single artist
Lengaïa Salsa Brava
“There’s no doubting the ease with which the players embrace the propulsive arrangements, or the way their musicality – at once tight and free – deftly captures salsa dura’s urban grit.” Jane Cornwell, Songlines – review of The Gold Diggers
“These songs [from IMPACTO] will be a treat for your dancing feet and you’ll want to add them to your playlists” Social Dance community, USA
“In terms of artistic approach, the 11-piece orchestra firmly maintains its position in the hard salsa segment, with original compositions that are both bold, aggressive and innovative” [original quote: “En términos de enfoque artístico, la orquesta de 11 músicos mantiene firmemente su posición en el segmento de la salsa dura, con composiciones originales a la vez audaces, agresivas e innovadoras”] Hard Salsa Bogota, Colombia
Lengaïa Salsa Brava is an award-winning Montreal-based eleven-piece orchestra created in 2012 by Latin and Guyanese trombone player Giany-Frantz Huyghues-Despointes. Its format of three trombones and a baritone saxophone gives it a uniquely and powerful sonic colour. The band is representative of the diversity of its hometown, Montreal, featuring members from no less than 6 different countries: French Guiana, Colombia, Peru, Quebec, Spain, and Venezuela.
Lengaïa has accompanied several international artists from the world of salsa such as: Yoko Mimata (2016), Ismael Rivera Jr (2017), and the singer of Fania All Stars, Ismael Miranda (2017). Lengaïa released their first album Impacto in 2018. They collaborated with Jimmy Bosch as special guest on their second album Gold Diggers in 2020. Gold Diggers received a Juno nomination as World Music album of the year in 2021. Their propulsive arrangements and sharp musicality won the group “Salsa Orchestra of the Year” at the Canada Latin Awards in 2017 and 2018.
Lengaïa has held a monthly residency at the Montreal club Groove Nation. Other notable performances include the Toronto Salsa Festival, Montreal’s Nuit Blanche, Gatineau’s Karamel Festival, Fiesta Olympica at the Olympic Park, and Festival Nuits d’Afrique. The orchestra completed its first international tour in Colombia in September 2019.
Awards and recognition
2021 JUNO Nomination in the “World Music album of the year” category for The Gold Diggers.
2020 Canada Latin Awards Nomination in the “Best Tropical song” for Salsa Dura Hasta la muerte
2020 Agozar International Salsa Song contest Top 10 finalist for the song Don Nadie
2019 Canada Latin Awards Winner in the “Best tropical song of the year” category
2018 (August) New Gen Salsa TOP 100 # 1 ranking for the song “Comedia del arte”
2018 Canada Latin Awards Winner in the “Salsa Orchestra of the Year” category
2017 Canada Latin Awards Winner in the “Salsa Orchestra of the Year” category
2016 Canada Latin Awards 2016 Nomination in the “Salsa Orchestra of the Year” category
