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Interviews

Javi Jiménez from Barrio Manouche talks about his career in Spain and then in San Francisco

Javi Jiménez from Barrio Manouche graces us with his presence in this July 2025 edition after several months of wanting to talk to the artist. After witnessing one of his wonderful shows at Cascal Restaurant, where the group performs regularly, we have checked the high quality of Javi’s work and that of his bandmates, so we could not miss the opportunity to share the most important aspects of his career, both in his native Spain and in San Francisco.

Javi with his guitar
Javi Jiménez with his gypsy jazz guitar

Javi’s beginnings in the musical world

The first contact with music in Javi’s life was made thanks to his parents, and in the neighborhood where he grew up, music was always present. From an early age, he and his brother listened to all kinds of genres at home, which awoke in them an interest in this art form beyond seeing it as simple entertainment. He remembers that since he was six, he saw his uncle playing the guitar until a few years later, when he turned 10, his uncle gave him this instrument so that he could play it himself.

Although his family did not have many musicians, he mentioned a cousin of his who was a bassist and actually wrote him his first chords on a piece of paper so that he could experiment with his new guitar and he did.

First professional experiences

He describes his taste in music after the age of 12 as an “obsession,” and at that time, he was very into rock and punk, nothing to do with what he plays today. He then started hanging out with several schoolmates who shared his hobby of playing music, which ended up giving rise to his first band, Mulatask. Currently, there is nothing about this online, as the internet did not exist at that time, so all evidence that this alternative rock and grunge band ever existed is on CDs and MP3 files that are not public.

In addition to that, the music his parents listened to continued to influence him to some extent. Among their favorite artists were Silvio Rodríguez, Victor Jara, Canción Protesta and Paco Ibañez. These singers impacted him so much that he began to study a little the classics and play them, but rock and electric guitar were still his favorites above all else. In fact, his favorite artists were Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix, among others. 

Javi and his brother
Javi Jiménez and his brother Luis Jiménez sitting to his right

This was the kind of music he played with his friends in the neighborhood and they even gave small recitals in front of audiences of 200-300 people when they were 15 or 16 years old at the time, which made the teenage Javi love to show his art to the world. 

Transition to gypsy jazz, modern jazz, and flamenco

Javi’s transition to gypsy jazz (inspiration for the name of his future band), modern jazz, and flamenco began when he moved to Barcelona, where he studied at a jazz and modern music conservatory. There he discovered a lot of genres and styles he had never heard before, one of which was bebop, also known simply as bob, which is a jazz style developed in the United States during the 1940s. At that time, he also discovered Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, among others.

Although Javi did not really identify with that language, he wanted to truly understand music so he could interpret it as best as possible. He did everything he could to understand bebop, but he found it very difficult until he started listening to Belgian gypsy jazz guitarist of Roma descent, Django Reinhardt, who was also a fan of Louis Armstrong. When he listened to Armstrong, he wanted to play the same thing, but with his own Roma touch, so he formed a band with two guitars, a bass, and a violin.

One of this band’s favorite genres is gypsy jazz manouche, which Javi loved and was passionate about since the first time he listened to it, to the point that he would name his future group Barrio Manouche (Gypsy jazz in Spanish).

On the side of flamenco, there were many gypsies and immigrants in his home neighborhood, including the Porrina family, which consisted of world-renowned percussionists such as Ramón Porrina, who has played with Concha Buika and Israel Suarez ‘‘El Piraña’’, a flamenco guitarist who was in Paco de Lucía’s last lineup.

Album release party
”Despierta” album release party at The New Parish in 2019

Javi tells us this to show that flamenco was very present in the environment he grew up, largely because there were many migrants. In his family’s case, they came from Andalusia and Cordoba.

He continues to insist that he still did not like it very much and his thing was rock. It was in California that he finally had nostalgic about the music of his homeland and wanted to reconnect with his roots in foreign lands. 

Moving to California

Javi had never thought about trying his luck in California until he met Adam Rouch, a Californian tattoo artist and musician who became his friend and with whom he toured Europe. In 2009, Adam had to return to his city because his parents were not in good health, and he told his Spanish friend to go with him to see how he liked the place. 

Although the artist was not convinced by the idea, he ended up accepting and discovered in San Francisco fun, cultural exchange, diversity, and many things that fascinated him. The best thing was the opportunity for its inhabitants to express themselves through practically any type of art or genre without fear of judgment, which made him decide to definitely stay living and finally become an American citizen.

Javi and Fanny Ara
Javi Jiménez and dancer Fanny Ara at the 62nd Monterrey Jazz Festival

How Barrio Manouche was formed

After he met with many musicians and made many contacts, Javi and his brother Luis, who is also part of the group on cajón and percussion, met Salvadoran percussionist Marcos Odara, French saxophonist Cyril Guiraud, violinist Magali Sanscartier, bassist Chris Bastian, his future replacement Gary Johnson, and guitarist Ross Howe. Finally, they included Colombian bongo player and flutist Iván Rondón, with whom they collaborated until he became a permanent member of the band.

The previous artists make up the instrumental part, but the dancing part includes Fanny Ara and Brazilian dancer Emaye Ama. 

Thanks to the huge number of nationalities and cultures present in the group, they have managed to get a unique sound Javi describes as a “bomb” due to the mixture of elements that are so diverse from one another.

 He says he feels a deep appreciation and respect for each of them, which makes the unity of the group stronger and more lasting despite the crises and the passage of time.

Read also: Sizzling Summer Nights dancer April Connella breaks silence on Orlando Delgado and her career

The best of Cuban music in Tampa with Cuband Son Band

We are very happy to be able to talk with Lizandro Muñoz, Liaudriz Fuentes, and Alfredo Sotolongo, who are part of the Cuban music group Cuban Son Band. We will know a little about each of them and the orchestra as such so that the public can get to know them and identify them.

Although all the musicians are coming from Cuba such as the genres they play, they met in Tampa, Florida, where they currently reside and have developed their respective musical careers.

Lizandro playing
Lizandro Muñoz playing at Water Street Tampa in April

How Lizandro, Liaudriz, and Alfredo became interested in music

Lizandro was the first who talked a little about himself and started by describing how his father played the guitar and began teaching his son to do the same. After attending the pre-university studies and playing guitar along with a group for about four years, he did his military service and moved to Spain to work with a number of groups at many Latin music events, especially Cuban music, which was what he played most.

Itis at this point in the conversation that Liaudriz, the group’s keyboardist, joined the meeting. After saying hello and introducing himself, he began to explain that he started in music at a very young age in Cuba, more specifically on the Isle of Youth or the Isle of Pines, as it was known before. As a child, he already had a lot of affinity for the guitar just like Lizandro, but also for everything related to percussion, which led him to take the respective tests to enter a music school.

That was when he went through the elementary, middle, and part of the upper levels. He did not complete the latter, as he got the opportunity to move to the United States. 

When Alfredo, Cuban Son’s violinist, slipped into the conversation, he and the boys joked about whether he remembered how he started in music due to his age. He then relates starting in music at about 10 and is now 66, so much water has flowed under the bridge since then. He studied at the National School of Art up to the fifth level for five years, where he trained as a percussionist, singer, and violinist, but had to withdraw due to family problems. However, his great strength helped him keep the lights on.

By not being enrolled in any institution, he began his training at home. Several members of his family were helping him to continue his dream and one of whom was his uncle, a flutist who played in Los Van Van, who inspired him to follow his path in the world of music. This is how he resumed his academic training and received an A grade in singing and an A grade in violin lessons. 

Liaudriz playing
Liaudriz Fuentes playing the keyboard live

He was in the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television Orchestra, better known as ICRT for its acronym in Spanish, and made some recordings with Los Van Van as a violinist. In 1998, he emigrated to Israel, where he worked as a musician for 10 years and even played in an orchestra known as Jerusalem Salsa Band, in which he alternated with several great artists such as Alfredo de La Fe, Buena Vista Social Club, and many others.

After those 10 years, he moved to the United States in search of new opportunities, which led him to make contact with Lizandro and Liaudriz from Cuban Son, which he joined about two years ago.

Alfredo added that one of the things that brought them together was that his now bandmates were following the way of son, the same path as their ancestors, who were soneros. It is in their blood and they had that in common.

How Cuban Son Band got started

Liaudriz again takes the floor and assures that the affinity between them was also due to the need Cubans feel to continue making music from their native land despite the distance and the way many of them come together to do this work. This is something that has mushroomed in Tampa in recent years due to the large number of Cubans who have arrived there.

“Cuban Son Band emerged from our need to share the music of our country not only here in Tampa, but also in other cities in Florida,” said the young keyboardist on this subject.

Lizandro added that several members of the group came from a much larger orchestra, but for economic and practical reasons, they left it and opted for a smaller, more compact format. This also gave them the freedom to make the music they wanted without consulting many people. 

Alfredo playing
Alfredo Sotolongo playing the violin during a concert

The biggest challenges Cuban Son faced at first

Regarding the receptivity of the people to Cuban Son Band’s work, Alfredo pointed out that they always try to make their music as traditional as possible so that the audience may know it. What has made things easier for them was his senior audience that misses these genres and enjoys listening to them, even if they are not what is trendy right now. There are many new genres in Cuba, such as reggaeton and cubatón, but the audience between 30 and 40 years old are not fans of that kind of music, but of more traditional genres such as bolero, bachata, changuí, and others.

Lizandro also added that as long as they offer something traditional, original, and authentic, language barriers should not be a problem, even though most of their fans are American. One of the biggest challenges for the group has been communication, precisely because of the language of their lyrics, but that has not prevented them from being listened to and fervently supported. 

In addition to that, they rely on covers of well-known English songs to connect even more with their non-Latin listeners, which has made them accept their work even more willingly. Their traditional foundation and open mind to new things have been the key to their progress.

Lizandro, Liaudriz, Alfredo, and Raysel
Trumpet player Raysel Reyes, keyboardist Liaudriz Fuentes, Violinist Alfredo Sotolongo, and guitarist Lizandro Muñoz

Current members of Cuban Son Band

Alfredo pointed out that they always try to be as loyal as possible to their main project, which is Cuban Son Band, but they are also aware that it will not always be possible for them to play only with their main orchestra, as they will have to work on other projects due to their economic situation.

Liaudriz also said that something that benefits them is that Tampa is a city that is growing a lot as for the Latin music scene, resulting in more and more work for them and groups with the same characteristics. This allows them to call each other and help each other without egos or pettiness.

Inspirations for each one

Alfredo was inspired as a singer by artists such as Ibrahim Ferrer, Pacho Alonso, Felix Chappottín, Pedrito Calvo, Oscar D’ León, Gilberto Santa Rosa, among others. in one way or another, all of them have honored Cuban music and that makes them bastions of what Cuban Son wants to achieve.

For his part, Lizandro mentioned Buena Vista Social Club, Omara Portuondo, Compay Segundo, Adalberto Álvarez, Chucho Valdez, Juan Formell, Bebo Valdéz, and Benny Moré.

Read also: Tito Planas talked to us about his Orquesta Afinke and its members

Bogotá Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome

Latin America / Colombia / Bogota

Son Salome, a name governed by the main genre of Cuban popular music, Son, and the memory of the great Poet/Writer Lou Andreas-Salomé, is defined as a Bar with a dance floor, also defined as a large disco, open to lovers dance, connoisseurs of good Latin music as well as for those who wish to attend to enjoy the right environment for a night of guaranteed enjoyment, with first class attention offers visitors a high level of security, highly trained staff , which seeks to provide a space for enjoyment.

Photo 1: Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome
Photo 1: Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome

During my visit I was able to enjoy the best options in services, cocktails, drinks and first-class drinks, the reference given by the famous Chepe, owner and personality of the city’s salsa world, was to enjoy the specialty, the Cuban Mojito, a house cocktail that will take you to visit the Island of Cuba without getting up from your seat.

This great bar offers us a varied itinerary during the weekends, starting with Cuban music on Thursdays where you could coincide with large groups, on Fridays with the best DJs in the country closing on Saturdays and Sundays with great salsa, Cuban and even beautiful folklore of the country, singers or musicians of the first gala will make your stay a night class moment.

Photo 2: Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome
Photo 2: Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome

With 34 years of foundation, Son Salome offers a well-distributed place, with a large space to dance or enjoy a good group, a first-class toilet and, above all, an open space to spend a beautiful evening. We can only recommend you to visit Son Salome located in the center, a few meters from the main means of transport in the city, the Transmilenio at its Aguas station, exactly on Calle 19 # 4-20, in a sector called to be the future of Bogotá, due to the number of constructions that are currently under development, opens continuously from Thursday to Sunday from 6:00 pm, you can learn a lot about this beautiful place through the social networks:

Facebook, Instragam and Google through Son Salome, the Latin reference number 1 in the city.

Photo 3: Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome
Photo 3: Dances To The Rhythm Of Son Salome

For more information contact them through:

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sonsalome / https://www.facebook.com/pages/SonSalom%C3%A9-Caribe/1396835567299952
  • Phones: +57 2432506 / +57 3005707722

Manya Restaurant

Latin America / Colombia / Bogota

Manya A Branch Of Peruvian Gastronomy In Colombia

1- Manya A Branch Of Peruvian Gastronomy
1- Manya A Branch Of Peruvian Gastronomy

Walking through the best places of gastronomy in the city of Bogotá in Colombia we find ourselves with a cozy space, with yellow colors and red wine that allow us to visualize walls with paintings of the Peruvian culture, a kitchen with an open counter, where the diner can observe the preparation of food, a whole warm and familiar atmosphere in this city with so much cold, a restaurant of the most outstanding and recommended for the excellence of its products, what better place than MANYA BISTRO PERUANO, a space dedicated to the so mentioned and famous gastronomic line of Peru.

2- Manya A Branch Of Peruvian Gastronomy
2- Manya A Branch Of Peruvian Gastronomy

Framed in traditional food, this wonderful temple focuses on sea food, di and shellfish, ceviches, macho fish, majarisco, salmon, octopus among other delicacies are at the hand of the general public, among the most important dishes we have a Trilogy of causes, a Creole mashed potato, stuffed with tuna, shrimp and octopus, something small to share and that begins a high-level tasting.

Menu - Manya, a branch of Peruvian gastronomy
Menu – Manya, a branch of Peruvian gastronomy

During our visit we were received by Paola Benavides, head chef, together with her excellent work team, from here we were able to enjoy the specialty of the house, the great Lomo saltado, a plate of pieces of beef loin sautéed in wook, added with tomato, onion and coriander, bathed in soy sauce and red vinegar, mounted on white rice and fried Creole potato, an explosion of flavor, in the same way, we were able to observe how a variety of traditional ceviches paraded to the tables as well as special ones for vegetarians or those of us who love cooked food, from the smallest to the most difficult diners are served with a high level of commitment and respect.

Members of Manya, a branch of Peruvian gastronomy
Members of Manya, a branch of Peruvian gastronomy

From the hand of Chef Gerardo Ávila Lozano, founder and main person in charge of such wonderful attention, you will be able to observe how kitchen specialists assist you to take your order, a plus that allows you to know the smallest details of the dishes before thinking about taste them. We can only recommend Manya, it opens from Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturdays from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sundays from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. , do not forget to visit a space with such a culinary level as this one, Manya awaits you to make you part of her family.

MANYA BISTRO PERUANO is located Cra. 4a #26B-54, Bogotá, Colombia

For more information:

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manyatapasperuanasLaMacarena/
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Phones: +57 2834433 / +57 3212034366

Ilhe Habana

Latin America / Colombia / Bogota

Ilhe Habana. Little Havana in Colombia

Ilhe Habana
Ilhe Habana

The Macarena Sector in Bogotá – Colombia offers us a great variety of gastronomic spaces, a reference sector for international food, for this reason we could not help but bring us closer to the best Cuban food space in the city, the great Ilhe Habana, a space of great tradition that takes you to enjoy a themed plaza of old Havana.

Ilhe Habana - inside
Ilhe Habana – inside
Ilhe Habana - inside - 2
Ilhe Habana – inside
– 2

From Sunday to Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm, it opens its doors to a particular base of high caliber typical Cuban foods, we can get a great gourmet line, it is easy to get dishes such as old clothes, black beans, Moorish rice and Christians, yucca with mojo, habanero mincemeat, habanero shrimp, sea bass, squid rings, among others that delight your palate, arrival night from Wednesday to Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Ilhe Habana - Cymbals
Ilhe Habana – Cymbals

It offers us a space decorated with groups and singers of the music of the island, letting the enjoyment roll until 12:00 am on Fridays and Saturdays to enjoy boleros, sones, danzones and even guarachas of this Latin American musical icon.

Ilhe Habana - live music
Ilhe Habana – live music
Ilhe Habana - live music - 2
Ilhe Habana – live music – 2

Ilhe refers to the word house or land according to the Yoruba language, something well defined with the Afro-Cuban culture, for this reason Ilhe Habana seeks a concept of old Havana, with a cozy space with brightly colored walls, wooden furniture and a house facade taken of the best Cuban roots.

Ilhe Habana - the kitchen
Ilhe Habana – the kitchen

During our visit we were able to talk with… the owner and cause of this gastronomic fever, he allowed us to enjoy the house specialty, the much-followed Roast Pork, although we noted that the fried cow was highly requested, as was the pork escalope. Located near the city center, on Carrera 3A, # 26B – 72, this Caribbean center offers us a space full of delicious dishes, visit www.ilhehabana.com and find out about a whole world of flavors, surely during your visit to Bogota you will not be able to forget going through this great restaurant.

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International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.