Dena Burroughs

LA Arts Examiner

'La Excelencia' from New York at Los Angeles' Skirball Cultural Center

• August 13th, 2010 2:16 pm

On stage stood only the pianist and the bassist playing the first notes of the concert. The rest of the band surprised the audience by coming in suddenly and noisily from the back of the outdoor auditorium - walking right between those sitting by the center aisle.

This was the first time that La Excelencia (The Excellence), a Salsa group based in New York City , performed in Los Angeles. Their concert was part of the Skirball Cultural Center ’s Sunset Concerts, which began July 22 and will continue until August 26.

Led by Puerto Rican Jose Vasquez-Cofresi and Colombian Julian Silva, and composed by musicians from Dominican Republic, Cuba, Ecuador, Argentina, Japan, and one from the state of Florida, La Excelencia delivered what they call their Salsa Dura (hard core Salsa) – original music heavy on brass (with two trumpets and two trombones) and strong percussion. They were interactive, allowing each of their metals a solo time to shine for the crowd, and energetic, with Vasquez-Cofresi taking his conga to the front of the stage, Silva throwing his sticks up to the air, and Edwin Perez, the main vocalist, traveling the stage at will.

The lyrics of La Excelencia’s songs contained socio-political messages as clear as the slogans on the musicians’ t-shirts: “I don’t believe in war,” sang in Spanish Perez while performing “American Sueno” (American Dream), “but I know that to believe only in peace would mean to ignore the injustices that happen in our land.” Other songs spoke about poverty, inequality, immigration issues, and so forth – messages which were most likely missed this time around by a majority due to the language barrier.

It was a good show that lasted over an hour during which many danced wherever they found the space to and that others listened and tapped their feet to from their seats. It was a successful introduction of La Excelencia’s craft to a Los Angeles audience and a great night at the Skirball series.