Salsa Candela is a Latin dance band based in Cape Town, South Africa, focusing on authentic Afro-Caribbean music, which has recently been popularised by the release of the movie “Buena Vista Social Club”. The band plays Afro-Cuban genres such as the Son-montuno, Guaracha and Mambo (which is collectively referred to as Salsa when fused with jazz). Other popular Afro-Cuban styles including the Cha-cha and Rumba are part of the repertoire. The band also plays lesser known genres from Puerto Rico such as the Plena and Bomba. Other Afro-Caribbean styles such as the Calypso and Merengue as well as the Brazilian Samba are also included in the mix.

The 11-piece band has had crowds dancing at venues as varied as Kirstenbosch Gardens , Rhodes House, the Green Dolphin, Manenberg's, Curve Bar and the Jazzathon.  The band consists of high-profile Cape Town musicians: There's an expert team of percussionists consisting of Dave Novis on bongos, Steve Forder on congas and Keith Coxon on timbales; a dynamic brass section consisting of one of Cape Town's premier trumpet soloists Vaughan Fransch, well-known Kommetjie saxophonist Nick Le Roux, Sim Yarrow on trombone, and the celebrated  Carina Bruwer on flute and piccolo; the powerhouse rhythm section consists of acclaimed composer / pianist Ryan Grogan on keyboards and Richard Weissenberg on bass; while you're in for a vocal treat with a selection of female vocalists from the acclaimed Denay Willie, Tina Gordon, Danni Bitton and Neisha Harley.
Listen to SOUND SAMPLE (medley compiled by Richard W)