In the 1960s, Willie Colon was one of the young lions of New York City salsa. His fearless bandleading vision, aggressive trombone sound, and openness to mixing salsa with other styles made him one of the most distinctive American artists in Latin music. This two-disc compilation does a great job of documenting the salsa king's career and conveying the combination of energy, innovation, and accessibility at the heart of Colon's appeal. From the quintessential syncopated sound of his early classic, "The Hustler," to the subsequent R&B-inflected, string-laden "Siembra," the damn-near-definitive A MAN AND HIS MUSIC captures a man in motion, changing the face of salsa as he goes. Get in on the aesthetic ground zero of the salsa sound right here. minimize