Team Salsa Sextet, it’s the original “salsa del barrio” sound, immigrants’ music that rose out of the streets of New York in the 1970s. The group’s founder, Marc Knight, also grew up in the Big Apple. Taking in a Team Salsa Sextet concert is to understand why, as Willie Colón—a pioneer of this New York sound—famously stated, “Salsa is not a rhythm, it’s a concept.” Salsa emerged from a blend of various rhythms, propelled by the Latin American diaspora, particularly Cuban and Puerto Rican, desperate to forge their own identity, against a backdrop of social demands. Inspired by the freedom of jazz and rock improvisation, this music also emphasizes traditional rhythms preserved by Africa’s descendants who have been influencing Caribbean folklore since the 16th century. It defies all conventions. It’s this zest for life, the passion for dancing and for being free, that the band cultivates through its lively percussions and powerful brass section. The sextet made a name for itself on Montreal’s Latino festival circuit, summer celebrations worthy of those that erupt in all the major capitals where salsa rules. In addition to local Cuban, Columbian and Peruvian festivals, the ensemble has also rallied whole communities of salsa and swing fans at venues like the Metropolis and Club Balattou.