La Excelencia Explained

La Excelencia
Background:	group_or_band
Origin:	New York City
Genre:	Latin/salsa
Years Active:	2005–2012, 2018–present
Label:	Cali York Records
Website:	www.laexcelencia.net

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]

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)
• Willie 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

• Yglesias . Pablo . La Excelencia . Latin Beat Magazine . March 2009 . 19 . 2 . 20–46 . 1553-5460.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pfeiffenberger . Sylvia . 2010-10-13 . The ironies and energy of La Excelencia's hard salsa . 2023-01-16 . . en-US.
2. News: 14 Oct 2010 . La Excelencia, adding spice to first 'Salsa Tuesday' at Rosslyn's newly opened Artisphere . 2023-01-16 . . . en.
3. News: Rohter . Larry . 14 July 2010 . La Excelencia, Salsa With Social Commentary . . Larry Rohter . 17 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218092624/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/arts/music/15salsa.html . 18 December 2022 . live . en.
4. Web site: Nice . DJ Walter B . Review: Orquesta SCC (Salsa Con Concencia) "Yo Los Invito A Gozar" . NewGenSalsa . 17 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218102611/https://www.newgensalsa.com/review-orquesta-scc-salsa-con-concencia-yo-los-invito-gozar/ . 18 December 2022 . en . 18 October 2013 . live.
5. Web site: La Excelencia . 25 October 2018.
6. Web site: 30 Jan 2012 . La Excelencia brings salsa dura to Hopkins Center - ProQuest . 2023-01-16 . . . en.
7. Web site: Ecos del Barrio . AllMusic.
8. Web site: La Excelencia Releases New Video "Machete" . New York Latin Culture Magazine . 17 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220930124943/https://www.newyorklatinculture.com/la-excelencia/ . 30 September 2022 . 21 May 2021 . live.