La Excelencia

La Excelencia is an eleven-piece salsa dura band from New York City, founded in 2005 by percussionists Julian Silva and Jose Vazquez-Cofresi. The group's music addresses themes of immigration, poverty, and discrimination. La Excelencia released their debut album Salsa con conciencia in 2006, followed by Mi tumbao social in 2009 and Ecos del barrio in 2012. The band disbanded in 2012, with Vazquez-Cofresi and some members reforming as Orquesta SCC. La Excelencia reunited in 2017 under Silva's direction to work on their fourth album Machete, released in 2020. Notable singles include "Salsa Na'Ma" (2019).