January

Eddie Muñíz continues to head Swing Sabroso

From this space, every day we are much more aware of the unusual wealth of Latin talent that makes up the New York’s music scene, which continues to show many artists and orchestras that do not surrender to high competition and give their best to earn their place and stand out from the rest.

This is the case of Ray Rodríguez & Swing Sabroso, whose current leader, Eddie Muñiz, gives us a broader picture of the way any artist should go to keep his name alive in public taste and avoid getting lost in the large artistic catalog where there is a lot of content to choose from.

Swing Sabroso leader Eddie — This is current Swing Sabroso bandleader Eddie Muñiz

Talented musician Eddie Muñiz’s beginnings in the world of music

Eddie, who was born in Brooklyn, USA, but communicates in excellent Spanish, had his first approaches to music in elementary school at the age of 13, when he played in several classical music and jazz groups to keep improving in these arts and find his style until he had his big break.

This opportunity came when the young man turned 17 years old, at which point he had his professional career in music with a group of friends, with whom he stayed for two or three years. After that, his next group was called ”Herencia Latina” whose director was the talented Ray Rodriguez and would become the starting point of his current orchestra Swing Sabroso.

After leaving Herencia Latina, he joined Ismael’s conjunto for four years and subsequently played with Conjunto Clasico, Ray de La Paz, La Sonora Matancera, Tony Vega and many more.

About eight years later, the group did not go ahead and Ray moved to New Jersey, but as it happens, Eddie had to do the same for work reasons. Back then, Ray started a group he called Ray Rodriguez y Swing Sabroso, which invited Eddie to join the orchestra in 2000. 24 years later, it is he himself who moved such an ambitious project forward after Ray’s sad loss from the cancer on April 17, 2016.

Swing Sabroso

By the time Ray was in good health, the orchestra released two albums, one in 2005 and another in 2015. When the bandleader began to sicken, he knew he could not give the group the attention it required, so he asked Eddie to take the helm of the ship in his place as long as the group was only called Swing Sabroso, nothing else.

At that time, the group only had two trumpets and a trombone, but Eddie was gradually enlarging it and adding more instruments to make the sound fuller. Being in total control of the orchestra, the artist released the album ”Swing Sabroso, Mejor Que Nunca” in the year 2022, when they played everything that the three albums included.

Cover of the album ”Swing Sabroso, Mejor Que Nunca”

Currently, Eddie is the oldest of all the Swing Sabrso members, but not for that things are always done his way. In fact, the artist assures that the younger musicians are frequently those who teach him what to do in certain cases.

Far more than a salsa orchestra, Eddie considers that ”Swing Sabroso” is also a family of musicians in which they support each other, despite the regrettable absence of its main founder, the great Ray Rodriguez. Even so many years later, Rodriguez remains the biggest influence on everyone working with Swing Sabroso.

The “Patio de Tula”

Latin America / Venezuela / Yaracuy

In the Yaracuy state of Venezuela, where nature reigns, salsa is also danced

Meeting point: El Patio de Tula in the city of San Felipe

In the patio of a house in an urbanization in the city of San Felipe, since 2013, there has been a salsa scene that is worthy of recognition. The Patio de Tula is the name of the place, named after the Buena Vista Social Club song: El Cuarto de Tula. It is a space created by music lover and cultural promoter Yony Padilla, inspired by some night spots in Caracas where salsa was danced, such as the emblematic “El Maní es Así en Sabana Grande.”

Apart from having become a point of reference in the Yaracuy state and a meeting place for musicians and passionate salsa lovers, or simply a place to de-stress or have a delicious soup on Sundays, in El Patio de Tula We work diligently to rescue the salsa genre and become an engine of dissemination and a teaching center for the musical education of children, young people and adolescents.

The aim is to create an African-American percussion and dance school, where rhythm and dance are connected in a vital and artistic encounter, through Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Venezuelan percussion workshops and Caribbean dance (salsa) and traditional Venezuelan dance classes. It is important to highlight that this training proposal will be called the Juan Carlos Marín Percussion School, as a living tribute to this musician from Yaracuya, who throughout his career has dedicated himself to the study and research of Latin music and the Yaracuyan drum. It would be well worth it for this project to be taken into account by the region’s cultural organizations to support it.

There are various personalities and groups linked to the salsa and urban music scene that have visited El Patio de Tula, among them we can mention: Edgar “Dolor” Quijada, Orlando “Watussi” Castillo along with Mandinga Star Band, Rodrigo Mendoza, Carlos Hurtado , Jóvito Eduardo, Wilmer Lozano, Edgar “El Abuelo” Rodríguez, Alejandro Mayora, Ray Herrera, David González Jr., Ronald Gómez, Cheo Linares, Aquamarina “La Sirena de la Salsa”, DJ. Augusto Felibertt, Sonora Yambú, Orquesta Salsa Cinco 25, Orquesta Salsa Libre, Orquesta Malecón, the Mango Group, Dame Pa Mátala, Y de Cuba, Sixto Llorente and the Yoruba Andabo Folkloric Group.

Yony Padilla tells us that the salsa scene in the Yaracuy state is on the rise. To do this, they have the Hermandad Salsera de Yaracuy Foundation, which goes hand in hand with El Patio de Tula and at the same time is linked to the radio program Expresion Latina, produced and hosted by Hermes Mejías, and broadcast on the 102.9 FM dial from the central area of San Felipe. Another location that is leading the scene in the area, as Yony tells us, is El Rincón de La Salsa. The large number of musicians and orchestras in Yaracuy are proof of what was said above. Among the musicians the following stand out:

Domingo Bracho – piston trombone
Jorge Yujere – trombone
Harry Ramos –piano
Luis Reyes –percussion
Kendri Siso –percussion
Asael Hernández – piano
Darwin González – Cuban three
Domingo Suárez – percussion
Jimmie Graterol – percussion
Jesús Mieres – percussion
Manuel Mieres –trombone
among others.

The salsa orchestras are: Sonora Yambu, Elegua Son, Yaracuy es Salsa, Orquesta Los Gullet de Marín, where Sonero Orlando “Watussi” Castillo, residing in Milan, Italy, participated as a special guest, Orquesta Trombosis and Escala 78. Among the DJs are: Diego Music, Jesús (Drupy) and Robert Villalobos.

Further, investigating the salsa scene in the states surrounding Yaracuy, we were able to verify with the promoter Padilla that salsa is picking up in Aragua, this, if we measure it by the number of orchestras that he mentioned to us: Orquesta Mangue, Orquesta Primera Clase, La Foca and his Caribbean Sextet, Enmanuel Orchestra, Latinos Orchestra, Mondys Band, Fascination Orchestra (Recognition from the Universidad Bicentenario de Aragua –UBA–), Sono-Star Orchestra and Roberto Monasterios and his Orchestra.

Likewise, in other nearby states there are orchestras such as Malecón, Sazón Latino, Soneros Latinos, Líder, La Nor-Star in Lara; Osaona, Juramento, Sorongo, Batakum, Son Colón, Adrenalina Latina Puerto Cabello in Carabobo; and the Piri Salsa Orchestra in Falcón.

We invite you, therefore, to attend one of the tremendous rumbas that take place in El Patio de Tula, in a family and calm atmosphere, and in the process visit the greenest and most vibrant state of Venezuela. The Exotic Tropical Flora Park, the San Felipe El Fuerte Archaeological Historical Park and the Cumaripa Reservoir Recreational Park are an exemplary example of how, in Yaracuy, nature reigns.

ADDRESS: El Patio de Tula is located on 3rd street, San Rafael, Independencia, Yaracuy state, Venezuela.

Note: We highly appreciate the collaboration received from Yony Padilla and Augusto Felibertt in the preparation of this text.

Maite Hontele in Concert!

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

A great musician is someone who can enlighten the stage only with his/her presence, this is the case when Maite Hontele is on stage. Full-house, the stage full of colors and all the audience is ready to dance and enjoy the best rhythm: SALSA!

International Salsa Magazine had the honor to be part of the last concert of Maite Hontele, the incredible dutch trumpeter, in Caracas, Venezuela.

The silence is interrupted with the beautiful sound of a characteristic trumpet playing a melody, the stage gets full of musicians and Maite comes out with the biggest smile that characterize her.

She starts with a speech where she explains how thankful she is for being there, talks a little bit about Colombia, and then the party starts! Two hours full of hits of herself, Oscar d’ Leon, and many other artists, with the performance of her Colombian band by her side.

But let’s get deeper in who is her. Maite Hontelé is a trumpeter who was born in Utrecht, Holland, and was raised with music. Her parents owned a huge collection of salsa and son Cubano, and every day she would listen to Latin music, quite unusual for a Dutch girl. After playing a few years with the local brass band, she decided to become a musician, and studied latin and jazz trumpet at the Conservatory of Rotterdam.

Her first big tour was life-changing. She went to Colombia, the country where she now lives. In 2004, Maite Hontelé toured with the world-famous Buena Vista Social Club. In 2009 Maite launched her first album, Llegó la Mona, a salsa-tribute to Colombian music. This album was made with the purpose to tour more in Colombia. Among the gigs she played was the Medellin Jazz Festival.

That year has been very important for her. Not only did Maite record her first album, she also found the place where she wanted to continue to live and make music. That’s when she decided to move to Medellin, Colombia.

In 2010, she released her second production, Mujer Sonora. The album is focused on oldschool styles such as son and charanga, but also contains some spicy salsa-tracks.

This album was presented at the 2010 North Sea Jazz Festival, and on various international tours. In 2011 and 2012 Maite toured many countries with her band, and was a guest with Ruben Blades, Yuri Buenaventura, Issac Delgado, Diego Galé (DVD-recording), Juan Carlos Coronel, Oscar D’León, and many others.

Her 3rd album, Déjame Asi, was released in April 2013. She is currently touring Europe and Latin America.

“My Outlaw Loredo is the most elegant gig-bag in the universe. A perfect match for me!” Maite Hontelé

The show ends with the best energy. Maite is not only an amazing trumpeter, but also a great singer and composer. We are glad to be part of his musical journey.

Verano Producciones Colombia with Jimena Verano presents Noel Montano

Latin America / Colombia / Medellin

On this occasion, the promoter Jimena Verano introduced us to the singer and poet “Noel Montano” born in Cuba

Jimena Verano: He began his first artistic activities at a very early age, from the age of 7 he did his first school performance work called “El Sabio y el Boatman”, then at the age of 14 he leaned towards writing, writing poems, poems, among others. At the age of 16 he wrote his first song called “Desecho y Vacio”, which was part of the record production Cruzando Fronteras” by the Uruguayan singer Pablo Alejandro along with three other songs.

Noel entered the world of modeling and acting, in 2001 with the company “Cosmodiva Talents”, he participated in a number of television programs and commercials on different networks such as “Sabana Gigante”, “Dinamitados” (Americateve), among others. After 2 to 4 years, he is invited to join the group Climax from Mexico (table that applauds the most, ZaZaZa), a song that achieves the fame of that group, allowing it to tour various international stages and being winners and multiple nominees for more than 30 awards musicals.

Noel Montano artist interviewed by Jimena Verano

In 2013, Noel published his first book of poetry and reflections “When the soul sings” which can be purchased on Amazon and other online stores. Also that same year he released his first musical single “Apariencias”, which is having a great success. good acceptance internationally.

He is currently working as a composer for different artists and groups inside and outside the USA. He is currently preparing for a media tour in Colombia with the help of Jimena Verano, his promoter VERANOPRODUCCIONES COLOMBIA, who tells us that “Noel Montano came to the artistic world to leave your own legacy

For more information contact them through email: [email protected]

The Soul of Latin American culture – Salsa, Merengue y Lambada

Latin American / Venezuela / Caracas

Did you know that Salsa, Merengue and Lambada are rhythms that have been enjoyed in the last decade? Well, this link that unites them is the energy and passion for life, expressing itself in music, showing itself in the romance of couples dancing in harmony and with dance it unites them even more in a sentimental way as in fellowship.

These rhythms were born from a very urban environment, where each dancer can freely show their personality in the movement, however, following certain rules that each genre has, where one can follow each step and technique or do it spontaneously. For example:

✓ Never use the same foot twice, it must be alternated (right, left, right…).

✓ Dance with your partner as a mirror, that is, if you go to the right, your partner goes to the left.

✓ Transfer of weight from one foot to another as steps are performed.

Salsa is a rhythm that originates from the synthesis of Cuban son and other Caribbean music genres, with jazz and other American rhythms. One of the main contributors comes from the African rumbas along with the cumbia, the guaguancó, the guajira, the Cuban son, the mambo, the montuno son, the cha cha cha, among others.

It can be said that salsa is one of the most important rhythms in the music industry where it has many characteristics of its contributors, for example, “salsa” is close to “mambo” due to the steps executed in counts of eight, its movements and patterns are unique, however, it is a side-by-side dance with different turns.

The Merengue has its origin in the Dominican Republic and has a huge degree of popularity in the Caribbean area, it is a slow rhythm that increases its speed at the end of the dance, it is similar to the bolero but it is danced more than anything in groups than with a partner.

The secret of the dance is based on the transfer of weight from one foot to another, where each Latin genre has a characteristic that differentiates them, the best example is the similarity that everyone believes that “salsa” has with “merengue”, where Salsa has 4 beats, where the first beat touches the floor lightly with the tip of the foot quickly, which is known as “TAP” and this is repeated in four “4” and eight “8”, instead The merengue does not exist, this “TAP” is only 2 beats, it is a constant rhythm, very simple, whose speed of steps is marked by the musical rhythm.

But both genres have to have in the dance a movement of the hip, shoulders and position of the hands that characterizes them, marking the sensuality of Latin rhythms.

The “Lambada, a Brazilian genre that originated from the small cafes and bars that came from the garrafa dance, is believed to have been the product of rhythms such as the “Carimbo” and the “Merengue” with influences brought from the “Forro” and the “Samba” so it has a lot of Caribbean music influences, but the melody is the combination of Caribbean drums, brass and electric guitars with an added touch of Spanish elements and the flavor of the local indigenous people. It first spread to Bahia, Europe, Japan, the USA and the Middle East. It is currently danced in nightclubs and dance clubs, since its creation its jiv, merengue, rumba, even sevillanas and acrobatic maneuvers have evolved.

It is a 3-beat dance (fast – slow – fast) where the first step is taken with the first beat of the music, the second is the movement of one of the 2 senses and the third is the transfer of the weight back to the center moving the leg more slowly.

This dance is danced with the whole body, women dance pointe, flex the knees and the trunk moves in the opposite direction to the lower part of the body, if the hip rotates in one direction the rib cage rotates in the opposite direction. It can be danced alone or as a couple (they dance very close together giving the impression that it is one person), where the man molds his partner in the dance and the woman can embellish the dance with head movements or a controlled intentional fall producing a wave from the knee to the hips and shoulders.

If you want to know and learn some basic steps of the mentioned rhythms, look for the book in movement Latin Dance Dessi and Orod Ohanian and get passionate with these three “3” hot dances. Or follow us and watch the following videos to learn how to dance merengue, salsa and lambada.