2018

Charlie Aponte presents his best salsa album

North America / USA / Las Vegas

Charlie Aponte presents his best Salsa album. Partying with his first Latin Grammy 2018 nomination

Puerto Rican salsero Charlie Aponte has plenty of reasons to celebrate his first Latin GRAMMY nomination, with his second production

“Pa’ Mi Gente” which was recognized in the category of “Best Salsa Album” for the nineteenth installment of these prestigious awards that will be delivered on Thursday, November 15 in Las Vegas.

“Very grateful to the Recording Academy, especially its members, for this important support that is definitely one more step to continue reaping success” said the artist who is reaching his five years as a solo artist.

“Pa’ Mi Gente” achieved an important debut, reaching the top of the “record pools” lists, with its songs, “La Salsa se Hizo Pa’ Bailar” and “No se le Presta el Alma”, which have been the most listened to, likewise; “Nobody takes away what you dance”, which was the first promotional single and which contains a video on his official YouTube channel, by this artist who works independently with the Criollisimo Inc. label.

This album is made up of 11 songs, among them one of his own authorship under the guidance of the musical director on the album and all his presentations, maestro Sammy García, who together recorded this production in the MÁS Audio studio of the sound engineer and producer Angelo Torres.

Charlie Aponte, who will soon release his new music video “Besos de Azúcar”, continues with his artistic commitments, including New York, Medellín and various presentations in his native Puerto Rico, and to end the year he will be with the public of Colombia, in the “Heroic City” Cartagena.

Biography Charlie Aponte:

Charlie Aponte, one of the most beloved voices remembered by thousands of salseros around the world, returns to the stage as a soloist in 2015 after 41 years of belonging to the salsa university, “El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico” Now he’s back as a solo artist.

Born in Caguas, PR on February 2, 1951. It was in 1973 when, after the departure of Pellín Rodríguez, he joined the “Mulatos del Sabor”. Since then there have been many successes that have been proclaimed as successes through Charlie’s voice. He has contributed as a vocalist and displayed his capacity as a sonero in hits such as “Brujería”, “Amor Brutal”, “La Loma del Tamarindo”, “Compañera Mía”, “No hay cama pa’ tan tan Gente”, “Hojas Blancas”, “ Rice with Beans”. Among many others.

In 2014, together with the multi-award winning producer, Maestro Sergio George (Top Stop Music), he presented his new musical proposal “Una Nueva Historia”. This new proposal has the best and most recognized composers and arrangers. Presenting the song “Para Festejar” as his new single in promotion, and grateful for the public’s reception of his musical production, which was on the Billboard charts for 10 consecutive weeks, which catalogs it as an excellent piece of music.

He debuts as executive producer of his new proposal “Pa’ Mi Gente”, a production by the best musicians, arrangers, composers, available in all major stores and digital platforms. In this new project he has a bolero composed by the artist, among other surprises for the public that follows him.

Accustomed to leaving his soul in each of his performances, he assures that with this album he intends that his followers listen to him, dance and continue to appreciate the quality with which his music is made.

The King of Bass Mr. Bobby Valentin

North America / USA / Nueva York

One step away from the Latin Grammy. The King of Bass Mr. Bobby Valentin

The Latin Grammy nomination of the experienced Bobby Valentin in the category of Latin jazz with the production “Mind of a Master” is another recognition of honor for his half-century musical career as an arranger and conductor.

“Mind of a Master” is the production with which Bobby Valentín enters the competition on the nineteenth day of the Latin Grammy. (Archive National Foundation for Popular Culture). Bobby, nominated last year in the category of salsa with “My rhythm is good”, is one of the five contenders for the Latin Grammy in the “Best Latin Jazz Album” section.

The other finalists are also Puerto Rican Néstor Torres (“Jazz Flute Traditions”), Adrian Laies (“The house of a jazz pianist”), Dafnis Prieto (“Back To The Sunset”) and Hermeto Pascoal (“Universal Nature”). . In a conversation with this medium, Bobby said that he will immediately capitalize on the nomination to promote the album at international festivals.

“We have sent to several festivals in the United States a report of what the album is and my career. We are waiting for answers. Right now I have a presentation at the Interamericana on Wednesday, October 17, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Music Department and there is a person interested in going to Costa Rica. It’s slow, but I have a lot of faith that little things will continue to appear. Latin jazz is another audience, although I know that many people who like salsa like it”.

The King of the Bass added that he feels as if he has won the precious golden phonograph. “The nomination of what is a salsa album is another style. This is another corner. What I’m saying is that after one is competing, even if you don’t win, the competition is good, as is being nominated among so many productions. For me the competition in Latin jazz is stronger than in salsa”. Bobby presents “Mind Of A Master” alongside The Latin Jazzists, who are mostly the musicians from his salsa orchestra, like Angie Machado and Eliud Cintrón. Bobby isn’t worried about purists arguing that they’re not jazz soloists.

“The musicians are happy. It is a genre that they like. Here they have been more concerned with projecting their styles and expressions”, Bobby reacts. A salsa musician can play jazz. This is how history supports it. Mongo, Puente, Machito, Mario Bauzá, Mario Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, Hilton Ruiz and Jerry González, among others, began in mambo and Afro-Caribbean dance music, prior to their foray into jazz.

“Like Ray Barretto, who was also linked to jazz. Finally, we all look for that corner. The same Néstor Torres, who started with Batacumbele. After one has done so many things in the tropical genre, one seeks satisfaction as a musician by looking for another corner”.

Jazz, however, is not new to Bobby Valentín. “Latín Gravy”, “Codazos”, “Shinny Stockins” and “Maiden Voyage” are several of the works recorded on his salsa albums. “It always caught my attention. When I was in New York, Latin jazz was mambo jazz. Later the name changed, but before it was done for the dancer, although there were solos. It’s no longer for the dancer. Now people sit down to listen to him. It was a good change.”

Bobby has not decided if he will travel to Las Vegas to be present at the awards ceremony, to be held in November. “I still don’t think so. It’s not because I’m going to win or not. To be competing even if I don’t win is reason for joy. I feel very happy. I have no plans yet”.

Next Wednesday the 17th he will perform with The Latin Jazzists at the INTER Metro Jazz Festival. That night he will perform the “Mind Of A Master” sequence. “I feel very happy. This record is like a baby to me. Although we have played tropical music, this is a new baby and that it is nominated for a Latin Grammy makes me feel very happy”.

Eukaris Figeroa

Latin American / Venezuela / Caracas

Eukaris Figeroa. I don’t imitate Celia Cruz

Five years ago, Eukaris Figueroa dared to initiate an investigation into Celia Cruz. A work came out of that work, La guarachera del mundo.

Figueroa is also in charge of directing and producing the play. It explores from Cruz’s beginnings, in 1950, until his death, in 2003; addressing his personal life and ailments.

Where did that idea of presenting the life of the sauce boat come from?

When I decided to launch myself as a singer 10 years ago, I visited his grave in New York and asked his permission, not to take his place, but to perpetuate the salsa genre. Later, I began to investigate his life and this montage emerged, which I am very proud of. This is the second season and we hope it will be as well received as the first.

Was it easy to interpret a character as mediatic as she?

There is no imitation here. There is, yes, a lot of admiration. And the public will realize this in the monologue of the piece, where they will discover things that she wanted to do, but could not and that she did not see on a stage either. Impersonators always make her old and fat. And no. Celia was also a very beautiful young woman.

Doesn’t her nickname “The sexy salsa babe” pigeonhole her and distance her from the image of Celia?

The fact that I have made myself known like this does not imply that I do not have training and that I do not worry about studying. It was the way I got them to notice me, and I did it.

But behind these curves there are many hours of work. An orchestra of 14 musicians. This montage that I am passionate about does not separate me from my career as a salsa singer. Everything is complemented to offer the best to the public.

Meet the Carlos Rodríguez Quintet

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

There are many Latin music orchestras worldwide, and our duty is to know and recommend the best orchestras, whether they are known or new talents. On this occasion we had the opportunity to interview Carlos Rodríguez and his orchestra who were playing Jazz, Latin Jazz, Salsa and various mixes of Latin rhythms at the “Café Mi Cosa” located in City Market, Caracas, Venezuela.

At this meeting in the cafe, there was the Carlos Rodríguez Quintet, who make it up: Antonio Davicenzo (Drummer), Darwin Manzi (Trumpet), Pancho Santangelo (Piano), Cesar Bolivar Changu (Percussion) and lastly Carlos himself as soloist.

Carlos mentions that his orchestra has in its themes and/or songs a mixture of Venezuelan music with jazz, Afro-Venezuelan, begin bolero, merengue with a bolerito, among others. Currently for the time they demand the search for new rhythms and stay stuck with the current rhythms, seeking to satisfy and enjoy the public and something that impacts them.

In his first album that was based on Jazz, he made several combinations with various Latin rhythms, such as: Guaguacom, Afro, Bolero, Jazz with Latin rhythm, Jazz with Venezuelan rhythm and other fusions.

It started a long time ago, he tells us that he was with the “National Philharmonic Orchestra”, where he learned and gained experience in the area of music. Of course he not only works with them but with other orchestras and/or artists.

Later he won an international award in Colombia as the best bassist, and his project is to be known as a soloist in his orchestra and not just another accompanist of another orchestra; however, he continues to work with a wide variety of musicians since that is the world of music, living from music not only as his profession but as his greatest passion.

His recommendation for new talents is that there is always a certainty in their musical career, discipline, gain and perseverance to progress and move forward since the road is hard and with obstacles, therefore one should not be discouraged and continue fighting and progressing to so be recognized.

For more information:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosrodriguezfalcon6/ @carlosrodriguezfalcon6
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +58 414-2037324

Gilberto Santa Rosa

Latin America/ Puerto Rico / Puerto Rico

Gilberto Santa Rosa – The Salsa Knight

Gilberto Santa Rosa (Santurce, 1962) Puerto Rican singer. Nicknamed El Caballero de la Salsa, he has been one of the most prominent performers of the genre, particularly since the 1990s. From an early age his love of music manifested itself, which led him to organize his first amateur ensemble.

At only fourteen years old, he already recorded his first songs, thanks to the trumpeter and orchestra director Mario Ortiz. His first group as a professional singer was the Orquesta Grande; Later, as a result of a performance in 1980 in homage to Eddie Palmieri, he joined Tommy Olivencia’s band. Later he sang for a time with Willie Rosario’s orchestra, with which he would record six albums.

Gilberto Santa Rosa

In 1986 he began his solo career at the head of his own orchestra within the Combo Records record company, owned by producer Ralph Cartagena. His first solo album was titled Good Vibrations. This was followed by three more jobs with the same label, which he left in 1990 to sign with CBS Records (later Sony Records).

That same year, Punto de vista was published, a romantic salsa album that went platinum and number one on the Latin charts thanks to its successful songs Vivir sin ella and Perdóname. The album also earned him the award for best Latin singer awarded by Billboard.

In 1991 his album Perspectiva confirmed a brilliant artistic career and opened up new markets for him. In May of this year he made his debut in Spain in a series of concerts in which he shared the stage with Pete Rodríguez, Johnny Pacheco and Roberto Torres, also from the Caribbean, and in September he made an equally successful Central European tour.

Gilberto Santa Rosa singing at the concert

In 1992 he recorded an album in tribute to the singer Tito Rodríguez entitled A dos tiempo de un tiempo. This work was followed by Born Here (1993) and Facing the Wind (1994), which would be his business card in Japan, a country he visited in 1995.

After the publication of Esencia, in 1996, and De corazón, the following year , in 1999 came his successful Expresion, an album that consolidated his position in the international Latin music market and that included hits like Déjate Quiero and especially Que somebody dice me, number one on Billboard for several weeks.

Santa Rosa was one of the first performers to fuse salsa music with classical music, with results such as his well-known work Salsa Sinfónica, which he presented at the Center for Fine Arts on his native island accompanied by the Puerto Rican Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to this historic performance, the concerts given by Santa Rosa at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1995 (which would be included on the live album The Man and His Music) are well remembered; his performance at the I President Festival of Latin Music (Santo Domingo, June 1997); or the presentation at the Lincoln Center in New York with his compatriot Andy Montañez in July 1997.

Also of note are his performances at the Anayansi Theater in Panama in September 1997; at the Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas, in February 1998; the concert at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan; and his 1998 European tour with performances in London, Milan and Rome. Apart from his facet as a singer, he showed his qualities as an actor in the play The Uneven Couple (1990), together with Luis Vigoreaux Jr. and Rafo Muñiz.