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Yes, it's that time of the year again folks. It's when we assess all of the material we've heard this past year and make a humble attempt at distilling it down to a manageable handful that represent the best releases of the year. I use the term 'represent' very intentionally here: Use this list as a starting point, as there were lots of great CDs that could have easily been included if not for our arbitrary, self-imposed, limits. My personal list shows the strength and vitality of local independent salsa projects like those of 8 y Más, Lefty Pérez and "Little" Johnny Rivero. Colombia played a big role this year too: Benedict & The Magic Band, Alberto Caicedo, and Real Charanga prove that South America is keeping the flame high and bright. Pushing the envelope is something I look for in new releases, and bands like Ochún, Mamborama, and the Cuban singer Telmary are doing things that go beyond their associated genres. Additionally some familiar names like Roberto Roena and Africando released new projects that were just to good not to include here. This year we've also included the Best Reissues of the year as well as these additional categories: Best Folkloric Release, Best Compilation, and Best DVDs. My picks are listed below, followed by Peter Watrous' and then by John Child's reissue recommendations. Enjoy, and the best for 2007!

— Bruce Polin, NYC

Here’s a list that suggests that the future has arrived. Some of the best records of the year are frankly experimental, or veer drastically from the laws of tropical dance music — Goza Pepillo, Haydee, Descemer, Angá. And the Latin Jazz entrants, including Ignacio Berroa, Rubalcaba and Francisco Mela are moving forward with great haste. Pedro Giraudo, from Argentina via New York, is part of a growing wave of New York based Latin Americans mixing what has happened in their countries with the sophistication of jazz educated musicians here. As for mainstream salsa, it’s doing well, even if it’s often not coming from Puerto Rico, New York or Cuba. The recordings are a good sign intellectual activity is percolating all over the place, and in so many distinct forms. Whether the audience follows is another matter. It’s up to you…

— Peter Watrous, NYC

This year was both very good and not so good on the Latin reissue front. March saw the launch of a major reissuing programme by the new owners of the Fania catalogue, and (unavoidably) these titles dominate my 2006 top ten chart. The CDs came with new liner notes, in some cases previously unpublished personnel credits, and digital remastering. Talking of audio quality, I got all excited about the appearance of reissues on the Sacodis and TR/TTH labels, but some of these were marred by poor sound quality. One ray of hope is the new Bronx-based Latin Soul Records label who seem to have faith that physical CD reissues of obscure albums still have a market, having released very rare Ghetto Records titles by Joe Acosta and La Fantastica at the end of the year. Salsa International released three more rare titles in November painstakingly mastered by the UK-based Ian Morrison, and Ralph Cartagena has been gradually reissuing riches from his Rico Records vault. These unpretentiously feature the artwork and information from the original vinyl album jackets, and tend to sound very good too. 2006 saw the long awaited reissue of three must-have albums Grupo Fascinación made for Rico in the mid-'80s, one of which figures in the top five of my list. I trust that Mr. Cartagena's New Year resolutions include the reissuing of three wonderful albums Venezuela's Nati y su Orquesta made for his Combo Records label in the mid-'80s?

— John Child, London