Reviewed by Gabriel Porras

Salvador are the kind of group to make you cringe or to make you jump with joy - it all depends on whether you like your worship salsa-style or not. Some of us feel a bit over-stretched when praise (or worship) means wagging our curvaceous hips or (more likely) fat bottoms to a driving tumbao, but that is literally what this fine band of musicians expect from us. Don't get me wrong - I used to play in a salsa band myself, with a bunch of mad Colombians back in Mexico, and I never had so much fun playing music (I've played classical, jazz and blues, but nothing has ever been half as much unadulterated FUN as salsa). I relished every moment. "But, you see," I tell myself, "we were a dance band, playing in 'secular' venues for an enthusiastic 'secular' audience"... These brave and talented musicians are claiming salsa for my Lord, and they are not the first ones to do so: the legendary, classically-trained salsa master Richie Ray did it 30 years ago. So what can I say? How could I be so arrogant (and stupid) to say that their offer at the altar is "inappropriate", "unsuitable"? Let's get this very clear: salsa music is not contemplative or dignified music. It is PARTY music - and praise the Lord for that! Let's party! Don't try this at your local village fete, and don't ever think about playing it in a "High Church" service (unless you want to be responsible for some stolid vicar's cardiac arrest)... but if you are getting together with your Christian pals to party, this is the medicine you want, guaranteed to get the house rocking! And it's not all salsa. This is a "Greatest Hits" album, so there are four live tracks (you can hear the audience dancing - and wish you were there); tasty soft ballads like "Estaré Con Él" (I Will Be With Him) and wonderful romantic ranchero-style songs like "Un Día a La Vez" (A Day At A Time). This is music by Latin musicians for a Latin audience - but don't feel excluded. Come, listen in, and join the party!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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