• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

International Salsa Magazine

  • HOME
  • Previous editions
    • 2026
      • ISM / March 2026
      • ISM / February 2026
      • ISM / January 2026
    • 2025
      • ISM / December 2025
      • ISM / November 2025
      • ISM / October 2025
      • ISM / September 2025
      • ISM / August 2025
      • ISM / July 2025
      • ISM / June 2025
      • ISM / May2025
      • ISM / April 2025
      • ISM / March 2025
      • ISM / February 2025
      • ISM / January 2025
    • 2024
      • ISM / December 2024
      • ISM / November 2024
      • ISM / October 2024
      • ISM / September 2024
      • ISM / August 2024
      • ISM / July 2024
      • ISM / June 2024
      • ISM / May 2024
      • ISM / April 2024
      • ISM / March 2024
      • ISM / February 2024
      • ISM / January 2024
    • 2023
      • ISM / December 2023
      • ISM / November 2023
      • ISM / October 2023
      • ISM – September 2023
      • ISM – August 2023
      • ISM July 2023
      • ISM Edition June 2023
      • ISM – May 2023
      • ISM April 2023
      • ISM March 2023
      • ISM February 2023
      • ISM January 2023
    • 2022
      • ISM December 2022
      • ISM November 2022
      • ISM October 2022
      • ISM September 2022
      • ISM August 2022
      • ISM July 2022
      • ISM June 2022
      • ISM May 2022
      • ISM February 2022
      • ISM January 2022
    • 2021
      • ISM December 2021
      • ISM November 2021
      • ISM October – 2021
      • ISM September 2021
      • ISM August 2021
      • ISM July 2021
      • ISM May 2021
      • ISM April 2021
      • ISM June 2021
      • ISM March 2021
      • ISM February 2021
      • ISM January 2021
    • 2020
      • ISM December 2020
      • ISM November 2020
      • ISM October 2020
      • ISM September 2020
      • ISM August 2020
      • ISM July 2020
      • ISM June 2020
      • ISM May 2020
      • ISM April 2020
      • ISM March 2020
      • ISM February 2020
      • ISM January 2020
    • 2019
      • ISM December 2019
      • ISM November 2019
      • ISM October 2019
      • ISM Septembre 2019
      • ISM August 2019
      • ISM July 2019
      • ISM June 2019
  • Download Salsa App
    • Android
    • Apple
  • Spanish

Search Results for: Dance Company

19va Entrega Anual de los Latin Grammy

North America / USA / Las Vegas

19th Annual Latin Grammy Awards. The most important award ceremony of the Latin American Music Industry will be held for the fourth time in Las Vegas, Nevada

The main international event in Spanish that brings together the best of Spanish-speaking music reaches its nineteenth live broadcast, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for the fourth time, to reward and honor the achievements of professionals of music throughout the year. The ceremony of the 19th Latin Grammy Awards is here, and on November 15 you will be able to enjoy it through the Univisión signal for the United States and with the #LatinGrammy you will be able to follow it minute by minute during its three hours of transmission by all social networks.

19 Latin Grammy Nominaciones
19 Latin Grammy Nominaciones
The most important night of Latin music 19 Latin Grammy
The most important night of Latin music 19 Latin Grammy
Congratulations Latin Grammy Nominees
Congratulations Latin Grammy Nominees

Each year the Latin Recording Academy awards recognition to Latin music in 49 categories for work recorded in two languages: Spanish and Portuguese. This prestigious institution also endorses musical genres, identifies new talent, recognizes legendary living artists, and preserves and archives both recordings and videos in order to preserve the valuable Latin American musical culture.

The global impact that Spanish-language recordings have caused this 2017-2018 has proven once again that this year each category will be close to its maximum exponential, which shows that MUSIC made by Latinos has an enormous export capacity, and further evidence that the Latin Grammy awards continue to be one of the specials with the largest audience in the country, as it integrates the largest audience of diverse generations united to witness the annual event with the greatest presence of artistic talent gathered in the same show.

FOR THIS 19TH AWARD OF THE LATIN GRAMMYS, THE NOMINEES ARE:

BEST SALSA ALBUM

  1. Dancer’s Corner

Pete perignon

Record Label: Pete Perignon Music

“La Esquina Del Bailador” is the second production by musical director and master percussionist, Pete Perignon. This album contains five unreleased singles and five re-interpretations of classics. “Gotita Falling in Key” was his first promotional theme. This album released in 2017 has versions of classics with modern arrangements such as: “De Mi Para Ti” (Bossa recorded by Tito Puente and Santos Colón), “El Beso Discreto” original from the Cuban songbook Trio Matamoros, among many other original songs and versioned

Pete Perignon
Pete Perignon
  1. Village Singer

Alexander Abreu and Havana D’ Primera

Record Label: Páfata Productions

Alexander Havana D Primera - Cantor del Pueblo
Alexander Havana D Primera – Cantor del Pueblo
  1. For My People

Charlie aponte

Record Label: CA Records Inc.

Charlie Aponte
Charlie Aponte
  1. The Sound Makers

Chiquito Team Band

Record Label: Planet Records

Chiquito Team Band - Los Creadores
Chiquito Team Band – Los Creadores
  1. 7/25

Victor Manuelle

Record Label: Sony Music Latin

Victor Manuelle y Juan Luis Guerra
Victor Manuelle y Juan Luis Guerra

BEST TRADITIONAL TROPICAL ALBUM

  1. To Me What – Tribute To The Cuban Classics

José Alberto El Canario & The Santiaguero Septet

Record Label: Los Canarios Music

In this category, the Septeto Santiaguero, originally from Cuba, is nominated for its fourth album “A Mí Qué- Tributo A Los Clásicos Cubanos”. This ensemble founded in 1995 recorded this production in the company of the Dominican interpreter José Alberto “El Canario” and other music stars. This record material has 13 Tracks and was released on May 25, 2018.

  1. Medoro Madera

Rubén Blades With Roberto Delgado and Orchestra

Record Label: Ruben Blades Productions

Medoro Madera
Medoro Madera
  1. The Party Continues

The Sonora Santanera

Record Label: Sony Music

Sonora Santanera
Sonora Santanera
  1. Omara Always

Omara Portuondo

Record Label: Egrem

Omara
Omara
  1. Reasons

Maria Rivas

Record Label: Angel Falls Artists Inc.

Maria Rivas
Maria Rivas

BEST TROPICAL SONG

  1. I want time

Juan Carlos Luces & Víctor Manuelle, songwriters (Víctor Manuelle Featuring Juan Luis Guerra)

Cut off: 7/25

Record Label: Sony Music Latin

Victor Manuelle 25/7
Victor Manuelle 25/7

The prominent Puerto Rican singer-songwriter and producer, Víctor Manuelle, began his professional career in 1993, and to date has sold millions of records worldwide. He has earned 16 LATIN GRAMMY and GRAMMY nominations, thus establishing himself as one of the most admired artists of his generation. He has placed 46 singles on Billboard’s weekly Hot Latin Songs chart. Eleven of his albums have reached the place of honor in the Salsa genre for sales in the United States and Puerto Rico.

His hit “Imaginar” (2016) as a duo with urban artist Yandel, broke records, reaching #1 on the tropical charts thanks to his fusions of salsa with urban rhythms. In addition, it was named the most popular tropical song of that year, marking the third time that Víctor has obtained this important recognition, after his hits “Me Da Lo Mismo” and “ Tengo Ganas”.

Tonny Succar
Tonny Succar

In this 2018, Víctor celebrates his silver anniversary as a professional artist with his new record label “25/7” under the Sony Music Latin label. This album nominated for best Salsa album features collaborations with international artists, such as: Wisin, Bad Bunny, Juan Luis Guerra, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Glenn Monroig. The single “Quiero Tiempo” taken from this production is designated as one of the candidates to win the award in this important category.

  1. Marry Me

Silvestre Dangond, Nicky Jam, Juan Medina, Mauricio Rengifo & Andrés Torres, songwriters (Silvestre Dangond Featuring Nicky Jam)

Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment US Latin

Marry Me Silvestre Dangond ft Nicky Jam
Marry Me Silvestre Dangond ft Nicky Jam
  1. Fall in love dancing

Jorge Luis Piloto, songwriter (Reynier Pérez y Su Septeto Acarey Featuring Gilberto Santa Rosa)

Cut from: Fall in Love Dancing

Record Label: Independent

SEPTETO ACAREY
SEPTETO ACAREY
  1. I fall more in love with you

Jorge Luis Piloto, Jean Rodríguez & Tony Succar, songwriters (Tony Succar Featuring Jean Rodríguez)

Record Label: Unity Entertainment

  1. Simple Hearts

Fonseca, Mauricio Rengifo & Andrés Torres, songwriters (Fonseca)

Record Label: Sony Music Latin

 

BEST LATIN JAZZ/JAZZ ALBUM

  1. Mind of a Master

Bobby Valentin & The Latin Jazzists

Record Label: Bronco Records

Bobby Valentin
Bobby Valentin
Tracks:
1. De Nuevo a la Carga 7.El Cumbanchero
2. Latin Gravy 8.Mellow Funk
3.Orocoa 9. Endless Love
4.Smooth Ride 10.Freedom
5.Blast Off 11. God Bless the Child
6. Coco Seco  

 

Roberto Valentin, better known as Bobby Valentin, was born on June 9, 1941 in the town of Orocovis on the island of Puerto Rico. At a very young age, Bobby learned to play the guitar thanks to the teachings of his father. At just 11 years old, he formed his first musical trio with which he won his first prize, after participating in a local competition. In 1963 Bobby Valentin joined the Tito Rodríguez orchestra traveling to Venezuela twice.

This phenomenal bass player and arranger belonged to the Fania All Stars for 20 years and also arranged music at the same time for celebrities such as: Charlie Palmieri, Joe Quijano, Willie Rosario and Ray Barretto.

In 1975 he formed his own record label “Bronco Records” and released the album, “Va a la Cárcel” Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, among others.

Over the years, Bobby has made collaborations on recordings for great artists of international fame, such as: Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda, Roberto Roena, Cheo Feliciano and the always remembered, Celia Cruz.

Likewise, Valentin has taken over the stages performing live in the United States during this year, and more recently launched his new production “Mind of a Master”, on April 14, 2018, with which he is nominated. for this important award.

  1. The House Of A Jazz Pianist

Adrian Iaies Trio

Record Label: DBN

  1. Universal Nature

Hermeto Pascoal & Big Band

Record Label: Scubidu Music

  1. Back To The Sunset

Dafnis Prieto Big Band

Record Label: Dafnison Music

PRIETO
PRIETO
  1. Jazz Flute Traditions

Nestor Torres

Record Label: Alfi Records

Nestor Torres
Nestor Torres

For more information visit the official website of the Latin Recording Academy:

https://www.latingrammy.com/en

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.

¡El Rumbón de Caracas! Invershow
¡El Rumbón de Caracas! Invershow

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.

¡El Rumbón de Caracas!
¡El Rumbón de Caracas!

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.

¡El Rumbón de Caracas! Invershow
¡El Rumbón de Caracas! Invershow

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)

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
“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.

“La muñeca de la salsa”, Melina Almodóvar
“La muñeca de la salsa”, Melina Almodóvar

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
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.

Bella y Melina
Bella y Melina

Bella Martinez Puerto Rico

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

Pancho Quinto is considered one of Cuba’s great rumberos

On April 23, 1933, in the Havana neighborhood of Belen, Francisco Hernandez Mora, known as “Pancho Quinto”, was born.

Remembered man of the Cuban rumba to which he imprinted his own styles.

Pancho Quinto es considerado como uno de los grandes rumberos de Cuba
Pancho Quinto es considerado como uno de los grandes rumberos de Cuba

He accompanied for a long time with his percussion the Las D’Aida Quartet and the Canadian artist Jane Bunnett.

Considered as one of the great rumberos of Cuba by introducing new styles in the Cuban rumba whose artistic baptism was given in the famous comparsa of Los Dandys.

He performed in several groups such as Los Componentes de Batea, Los Guaracheros de Regla and other groups whose banner was the tambor bata, he had a brief stint with the Sonora Matancera and played in the orchestra that accompanied the Cuarteto Las D’Aida at the Tropicana Club.

Later he founded the Guaguancó Marítimo Portuario, a group that became the popular Yoruba group Andaba, which performed with the Canadian artist Jane Bunnett, with whom Pancho Quinto collaborated in other productions, and in the twilight of his career he had three productions as a soloist. This rumbero percussionist lived 71 years.

He was preceded by the sonorous echo of Pablo Roche’s bata lucumí juramentados. Such was the heritage that little Pancho gathered when he arrived in this world in the arms of his great-grandmother Camila, with no other identity than his African blood and his diagonal marks on his face, as was the ancestral custom of his family Ilé in the Gold Coast.

That night the conch shells spoke, and from that moment the child was consecrated to the deity of Shangó, god of music and drums.

He received on his right wrist a leather strap with fine bells, which, according to custom, would protect him and his drums from the bad influences of destiny.

Perhaps that is the reason why Pancho Kinto, when he played, knew that his music reached his ancestors in Oyó, beyond time, light and the Atlantic.

This man, a port man for most of his life, inherited the natural wisdom of those princes who came as slaves to Cuba.

In Pancho’s veins runs the blood of Añadí, a respectable warrior in his tribe who adopted the name of Año Juan in the Cuban sugar mills, that of Atandá, olú batá and drum sculptor in the Yoruba people. He was known here as ño Filomeno.

Both built and endowed with religious foundations the first set of bata drum that was born in the island, and from that remote time the sacred song of the orchestra consecrated to the lucumí altar was heard.

Un 23 de abril de 1933 en el habanero barrio de Belén, nació Francisco Hernández Mora, conocido como Pancho Quinto.
Un 23 de abril de 1933 en el habanero barrio de Belén, nació Francisco Hernández Mora, conocido como Pancho Quinto.

It could be said that they were the survivors of the total of slaves that arrived to America, there is an estimate of fifteen million according to data that I heard the Cuban investigator Leovigildo Lopez say when the first Yoruba congress, celebrated in the Palace of the Conventions in Havana.

But to that fantasy that leads men to the inspiration of that mysterious and mythical love towards life, to that renewed and novel way of singing, dancing, playing, turning the palpable into spiritual and the intangible into vital, men like Francisco Hernández Mora pay tribute, exponent of those traditions that merged in our continent and whose result is none other than the embrace between blacks and whites, although there are groups or castes that do not assimilate it as it is.

I learned a lot with Pablo,” said Pancho in this interview in 1994, when he was just beginning to play with flutist Janet Brunet, with whom he toured internationally, recorded and filmed in Canada.

Pablo was called Akilakua, powerful arm, he was a big black man, he goes on talking, with all gold teeth, ugly as his mother’s pussy, but with something special in his personality.

Of the historical drums he commented that they passed from the hands of the olú batá Andrés Roche to those of his son, later considered one of the greatest bataleros of these times.

Pablo’s father was called the Sublime, because of the way he played the original African bata, he did whatever he wanted with those hands. he added.

Paradoxically, the life of both has always been an unknown for those who try to unravel it or look for a chronological order, as it has almost always happened with many rumberos and composers, I am thinking now of Tío Tom or Chavalonga, but that is not the subject now, What I want to say is that these musicians have been teachers and inspiration for a pleiad of Cuban artists and of other nationalities that with luck have heard of the touches of those drums that officiated in the sacred ceremonies of the orisha pantheons.

From those drums, he commented, were born all the drum sets of secret foundation, because from one is born another, like children.

Among the batá there are two forms, the religious and the aberikula or Jewish, which can even be played by women. Of the old consecrated batá aña there are a few games left in Cuba, but many Jews have emerged, and have lost their orthodox character to serve in many cases for secular parties or to accompany orchestras in public.

Recordado hombre de la rumba cubana a la cuál le imprimió sus propios estilos
Recordado hombre de la rumba cubana a la cuál le imprimió sus propios estilos

Pancho kinto played with those sworn drums when in the town council of Regla they took out the procession of the virgin, although it was Jesus Perez, another of Roche’s students, to whom it corresponded to offer the first public concert with a robe orchestra, a sacrilege for many at that time, and much more if it was an act in the Aula Magna of the University of Havana.

However, five decades after the writer and ethnologist Fernando Ortiz sponsored that concert, Pancho Kinto played the bata in the same university campus to pay homage to the memory of his ancestors with his sonority.

Pancho was a Cuban musician who learned to play quintiar from a very young age and along with this he made his drums and cajones in his own way, his own inventions, as he said, playing the tumbador with a spoon in his left hand, he was just a party of bata and cajon, I saw him do that many times in the fabulous rumbas that were celebrated in a lot in Campanario, where the group Yoruba Andabo used to meet in its beginnings.

There he became known for being a member of the Cayo Hueso group, but Pancho had been playing with them since they were Guaguancó Marítimo Portuario in the port of Havana.

Originally they were Geovani del Pino, Chang, el Chori, Palito, Fariñas, Callava, Marino, Pancho and others, many are gone forever like Pancho, whose unexpected death surprised everyone on February 11, 2005.

Of those anthological sarayeyeos remains the pleasure of the memory, the pleasant memory of the controversies of the quinto and the columbia dancer, the fraternal brawls between the guanguancó improvisers and the masterful recital of Pancho Kinto with the batá and the cajón.

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

Founder of Yambu Productions and host of ”Alma Del Barrio” Guido Herrera-Yance

Singers, dancers, musicians and artists in general are usually the first thing the public sees during any type of event, but very little is spoken about the companies, producers and promoters that are in charge of managing all the logistics behind these shows, so we wanted to talk to Guido Herrera-Yence, founder of Yambu Productions, which is an important music production company based in Los Angeles, so he could tell us a little about all these subjects.   

Guido working at KXLU 88.9 FM
”Alma Del Barrio” host Guido Herrera-Yance working at KXLU 88.9 FM

How Guido Herrera-Yance started in the world of music as a radio host 

Many years before Guido even thought about the idea of forming a company, he began to establish himself as a radio host on the popular public radio station KXLU 88.9 FM, specifically on the show ”Alma Del Barrio”, which is about to turn 51 years on the air in October. In Guido’s case, he has been hosting the show for more than 30 years, bringing the best Latin music and artistic news to all his listeners.   

The also producer confesses that he did not really like locution and that he was simply in the right place at the right time, resulting in the career he has built in this type of media. What it does say is that he was a frequent listener of several radio shows and a voracious music collector, which led him to meet certain personalities who saw potential in him to belong to ”Alma Del Barrio”. When a show was opened, he was the leading candidate for the job and accepted immediately. 

Guido did not have any kind of experience in radio, but his employers trained him and taught him everything he needed to know to carry out his tasks properly. 30 years later, Guido is still one of the main hosts of the show and a reference in terms of Latin music radio.    

From radio to event production   

In 1995, one year after having joined ”Alma Del Barrio”, a friend told him that Chucho Valdés was going to the United States after many years and proposed him to make a show together with the artist as the main attraction. When Guido accepted, they began to look for artists to accompany the Cuban that night and some of them were Alex Acuña, Justo Almario, Luis Conte, among others.   

The results were so good that Guido was left with the desire to keep experimenting with this field of the industry, so he continued to produce events of all kinds on a small and large scale since that year. 

As the years went on, he realized that he would need a bigger and more elaborate structure if he wanted to continue to work on this, so the idea of founding a music production company began to take shape in his mind.    

Guido and Chucho Valdés
Guido Herrera-Yance next to Cuban bandleader and pianist Chucho Valdés

How Guido created Yambu Productions   

On the creation of Yambu Productions, something that Guido highlighted is that, in the United States, ”everything must be done very formally”. In light of the obligation to declare the income from his musical activities, Guido saw the need to create a company that would facilitate the procedures related to taxes and issues of this sort in order to cover his back.   

Regarding the name ”yambu”, the businessman was inspired by a song by the Cuban popular music singer Carlos Embale, who was one of his favorite artists, so he wanted to honor him in that way. Taking this detail into account, it is not surprising that Cuban music and its exponents play a fundamental role in the events and groups that Yambu Productions seeks to promote, but it is not limited to nationalities or genres.   

The company has set up events for Los Papines, El Conjunto Folklórico Nacional de Cuba, Chucho Valdés, Los Van Van, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Tito Nieves, José Alberto ”El Canario” and the list goes on. Guido is very proud that Yambu Productions was the one that produced the only concert given by Los Van Van Van and El Gran Combo in the United States, which was in the year 2029. He says he is a fan of both groups, so this was a dream come true for him.   

Upcoming Yambu Productions Events    

This year, Yambu Productions was about to hold the Cuban American Music Festival on 2 June this year, but it has been suspended due to multiple factors, but the main one is that Guido feels that many things have changed in the entertainment industry after the pandemic such as demographics and the public tastes. This has caused the producer to rethink many things, as he is not quite clear  what will be the path to follow by the company, so he prefers to wait. 

In addition to the above, Guido is focused on his own restaurant that opened just six months ago and needs to dedicate all his time and effort to this new project, so it is very possible that the previously festival will be back better than ever for the year 2025, when he will be clearer about what he wants to do with this event.   

However, he said he does not want to be away from live music, to which he attaches a great deal of importance in his work, so with the support of one of the most important jazz clubs in California, Catalina Jazz Club, he rolled up his sleeves and organized the Salsa Meets Jazz Concert Series for 26 April this year (at the time of publishing this article, the concert must have taken place). In this way, Guido wants to recreate that golden era of Latin jazz and salsa in New York, but in his own way. 

The Salsa Meets Jazz Concert Series is expected to pay tribute to a different artist who has contributed to these genres each edition and this year it was the torn for Tito Puente. In addition, Catalina Jazz Club proposed Guido to hold events of this type several times a year, so tribute concerts to Ray Barreto and Andy Gonzalez are also scheduled before 2024 is up. He maintained a close friendship with both musicians, especially with Gonzalez.  

Guido and Alfredo de La Fe
Cuban violinist Alfredo de La Fé next to Guido Harrera-Yance in front of Sabor! Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken, a venue in which Alfredo would perform some hours later

How are the logistics behind a Yambu Productions event? 

When Guido plans to hold an event, the first thing he should do is to find a venue that complies with the requirements for the type of show he plans, analyze the costs involved, find the best talent for the show, hire sound engineers, recruit the people who will be in charge of the logistics part, among other things. It is an arduous work of at least six months before the event takes place.   

An example of the above is the Cuban American Music Festival, which has always been held in May, so he should start organizing and planning for it since November or December of the previous year. This in order to have every detail ready on the day of the festival and to avoid any unforeseen problems that could put those involved down.  

On this subject, Guido said he feels lucky to be able to have so many friends in the world of music, to stay on ”Alma Del Barrio” for so many years and to know people like Nelson González, Johnny ”Dandy” Rodríguez, Genaro Rivera and many others who are always ready to come to Yambu Productions events without even asking about payment, since they know that Guido and his company are very responsible about these issues.  

How talent is selected for events 

”Everything falls on me. I believe that I have the capacity, knowledge and experience to know what the public wants. It is for the very reason that we will not be making the Cuban American Music Festival this year, since the pandemic changed everything in the industry and I have to accept that what sold yesterday is not the same as what sells today” said Guido when asked how he chooses the talent he wants for his shows. He also added that ”I’m still debating with myself on which way to go with the company after quarantine”. 

What Guido will never do is let go of live music because, in his words, ”it feeds his spirit”. As long as he is dedicated to music production and Yambu Productions is still operating, live events will always have a highly important place in the activities carried out by the company. 

Guido and Poncho Sánchez
Guido Herrera-Yance next to conguero, Latin jazz band leader, and salsa singer Poncho Sánchez

Read also: What The Namm Show is and how it works 

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 16
  • Page 17
  • Page 18
  • Page 19
  • Page 20
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 39
  • Go to Next Page »

International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.