Salsa music originated and arose in “El Barrio” (Spanish Harlem) of New York City in 1960’s. Legendary artists like Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Ray Baretto, Orestes Vilató and Tito Puente had a major impact on mainstream music in the United States and its feverish explosion throughout the world. During the 1980’s salsa dancing surged in popularity fueled by the growth of dance clubs, dance instructors and DJ’s. Latin jazz was enjoying a resurgence of popularity in Cuba, the Caribbean and the United States led by artists like Danilo Perez, Grupo Irakere and Gonzalo Rubalcaba. Important Cuban dance bands, Los Van Van, NG La Banda and bassist and composer Israel “Cachao” Lopez were enormous international hits that helped revitalize couple dancing and Latin jazz. These elements fueled a greater attention to Latin music styles and helped to reaffirm their importance and influence world wide.

The San Francisco Bay Area music community has long been an active contributor to the salsa and Latin jazz scene. Anchored by great musicians such as Cal Tjader, Armando Peraza, Carlos Federico, the Escovedo Brothers, John Santos, Roger Glenn and many others, it continues to grow and stimulate musical ideas for the genre. Where Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 1 covered the decade of the new millennium in the San Francisco Bay Area, Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 2, Hoy Y Ayer, helps document its greater history and its ongoing love affair with salsa, Latin jazz and música tropical.