Salsa Celtica

Salsa Celtica demonstrates that blending Afro-Cuban salsa with Celtic traditions need not yield either radical experimentation or disjointed results. Instead, the ensemble functions as a robust, energetically swinging salsa outfit originating in Scotland. While their recordings weave in Scottish and Irish Celtic components and feature instruments common to that heritage such as bagpipes, Uillean pipes, banjos, fiddles, and whistles, the defining elements remain standard Afro-Cuban tools including Latin percussion, piano, and horns. Rather than drawing primary inspiration from the Chieftains, Clannad, or Tommy Makem, the group looks to salsa figures including Tito Puente, Willie Colón, Rubén Blades, Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, and los Van Van. Most lyrics appear in Spanish, salsa's prevailing tongue, resulting in a style that is roughly 90 percent Afro-Cuban and 10 percent Celtic, or essentially a salsa outfit carrying subtle Celtic accents.

The band came together in Scotland during 1995. In 1997 its members traveled to Cuba, an uncomplicated journey given that Scotland maintains no embargo like the United States. They subsequently issued their first album, Demonios, Angels and Lovers. A later release, El Agua de la Vida (Spanish for "the water of life"), appeared on the Compass label in 2003. Among the musicians who have performed with Salsa Celtica are pianist Phil Alexander, percussionist/vocalist Lino Rocho, flutist/saxophonist Steve Kettley, saxman Frasier Fifield, banjo player/guitarist Coyne Eamonn, percussionist Javier Chernicoff, and violinist/guitarist Kenny Fraser.