Meet the ” Orquesta Bomplenea “
Let’s start this month of November presenting a musical group that emerged in the year two thousand ( 2000 ), created with the sole purpose and intention of taking Puerto Rican culture to the top, it is nothing less than the “Orquesta Bomplenea”, who will be with us thanks to Mrs. Jimena Verano León from the company “Verano Producciones Latinoamérica” from Bogotá, Colombia; so that the public and fans of International Salsa Magazine can meet this great Latin music orchestra.
Mr. Gary Vera is the founder and member of the “ Orquesta Bomplenea ”, who has been an outstanding musician in the musical genre of Salsa, Merengue and Latin Jazz for about thirty-five (35) years, the past twenty (20) years in the genre of the Bomba (which is the first indigenous music of Puerto Rico, created in the sugar estates by slaves more than four hundred (400) years ago, where African slaves were brought to Puerto Rico by the Spanish and French in the year one thousand six hundred (1600)) and Plena (it is the native music of Puerto Rico, which has the history of miscegenation in the aforementioned country “the Puerto Rican culture”, its birth is located at the beginning of the twentieth century “XX ”). He has also traveled to Europe, the US (United States), and the Caribbean representing our music and culture.
They knew that the “Plena” together with the “Bomba”, the “Trova Jíbara” and the “Danza” make up the four pillars of indigenous Puerto Rican music. The purpose of the “Orquesta Bomplenea” is always to maintain the culture of its island (Puerto Rico), of the greatest possible interest to Puerto Ricans inside and outside of Puerto Rico.
Trying to reach the hearts of everyone with flavor around the world all tastes. With this assignment in mind, they have adopted a different style of playing the “Plena” (Puerto Rican popular dance and song that is characterized by its musical simplicity and the repetition of its phrases, especially the choirs).
The lyrics and the aggressiveness of the piano together with the combination of the vocal tone (timbre) give a salsa touch to our Plena, but without forgetting the most essential purpose of the composition, which is to transmit to its audience the “Bomba” and the “Plenas ” .
At the beginning of January 2000, Gary Vera organized the musical group Bomplenéa and made his first recording entitled “Ritmo Caliente”. The CD includes eight (8) musical themes. La Mulata, which is a mix of (Bomba – Sicá – Plenas), Jazz A La Bomplenéa is the alloy of (Plena – Latin Jazz), and María Rumbón, La Carta, El Meneíto, Ritmo Caliente, Remembering Papá, and Bells De Christmas (Plenas).
They recently started a new proposal that includes Salsa, Bomba and full songs. Some themes are: El Pan (Bomba), Mi Parranda (Christmas Sauce) and Déjate Amar (Sauce).
Members: Gary Vera – composition, drummer, congas, Güícharo and direction; José Cheo Arce – arrangement; Luis Discípulo Cuevas, Jan Meléndez – vocals; Carlene Vera and Jan Meléndez – backing vocals; Omar Maldonado – piano; Carlene Vera – flute; Tito Degracia – timbal and bongo; Coamito Martínez – trumpet; Toñito Vásquez – Trombone; Efraín Hernández – bass; Juan Rivera – piano; Celso José Clemente – percussion and minor percussion, recording director, timpani, tambourine; Rafael “Bodo” Torres – piano; Papo Clemente – congas; Cándido Reyes – güícharo; Luis Jungo Ortiz – bass and arrangements; Orlando Ortiz – members; Danny Fuentes – Trombone; Carlos Torres – bass; José Rodríguez – Trumpet; Doel González – vocals
For more information contact you through:
Facebook @ Bomplenea
- Fidelis Studio - April 24, 2025
- Gira Tango - April 24, 2025
- 5 years to the Son of La Salsoteca of the moment, Lavoe - April 24, 2025