“Salsa” is the name given to Afro Cuban dance music as it is played in the United States. The Spanish word salsa means “sauce” and was used in Cuba as an exclamation (“Salsa!”) when something exciting was played in music. Though the music originated in Cuba, the infusion of jazz harmony, arranging techniques, and improvisation, as well as the influence of the Puerto Rican community in America, came together to give salsa its distinct sabor (or “flavor”).
For more history and trivia about salsa in the United States, visit Pete Nater’s Salsa Legends and Masters Academy (slamanater.com).
