Biography
In the 1980s Costa Brava stood alongside El Gran Combo as one of Puerto Rico’s leading salsa outfits. The group came together in 1978 in Santa Isabel, a modest coastal community on the island’s southern shore, and has been guided ever since by trumpeter Elvin Torres; his son, Elvin Torres, Jr., eventually came aboard as pianist, composer, and arranger. At the height of their success, titles such as Dando de Que Hablar (1986), A Tiempo Completo (1987), Orgullo de Puerto Rico (1988), and Costa Brava 90 (1990) routinely reached the Top 20 on Billboard’s Tropical/Salsa album chart. Although commercial momentum declined after the decade’s close, the band sustained both concert activity and studio work. Later independent efforts—including ¡Otra Vez! (2004, EJR Music), Costa Brava en Navidad (2005, EJR Music), and ¡A Pico y Pala Pa' Que No Joma! (2007, Envidia Records)—sold less than the earlier catalog yet still captured the ensemble in strong musical shape.
Albums
Singles
