Salsa Books

• "Salsa - Havana Heat, Bronx Beat" by Hernando Calvo Ospina, (translated by Nick Caistor)available from Latin American Bureau, 1 Amwell St., London EC1R 1UL, £11. This short book is more a history of the people and the music for non-musicians with quite a political slant. Tells the story of Cuban music and the New York diapsora, with lots of lyrics from hit songs, but no charts.
• "The Salsa Guide Book" by Rebeca Mauleon, Guide to the history, rythmns, instruments and personalities of 'Salsa' by a arranger musician and dancer and Rebeca Mauleon. A must for learning to play and arrange Salsa music. Sher Music $20, available from Jazzwise Publications in UK. ALSO the Latin Real Book from Sher Music, a range of classic and modern salsa charts.
• The Rough Guide to World Music is an excellent guide to 'world music', 600 pages long, a real treat. There are hundereds of pages dedicated to afro-latin, south american, carribean and Brazilian music and its exponents. There is a sampler CD to go with it, and it is very good value for money.
• The Latin Tinge Roberts, John Storm New York, Oxford University Press 1979, available through Original Music ORIMU@AOL.COM
• Salsiology: Afro-Cuban Music and the evolution of Salsa in New York City, Boggs, Vernon W. , New York, Excelsior Music publishing Co., 1992
• Salsa:Musical Heartbeat of America/Musica! by Sue Steward, Thames and Hudson/Chronical Books 1999, A new book on Salsa history, I have not seen it.
• Cronica De La Música Del Caribe Urbano by Cesar Miguel Rondon 340 page book with photos, the Bible of Salsa, from Descaga

  For tango books try the tango pages

The Internet Music Shop sells sheet music and midi files, which can be sent be post or faxed. A search of their catalogue came up with two references to Salsa (1996)

Descaga have a great website and service. Started as a magazine and newsletter before the web came along, like most of the best services. Way back in 1995 they had :" main catalog, around 200 pages, is filled with over 4,000 items relating to Afro-Latin music (salsa, Latin jazz, folkloric rumba, mambo, santeria etc.). We have CDs, tapes, videos, instructional material, books, and instruments." " We also publish a newsletter (the Descarga Newsletter) which is bimonthly,around 20-22 pages per issue, and includes artist profiles, reviews of newreleases or reissues on CD, has interesting articles about the music (by muscians, producers, musicologists, record reviewers etc.) and also keeps you completely updated as to new items we include in our main mail-ordercatalog. A value at $17 for a 10 issue subscription (USA. All other countries:$40)" descarga@aol.com. They are based in Brooklyn, NY, USA. They sound good - are they? Norma At Notre Dame says they are!

Jazzwise Publications in the UK now do a selection of charts and tutors on afro-latin music.

	Music Shops

Record shops in Edinburgh are getting better for this music - I've seen some decent stuff in Virgin, HMV on Princes Street, and Fopp, and not only cheap compilations.

Virgin (Princes Street). James Combe, regular DJ at some of the Edinburgh venues runs the world music section here, and is trying to build up a good stock of music from latin america. He can also advise and order music. Go there and ask for a guided tour of what he has in stock ( but make sure you have a full wallet!)

Jazz Records on Jeffrey St (of the High Street below North Bridge) has a selection of old Brazilian and Cuban LPs, some collectors items and expensive, but others more reasonable. The owner says there is quite a demand developing, and he will stock up on some general 60s and 70s latin rythmns. Alternatively Fopp on Cockburn Street is the best music shop but was pretty weak last time I was in (August 1996).

You could speak to the DJs at the clubs, such as Ana at Fiesta Latin, and they may have some imports to sell.

Try for MP3s at www.mp3.com