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Latin Music

Déjalo, the latest track by Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

The song -composed by Pablito Ruiz- is catchy and brings us the essential style of the orchestra with the renewed touch added by singer Pedro Blasini.

Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

Within the first 16 seconds, Rafael ‘Bodo’ Torres on piano and Pedro Perez on bass create a lively and energetic musical introduction, perfectly arranged by Roberto Perez.

Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional photos by Adriana Vega
Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional photos by Adriana Vega

Twenty seconds after the melody starts, Pedro Blasini’s voice enters accompanied by the timbales in a hushed tone.

Through this recording, Pedro Blasini establishes himself as the lead vocalist of the International Orchestra of his uncle, the notable percussionist: Pedro Conga.

The arrangement combines musical intricacy with the required flexibility to captivate listeners searching for love dramas in the salsa de golpe scene.  And when it comes to beats and cuts, within the first ten seconds of the opening minute, Jan Duclerc’s unique trumpet cut fuses seamlessly with Pedro Conga’s tumbadora, creating the perfect harmony to complement the lead vocal.

At the 1:30 mark, José Joel Díaz introduces his timbal cymbal with subtlety, underlining the prominence of the conga.  Raúl Díaz’s bongó delivers consistent accompaniment, providing a masterclass in both rhythm section perfection and percussion timing.

Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional
Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

From the 1:40 mark onwards, the harmonies of Charlie Cruz, Nino Segarra, Alejandro Villegas, and Blasini himself shine.

At minute 2:34, “Bodo’s” piano collaborates with Pedro Perez’s bass to demonstrate their musical partnership, resulting in exceptional musical performances.

The vocalist harmonizes well with the tumbadora, as the drumbeat establishes its presence from the very first minute and gradually intensifies until, during the lead-up to the third minute of the song, the coordination between the lead’s tumbadora and Héctor Morales’s trombone unequivocally proves that (as they say in Puerto Rico) “there is no one for anyone.”

It is clear that there are no bounds to the experience and innovation behind the musical production led by Julio “Gunda” Merced, Rafael “Bodo” Torres, and Santo Santiago.

Pedro Conga, a Puerto Rican musician, displays his exceptional talent through his music.

Pedro Conga
Pedro Conga

He was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico. He explains that he received the pseudonym “Conga” during the years he spent accompanying Justo Betancour. Betancour bestowed the name upon him due to his prodigious talent on the congas. Pedro “Conga” subsequently established himself as a master, doing invaluable work in fostering the growth of SALSA. His orchestra was privileged to welcome vocalists of the highest caliber, including:

He carried out this mission with unmatched finesse and superior quality.

Anthony Cruz, Tito Rojas (“El Gallo de la Salsa”), Ismael Ruiz (“Maelo”), Rafy Cruz, and Edgardo Diaz.

Among his songs are “Pienso en ti,” “Tú me niegas tanto amor,” “No te quites la ropa,” “Quiero volver,” “Te quiero amor,” and “Si supiras,” among others that have become salsa classics.

The productions he created with his orchestra achieved great success not just in Puerto Rico, but also in the United States, Europe, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Peru.

Furthermore, he has received international acclaim for his productions due to the versatility and freshness showcased in each album.

Pedro Conga is renowned in the music industry for his ability to blend rhythm, flavor, and emotion into a single composition.

Bella Martinez Puerto Rico

Also Read: Ray Barretto Giant Force y A Conguero’s Conguero

[Read more…] about Déjalo, the latest track by Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

Dominican Republic / Directory 2023

Makumba Nightclub
Makumba
C. Caracas 12, Santo Domingo 10213, Dominican Republic
+1 809 805-0363

Merengue Club 🇩🇴 Zona Colonial
Merengue Club
C. Hostos 156, Santo Domingo 10210, Dominican Republic

New Jersey Directory 2023

Anais Lounge
52 Garden Street Passaic, NJ 07055

Dubai Nightclub
2514 Federal St Camden, NJ 08105

 

Mario Bauza

North America / United States / New York

Mario Bauza, Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York, Clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter and arranger

Mario Bauzá (Havana, April 28, 1911 – Manhattan, July 11, 1993) was a Cuban saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, arranger and composer.

Known above all for having been the musical director of the Machito orchestra (of whom he was also a brother-in-law), he was a pioneer of what is now known as Afro-Cuban jazz.

Mario Bauza The Legendary Mambo King
Mario Bauza Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York

Bauzá played the clarinet in the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra. However, after traveling to New York in 1927 with the Antonio María Romeu orchestra, he was so impressed by the Big Bands of Paul Whiteman, Fletcher Henderson and Tommy Dorsey, and by the Harlem music revues, that in 1930 he decided to emigrate definitively to USA.

During the trip, he became friends with Antonio Machín. Mario Bauzá would return on the same boat in which Don Aspiazu’s orchestra was travelling, who immediately began the arrangements to record El manisero.

Upon arriving in New York, Bauzá went to live in Harlem with his cousin, the trumpeter René Endreira. Bauzá began playing the saxophone at house parties with pianist Lucky Roberts and began to absorb African-American culture.

Mario Bauza
Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York

Between 1930 and 1931, he was a trumpeter in the Antonio Machín quartet and made important recordings with this group in New York City. Anecdotally, it is said that he had learned to play the trumpet in just two weeks.

His first jobs were with the orchestras of Cass Carr, Noble Sissle and Sam Wooding.

In 1933 he entered Chick Webb’s orchestra as first trumpet, where he ended up as music director. He then worked with Don Redman and Fletcher Henderson, eventually landing Cab Calloway.

Being in that band, Mario brought the young trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie to the orchestra.

Bauzá married Estela Gutiérrez, sister of Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, known as Machito.

On December 3, 1940, he debuted with Machito at the Park Plaza, a dance hall, with the Afro-Cubans, later working for almost four years at the La Conga club.

Bauzá works for Machito as artistic director, taking care of the arrangements and hiring the musicians.

The style of the Afro-Cubans mixes the son montuno of Cuba with features of swing bands.

Mario Bauzá Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York
Mario Bauzá Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York

Thanks to this, musicians like Dizzy Gillespie or James Moody introduced Afro-Cuban rhythms into jazz, starting in 1947.

He became interested in jazz when he heard Frankie Trumbauer play the saxophone performing Rhapsody in blue with the Paul Whiteman orchestra.

In the forties, Mario will develop the sound of Afro-Cuban jazz. His work as a clarinetist, trumpeter, saxophonist and arranger in the Machito orchestra constitutes one of the main pillars in the emergence and development of that Cuban genre.

California Directory / 2023

Noypitz
333 S Alameda St Suite 115 Los Angeles, CA 90013

Globe Theatre Los Angeles
740 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014

The Mayan Restaurant
1038 S Hill St Los Angeles, CA 90015

Los Globos Nightclub
3040 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90026

Vermont Hollywood
1020 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90029

El Floridita Hollywood
1253 Vine St Los Angeles, CA 90038

Stevens 75 Anniversary
5332 Stevens Pl Commerce, CA 90040

Riviera 31 Lounge Bar
8555 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

7 Kingdoms Bar & Lounge
11301 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90064

State Social House Restaurant
8782 W Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90069

Rock It loungue
14239 Hawthorne Blvd Hawthorne, CA 90250

The Victorian restaurant and nightlife
2640 Main St Santa Monica, CA 90405

Alegria Nightclub Long Beach
115 Pine Ave Long Beach, CA 90802

Sagebrush Cantina, CA
23527 Calabasas Rd Calabasas, CA 91302

Latin Nights at V Lounge -Salseros
6101 Reseda Blvd Tarzana, CA 91335

Black and Blue
342 S Thomas St Pomona, CA 91766

The Canyon
5060 E Montclair Plaza Ln Montclair, CA 91763

Carnaval
342 S Thomas St Pomona, CA 91766

The Granada LA
17 S 1st St Alhambra, CA 91801

Sevilla Night Clun - San Diego
353 5th Ave San Diego, CA 92101

Del Rey
3567 Del Rey St San Diego, CA 92109

Cosmos
12409 mariposa rd Victorville, CA 92395

Sevilla Night Club - Costa Mesa
1870 Harbor Blvd Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Legacy
4647 Macarthur Blvd Newport Beach, CA 92660

The Grape Ventura Ventura, CA
2733 E. Main Street Ventura, CA 93003

Alberto' s SalsanightClub & Ultra Lounge
736 W Dana St Mountain View, CA 94041

Cascal
400 Castro St Mountain View, CA 94041

Valencia grill
1153 Valencia St San Francisco, CA 94110

Kimbara Ritmo y Sabor
3380 19th Street San Francisco, CA 94110

Roccapulco Supper Club
3140 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Cigar Bar & Grill
2424 Mariposa St San Francisco, CA 94110

Rockwellsf
3200 Fillmore St. San Francisco, CA 94123

550 Dance Fridays
550 Dance Fridays
550 Barneveld Avenue San Francisco, CA 94124
+1 415-309-1284

Cigar Bar
850 Montgomery St San Francisco, CA 94133

Gaucho
2410 San Ramon Valley Boulevard San Ramon, CA 94583

Retro Junkie Bar
2112 N Main St Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Yoshi's
510 Embarcadero West, Oakland, CA 94607

Zanzi
19 Grand Ave Oakland, CA 94612

Sausalito Seahorse Restaurant
305 Harbor Dr Sausalito, CA 94965

Charley' s
15 N Santa Cruz Avenue Downtown Los Gatos, CA 95030
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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.