May

Rafaelito and his career between Munich and New York

We had a very personable and honest conversation with Rafael Pareja Ibañez, who via WhatsApp has given us a few minutes of his busy schedule to tell us a bit about his fascinating career to date and the group he currently leads, Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao.

The artist, born in Lima, Peru, has a huge love for music and remains intact to date, so he says it is a pleasure to share the story of how he came to pursue it professionally, no matter how many times he tells it.

Rafael’s beginnings in music

Rafael was first inspired by the artists his parents used to listen to at home, including La Sonora Matancera, Celia Cruz, Tito Puente, and many others. Family social gatherings always featured iconic songs by these stars, so he could not help but be interested in music at the early age of 10.

It all started when his father caught him beating some paint buckets to make it look like he was playing a drum set on the roof of their house, which led him to enroll his child in a music school to take guitar lessons. While it is true that this was the first instrument he learned to play, he also plays the baby bass in salsa and the piano together with all the percussion instruments.

At that time, what the young man played the most was rock and pop because the radio and other media left little room for Latin music. In fact, Rafael formed his first rock band at 16, as this was the genre with which young people identified the most in the 1980s.

Move to Germany

At 20 years of age, Rafael decided to move to Germany, specifically to Munich, where he lived for more than 27 years. It was there that he came into contact with people of other nationalities and had far more access to Latin music, especially Peruvian music, which surprised him greatly. He also got to listen to international stars such as Eddie Palmieri, Miguelito Cuní, and Arsenio Rodríguez.

Rafaelito and Nicky Marrero — American Latin jazz percussionist Nicky Marrero and Rafaelito at Mamajuana Cafe in the Bronx

It was also in Munich where he began to have his first professional experience together with major musical groups from there such as the Sexteto Melaza, where he played alongside musicians from different parts of the world. At a student barbecue, Rafael was hanging out with many Latinos, and they began to sing and play instruments together, leading them to form a group, which they named Melaza. During that time, he dedicated himself to play salsa, guaracha, son, bolero, and cha-cha-cha in a sextet format.

The group featured a guitarist, a bassist, a conga player, a timbalero, a bongo player, and a singer. This sums up his first musical experience in Germany, which lasted about a year and a half. It also helped him draw the attention of other musicians in the city’s music scene, who convinced him to join other projects that were being created.

Another of those projects included a trio of young musicians called Madera Limpia which was founded in 2005, when rap, reggaeton, reggae, and many other genres mixed with Latin rhythms such as changüí or kiribá were super trendy. It turns out that a Romanian couple traveled to Cuba, produced a film called “Paraíso,” and went on a concert tour through Europe and North Asia. Therefore, they needed to hire many musicians, including the members of Madera Limpia, who contacted Rafael through connections and asked him to be their bassist. The Peruvian accepted the offer and toured all those places with these musicians, an experience he talks about with great affection.

Back in Munich, he met Lou Bega, the creator of the hugely popular swing-pop cover of Pérez Prado’s “Mambo No. 5,” which stayed at number one for 36 consecutive weeks in the United States. When his producer wanted to find a band to accompany him, there were very few Latin musicians in the city and Rafael was one of them. Obviously, they called him and his colleagues to work on some demos featuring Bega’s vocals and trumpet samples. After being selected, he became the director of his live band and accompanied him on many concerts in Europe between 2007 and 2008.

El Canario and Rafaelito — José Alberto ”El Canario” and Rafaelito

Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao

Right there in Munich, Rafael finally made up his mind and formed his own musical group, Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao, which currently has branches in Munich, Lima, and New York, where the artist currently resides. Rafael arrived in this city as early as 2020, which is when he got to perform with stars such as Charlie Aponte, Andy Montañez, Jose Alberto “El Canario,” Hildemaro, and many others. When he saw how good the human material was in his new place of residence, he also founded Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao in New York with musicians from there.

What is striking about his move to New York is that it was motivated by Rafael’s reunion with his childhood sweetheart in Peru, whom he reconnected with in 2019. It turns out that his partner was living in New York, so he jumped on this new opportunity that life offered him and made the romantic decision to cross the Atlantic again and marry her. This radically changed his life both personally and professionally, but he’s glad he did.

Members of Rafaelito Y Su Tumbao in New York
Line Up :
Rafael Pareja – Baby Bass
Ray Cabrera – Piano
Andres Garces – Vocal
Karla Olivo Moreno – Vocal
Dennis Hernandez – Trumpet
Christian Gomez – Trumpet
Jimmy Bosch – Trombone
Andre Carpio – Timbal
Hector “ Jereto “ Ferreyra – Congas
Chuito Quintero – Bongo

John and Liz reveal details of the 16th annual SF Salsa Festival

As is tradition every year, we went back in touch with the organizers of the San Francisco Salsa Festival, John Narváez and Elizabeth Rojas, who treated us with the kindness and affection of always. The dancers and dance instructors once again spoke about the details of the festival’s organization and one or another incident that did not become public, so fans of salsa and such events cannot miss it.

They also talked about how they have done since the 2025 edition and what they will do from now until next year’s edition.

John and Liz dancing at the San Francisco Salsa Festival

What John and Liz have done since the 2025 San Francisco Salsa Festival

After the 2025 edition, John described the rest of the year as sensational because his dance studio has maintained the expected success and his company enjoys the work of of new members who have contributed with their talent to help it grow. In addition to that, their classes are full of people eager to learn to dance, take care of their bodies, keep their minds healthy, and have a more active social life.

He also recognizes that the Bad Bunny phenomenon helped them a lot, as they’ve welcomed many people who want to learn to dance salsa after the the boom caused by a Super Bowl full of latinidad everywhere. This has also made the celebrated ones at weddings and other family events to celebrate with salsa, so guests do not want to be left behind and seek to dance it as well as possible.

When an event has been organized for 16 years in a row, those involved already have a system by which they are ruled, so there are few surprises that John and Liz could find thanks to so much experience under their belt. However, there may be things that catch them off guard and ,in this case, it was the economy. This time, they found that everything was much more expensive.

After reviewing expenses, they noticed that the flights of the artists and hotel costs were much higher than in previous years, so they were forced to take certain actions, such as hiring fewer dance artists. They were careful to bring only the best they could find to do a tremendous show, which fortunately occurred.

John and Aura dancing — John Narvaez and dancer Aura Moreno dancing at the San Francisco Salsa Festival

They also noticed that many people could not attend the festival, so they offered numerous discounts, press passes, and the opportunity to volunteer for the organization.

Visa problems

The main disadvantage faced by John and Liz last year was the delay in the approval of visas for the members of La Máxima 79, so we wanted to know how it had gone this year. Well, as it turns out, it did happen again and two couples of dancers were unable to attend because their visas were denied, so they had no choice but to invite residents of the United States to prevent that headache.

Of course, it must be added that bringing people from other places implies additional costs that do not do any good to them right now. For the same reasons, other festival organizers are doing the same thing.

Principal guest artists

The main attractions at this festival were Charlie Aponte, Edgardo Cambón, and Cabanijazz, who of course, did a magnificent job. The big surprise of the festival was definitely Charlie Aponte, with whom they managed to have contact through a well-known Mexican promoter who acted as a link between the dancers and the artist.

The agreement was made as recently only in January, that is, a couple of months before the event. That is when John contacted Jeannette Santiago, Charlie’s manager and wife, told her who he was, and mentioned the mutual friend they had in common. He then managed to close the deal with her and have the Puerto Rican singer at the event, which came as a very pleasant surprise to those who had been planning to attend for months.

Edgardo Cambón playing at the San Francisco Salsa Festival

Preparations for next year

As every year, after an edition is completed, John and Liz are already thinking about what they will do for the next one. In fact, just the day before this interview, they had a work meeting to start planning everything and thinking about who they will invite for 2027.

They are thinking about inviting La Máxima 79 again. In fact, they have already talked to their lawyer responsible these matters and agreed to carry out the relevant procedures to finally have them at the festival, as they have wanted for a long time. In case the invitation is not given effect, they also have their eyes on Jimmy Bosch and Hermán Olivera. Both have performed in previous editions prior to the pandemic and were sensational, so they are held in good esteem by the organization.

They also mentioned that the venue for the next two editions will continue to be the Marriott Hotel Waterfront, as the location is beautiful and very suitable for an event of this magnitude.

Cabanijazz playing — Cabanijazz Project playing at the San Francisco Salsa Festival

‘‘El Griego Rumbero’’ visited the Salsa Museum and donated some objects

The artist we will talk about today is a very particular case, since he comes from a country which is not usually related to salsa or Latin music in general. However, the passion for these rhythms has captivated people from all over the world, so it is not surprising that our guest has experienced the same thing.

We’re talking about the Greek-born trombonist and composer Demetrios Kastaris, whom El Rubio Boris and I were fortunate to welcome at the Salsa Museum. Here’s a little of his fascinating story.

Demetrios’ early years

Demetrios was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, but moved with his family to the United States when he was just two years old. After living in Ohio for a few years, the family moved again, but this time to St. Louis, Missouri, a place that would be critical to the training of the Young man in the times to come.

The first contact of the boy with music was in elementary school during a live performance by a classical music quintet, but what really captivated him was a demonstration of a slide trombone by a member of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. It was at that instant the aforementioned instrument inspired Demetrios to take trombone lessons and join the school concert band.

More importantly, as Demetrios grew older, he spent countless hours practicing the trombone, especially in summer when he was free from school work. Finally, On reaching the age of 17, his perseverance began to bear fruit, and he got the opportunity to rehearse with the Stan Keaton Jazz Orchestra, which was the first great experience for the teenager. Just one year later, he sang as a soloist at the Classical Rimsky-Korsakov Concerto.

Other than that, Demetrios received the John Philip Sousa Band Award just before graduating from high school. He then studied music education at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, when he played in the jazz band and won several awards with the group.

Cover of the album ''El Griego Rumbero'' — Cover of the album ”El Griego Rumbero” by demetrios Kastaris

Moving to New York

Two years after having studied in Missouri, Demetrios moved to New York, where he received a scholarship that allowed him to attend New York University and take more steps in his musical career. While completing his studies, he met a bandleader on the subway and was invited to a rehearsal where he was given the opportunity to arrange Afro-Cuban jazz pieces for the first time in his life.

Latin music and its rhythmic features made such an impression on Demetrios that he began attending concerts by many of its great exponents, such as Willie Colón, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaría, and many others. This led him to transcribe and conscientiously analyze these artists’ songs to satisfy his curiosity and learn more about these rhythms.

After graduating with honors, he earned a masters degree in jazz from the Manhattan School of Music. Soon after, he was already teaching in public schools while performing with one of the bands of the Concord Resort Hotel.

Other important details of his career

For over 50 years of artistic career, Demetrios has had the opportunity to perform with big Latin stars such as Tito Puente, Luisito Quintero, Alfredo De La Fé, Ray Barretto, Charlie Palmieri, Herencia Latina, Oscar Hernández from The Spanish Harlem Orchestra, and many others.

Already in the decade of 1980, the artist founded the Latin-Jazz Coalition and recorded several of his original compositions in genres such as Brazilian and Afro-Cuban jazz. In certain Circles, his work has earned him the nickname of “El Griego Rumbero”, a moniker by which he is still known today.

Johnny Cruz, Demetrios Kastaris and El Rubio Boris

Much more recently, Demetrios was invited to play with Los Leales de Cuba at the Buena Vista Curry Club and also to rehearse with Los Muñequitos de Matanza, which was a very learning afternoon and a memorable experience for him. Thereafter, he traveled to Cuba on several occasions to learn much more about this music.

Visit to the Salsa Museum

Just two years ago, Demetrios visited the Spanish Harlem Salsa Museum directed by yours truly and spent an enjoyable time with our entire team but he did not come alone. He brought us his photograph and a poster of the Latin Jazz Coalition, which were mounted on a wall alongside many other photographs of stars such as The Fania All Stars, Hector Lavoe, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Larry Harlow, and many others.

His childhood trombone was also added to our extensive display of objects donated by artists and their families. This took place on March 20, 2024, and the instrument remains at our institution to this day as a reminder of a Greek man’s love for our music and a thank you to his dedication over the years.

Kadenza Dance School

Latin America / Argentina/ Buenos Aires

Kadenza Dance School is a dance academy located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They don’t just teach people the steps of a musical rhythm; they demonstrate through their teaching that dancing nourishes the spirit of those who practice it. Not only that, but dance also allows for a connection with emotions, giving students more freedom for their spirit or soul.

KADENZA is a school geared toward students of all ages and with different goals, whether they wish to pursue a professional path or use dance as a form of recreation or therapy. All their students and teachers benefit from a comfortable reception area, spacious studios equipped with mirrors, barres, wooden floors, high-quality sound systems, and Wi-Fi throughout the studio. In short, it’s an ideal place to learn with passion, as the atmosphere is full of joy, respect, and good vibes, where one can enjoy what they love to do most… which is dancing.

Kadenza Dance School - Danza Jazz — Kadenza Dance School – Danza Jazz

They also state that they are seriously committed to the quality of instruction, where qualified professors and instructors give their best in every class. This ensures their students incorporate the essentials of each technique and develop the maximum potential of their learning in the rhythms chosen by the student.

The Directors: Yamila Larraura and Juan Pablo Villar

The School’s Directors are Yamila Larraura and Juan Pablo Villar, who mention that, “Anyone can open an Academy, but few are the ones that make a difference.”

If we want to know more about the history of these two directors, we can start with Yamila Larraura, who was born in Argentina. Since she was a child, she began listening to Afro-Latin music thanks to her father, “Jorge Washington Larraura,” who was of Uruguayan origin. When she was 14, she went on vacation to Villa Gesell with her parents and a friend of theirs. It was on this trip that her interest in Salsa was awakened, as she went to a place near the beach that played Salsa music and offered classes in the afternoon with all the people from the beach.

One of the songs heard back then was “El Muerto se fue de Rumba” by the group “Las Sabrosas Zarigüellas,” which was very catchy for everyone who heard it. After her vacation, she decided to enroll in Salsa classes, where her teachers were Pablo Demaro and Kimena Puente.

As for Juan Pablo Villar, during his youth, he worked as a waiter in a bar and took theater classes, which also included lessons in national folklore and Latin rhythms (Salsa). This was his first contact with dance, and from that moment, he developed an interest in it. One day, a person came to the bar and mentioned that they taught classes in a studio, asking if they could leave flyers at the bar for people who wanted to dance. Knowing this, Juan Pablo Villar decided to go to the Salsa classes taught by Professor Pablo Demaro.

Kadenza Dance School - Social — Kadenza Dance School – Social

They explain that the Salsa classes back then were in a Cuban style, which featured fairly simple movements and figures. It was in these very classes that the future directors of KADENZA, Juan Pablo Villar and Yamila Larraura, first met.

The Journey to Kadenza

To gain a better experience, and to teach and give classes, they had to learn new techniques. They decided to seek out the best teachers in Argentina, who at that time were from the “Escuela de Mambo en Dos,” led by teachers Liz Paredes and Carlos Aragón, until they moved to Italy in 2007.

Afterward, they formed a dance group with their colleagues called “Combo Bayres,” during which time they toured the country and performed on various stages. In 2007, Liz Paredes and Carlos Aragón returned from Italy and formed the “Compañía Mambo en Dos,” where Yamila Larraura and Juan Pablo Villar joined the project. They gained great experience in the artistic world, traveling to different Argentine cities like Mar del Plata, Rosario, among others.

They also had the opportunity to travel abroad, attending the Salsa Congress in Uruguay, and later going to the United States, to New York City, to present at the Salsa Congress where they met great dance legends like Eddie Torres. Another great experience they had was the honor of being the official dancers for the famous Venezuelan Salsa singer “Oscar D’León” and the Dominican Salsero José Alberto, also known as “El Canario.” By 2010, they left the Mambo en Dos company to start their own school.

The academy’s beginning went without a name for a year, simply referred to as Pablo and Yamila’s school, but they were always looking for a name that would identify the essence they wished to convey. They eventually came up with “Cadenza,” which in Italian means “style of free rhythms.” To make the name more original, they changed it to “KADENZA,” feeling proud of their choice.

Kadenza Dance School - Mambo, Salsa, Bachata, Tango, Urbano, Arabe — Kadenza Dance School – Mambo, Salsa, Bachata, Tango, Urbano, Arabe

Contact Information

For more information, contact them at:

Website: http://www.kadenza.com.ar
Facebook:escueladebaile
Phones: 5354-0957 / 15-3331-7875
Email: [email protected]
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/106664874547676369685
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-he58RYqrJwoxoH8OID3ZA

Solar Latino Academy

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Solar Latino Academy

It is an academy located in Caracas, Venezuela, founded by passionate dancers and instructors who dedicate their time and effort to teaching future well-rounded dancers. They use didactic methods to provide dance knowledge, expanding their students’ horizons and future at a national and international level.

They feature a great environment where students not only acquire dance knowledge but also enjoy their activity. They perform on stage to demonstrate the high quality of the show and to showcase innovative fusions of dance, aiming to position themselves as one of the best academies in the market.

In short, their vision as an academy is to “develop the best artistic working environment where our students learn and enjoy to the fullest.” “Basing this on the exigence and quality of our classes and shows, becoming a very competitive group, achieving national leadership and international recognition.”

The academy started with a group of students who learned to dance Salsa Casino for recreation, and as time passed, it became something more serious.

Starting in 2004, they began teaching family and close friends, and within a few months, they already had at least 50 students.

In 2006, the Solar Latino Academy was officially founded, starting with salsa casino. They later added diverse dance genres as they expanded their knowledge of integral dance and teaching methodologies, thus forming a large number of dance classes taught at the La Trinidad headquarters. The only founder currently at the academy is Oscar, who was responsible for instructing and training dancers and expanding the Academy. After achieving excellent results in national competitions and festivals, the Academy’s Dance Corps (Cuerpo de Baile) was formed.

They mention that they are currently a group passionate about dance and integral development, relying on dance as one of the most used tools for artistic and corporal expression. They also state that their work is maintained in constant artistic growth and teaching development, always applying “our innovative touch in everything we do.” They have even had the opportunity to participate in national and international festivals and, in addition to that, develop innovative events.

For more information, please visit:

WebSite: http://solarlatino.comve/nosotros
Facebook: AcademiaSolarLatino
Instagram: solarlatino
Twitter: SolarLatino