2020

Omar Lugo

North America / Puerto Rico / San Juan

Omar Lugo “Young Promise of the Juvenile and Romantic Salsa of Puerto Rico”

Omar Lugo - Puerto Rico — Omar Lugo – Puerto Rico

With a modern, restorative and very representative style, the talented Puerto Rican Omar Lugo arrived to reinforce Latin music, offering a trend with a youthful and urban touch; who in addition to being a singer and performer of various musical instruments, is a composer.

Lugo, is a native of the beautiful Caribbean municipality of Arroyo, belonging to the free state of Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico. This promise of salsa, was born on November 23, 1993 and tells us that, from a very young age, he showed interest and ability to vocalize from the age of 15, when he began to educate himself and train musically in the band of his beloved town of Arroyo and later in adolescence, he accompanied artists of various musical genres in Borinquen.

Let’s see Omar, since when did you start in composition?

“Friend, that was the product of compiling various experiences that I had in love and coincidentally gave me the opportunity to compose my first song “Si supieras”, which I recorded when I was 15 years old, under the arrangement and production of my older brother. Jayson Lugo; serving all this experience to start my artistic career at the age of 17.

That song is a declaration of love, and many identify with it by being able to gather the feelings that a person inspires in you, If you knew, it had, by the way, a lot of radio success, it is a letter that I wrote from the heart”-. This is how he told us for International Salsa Magazine.

The young Puerto Rican, Omar, is characterized by fusing urban and electronic sounds that identify his style for “la salsa”.

Omar Lugo - Mexico Salsa Sabor — Omar Lugo – Mexico Salsa Sabor

In addition, he has shared stages with artists from his country as main singer and musician, such as: Fabián, Juan Vélez, Three Son Salsa, Kimary Carrero, Ricky Luis, Barreto y su Plena, Víctor Manuelle, N’Klabe, Tito Nieves, NG2 , Charlie Cruz, Ken-Y, Keykon, Pirulo, Frankie Negrón, Boni & Kelly, Planéalo, Oscarito, Aníbal de Gracia and many more.

It is noteworthy that Omar has a number 1 on the Billboard Charts (Tropical Charts), with the single “Amor de Verdad” by Charlie Cruz, being Omar Lugo, one of the youngest salseros in history to reach that position. in the musical genre “salsa”.

He adds that, in 2017, he performed at the “El Aniversario de la Salsa” event, at the Paquito Montaner stadium, in Ponce, before more than 15,000 spectators, receiving a standing ovation for his performance. Finally, he told us that he is currently recording his first record production under the direction of his brother Jay, a fundamental and key piece in his musical growth, by the way, winner of the 2018 Latin Grammy.

It was an honor to have in International Salsa Magazine, as a special guest, this talented Puerto Rican Omar Lugo, who has been demonstrating with his music, the interest of attracting young people to salsa with modern touches in his songs.

Takafumi Nikaido

Asia / Sapporo / Japan

Takafumi Nikaido, In his time in Cuba he studied with prominent percussionists Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”

Takafumi Nikaido born in Sapporo Japan in the year 1993 started playing the saxophone at the age of 6 and at the age of 7, after watching a live performance by Earth Wind & Fire he was inspired to pick up the percussion and studied under the Fujio Saito.

At the age of 12 he traveled to Cuba to take classes on dancing and percussion where collaborated with the Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Upon graduating high school he attended Berklee college of music as a scholarship student.

He studied theory and performance from people such as Eguie Castrillo, Tiger Okoshi, Mark Walker, Oscar Stagnaro and Jim Odgren.

In 2014, he traveled to Cuba again to attend the Fiesta del Tambor Percussion Competition where he received the “Best Foreign Entrant Award”.

In his time in Cuba he studied with prominent percussionists Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”, Adel Gonzalez, Adonis Panter Calderon, Osain Del Monte.

During his time in Berklee he performed with artists such as Oscar Feldman,Terence Blanchard, Jon Secada, FANTINE, Sivamani, Ruben Rada, Totó la Momposina and Mane De La Parra.

In the summer of the same year, he became involved with the “The Untied East Jazz Quintet” and played at 9 venues all over Japan and South Korea.

Alongside musicians Zahili Gonzalez Zamora and Gerson Lazo, they formed the musical group “MIXCLA” and perform regularly mainly within the Boston.

In 2015, he performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival as a member of the Zahili Gonzalez Zamora Project.

He is currently studying in Berklee College of Music and have been participating in musical projects other than Latin music like pop, jazz.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takafumi.nikaido
Website: http://www.takafuminikaido.com/

Rosario Jermano

Europa / Italia / Napoles

Rosario Jermano is probably the best known Italian percussionist, open to all types of traditional and worldwide ethnic music.

Jermano’s Neapolitan origin together with his extraordinary intuitive interpretations have given birth to a music with a genuine Mediterranean sound with colours from World music and pop influences.
His world is not conned to the Neapolitan area, but is open to the sound and cultures of the entire Mediterranean area, mixed in a truly exciting blend.

The exotic Middle East as well as tribal Africa are united by the sound of his percussions to create what he himself calls “The breath of life”.

Jermano has played with played with: Zucchero Fornaciari, Eros Ramazzotti, Fabrizio De Andre, Pino Daniele, Renato Zero, Rai Orchestra, Loredana Berte, Mia Martini, Ornella Vanoni, Gino Paoli, Fiorella Mannoia, Ana Belen, Edoardo Bennato, Eduardo De Crescenzo, Luca Barbarossa, Corrado Rustici, Raf, Riccardo Cocciante, New Perigeo, Toots Thielemans, David Foster, Gigi D’Alessio, Nuova Compagnia di Canto Popolare, Enzo Gragnaniello, Natascia Bonacci, Patch Stewart, Sting & Zucchero, Toquino, Luca De Filippo, Yaire, Jose Miguel Diez, Lorca, Tishubi y Giorgina, Andrea Bocelli, Tyromancino, Del Newman Orchestra.

For more information:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/R.Jermano/

Brad Dutz

North America / Los Angeles / California

Brad Dutz, His endorsements include Innovative Percussion, Gon Bops, Remo, Yamaha, Paiste and Roland

While recording CD’s for artists like Kiss, Willie Nelson, Michael Wolff, Tribal Tech, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Vinny Golia, Alanis Morrisette, LeAnn Rimes, Mitch Forman, Kim Richmond, Rickie Lee Jones, Hands’Onsemble and even actors Jeff Bridges and Ronny Cox, Brad Dutz tries to bring the strangest percussion instruments he has to the session to create a unique sound.

He can be heard on TV shows King of the Hill, Family Guy, American Dad, Enterprise and Firefly. Some of the movies that Brad has played on include Last Vegas, Battleship, Bourne Legacy, Cowboys And Aliens, Prince Of Egypt, Syriana, Hildago, Rugrats Of Egypt, Syriana, Hildago, Rugrats Go Wild, Star Trek 5, Ocean’s Eleven, Anchorman, Hollywood Homicide, Transformers 1 And 2, Rush Hour 3, Run Down, I Spy and Imax Films’ Mysteries Of Egypt, Mt. Kilamanjaro, The Amazon and Island Of Sharks.

As a member of BMI since 1985, Brad Dutz has produced over thirty CD s as a leader and composed the entire body of music on more than twenty of those releases. He is the owner of the publishing company Leaky Spleen music. The ensembles he has written for cover a wide range of instrumental combinations.

In 1990, Brad Dutz started his composition studies of multiple scores mainly of 20th century music and privately with composers Terry Plumeri, Ron Jones, Russell Steinberg. In addition to CD projects, he has composed for dance companies and theatre as well as television, movies including a few silent films.

The main focus of his composition over the last twenty years however, has been his numerous CD releases.

Everything from solo pieces to nonets is featured on his compact discs. Last year saw the fourth release- ‘”Peripheral Hearing” ‘of his latest quartet project.

This unit has the unique instrumental combination of mallet percussion, oboe, cello and bass clarinet.

Other recent ensembles include The Other Three (a trio with Kim Richmond and John Fumo), Obliteration 4tet (found objects for percussionists), Polarity Taskmasters (keyboards, voice, Theremin, percussion) and the duet CD with reedman Vinny Golia.

In 2002 his Obliteration quartet was the subject of a documentary lm. As an educator, Brad has taught hand percussion at Cal State Long Beach since 1997.

He has conducted hundreds of clinics at colleges and high schools on a variety of topics (including studio work, composing for percussion, producing his own CD of world percussion and freelancing in the music industry) He has also conducted master classes, lectures at many schools including University of KY Cal Arts, Saddleback College, Chapman College, NIU, WINONA State in MN.

Cal state LA, Indiana University, UNT, WEBER College, USC, UCLA, EIU, Eagle Rock Community Center, Southern Methodist University, ISU, U. of I, MILLIKIN, Pierce College, University Nebraska, Southern Utah University, Brigham Young ,Utah state, University of Alaska- Fairbanks and many others.

In 1995, Brad Dutz was featured on four videotapes (now reissued on DVD) Have Fun Playing Hand Drums that taught newcomers about playing hand percussion.

In addition, for four years Brad Dutz wrote a monthly column for Drum Magazine on hand percussion and he has written three (3) books featuring his original compositions -Manipulations in Sound and Time, Music for Hand Percussion and Percussion Pieces for Duos, Trios and Quartets. There are brand new compositions since 2012 now published by Honey rock Music. His endorsements include Innovative Percussion, Gon Bops, Remo, Yamaha, Paiste and Roland.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.dutz/abo ut?lst=833588259%3A569504777%3A15 81456694

Kirk Douglas

North America / United Stated / New York

Kirk Douglas “My greatest achievement un my long career was to help end the blacklist at the movies”

At the age of 103, Isuur Danielovitch Demsky, on February 5th, 2020 passed away. He was better known as Kirk Douglas. At the Sarah Lawrence College in Canton, new York. He discovered acting. He was rejected from the fraternities for being Jewish. However, eventually, Douglas became the president of the Student Council, the first time a Jew help that position. In his career he made over 90 film. He brought a certain air of powerful rebellion in his characters and left a legacy. A part of that legacy is the recognition for his humanitarian sense and “commitment to justice”

Douglas said that his greatest achievement was in helping to end McCarthyism. People from the industry were persecuted for their alleged communist affiliation. Artistic creativity was being censured. Douglas had hired screenwriter Dalton Trumbo to do the screenplay for Spartacus.

Trumbo was one of the highest paid screenwriters of this time, accredited with works like Oscar winning The Brave One, Exodus, Spartacus and Roman holiday and many other famous works. In 1950 Dalton spent 11 months in prison as one out he Hollywood 10. The Junior senator from Wisconsin Joseph McCarthy wanted to make a name for himself, along with attorney Roy Cohn, senator (later president) Richard Nixon, and Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. The committee assured that Blacklisted individuals wound’s work for years to come. Hedda Hopper organized a picket line at the opening of the film, urging her 35 million reader toy boycott the movies Spartacus.

Spartacus - film

Otto Preminger was the first to fight back against Joseph McCarthy and his witch-hunt, recognizing the work of Trumbo for Exodus. In 1955 Kirk Douglas had established his own production company. If Spartacus was boycotted, it would cause financial chaos for Douglas, and after being placed in the backlist, no one would work with him and Hollywood would ostracize him.

It took a great deal of courage for Mr. Kirk Douglas to stand up for his beliefs and fight to abolish blacklist and all that it meant. He joined the ranks with Otto Preminger. One of the first persons to cross Hedda Hopper’s picket line and give his support to Kirk Douglas was president elect John F. Kennedy.

Undoubtedly, the death of Kirk Douglas server for us to reflect on our role in society, and how we can contribute for our spaces, whether from art, film or music: and in different directions, beyond religion or politic. That sense of justice in the real legacy of Kirk Douglas. Some articles mention tha his already successful son Michael Douglas, how is married to actress Catherine Zeta Jones was left out o the will. Mr kirk Douglas left a vast part of his fortune to charity, His successful son Michael Douglas already is reputed to have a fortune in excess of $ 300,000,000 dollars.