| Find the Rhythm! A Guide for the Salsa Dancer by | | | | 1940s and 1950s (Mambo and Cha Cha Cha), the |
| Alex Wilson and Lee Knights is a must for anyone | | | | 1960s (Pachanga and Boogaloo), and the 1970s |
| interested in learning about and connecting with the | | | | (Salsa); "Anatomy of a Salsa Song" breaks the song |
| music, and not just merely learning the dance steps. | | | | into understandable components; "Latin Rhythms that |
| Alex Wilson is a Latin musician, composer, arranger, | | | | Make the Salsa Sauce" looks at the music from Cuba, |
| producer, and educator, Lee Knights is a salsa dancer, | | | | Puerto Rico, Colombia, and Salsa in New York and |
| salsa instructor, performer, and choreographer; | | | | what makes them different; "The Clave" delves into |
| together they make a formidable team to share the | | | | and defines what are the Son and Rhumba Claves |
| passion of the music - Salsa. | | | | and how to distinguish them; "The Instrument |
| I was introduced to Alex Wilson several years in | | | | Signposts" dissects the verse and the various |
| London at the Jazz club, Ronnie Scott's by a good | | | | instruments and how to relate to them, and the |
| friend of mine, who told me that Alex Wilson was | | | | Montuno section incorporates each of the |
| one of the top Latin musicians in the UK. High praise | | | | instruments used. The book also has interesting |
| indeed, and I made it a point to keep my eyes and | | | | chapters entitled, "The Questions you Always |
| ears tuned over the years as to what projects Alex | | | | Wanted Answered;" "Know Your Salsa Musicians;" |
| Wilson was working on. | | | | "Where to Next?" and a "Musical Phrasebook" that will |
| The album Alex Wilson - Inglaterra, Alex's previous | | | | have you "speaking" Salsa like a professional. In |
| release, was a blend of salsa, R&B, soul, reggae, and | | | | addition to the well thought-out book, the 82-track |
| bhangra-salsa that whetted the appetite for more; | | | | CD lets you experience the rhythm as Alex gently |
| hence when I heard about, Find the Rhythm! A Guide | | | | guides you through the music. |
| for the Salsa Dancer by Alex Wilson and Lee Knights, | | | | I am now confident and ready to return to my Salsa |
| conceived as "The Ultimate Salsa Work Book for | | | | dance lessons. If my feet take some time picking up |
| Dancers Who Want to Connect to the Music," I could | | | | the beat, so be it; at least I now understand the |
| hardly wait to read the book and listen to the | | | | music and know the difference between a batá, an |
| accompanying CD. | | | | iya, a llamador, a tambor alegre, and a tumba, which |
| Often the hardest part of mastering the art of a | | | | incidentally are types of drums used in Salsa. While it |
| new dance style is learning the nuances and the | | | | may take awhile for me to look like a Salsa dancer |
| rhythms of the music, as well as understanding the | | | | on the dance floor, as for "speaking" Salsa, consider |
| beats so that you can get into the flow and react to | | | | me fluent. |
| the music, not merely memorize and execute the | | | | Find the Rhythm! A Guide for the Salsa Dancer CD |
| dance steps. A while back I had the idea that I | | | | was produced, directed, and arranged by Alex Wilson |
| should take Salsa lessons at a club, as I love to | | | | and recorded by Alex Wilson Records. Personnel: |
| dance. I thought that this would be something fun; | | | | Piano: Alex Wilson; Bass: Ray Crespo, Javier |
| however, trying to anticipate the rhythms and | | | | Fioramonti, Alex Wilson; Trumpets: Steve Dawson, |
| changes of the music while attempting to learn the | | | | Annette Brown, Paul Jayasihna; Trombone: Trevor |
| dance steps was a definite challenge. Where were | | | | Mires, Alistair White; Percussion: Dave Pattman, |
| Alex and Lee when I needed them? | | | | Emeris Solis, Davide Giovannini,; Vocals: Alfonso de |
| Now that I have read, Find the Rhythm! A Guide for | | | | Jesus, Davide Giovannini, Shahid Abbas Khan, Aquilla |
| the Salsa Dancer and have listened to the CD I have | | | | Fearon, Naomi Phillips. Kuljit Bhamra |
| a greater appreciation and insight of the music and of | | | | To purchase Find the Rhythm! A Guide for the Salsa |
| the different styles of Salsa. The chapter "The | | | | Dancer by Alex Wilson and Lee Knights, please visit |
| Source of the Sauce" looks at the various dances | | | | the websites: FindtheRhythm.com; and AlexWilson.net. |
| from the 1920s and 1930s (Son and Danzón), the | | | | |