Celebrating the remarkable trajectory of the most epic tropical orchestra that Latin music has ever experienced, Fania is offering Ponte Duro - The Fania All Stars Story, a lavish box set containing four CDs of music and a handsome booklet with brand new liner notes and previously unreleased photos.

The Fania All Stars was, above all, a live outfit. Its performances at the Red Garter, the Cheetah and the Yankee Stadium trace the salsa explosion of the '70s from homegrown phenomenon in New York to international stardom. Fittingly, three of the four CDs in this collection are culled from concert performances - including an 18 minute-long "Quítate Tú/Hang On Sloopy," straight from the Fania vaults, recorded in the mid-'70s with Steve Wonder as guest.

Some indelible moments from salsa history are also represented: a torrid "Guantanamera" with Celia Cruz singing from an African stage. Roberto Roena's electrifying bongo solo on the marathon jam "Ponte Duro." And Cheo Feliciano's raucous vocalizing on the timeless 1971 recording of "Anacaona" at the Cheetah club.

The fourth disc of this collection encompasses three decades of studio recordings. Under the musical direction of Johnny Pacheco, the group blossomed in the studio, experimenting with funk, soul and Latin rock, playing every single Latin format under the horizon, from velvety charanga instrumentations to straight ahead salsa. Celia Cruz channeling the Gypsy Kings on "Bamboleo," the All Stars exploring Chicano rock on "Viva Tirado" and Justo Betancourt going big band on "Cara De Payaso" are just a few of the many highlights to be found here. LESS >