** 1/2 : RUBEN BLADES AND WILLIE COLON, “Tras la tormenta”, <i> Sony Tropical</i>

Seventeen years after changing the course of salsa with their album “Siembra” (“Sowing”), Blades and Colon have a go at it again. And even though “Tras la Tormenta” (“After the Storm”) isn’t as explosive as “Siembra,” the long wait was well worth it.

This album is a classy reunion--and, perhaps, swan song--by one of the most influential teams in all of Latin pop. As they did before, Blades and Colon were able to produce a rare balance between fun and brains. Colon’s sophisticated trombone parts and overall aggressive arrangements join Blades’ straightforward lyrics and inventive melodies, sometimes creating an exuberant big-band sound without leaving aside its salsa-oriented essence.

One highlight is the opening song, a moving tribute to the late Hector Lavoe, the former lead singer of Colon’s orchestra and arguably the best salsa singer of all time. Another is Blades’ exuberant rendition of Tito Curet’s “Deshaucio” (“Hopelessness”).

Blades and Colon are accompanied by the same top-notch musicians as in the past for a refreshing dose of salsa dura (hard salsa)--a great companion for “Siembra” or a fine start for beginners.