passion, knowledge and dedication to the music they love we admire. As part of a new series, we decided to ask our friends for the songs that they feel define the cities they play in. First off we've chosen Cali, Colombia, known as the 'Salsa capital of the world' for the great love the city has for salsa, adopting the genre as their own. Indeed home to the famous Salsatecas, where collectors gather in their hundreds to share their vinyls, inspiring even The Tate Modern to do a replica, which we were proud to produce. La Casa Latina in Cali is the home and headquarters for those music lovers. Created by world renowned DJ, music expert, collector and event promoter Gary Domingues, The Wandering DJ as he is also known, this small family museum hosts Gary’s treasured collection from travelling the world looking for music since the 80s. Every week from Thursday to Saturday Gary and loyal followers, unearth salsa, afro Caribbean, Brazilian and Jazz music for everyone to enjoy, and we asked Gary 'how do you describe your city through the ears of a DJ selector' and this is what Gary sent us.

by Gary Domingues

1. “Junto a mi Fusil” by Manguaré.

This Cuban group, featuring Omara Portuondo. Composed by Andrés was super powerful and popualr in the 80s in Cali

2. “Maestra Vida” Ruben Blades.

This was and is the anthem at La Taberna Latina, my very first space, in fact the house where I lived, that lasted 20 years and now reactivated at la Casa Latina. Composed and sung by Ruben Blades for his conceptual Album of the same name “Maestra Vida”

3. ”Artesano del espacio” by Juan formell y los Van Van 80

Cali loves Cuba and its music. This is a song dedicated to the intrepid builders of Havana and their improvised constructions, called “Barbacoas” (barbecues) in the middle of the infamous “Special Period”

4. “Don Fulano” by Tito Curet Alonso

This song was written for Tito Rodríguez in the 60s 60. Tito was one of the most extraordinary Puerto Rican composers and singers who sadly died in 1973.

5. “Me bote de Guaño” Arsenio Rodriguez

There are two versions of the same song. The first by the daddy of all salseros, the legendary composer and Tres player Arsenio Rodriguez, a song about the street thuggery in Cuban in the 50s and a new century version by Caleño pianist Julio Cortez, under the name “Me bote de Guapo” precisely adapted here at la Casa Latina.

6. “Obsesion” Pedro Florez

This bolero was transposed to Latín jazz by Newyorican brothers Andy y Jerry González (RIP)with their legendary crew “Fort Apache Band”

7. “El Menu” by Sonora Ponceña

From the Trayectoria+ Consistencia album, sung by vocalist Pichie Perez, a hard hitting gastronomic answer to the great “Arroz con habichuelas” by “El Gran Combo”.

8. “Mi Corazon” Orchesta Calibre (a tribute to Ismael Rivera)

This is a musical “montage” made by musician Froyber Maya, director and arranger of Orquesta Calibre from Cali. They took Ismael Rivera’s acapella from the sing Dim Dom Dom, originally composed by Brazil's Jorge Ben and adapted by Tire Curet Alonso. The Capella was recorded live in radio with in the 60 after Maelo was released from prison. Froyber heard this recording in a tribute we were doing to Ismael Rivera at Casa Latina and created this new version and name it “MI Corazon” with vocals from the beyond by the Brujo de Borinquen!!!

9. “Guaguanco Raro” Ricardo Ray and Bobby Cruz

Composed by Just Barreto for the Ricardo Ray y Bobby Cruz band in the 60s when they were happy “santeros” and were dropping the best salsa sound from Brooklyn to the world

10.” The Other Road" Edy Martínez

a Latin jazz written by Colombian pianist Edy Martínez on in 1973 for Ray Barreto’s jazzy album of the same name. A Martínez masterpiece, dedicated to his sister died in a car accident. The somehow futuristic album cover design was created by the legendary graphic designer and MC Izzy Sanabria.