Fatal Mambo

French salsa...It sounds like a mixture of escargot and jalapenos. While spicy snails may not be your thing, once you hear the undeniably funky music of this band from Montpellier, France, you'll swear the Cuba Libre was invented by Napoleon's chef. In fact, the group has developed an entirely new style of Latin music they call salsaioli (salsa-yolee). The name comes from a fusion of "salsa," essentially Spanish for "sauce," and "aioli," a pungent French garlic mayonnaise made of egg yolks, olive oil, lemon juice and crushed garlic.

Latin music has been a global craze since the "Peanut Vendor" in the 1920s swept dance floors from Santiago to Stockholm. It has only been in recent years, however, that groups from outside the U.S. and Latin America have made a name for themselves with the bubbling mix known by the misleadingly simple name salsa. Japan's Orquestra De La Cruz, Holland's Nueva Manteca and the Ivory Coast's Laba Sosseh are notable examples.

Fatal Mambo takes it a step further, asserting that innovation, not imitation, is the ultimate form of flattery. Boldly going where few salseros dare to go, Fatal Mambo uses Latin rhythms and attitudes as an underpinning for a unique style that owes as much to the French guinguettes as it does the Tropicana.

Many people don't realize that Southern France, where Montpellier is located, is as much connected to the Spanish culture as it is to the French. Spanish is a common language in this area and there are many cultural connections, not the least of which is music. The Gypsy Kings, after all, are from Southern France, not Spain. So it is fair to say that Fatal Mambo has a touch of Spanish soul in their blood, not to mention ample doses of North African influences and of course, the folk music of the French countryside. Couple that with an open-minded approach to music, a good Latin record collection, some chutzpah and voila! Salsaiolli! (Jacob Edgar) —Courtesy Calabash Music