Susie Hansen

Susie Hansen: Representante de la Salsa

by Dan Bilawsky
August 30, 2010

It's hard to tell whether Representante de la Salsa should be classified as “Latin jazz" or “Latin dance." While the eleven tracks presented by electric violinist/vocalist Susie Hansen and her tight band certainly possess plenty of potent improvisation and rhythmic excitability--both hallmarks of the best Latin jazz--the music leans toward more traditional Latin dance styles and is heavy on vocals. As if to drive this point home, Hansen labels each track, identifying the dance styles, such as mambo, or salsa. ...