La Excelencia

La Excelencia is an eleven piece salsa dura band from New York City founded in 2005 by percussionists Julian Silva and Jose Vazquez-Cofresi.^[1][2] The band's music has a salsa dura style, with themes incorporating immigration, poverty, and discrimination.^[3] La Excelencia recorded and released three albums in their first seven years. The group disbanded in 2012, with Vazquez-Confresi and some of the membership reforming as Orquesta SCC.^[4] The band reunited in 2017 under the direction of Silva to start working on their 4th album, "Machete."^[5]

La Excelencia
Origin	New York City
Genres	Latin/salsa
Years active	2005–2012, 2018–present
Labels	Cali York Records
Website	www.laexcelencia.net

Members

Current

• Julian Silva - Owner/Producer/Composer/Arranger/Timbales (2005-2012, 2018–present)
• Luis Arona - Bass (2005-2006, 2018–present)
• Ronald Prokopez - Trombone (2005-2012, 2018–present)
• Mike Engstrom - Trombone (2010-2012, 2018–present)
• Willy Rodriguez - Piano (2005-2012, 2018–present)
• Jonathan Powell - Trumpet (2007-2012, 2018–present)
• Gilberto Velazquez - Vocals (2008-2010, 2018–present)
• Nerio Matheus - Congas (2022-present)
• Nestor Villar - Bongos/Cowbell (2011-2012, 2018–present)
• Danny Enrique - Vocals (2023–present)

Former

• Jose Vazquez-Cofresi - Former co-owner/Composer/Congas (2005-2012)
• Jack Davis - Trombone (2005-2008)
• Charles Dilone - Bongos /Cowbell (2005-2012)
• Sam Hoyt - Trumpet (2005-2008)
• Rene Leslie - Vocals (2005-2006)
• Hector Luis Pagan - Vocals (2005-2006)
• Edwin Perez - Composer/Vocals (2005-2012)
• Jorge Bringas - Bass (2007-2012)
• Miki Hirose - Trumpet (2007-2012)
• Tokunori Kajiwara – Arranger/Trombone (2007-2012)
• Junior Beltran - Background Vocals (2010-2012)
• Yuniel Jimenez - Tres/Background Vocals (2010-2012)
• Jonathan Gomez - Congas (2019)

Discography

• Salsa Con Conciencia (2006)^[6]
• Mi Tumbao Social (2009)^[3]
• Ecos Del Barrio (2012)^[7]
• Machete (2020)^[5]

Single

• Salsa Na'Ma (2019)^[8]

References

1. Pfeiffenberger, Sylvia (2010-10-13). "The ironies and energy of La Excelencia's hard salsa". INDY Week. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
2. "La Excelencia, adding spice to first 'Salsa Tuesday' at Rosslyn's newly opened Artisphere". The Washington Post. 14 Oct 2010. ProQuest 757777841. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
3. Rohter, Larry (14 July 2010). "La Excelencia, Salsa With Social Commentary". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
4. Nice, DJ Walter B (18 October 2013). "Review: Orquesta SCC (Salsa Con Concencia) "Yo Los Invito A Gozar"". NewGenSalsa. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
5. "La Excelencia". Retrieved 25 October 2018.
6. "La Excelencia brings salsa dura to Hopkins Center - ProQuest". University Wire. 30 Jan 2012. ProQuest 1928957071. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
7. "Ecos del Barrio". AllMusic.
8. "La Excelencia Releases New Video "Machete"". New York Latin Culture Magazine. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2023.

• Yglesias, Pablo (March 2009). "La Excelencia". Latin Beat Magazine. 19 (2): 20–46. ISSN 1553-5460.

External links

• Official website