Orquesta Del Sol - Rainbow Love (2025) [Hi-Res]

Over the past decade, global interest in Japanese music—especially city pop and J-Jazz—has led BBE Music, under Ken Hidaka, to rediscover Japan’s first true salsa band, Orquesta Del Sol. Formed in 1977 by percussionist Masahito “Pecker” Hashida after his New York salsa debut, the group blended original compositions with covers and featured top Tokyo session players like drummer Shuichi “Ponta” Murakami. Their 1981 album Rainbow Love—co-produced by Ponta—combined Japanese, Spanish, and English lyrics over vibrant, Nuyorican-inspired salsa arrangements, with cover art by Yosuke Kawamura. The upcoming worldwide reissue on vinyl and digital formats includes seven bonus tracks from a 2000 CD reissue, all remastered and accompanied by new English liner notes from Latin-music expert Masashi Takahashi. This release highlights the enduring impact of Orquesta Del Sol, whose members later helped form the Grammy-nominated Orquesta De La Luz.

Tracklist:
1 Rainbow Love
2 Que Alegria
3 Night Ripple
4 Rumbambola
5 One More Kiss Again
6 Mundo Cruel
7 Get-A-Odyssey
8 Dawn
9 Luna De Miel
10 Dame Un Beso
11 Drizzling Rain
12 Juan Pachanga
13 Campanero
14 Yo Soy La Rumba
15 Duerme