"Ven pa' ca/ ven a gozar con mi ritmo/ Ven pa' ca" ("Come here/ to enjoy my rhythm/ come here") is the joyful and energetic invitation that Cuban-American Chico Alvarez gives us in his version of the popular '60s song "Cogele el gusto" ("Get the Flavor") in the latest Putumayo Records release, "Afro-Latin Party."

Salsa is defined by its African influences in the instrumentation and the subject matter. Bongos, timbales and drums mark the rhythm. It's usually understood as a Caribbean genre born in the Americas, principally Cuba, Puerto Rico and New York. But "Afro-Latin Party" has made it global, including artists participations from Congo, Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Martinique, Venezuela, Oregon and even Croatia.

Within this tropical musical style, the syncopated mambo and cha-cha-cha and the slower son season the 10 musical arrangements in the compilation. The salsas have a retro flavor of the '60s and '70s when Celia Cruz and La Sonora Matancera had their early successes. If salsa has two tendencies, the fusion or the tradition, "Afro-Latin Party" presents solid songs based on the original and traditional style.

-Elio Leturia