What does nueva salsa sound like? If you're Richmond, Va., nine-piece Bio Ritmo, it sounds as diverse and exciting as these expert, upstart Latin musicians can make it. And while their influences include everything from punk, ska, and reggae to funk, classic jazz, and North African music, Bio Ritmo is passionately, unwaveringly salsa.

Biónico's title alludes to the band's hybrid composition process: they jam through acoustic guitar and electronic music sketches before transforming the songs into classic conga-brass-piano arrangements. Lurking in the hearts of these contemporary-minded players is a deep reverence for masters like Eddie Palmieri, Mongo Santamaria, El Gran Combo, Celia Cruz, y mas.

Right off the bat, bandleader-vocalist Rei Alvarez ably handles fiery choruses and soaring leads on "Lisandra," a track that bears resemblances to Austin Latin funkers Brownout or the electronic-y Miami group Spam Allstars. The party has started. Bio Ritmo's capable dual trumpet and trombone horn team add zest to the plaintive "Shoe Shine," which dips through multipart brass solos and feverish percussion eruptions. Zippy, timbale-laden songs like "Sombras" maintain the disc's funky, frenetic pacing.

Veteran Fania Records studio engineer Jon Fausty adds extra polish, which makes Alvarez's voice ring like a bell. Like another of the band's influences — '70s TV character Steve Austin of The Six Million Dollar Man — Bio Ritmo's cyborg-strong musicianship inspires vigorous dancing and makes Biónico one of this year's best Latin releases.

-- by Tomas Palermo