Edwin Morales, founder, bass player, director of Mulenze.
Orquesta Mulenze was born in 1976 thanks to the motivation of Edwin Mirales who was a young rocker back then and decided to switch his guitar for a bass and to form the YAMBO Orchestra, which served as a companion of artists such as Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda among others arriving to Puerto Rico without an orchestra; then it was later identified and we would know it as Mulenze.
The orchestra was created at a time when salsa was booming and was fortunate to have musicians, composers, and singers of great stature who are currently recognized among which we highlight Cano Estremera (El dueño del soneo) who later joined the Bobby Valentin’s band as a vocalist; In the chorus, singer-songwriter Pedro Arroyo who has contributed several of his compositions to Mulenze; in the piano, we have Andy Guzman and Eric Figueroa, the latter was one of the influencers in the style adopted by the orchestra, practicing a rather sophisticated and little revolutionary rhythm for the public who follows popular music.
Mulenze was one of the first orchestras to use synthesizers in salsa, rhythmically working outside the beat in which the clave pattern is established to give a jazz variation to their music; this innovation that was not widely accepted by the groups established at that time, although this would give respect and an identity of its own to the orchestra with its amazing arrangements.
Edwin Morales known for his first name only in his family circle. But if someone calls himself a salsero, he has to know who Edwin “Mulenze” is.
This bassist of Bayamon, who has performed with the most important exponents of the salsa genre, has written his own page in the history of this musical genre as the founder and director of the Mulenze Orchestra.
“Salsa will not die and I would say that it is in a fulfilling moment. The new orchestras, which are like us when the pillars of salsa were in full swing and we were called the youth orchestra, are carrying out their work very well.
To this is added a group of boys who are taking their dance academies to municipalities and have resurrected the salsa dancer,” said Edwin.
Pedro Brull continues to see him as the official voice of La Mulenze although he left the group in 2005 to start his solo career.
Edwin succeeded in establishing an identity for the orchestra and my singing style flowed really well with his proposal. But after 24 years, I wanted to seize the opportunity to record an album (Pronóstico).
Today I work mostly outside Puerto Rico and have to admit that I am traveling the world thanks to “La Mulenze,” Brull commented.
For the first time in Miami in the framework of his 40th Anniversary this Saturday, September 11, the Orquesta of Eternal Youth “Mulenze” will perform with its original singers Pedro Brull, Kenny Cruz and Rafael “Ito” Andino.
The event will take place in the “Carpa Salsera”, this concert promises to be a huge success because with more than a year and a half without live performances due to the global pandemic caused by the Coronavirus, thanks to the organizers Giovanny Lopera, Lucy Corres, Mauro “El Fantástico”, José “Rumba” and its primary sponsor “El Rancho de Miami”.
If you want to schedule an appointment with me:
https://calendly.com/augustofelibertt-ism/30min
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