Taking their name from the term "en clave," a reference to the heartbeat of the Afro-Cuban rhythm section,
N'Klabe declare that they are all about salsa and nothing else. With an honorable goal to bring the love of salsa to a disenchanted generation,
N'Klabe set out to turn the tides with
I Love Salsa!, their debut CD for Sony International. Lead vocalists Héctor José Torres Donato, Félix Javier Torres, and Johnny Maldonado Díaz have made a lot of progress toward that end, with a number one hit on Latin charts to their credit, "Amor de una Noche." With a look even too clean-cut to be called a "boy band" (and a sound that's even cleaner),
N'Klabe are a radio success and a favorite with younger audiences. The salsa that they love is all by the book, and the arrangements, vocal/instrumental performances, and repertoire are all woefully unremarkable. Though not a strong selection for those already familiar with the style, this squeaky-clean debut performance has found a home with a new audience.
N'Klabe have gone to great lengths, from the album's cover art to the title cut's coro, to reach a yet untapped generation of salsa lovers. [This edition contains a ballad version of "Amor de una Noche" as a bonus track.] ~ Evan C. Gutierrez