News

Charlie Aponte presents his best salsa album

North America / USA / Las Vegas

Charlie Aponte presents his best Salsa album. Partying with his first Latin Grammy 2018 nomination

Puerto Rican salsero Charlie Aponte has plenty of reasons to celebrate his first Latin GRAMMY nomination, with his second production

“Pa’ Mi Gente” which was recognized in the category of “Best Salsa Album” for the nineteenth installment of these prestigious awards that will be delivered on Thursday, November 15 in Las Vegas.

“Very grateful to the Recording Academy, especially its members, for this important support that is definitely one more step to continue reaping success” said the artist who is reaching his five years as a solo artist.

“Pa’ Mi Gente” achieved an important debut, reaching the top of the “record pools” lists, with its songs, “La Salsa se Hizo Pa’ Bailar” and “No se le Presta el Alma”, which have been the most listened to, likewise; “Nobody takes away what you dance”, which was the first promotional single and which contains a video on his official YouTube channel, by this artist who works independently with the Criollisimo Inc. label.

This album is made up of 11 songs, among them one of his own authorship under the guidance of the musical director on the album and all his presentations, maestro Sammy García, who together recorded this production in the MÁS Audio studio of the sound engineer and producer Angelo Torres.

Charlie Aponte, who will soon release his new music video “Besos de Azúcar”, continues with his artistic commitments, including New York, Medellín and various presentations in his native Puerto Rico, and to end the year he will be with the public of Colombia, in the “Heroic City” Cartagena.

Biography Charlie Aponte:

Charlie Aponte, one of the most beloved voices remembered by thousands of salseros around the world, returns to the stage as a soloist in 2015 after 41 years of belonging to the salsa university, “El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico” Now he’s back as a solo artist.

Born in Caguas, PR on February 2, 1951. It was in 1973 when, after the departure of Pellín Rodríguez, he joined the “Mulatos del Sabor”. Since then there have been many successes that have been proclaimed as successes through Charlie’s voice. He has contributed as a vocalist and displayed his capacity as a sonero in hits such as “Brujería”, “Amor Brutal”, “La Loma del Tamarindo”, “Compañera Mía”, “No hay cama pa’ tan tan Gente”, “Hojas Blancas”, “ Rice with Beans”. Among many others.

In 2014, together with the multi-award winning producer, Maestro Sergio George (Top Stop Music), he presented his new musical proposal “Una Nueva Historia”. This new proposal has the best and most recognized composers and arrangers. Presenting the song “Para Festejar” as his new single in promotion, and grateful for the public’s reception of his musical production, which was on the Billboard charts for 10 consecutive weeks, which catalogs it as an excellent piece of music.

He debuts as executive producer of his new proposal “Pa’ Mi Gente”, a production by the best musicians, arrangers, composers, available in all major stores and digital platforms. In this new project he has a bolero composed by the artist, among other surprises for the public that follows him.

Accustomed to leaving his soul in each of his performances, he assures that with this album he intends that his followers listen to him, dance and continue to appreciate the quality with which his music is made.

Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its leading exponents

Over the last century, this style of traditional Cuban music has contributed to many other musical genres, including jazz, cha cha cha, mambo, salsa, songo and timba.

Cuban Son is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its greatest exponents.

Cuban son is the music that made the Buena Vista Social Club worldwide stars in the late 1990s, but Kiki Valera comes from a family of musicians whose involvement with Cuban son predates BVSC by decades.

Kiki Valera is the eldest son of the famous septet La Familia Valera Miranda, a multi-generational traditional music group from Santiago de Cuba.

Since the 19th century, La Familia Valera Miranda has played an important role in Cuban culture by collecting and preserving the deep-rooted traditions of the legendary Sierra Maestra mountain region.

Their debut album, “Antología Integral Del Son”, released in 1982, helped initiate the explosion of interest in traditional Cuban music.

Kiki, like most of her family, is a virtuoso. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, sound engineer and producer, he is best known as one of the world’s best players of the Cuban cuatro, a medium-sized guitar with 8 strings grouped in sets of 2.

Kiki Valera is the eldest son of the famous septet La Familia Valera Miranda, a multigenerational group of traditional music from Santiago de Cuba.

Kiki learned the Cuban tres under the guidance of his father Felix as a child.

He later attended one of Cuba’s most prestigious music schools, the Esteban Salas Conservatory, in Santiago de Cuba and by the age of 15 was touring internationally.

Kiki continues to conduct, compose, arrange and perform internationally. She also performs and teaches in Seattle, Washington, where she contributes to the vibrant Pacific Northwest music scene.

His current project features several other internationally renowned artists, including Coco Freeman (former singer for Adalberto Alvarez y su Son and NG La Banda), vocalist Carlos Cascante (three-time Grammy Award winning vocalist for the Spanish Harlem Orchestra), trumpeter Alexis Baró (Cubanismo and Omara Portuondo) and bongocero Pedro Vargas (Barbarito Torres’ band). (Kiki Valera)

“Vacilón Santiaguero” is Kiki Valera’s second solo release in the United States after many distinguished years as the director of La Familia Valera Miranda in Santiago de Cuba.

He goes beyond his core group to present collaborations with some Grammy® award winning musicians and features his favorite trumpet players, some born in Cuba, some born in the U.S., but all with reputations jus????ficadas for playing Cuban music for love, if not DNA.

Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in the world.

“Vacilón” is one of those words that doesn’t have a perfect English equivalent to Cuban Spanish, but something that’s a really good time (a little rum or aguardiente always helps).

So what sets this project apart from the vast mountain of excellent traditional albums already out there? Not only is there Kiki’s custom-made Cuban cuatro, which brings a unique texture to the sound, rather than a tres, but, in his jazz-influenced hands, you’ll occasionally hear twists and turns in his improvisations that you probably weren’t expecting when you first glanced at the song titles, which are mostly Cuban evergreens.

Thanks to Kiki’s creative arrangements, this is no mere recycling of covers of these classic songs.

Kiki is as exacting with the recording, mixing and mastering work as he is with the arrangements.

Much of the recording and mixing was done in Kiki’s custom home studio, and Grammy® winner Michael Lazarus mastered the project.

The result will be an audiophile’s delight, a reason, I might add, to want the physical product for your collection (Kiki Valera).

Kiki Valera – Vacilón Santiaguero (2024).

Tracks:

Este Vacilón (Felix Valera Miranda)
El Ají de Cocina (Felix Valera Miranda)
Sobre una Tumba una Rumba (Ignacio Piñeiro)
El Penquito e’ Coleto (Francisco Repilado “Compay Segundo”)
Funfuñando (Arsenio Rodriguez)
La Guajira (Olga de Blanck)
Mari-Juana (Juana María Casas)
Muñequita Feliz (DR)
El Empanadillero (Teodoro Benemelis)
Pájaro Lindo (Felipe Neri Cabrera)
Dos Gardenias (Isolina Carrillo)
El Cuarto de Tula (Sergio Gonzales Siaba)

Musicians:

Kiki Valera (Cuban cuatro, guitar, bass, harpsichord, maracas and backing vocals).

Pedro Vargas (congas, bongos and backing vocals)

Steve Guasch (Backing vocals)

Carlos Cascante (Lead vocals on tracks #1,#4,#5,#7,#9,#10,#12)

Francisco “Coco” Freeman (Lead vocals on tracks #2,#11)

Joshuah de Jesus (Lead vocal on tracks #3,#8)

Raquel Zozaya (Lead vocals on track #6).

Special guests:

Alexis Baró (Trumpet on tracks #1, #3, #4, #6, #9, #11).

Steve Mostovoy (Trumpet on tracks #1, #3, #3, #6, #11)

Michael Rodríguez & Jonathan Powell (Trumpet on track #8)

Pete Nater & Dennis Hernández (Trumpet on tracks #2, #5, #7, #12)

Brian Lynch & Thomas Marriott (Trumpet on tracks #1#0)

Leon Q Allen (Trumpet on track #4)

https://www.kikivalera.com/

Also Read: Yilian Cañizares, an excellent Cuban musician, studied in her hometown in the strictest tradition of the Russian school of violin

The Rumbón of Caracas! Oscar D’ León, Víctor Manuelle, Grupo Niche, Jerry Rivera and Lion Lázaro unite in a show with Invershow!

The city of Caracas is getting ready for a night of pure salsa and joy! Invershow is pleased to announce an unprecedented event that will make the Simón Bolívar Monumental Stadium vibrate on June 20, 2024.

An all-star cast of Latin music stars will come together to offer an experience full of rhythm and flavor.

Oscar D’ León: The legendary “Sonero del Mundo” arrives in Caracas to share his passion and music with all attendees.

With decades of experience on the international stage, Oscar D’ León is an undisputed icon of salsa music. His incomparable charisma and talent ensure a night full of emotion and rhythm.

Victor Manuelle: Known as the “Sonero de la Juventud”, Victor Manuelle is a true master of romantic salsa.

His songs, full of feeling and passion, have conquered the hearts of millions around the world. Get ready to enjoy hits such as “Tengo Ganas”, “Que Suenen los Tambores” and many more, in an unparalleled performance.

Grupo Niche: Directly from Colombia with their characteristic style and contagious energy.

Known for their fusion of salsa, cumbia and tropical sounds, Grupo Niche promises a memorable party.

Songs such as “Cali Pachanguero”, “Gotas de Lluvia” and “Una Aventura” will be just some of the gems that will delight the audience.

Lion Lázaro: One of the best known emerging artists at national level, with his unmatched talent he will make the audience dance with hits such as: “Que levante la mano”, “Pa’ mi gente”, “Muevelao” and of course his most recent promotional single “Súmbate”.

Salsa takes Caracas in one night. An event that only Invershow makes possible. For more information, visit mitickera.com and find out the details.

Tickets on sale at:

Mitickera (CCCT, Level C2)

Camil Deli (Los Palos Grades)

Cashea APP

Valeven

Join the biggest rumba of the year and let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of salsa!

Naelyn Avila: Communications Department

Invershow has established itself as a leader in the organization and production of events, offering the most advanced technology, innovation, qualified and committed staff to meet the highest standards of quality for its realization.

Extensive experience in the world of events!

Our experience has allowed us to produce numerous events of diverse categories such as: concerts, exhibitions, fairs, press conferences, conventions, seminars.

PRODUCTION: We are a leading company in the entertainment market, specialized in pre-production, production and post-production.

SCENOGRAPHY: We offer art and technique of design and decoration of scenic spaces, visual elements that realistically constitute…

ADVERTISING: We have a team of professionals capable of understanding the needs of the consumer, analyzing

AUDIOVISUAL: We help you to create mass communication mechanisms that transmit your message through traditional channels…

PROTOCOL: We have qualified personnel to provide a reception service, personalized attention and can handle…

LIGHTING: We have the best technology in lighting for stages, concerts, effects and architectural ambience.

BULLETIN: We are a leading company in the sale of tickets and access control for all types of events nationwide.

CO-PRODUCTION: Our experience allows us to provide support to production companies, in order to produce quality events.

We are the leading company in the organization and production of events. Our main strength is based on taking care of every detail with the greatest commitment to service, from the organization, production, infrastructure and advertising.

ADDRESS: California de las Mercedes Street, Torre Avila Building. 5th floor

CONTACT: [email protected] [email protected] 0212-505.39.90

Also Read: Gilberto Santa Rosa is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter and sonero better known as “El Caballero de la Salsa” (The Gentleman of Salsa)

Mariantocook: In this kitchen “La Salsa” puts in the flavor!

Europe

Maiantocook:

Mixing two passions to a perfect match, is possible. Going into the kitchen of this beautiful woman means tasting a universe of flavors with your tastebuds, soul and hearing, yes your hearing comes included, when we talk about Marianto.

Teaching how to make fresh pasta in your kitchen in Panama

By Carmen Aular

María Antonieta Pérez Mendoza is Mariantocook, a culinary reference for those looking for options to learn professional cooking techniques and run to apply them at home and delight everyone with exquisite flavors, and preparations of an executive chef. She delights her followers constantly with recipes made with love, sense of humor and a lot of stories that she shares with a special happiness in her social media. She opens the doors of her home and shows us how to prepare, in the simplest way, amazing dishes that seem more elaborate. She is, also, very open to helping her followers, when they contact her in private asking for tips and a word of advice.

All this is wonderful and exciting to share, but why did Mariantocook really catch our attention? ¡La Salsa! This Venezuelan chef living in Europe not only makes everything look easy and exquisite in a few minutes, but, as if that were not enough, she enjoys cooking, listening to music and being inspired by it. Her Salsa Brava repertoire has inspired too many interesting and delicious dishes. Music is a ‘must’ in her kitchen.

This’ how it all started

Marianto is a Professional Chef at CEGA (Gastronomic Studies Center) in Caracas, Venezuela, and although her love for cooking began at a young age, her professionalization in the area did not come until many years later. She can cook for private dinners for 25 people or in the kitchen of “my little piece of heaven in Tuscany” as she calls it.. The kitchen is the same, what changes is the context.

In the middle of process to discover something in what could be good no matter the age, Marianto decided to cook; because she could take the kitchen and go anywhere in the world and at any time. And so, she took her kitchen to Italy, where she settled with her family and where she continued to learn from the original source of the recipes.

This entire project that has made a very good impression in social media and that she decided to call Mariantocook, began when her son going off to college in the United States and she needed to do something to not be sad and at the same time learn something new. Many videos, recipes and bloopers later, the result has been fantastic.

Cooking is passion, and that extra flavor in Mariantocook’s kitchen, is the music. There is a careful selection of a theme for cooking, from which derive colors, ingredients and even smells. Creating a menu inspired by music, depends of the chef’s mood. There is nothing tastier than cooking, singing and dancing.

For this passionate cook, the most dynamic and wise menus are inspired by the notes of Salsa, while the most passionate ones come straight from Jazz. After this affirmation we wanted to make a creative exercise and we decided to ask Mariantocook how she imagines a menu to the rhythm of Salsa Brava, a menu, especially designed for International SALSA Magazine. This was the extraordinary result:

International Salsa Magazine menu to the rhythm of Salsa Brava and masterfully designed by Mariantocook.

Appetizers

“First the tasty percussion” to begin with: Andean sweet ‘Arepitas’ (cornflour tortillas) with banana, ‘Telita’ (type of cheese produced in Venezuela) cheese and colorful sweet pepper jam. Mini dogfish ‘empanaditas’. Arepita Reina Pepiada (specialty of Caracas with chicken and avocado). “Here we have represented a few regions of Venezuela: Los Andes, Margarita and Caracas.” (Different regions of Venezuela with their own and very characteristic flavors). The “arepitas / arepas” are round tortitas made with cornflour, water and salt and are usually enjoyed fried, roasted and even baked.

Arepa with grilled chorizo, arugula and tomatoes

Entry

“The introduction begins with the instruments of the whole orchestra”: Minced grilled octopus, seasoned with tomato, escalonias, olive oil, coarse salt, pepper and fresh thyme.

Main dish

“Then comes the discharge”: Matricciana and fried pancetta, tomatoes, pepper and pasta with some grated pecorino romano cheese.

Dessert

“It ends with a bolerito”: Pears candied with syrup.

Bon appetit!

Auyama and mandarin cream with bread croutons

First the music

Before starting to cook, Mariantocook first puts the music, Thinks of a theme, and even improvises her culinary compositions when she has an opportunity. She also selects the wine, and cooks for it. She is a faithful believer of the argued kitchen, and to transmit to the diners what she feels while cooking. Marianto’s kitchen is a deep kitchen that comes from the soul and the heart and looking for memories, not only to be in a kitchen worthy of remembering, but that it also brings back memories to whoever sits at the table.

We want to close this editorial note with three of the questions we asked Mariantocook during a pleasant interview and a lot of learning. Marianto, as a good Venezuelan, flees from the Italian winter and takes refuge in her little house in Panama, where she was able to talk with ISM about her project, her passions (cooking and music), her plans for the future and her motivations.

ISM: What would you advise, from your life experience, both in the kitchen, as in the initiative to undertake the Mariantocook ’s project, to those entrepreneurs who want to start in the world of cooking or who want to venture into culinary art?

Mariantocook: Study, read, learn. Understand the reason for each process in each recipe. Be curious; do not be dogmatic, because dogmas close your head. Be humble, although with self-esteem, but without falling into the fatuous. Keep an open mind to new knowledge. Love everything. Cook with love and passion, no halves, give it your all.

Marianto Cook making delicious fresh pasta

Variation of La Carbonara with smoked salmon

ISM: What are your salsa recommendations?

Mariantocook: ‘El libro de la salsa’ de César Miguel Rondón is the tastiest thing you can give away. Rubén Blades, Adalberto Santiago, Ray Barretto, Bobby Valentín. ¡Salsa Brava!

ISM: What comes with Mariantocook?

Mariantocook: Cooking, editing, music. Learn many things to improve the videos and all the material I’m doing. I want to buy 2 or 3 cameras so that everything looks more professional.

You can follow Marianto on Instagram: Mariantocook, and by the same name subscribe to her YouTube channel. From wherever, she will always share her human warmth and that magic to cook and teach everything she has learned since she was 10 years old.

Photos: Mariantocook’s courtesy

Unstoppable Hollywood Salsa Fest focuses on the importance of Salsa

In the midst of the release of the single in which she collaborated with Edwin “El Calvito” Reyes ‘Dos pa’ lante’, on April 13, 2024; Melina Almodovar performed at the most important salsa festival in South Florida in the U.S. Melina also serves as an entrepreneur, along with her partner Cristina Moinelo, for the past nine years.

“La muñeca de la salsa”, Melina Almodóvar

Each year, the Hollywood Salsa Fest focuses on the importance of salsa music, recognizing that Afro-Latin music fuses us into a culture that draws from diverse roots. This year’s festival – sponsored by the city in a public-private partnership with various businesses – was held at the Artspark at Young Circle.

As masters of ceremony, the festival featured the winning team of “Meca” from Salseo Radio and “El Cacique” from Zeta 93 FM, Puerto Rico’s leading salsa radio station. On the decks was DJ “Boricua loco” with a tremendous selection of salsa, in addition to coordinating from his musical corner the dance exhibitions by the salsa dancers of YC Dance Studios.

The first orchestra in charge of starting the concert, Latin All Stars, counted with the vocal and scenic mastery of Marlon Mendioroz, Yorman Clay, Adrián Marchant, Yomil Rivas and Frank Cróquer, backed by a musical team that did not fall short of the expectations of those who waited patiently for the stage to light up with good salsa. Latin All Stars was followed by “Juano, tu cantante” from Cali, Colombia. The team of musicians of the orchestra with the second shift shined accompanying who for 16 years was part of Orquesta Guayacán.

The trumpet player also performed in the mid-afternoon block, preceding the arrival of the Hollywood Salsa Fest Orchestra in a segment in which they accompanied Hilda Naranjo from Cuba, Fabián Rosales from Chile and Joey Hernández from Puerto Rico.

At around 6:00 p.m., it was the turn of the Cuban sound known as timba, with the Julio Montalvo Orchestra and Miami’s Huracán. Once the hurricane winds that accompanied Julio Montalvo ceased, tribute was paid to the late Venezuelan percussionist Robert Vilera thanks to the staging of Vilera Son. The tribute to Vilera’s legacy featured the talents of Los Gaitanes from Panama, Avelino Romero from Venezuela, El Mola and Braidsman from Cuba, as well as Robert Vilera’s first singer, Felix Argenis.

“La muñeca de la salsa”, Melina Almodovar, was backed by Luigi Flores from Costa Rica on piano and musical direction, Johnny Fortunato from Dominican Republic on bass, Pablo Molina from Venezuela on timbales, Juan Pablo Camacho from Venezuela on tumbadoras, Carlos Molina from Venezuela on bongo, Carlos Perez from Cuba on first trombone, Ramon Benitez from Colombia on second trombone, Carlos Frank from Cuba on first trumpet and Julian Cifuentes from Colombia on second trumpet.

On backing vocals, Melina was backed by: Joe Arroyo from Puerto Rico and Freddy Lugo from Cuba. Melina gave us a first class show. As part of Melina’s performance, “El Calvito Reyes” joined her for the first time to perform the recently released single ‘Dos pa`lante’ as a live duet.

During the afternoon, the festival took place under a beautiful blue sky that kept the crowd’s enthusiasm positive. During the night, the clear Floridian skies kept the attendees dancing at full steam. Of course, to that end, the aforementioned talents kept the stage in salsa.

The festival closed with the always remembered for the classic ‘De barrio obrero a la 15’, Chamaco Rivera, who with a stellar salsa career to his credit, not only kept the audience engrossed in his impeccable staging, but also introduced us to his guest artist, his son: Christian Ray.

Melina contó con el respaldo vocal de Joe Arroyo de Puerto Rico y Freddy Lugo de Cuba

Christian delighted us with his repertoire shortly before inviting us to listen to his recently released CD entitled El legado continúa. To bid farewell to the musical day, which lasted nearly ten hours, the grand finale invited the group of singers who had paraded on stage during the day and part of the night to come in and jam with the “papa de los pollitos” (father of the chicks).

We are waiting to enjoy the next ‘Hollywood Salsa Fest’, for which the businesswomen in charge promise to throw the house out of the window. Melina and Cristina have delivered nine festivals in a row. So see you in April 2025 to dance in the tenth edition of the same.

Also Read: A party of dancers at the concert to celebrate Willie Rosario’s 100th birthday