May

Bobby Escoto

North America / USA / California

Bobby Escoto, a percussionist, was born in East Los Angeles, from Mexican & Puerto Rican descent. Bobby Escoto III is the nephew to the great vocalist Bobby Escoto, who performed and recorded, with the great percussionist, Tito Puente. Bobby Escoto III has been playing music, since the age of eight. Today, Bobby is considered one of the most prominent percussionists in the salsa genre, here in his hometown of Los Angeles.

Bobby Escoto has performed with many salsa icons in Los Angeles, New York, Europe, and Asia. Such as Celia Cruz, La India, Jose Alberto “El Canario,”Lalo Rodriguez, Domingo Quinonez, Menique, Camilo Azuquita, Yolanda Rivera, “Fania All Star” violinist Pupi Legarreta, trombonist Jimmy Bosh, and legendary vocalist Tito Allen who performed and recorded, with the legendary ‘conguero’, Ray Barretto. Bobby also takes pride in performing and directing his band to back up Frankie Vasquez, Herman Olivera, Pupy Cantor, Jorge Maldonado, and Hector Tempo Alomar, vocalists to his favorite band, from NYC, Conjunto Libre.

Bobby Escoto is the band leader, director and bongo player to his band, Conjunto Afro Son. They have performed at prominent salsa venues, as a back-up band, to salsa icons, due to their extensive educational background, training, and authenticity. Bobby is also the band director and bongo player to The Granada All-Star Orchestra and The Salsa Divas (an all-female Orchestra) in the city of Alhambra, CA

Bobby’s goal is to increase awareness of the new generation, about the Afro Cuban and Puerto Rican music. Every Saturday you will find Bobby teaching percussion to underprivileged children in East Los Angeles. Bobby states: “it hasn’t been easy growing up in the streets of East Los Angeles, but my vision as a kid was to perform with great salsa icons.” Bobby Escoto believes that dreams do come true if you put your heart and effort into your talent. No doubt, Bobby’s talent, passion for his art, leadership, and vision have no barriers.

Phil Robinson Sonero, composer and performer bandleader

North America / USA / New York

Phil Robinson born in S. Bronx, New York, of Dominican and Puerto Rican parents, lived his early years up-bringing in the Dominican Republic, surrounded by music and close family members that sang, recited poetry and performed.

At the age of five, Phil Robinson already sang songs from well known Spaniel child, singer, ‘Joselito’ and was singing and reciting poetry in school recitals and shows, literately, showing his natural talent as a singer and performer.

Phil Robinson began his professional career in 1973, when he began his musical journey as a lead singer for Orquesta Yare, in Vineland New Jersey.

Phil Robinson relocated to Los Angeles where he was noticed for his charisma, voice range and singing style often compared with Puerto Rican salsa singer Tito Allen, as he evolved, he became lead for Henry Mora and the LA Salsa All Star Salsa Orquestra, he collaborated with many of the local groups, from there on he became lead vocals for Eric Matos and Orquesta La Caliente, Papo Rodriguez and La Sorpresa, recording two original songs composed by Nelson Montalvo title Fantasia and Mi Regalo, included in his 2005 CD, ‘Oye Salsa Sabor y Clave’.

During the time Phil Robinson was with Papo Rodriguez, Panamanian singer Camilo Azuquita, strolled into town and La Sorpresa became ‘Azuquita y su Melao’, Phil became Azuquita’s back up lead for a number of years, performing in many well-known venues such as Hollywood Palladium and with many renowned artists such as the late Celia Cruz.

In 1993 he joined Orlando Lopez Mazacote recording his first published cd project under the Fonovisa Record label Salsa Para El Mundo Entero, as the band lead vocals he performed many corporate events, concerts as LA Cinco De Mayo Festival, traveling to Ensenada Mexico, sharing stage with Willie Chirino and Andy Montañez to name a few. He also recorded it additional songs under OLM records Salsa Bravisima.

Phil Robinson paused his career for a bit and continue to collaborate with different local bands and returned to the stage with his band performing well-known places such as San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino, Oxnard Festival, Fiesta Alegre Festival, private events and LA salsa venues, Conga Room, Rumba Room, Mama Juana, El Floridita, Santa Monica Monsoons and many other popular LA Salsa Venues

Phil Robinson has shared the stage with Adalberto Santiago, Tony Vega, Herman Olivera, Yolanda Rivera, Menique, Luigi Texidor, Wichy Camacho, Cuban singer Franco, Willie Chirino, Celia Cruz, and the list goes on.

After seven years Phil Robinson completed and published his new musical project, produced by Arturo Solar “Between Two Worlds ” a project that encompasses classical compositions from Armando Manzanero, Ted Koehler / Harold Arlen, Virgilio and Homero Exposito, Enrique Benitez, Vicente Garrido Calderon, Jesus Alejandro and originals composed by Phil.

Throughout 2017 Phil Robinson has continued to perform frequently in San Manuel Casino, Granda LA, the new Rumba Room, Granada LA, Cafe Sevilla, Granada LA, Oxnard Festival and Fiestalegre Fundraiser for Puerto Rico Huracane Maria.

2018 continues to be a year of success as we see it for Phil, many surprises will arise, follow the man with a unique stage presence, charisma y mucho sabor.

Phil Robinson thank you for your continued support and may God bless you all.

The Lehman Center Performing Arts Series Presents Andy Montañez’s 55TH Anniversary

North America / USA / New York

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts Presents Andy Montañez:

Enjoy this Puerto Rican star recognized as one of the best and most influential singer in Latin America in a Special Show with special guests: Victoria Sanabria, El Trio Ideal and Johnny Olivo & Herencia de Plena

Date: Saturday, May 11^th

Show: 8:00PM

Cost: $65 – $100

Venue: 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West Bronx, New York 10468

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is proud to present the Latin GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Andy Montañez as he celebrates his 55^th Anniversary with special guest: Victoria Sanabria on Saturday, May 11^th. In addition to this, enjoy EL TRIO IDEAL and the exciting dance rhythms of JOHNNY OLIVO Jr. & HERENCIA DE PLENA’s performance of their afro-rich folkloric musical traditions of Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena in a Salsero Show never before seen in New York City.

BIO: The Andy Montañez ’s beginnings go back to 1962 with the orchestra: El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. It was 15 years of success. El Niño de Trastalleres recorded 37 LP’S with this great Latin orchestra. There he created and sealed the luggage that would accompany him always: “El Barbero Loco”, “Julia”, “Guaguanco del Gran Combo”, Un Verano en Nueva York”, “Vagabundo”, “Milonga Sentimental”, “Las Hojas Blancas”, “La Soledad” and the now classic “A mí manera”, a song that he recorded with Paquito Guzmán and with Pellín Rodríguez originally.

In 1977, Andy Montañez decided accepts the irresistible offer made by the popular Venezuelan orchestra “La Dimensión Latina” to replace Oscar D’ León. With this important orchestra, Andy Montañez recorded eight LPs that placed the Venezuelan band at the popularity top and sales. The first album with Dimension Latina marked big hits, such as: “El Eco Del Tambor”, “Mujer Impura”, “Ritmos Cubanos”. Then, the triumphs continued with the themes: “Las Perlas de tu Boca”, “Como Canto Yo “, “Nuestra Tierra”, “Vuelve”, “Rumberos de Ayer”, “Son del Bohío”, “Ave María Lola”, “Mi Son Oriental”, “Cantante Errante”, and others.

For 1980, Andy Montañez recorded with the group “Puerto Rico All Stars” three LPs that were the prelude to his return to Puerto Rico. “Reunión en la Cima”, “Isla Bonita”, “Homenaje al Mesías” dedicated to Eddie Palmieri, outlined the growth process in which the Salsero still remains.

Returning Puerto Rico, Andy Montañez forms his own orchestra. By 1981, he recorded his first solo LP titled “Salsa con Caché” with record label LAD (TH Rodven’s subsidiary). His third LP “Simplemente Andy Montañez” rang with the hits: “Dulce Veneno” and “Payaso”. This album stayed 30 weeks in the magazine, Bilboard, inside its pages Tropical Music with five themes.

For 1998, he finally created his first independent production as a Salsero artist. Guided by his feelings, his proven experience and his artistic spontaneity was released the album: “Soy Como Soy”. This production is a tribute to his people to whom Andy Montañez responds with commitment of national pride wherever he goes.

In 2002, this worldwide multifaceted artist sees the support of his people materialized by filling the Centro de Bellas Artes’ Festival Hall for three consecutive days, where he captivated three generations with an unforgettable musical tour in which El Bolero, la Música de Tríos, La Salsa and La Plena harmonized that unparalleled Salsa experience. For more details, please, visit him through http://www.andymontanez.net

BIO: Victoria Sanabria was born on October 6, 1976 in Guayama (Puerto Rico). This woman with a sublime voice who carries in her throat all the essence of singing peasant, is one of the most impressive talents that has given the Trova Jíbara of the island of enchantment.

In 1992, she won the third prize in the category of singing in the competitions “Juventud Vibra”. The following year she won first place in the Troubadour Contest of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, becoming the national troubadour per excellence. Later, Victoria was part of the Choir of the University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus.

Continuing her ascending path in the arts, in December (1995) she made her debut in Bellas Artes with the Puerto Rico’s Symphonic Orchestra. That same year this talented artist managed to be crowned as the first female to win the Bacardí Troubadour Contest, proving to be the best improviser of Puerto Rico at the end of the century.

Her first album as a soloist, Cánticos de Serrania, was recorded in 1999, and in the next eight years she released three more in Puerto Rico including 2008’s Celebra Conmigo that featured Andy Montañez and Andrés Jiménez as guest artists. That same year, she joined the world-wide Tribute to Hector Lavoe concert tour.

In December 2009, Sanabria released her international breakthrough album Criollo Con Salsa, in which she had combined Puerto Rican folk music with salsa. The album contained several hits including “10 Dias”, “No Lavo, No Plancho, Ni Cocino”, “Jibara Natural” that featured Luis “Perico” Ortiz, and “No Te Quiero” sung with reggaeton star Ivy Queen. 2011 saw the release of the highly successful album Boleros which established Victoria as a major singer, and a year later she followed up with the release of Boleros II, which is now considered a classic.

The Sanabria’s most recent releases are her live concert album Trayectoria that was recorded in Santurce in 2012, and 2016’s Música Mía. In addition to her own recordings, Victoria has been featured as a guest on works by Domingo Quiñónez, Olga Tañon, Richie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, El Gran Combo, Danny Rivera, Charlie Aponte, and Willie Colon, among others.

Purchase your Tickets NOW at:

https://lehmancenter.org/ANDY-MONTANEZ-VICTORIA-SANABRIA/

Oscar D’ León, A Universal Latin Artist

North America / USA / New York

Oscar Emilio León Simoza, better known as Oscar D’ León “El Sonero del Mundo”, is undoubtedly a man who throughout his career has made a name like a few others in the music world. An exceptional Venezuelan born in the west of the Capital, who from an early age, began to be interested in Caribbean music.

His innate talent was growing and nowadays is the biggest Venezuelan exponent of the Tropical rhythm and other musical genres, where he has proven to be a global artist.

He started his career at 28 years old in 1972, when he created La Dimensión Latina with Cesar Monje- Elio Pacheco- José Rodriguez- Rojitas and Chuito. A year after, they together recorded their first full-length record, obtaining their first hit: “Pensando en ti”, so they were hired to participate in the Maracaibo’s carnival celebrations … The success was immediate! The group ranks an important place in the musical spectrum of Latin music since then.

In 1977, Oscar broke up with La Dimensión Latina and began the most successful part of his large trajectory, now as a soloist and with his own orchestra: “La Salsa Mayor”. HITS after HITS: : “Mi bajo y yo”, “El baile del suavecito”, “Bravo de verdad”, “Llorarás”, “La Vela”, “Divina Niña”, “Taboga”, “Juancito Trucupey”, “El frutero”, “Parampampam”, and “Dolor Cobarde”,are only part of his most famous songs at the time, today turned into Classics.

Oscar D’ León made a stop in his illustrious career to say “present” at one of the most important festivals on the American continent, the International Festival of Viña del Mar in Chile (2015), where El Sonero del Mundo served as Jury and closed the festival with a majestic show. Obtaining Silver and Gold Seagull for his great musical quality and public preference in this Latin Festival marked a milestone in the history of this event.

Separate chapter deserves his CD “Antológico”, already turned into a musical jewel with universal preference and in all honesty, “Oscar D’ León Clásicos de Big Band” was a mega production recorded between Nashville (cradle of Anglo music) and Miami. These two CDs were recorded in Spanish and English languages with emblematic world themes.

“Clásicos de Big Band” is a musical project with quality and sounds from that ancient era. 36 live musicians all gathered in a single recording studio, recreating the best of this musical genre that gave success to figures, such as:

Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, among many others. For this project, its producer, Rodolfo Castillo, traveled to the city of Nashville- Tennessee (The musical city)

Where with a group of professionals, colleagues and talented musicians, arrangers and engineers of this great city, such as: Chris McDonald and Dan Rudin, decided to produce and develop a tribute to this musical genre for which he would need a voice, the voice of an artist, with the ability to interpret in English and Spanish, a classic repertoire, such as:

“My Way, New York New York, Fly Me To The Moon, Sway, I’ve got you under my skin, Volare, I did it my way, Perhaps, Cachito Mio, Copacabana, Starngers in the night, among many others.

In addition, the image of Oscar D ‘León is a living example of perseverance, work and discipline, Not in vain has he been a motivational coach. He has given talks on proactivity and motivation in universities and private companies. Coincidentally, in 2015 he received the Doctorate Honoris Causa awarded by the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (UPEL), belonging to the Caracas’ Pedagogical Institute.

Oscar D’ León is a true global artist, multifaceted and a Venezuelan with a universal heart, a Latin per excellence who has undoubtedly been converted by his talent, actions and examples into a Latin ambassador in the world, the most charismatic and with the greatest penetration in the different music markets of the world.

NEXT SHOWS:

FRIDAY, MAY 31^ST

SHOW: 10:00PM – 4:00AM

PRICE: $38 – $70

VENUE: La Boom. 56-15 Northern BlvdWoodside, NY 11377

AGES: 21+

FRIDAY, MAY 17^TH

SHOW: 7:00PM

PRICE: $72 – $104+

VENUE: House of Blues Orlando, Orlando, Florida

SATURDAY, MAY 18^TH

SHOW: 9:00PM

PRICE: $40 – $84+

VENUE: The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, Miami Beach, Florida.

For more details and tickets:
http://www.OSCARDLEON.net/

This is Jess Thomas and his story

From actor to director

Jess Thomas is a producer, film director and actor whose academic background is centered at San Francisco State University and work speaks for itself as to his talent. Once he made the decision to move to Los Angeles, he started making occasional appearances as an actor and stuntman in some television series. As a director, he has written about seven scripts and plunged into the world of broadcast engineering for various television networks such as FOX and ABC.

Producer, film director and actor Jess Thomas — This is Jess Thomas and his story, A great producer, film director and actor. Jess Thomas

We had the opportunity to talk to Mr. Thomas to know many more details about his career and we were pleasantly surprised with the receptivity of the talented filmmaker and his wife and producing partner Anayancy Thomas. Below, we’ll talk a bit about his beginnings, recognitions and his most recent film ”God & Salsa”.

How his interest in film began

Jess Thomas tells us that she had a fascination for the world of entertainment since she was very young, as both his parents were always related to the arts one way or another. His father Jess Thomas Senior was an opera singer, while his mother Bettye Wright was a dancer and model. This family background led him to venture into all this at a very early age and the best example is the creation of super-eight films (film format in which eight-millimeter wide film is used) in high school.

He recalls that he had to produce a 60-page assignment for his history class, but his teacher allowed him to produce a short film instead. The grade was an A on that assignment and the teacher was so delighted that he showed the tape to the rest of his classmates and put him as a great example of creativity in cases like this. This is how a very young Jess already felt that his destiny would follow this same path for the rest of his life.

Anayancy Thomas, Jess Thomas' wife and producing partner — Anayancy Thomas, Jess Thomas’ wife and producing partner

Beginnings as an actor

He took his first steps in this profession as an actor and thought that this was the branch to which he wanted to dedicate himself definitively, but over time he discovered that writing, directing and producing were much more appealing to him. Jess found that he enjoyed joining the pieces together to take a film from a script to a screen much more than simply acting on it.

However, the filmmaker acknowledges that having acted allows him to communicate much more effectively and empathetically with the actors in his productions, as he understands the language of acting perfectly.

The Seeker

His first work as a director was the documentary ”The Seeker”, which tells the story of a quadriplegic who embarks on a journey on a motorcycle adapted to his disability and won in the category of Best American Documentary at the Rome International Film Festival. On this subject, Jess told us that the plot of the film was not his idea, but that of his friend Evan Somers, who stated his intentions to create a material that would raise awareness about this type of disability.

The idea of following him around the country on a motorcycle (designed by Somers himself) so much that he put all his efforts into learning all about the struggles of his friend, which led Somers to hire him as producer and director for a film about his story. They spent a month shoting the scenes and always something special and unexpected happened as the days went on.

Poster advertising ''The Seeker'' — Poster advertising ”The Seeker”

Although they cannot be sure that everything would go as they planned, the result of the recordings spoke for themselves. In reviewing the tapes, they realized that they were getting something truly beautiful and completely spontaneous, as there was absolutely unscripted or unprepared by the team in charge of making the material.

In the end, they simply had to honor it in the editing room and sew all the pieces come together in a single masterpiece.

God & Salsa

Her most recent film work ”God & Salsa” has given much to talk about since its release in 2022. It all started when Jess met his now wife and producing partner Anayancy Thomas at an Entertainment Ministry event hosted by the church where they both attended. She told him she had plans to make a documentary about the negative impact that divorce can have on both children and parents in the long run, which Jess loved because his parents divorced when he was a child.

This event represented a before and after in his life during his adolescence, which made him develop certain behaviors and conducts that were destroying him, such as anger, lethargy, drug addiction, alcoholism, among others. In view of their shared the taste for this subject, they came together to make a feature film in which they would develop this point through characters who had these same experiences in the most natural way possible.

Javier Luna, who plays Shane in ''God & Salsa'' — Javier Luna, who plays Shane in ”God & Salsa”

Although it is fiction, Thomas made it clear that there were several elements that had much to do with him and Anayancy herself, who began taking salsa classes to distract herself from various negative aspects of her life in those years through the use of the body and the mind required by the dance discipline. In fact, her teachers, Enio and Terryl, appear in the film and are part of the cast.

During all this time, there was a very special feeling between the two, so they ended up falling in love and got married shortly thereafter. 10 years later, they have a finished feature film, which premiered in October 11, 2022 in the United States and will soon be distributed in Latin America and the rest of the world. ”Our greatest inspiration for this project is the duty to use our pain to help others overcome theirs” said the director.

How the cast and soundtrack were chosen

When we wanted to know how the cast of ”God & Salsa” was chosen, he revealed that they shot a short film with the purpose of knowing how the movie would look like. It was also intended to serve as a proof of concept and a means to raise funds so we could create the feature film the way they wanted to.

Jovanna Vidal, who plays Raquel in ''God & Salsa'' — Jovanna Vidal, who plays Raquel in ”God & Salsa”

”We put out a casting call through the Backstage platform, since our search was not focused on well-known actors, but on emerging talents avid of opportunities to shine. That is how we managed to find Javier Luna and Jovanna Vital, who did such a wonderful job that we decided to use them for the feature film. The other roles were assigned to people we already knew or had worked with previously, even if they didn’t have a lot of acting experience,” he continued.

As for the film’s soundtrack, the director told us that they focused their attention on local salsa bands and composers. Enio, Anayancy’s aforementioned dance teacher, recommended Carlos Navarro and his orchestra Son Y Clave, which has played in many of the best local and foreign clubs. Once we listening to them, we loved the sound, so we involved him in the project from the beginning of the proof of concept. Both Carlos and his musicians appear in some scenes showing all their talent.

They also used some of the music composed by Stephen Giraldo and Voodoo Tracks Music Publishing.

Jess Thomas, Anayancy Thomas, and Carlos Navarro

facebook.com/Godandsalsathefilm/