Search Results for: Latin Dance

The Spaha Salsa Gallery and The Johnny Cruz Show to the order of salsa

Spaha Salsa Gallery

Latino culture has found a large number of icons and places that have shown how wonderful it is and how proud we must be of being born in this land full of colors and talent for export. One of those incredible places is the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery, which is a cultural institution in which the inhabitants of East Harlem, New York, have the opportunity to learn all about salsa and its unusual roots. To that end, visitors can enjoy a great deal of material, information, resources, and many learning initiatives that will blow everyone’s mind.

The purpose of this wonderful space is to gather as much knowledge as possible about salsa and all the artists who have been responsible for bringing this musical genre to every corner of the planet. That is why its owners have been in charge of offering the most inclusive and diverse gallery to prove everything Hispanic talent has to offer. The institution provides a wide range of possibilities for those who want to learn more about the most well-known Latin music genre in history, and art is the tool used for this purpose.

Jonny Cruz and instruments — Johnny Cruz with some donated instruments at the Spaha Salsa Gallery

What the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery is looking for

One of the major aims of the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery is awakening the interest of the inhabitants of Harlem and the surrounding neighborhoods towards the musical styles that have inspired the five continents to dance. This is how this space became a valuable resource for many other public and private institutions, which have used the museum to foster greater interest in their own activities. This is because many of the tourists visiting New York know that it was in that city in which the biggest salsa movement in history took place, so they are particularly interested in going to places where they can learn about how salsa came about and what its roots are. That is when institutions such as the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery make an appearance and offer to answer any question on the matter.

Johnny Cruz next to Boris Calderón — Johnny Cruz Cruz next to musicologist and broadcaster Boris Calderón

Johnny Cruz, a noted musician and record producer, has made this place a true sanctuary for Latin music lovers and all that emerges from it. The museum, which was once a hardware store owned by his father, contains some of the most valuable objects in the history of salsa and that have a very special relationship with some of the greatest figures of the genre, such as Héctor Lavoe’s favorite guitar or José Mangual Jr’s bongos. This collection of objects has been made in order to preserve the legacy of the greatest exponents of the salsa genre in New York for people to remember who they were and what they contributed to Latino culture in spite of the years. Something very interesting to relate is that many of these instruments have been donated by artists, family members, or institutions that want the names of their owners to continue to sound as loud as possible.

Undoubtedly, Cruz and his greatest contributors in this noble work have ensured that locals and foreigners see the gallery as a space for recreation and learning in which they can learn about the origins of salsa and go back to the glory days with many of the greatest musicians in history.

The Johnny Cruz Show

In addition to the salsa museum, there is another space where Latin music artists will always feel at home. We are talking about the Johnny Cruz Show, which has a very interesting schedule and shows how wonderful our culture is.

The show is celebrating 25 years on the air and will be co-hosted by animator and show biz reporter Maribel Santos, who will definitely give a very special touch to this great celebration, which makes Johnny too happy. So many years on the air are the reward of the effort made to offer the best salsa content that the public deserves.

Johnny Cruz next to Maribel Santos — Poster announcing The Johnny Cruz Show with Maribel Santos

This show is one of the best options that salsa lovers have to know everything related to its best exponents and the latest news on these issues. The cool thing about this is there are many platforms through which those interested can enjoy the talent of Johnny Cruz as host and interviewer, so it will not be difficult to find each of the editions of this great program. In addition, all five counties in New York City can watch the show on cable television.

If case of not living in New York, you can tune into the show on its social media tools. For the time being, The Johnny Cruz Show is available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. It can also be watched on Salsa Gallery Radio live at the Live 365 station and the possibility of putting it onto podcast platforms in the future is under evaluation.

A poster with Johnny Cruz and David Marin — A poster announcing The Johnny Cruz Show with David Marin El Chapin y Felix Villalobos *Music Man*

Link to the Spaha Salsa Gallery’s official website: spahasalsagallery.com

By: Johnny Cruz correspondent of International Salsa magazine in New York city, New York

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7 Signs That You Should Attend A Festival

Are You Overwhelmed By Monotony?

Do you need to get out of the routine but without spending a lot? Do you want to expand your circle of friends? Do you want to have a new love? If the answer to most of the questions has been “Yes”, you most likely have a high need for social life that you can get at a Festival.

Half-length couple dancing — Adaptability, sociability, happy thinking, and remembrance are some of the skills you get at a festival

In a festival, you elude reality for a long time, and you will perceive unequaled sensations. One of the highest Latino events held in Europe is the Tempo Latino Festival in France, which hosts 7 000 people a day for a weekend.

Now that you already know the number of people with whom you can interact at a festival, I present you the seven signs to be conscious of how to recognize if you should attend one:

You find it difficult to establish social relationships, or you don’t have time to share with your friends.
You need to save as much as you can. It is due to the uncertainty that prevails in these times of the fluctuating economy. (Some scientific studies certify that it is better to invest money in experiences than in material objects).
If your memories are about your family and student trips.
You want to have a different weekend outside the daily routine or new love.
You are interested in shows and attractions that make you live an experience to the fullest and have a feeling of exceptional freedom.
You long to meet people with the same musical style.
You want to show your best, most comfortable, or crazy outfits.

BRIEF HISTORY

The first festivals have provenance in Egypt (4500 B.C), followed by Greece and Rome. Subsequently, the first festival as we know them today took place in Dublin (Ireland) in 1897 after the middle ages. In the twentieth century began its greatest apogee with the most famous and long-lived events of this kind: Isle of Wight in England (1968), Woodstock in the United States (1969), and Viña del Mar in Chile since 1960.

Since then, the number of followers has increased in these festivities of several days that favor social life and that gives them skills such as adaptability, sociability, generous and joyful thinking, in addition to the remembrance that happens to occupy a fundamental place in this list.

If you are interested in experiencing this lifestyle and exercising a new way of empathizing with people with the same musical style and interests, here are two recommendations for upcoming Latin festivals to be held in Spain this fall 2021.

FESTIVALS IN SPAIN

Guaguancó Festival World-Madrid

Crowd of people with hands up — The festival will take place in the Sierra de Madrid, just 40 minutes from the city center

Ten years have marked the Guaguancó festival, which for the first time makes its stop in Madrid. This year it will have a lineup of high-level artists, workshops, events, Cuban music concerts, and activities.

The El Escorial resort campsite will be the place to celebrate this Afro-Caribbean weekend party.

El Escorial is a complex with large outdoor spaces for holding shows, concerts, and some workshops. Its covered spaces have more than 400 square meters, and all this under strict cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Date: Thursday, September 9^th – Sunday, September 12^th

Venue: Escorial Resort Natura. Carretera M-600, Km 3,5, 28280 El Escorial, Madrid, Spain

Barcelona Temptation Festival 2021

Woman dressed in red dancing with her partner — This festival has been successful with people from the USA, Canada, Russia, China, and Japan

This festival in the fourth edition will immerse you in the Latin rhythms of Bachata, Kizomba, and Urbankiz for a week. More than 11 artists on stage, workshops, social dances in the pool area and gardens with excellent DJs as well as grandiose masterclasses will be the programming of the Barcelona Temptation Festival 2021 from September 14^th to Monday 20^th at the Evenia Olympic Park hotel located in Gerona (Spain).

Venue: Evenia Olympic Park hotel. Building Park Carrer Sra. Del Rossell, S / N, 17310 Lloret de Mar, Gerona, Spain

SalsaGoogle.com is International Salsa Magazine

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Salsa, Salsa & More Salsa

Musical Events Come To Europe

Europe welcomes music events after a long hiatus from the pandemic. Nightclubs with a limited number of people as well as small outdoor Salsa festivals and congresses begin to reactivate their activities by receiving attendees with the presentation of a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid-19 test.

Here is a list of Salsa events in Europe with tradition that gives you a tropical welcome and says goodbye to what happened in 2020.

MONACO SALSA CONGRESS

Adult couple dancing — 2020 passes are automatically valid for this new date

Since 2006 (first edition), the Monaco International Salsa Festival has been an unavoidable Salsa event for dance lovers.

This festival, a product of the passion of Hamidine Thiam and the experience of Gregory Salerno, has joined the best artists in the world on the same stage. Several of the festival’s shows have been broadcast on EuroSport for consecutive years, demonstrating the quality offered by this 15-year-old festival.

Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba for the following modalities: beginner, advanced, or just curious are presented in three rooms simultaneously. In addition, you can taste food in front of the stage only with VIP passes, quality shows, and DJ nights until almost dawn.

With optimism and eagerness, this edition of the Monaco Salsa Congress 2021 will take place from October 8^th to 10^th with the participation of Maykel Fonts, Tropical Gem Dance Company, Andrea & Silvi, SuperMario, 4DJs, and many more artists to share memorable moments with you.

Venue: Espace Léo Ferré. Les terrasses de Fontvieille, 25 avenue Albert II. 98000 Monaco

CROATIAN SUMMER SALSA FESTIVAL

Woman in leopard swimsuit and man in white shirt — Enjoy this unique experience in Croatia in late summer

You can already feel the energy of the festival that makes all the people of the western part of the city of Rovinj (Croatia) dance Salsa. Beaches, hotels with swimming pools at reasonably priced, streets, an old tobacco factory, squares, islands, the whole town is a dance floor for thousands of visitors from all over the world who live and breathe Salsa.

The Croatian Summer Salsa Festival aims to educate, inspire, communicate, and entertain fans of Salsa, dance, the sea, and the sun. The focus in this edition will be on three styles: Salsa, Salsa Cubana, and Mambo. There will be carefully designed professional workshops for all levels, high-level pre-festival workshops (Wednesdays and Thursdays), as well as intensive Bootcamps for advanced dancers.

Imagine and live the experience of being part of it!

Outdoor Social Dance: Party on the beach dancing to the most applauded Caribbean rhythm under the stars in one of the most beautiful cities on the Adriatic coast. Ah! And don’t forget that this event also offers a boat excursion.

Music & DJs: The perfect combination missed in 2020. Finally, it is time to connect with the sound of the Tumbadoras mixed with the ocean waves and the warm summer breeze.

Dance Instructors: They are present at this event to inspire you and raise your level from amateur to professional. With them, you can dance as a couple, watch their performances with incredible outfits, sing, and also they are host like real artists do.

Workshops & Bootcamps: For 15 years they have been dedicated to promoting the best possible social dance education with community artists to create a high-quality structured and progressive learning experience. To gain more skills in dancing Croatian Summer Salsa Festival brings you pre-festival classes, weekend workshops, and choreography bootcamps for those who want to push their limits.

From September 1^st to 5^th, the summer salsa festival in Croatia will be held in the landscape of the Seasunsalsa house in the city of Rovinj located on the Adriatic coast.

Official biosecurity measures will be respected.

BERLIN SALSA CONGRESS

Woman dressed in blue dress dancing with man in red jacket — Berlin Salsa Congress – Do you accept the challenge?

In Berlin, the people will dance Salsa again in a congress this 2021. This event will be held outdoors under the sun during the day and at night you will live your passion indoors with three dance floors.

In this edition of the Berlin Salsa Congress, the focus will be on high-level social dancing from noon to midnight. Also, you can improve your skills in a series of exclusive workshops taught by a lineup of instructors from the world community in Berlin.

This Salsa congress, the longest in Europe in continuous operation since 2001, is renewed and brings Choreography Bootcamps.

Bootcamp # 1 is about teamwork in the genres of Salsa and contemporary fusion.
Bootcamp # 2. This is an Afro-fusion of Mambo. Here you will develop skills in footwork. It is designed for dancers with an intermediate level.
Bootcamp # 3. It is based on footwork for ladies only. Rhythm: Salsa

A Choreography Bootcamp challenges you in many different ways. It’s not just about choreography or technique. It is much more. It is expanding your limits with friends with the same interest, achieving an incredible sensation of overcoming obstacles by performing in front of a large and enthusiastic audience.

Date: Thursday, August 26^th – Sunday, August 29^th

Venue: Tempodrom. Möckernstr. 10. 10963 Berlin, Germany

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Flashback: Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill

The Architect Of Afro-Cuban Jazz

Arturo "Chico" O'farrill with reading glasses and sitting — In memory of the 20 years of his physical disappearance

Arturo O’Farrill, better known as “Chico” O’Farrill was born on October 28, 1921, in Havana (Cuba) at the height of Son. He had a normal childhood like any son of a Jewish family raised to continue the family profession, Law.

In the 1930s Chico was admitted to the Riverside American Military School in Gainesville, Georgia. His father, an eminent Irish lawyer recognized in the Afro-Caribbean country, decided to intern him to continue his studies.

During his stay at that institution, O’Farrill discovered the great jazz orchestras that made life in that territory. Those bands were known by the name of Big Bands. He entered that musical environment and began his process of love and passion for the industry. He listened to recordings by Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey while learning to play the trumpet on his own. In almost immediate time Chico became the trumpet player for the school’s military band and large dance groups.

Years later, Arturo returned to Cuba. He studied the same profession as his father (Law) and at the same time with his studies, he developed his facet as a composer. He received composition and harmony classes from important island musical instructors such as Félix Guerrero.

His progress, determination, and development in music were unstoppable. He was a member of the Armando Romeu Bellamar Orchestra and the Isidro Pérez Orchestra at the time of Mambo and Son, rhythms that prevailed and enhanced Latin music for decades.

MUSICAL HISTORY

Arturo "Chico" O'Farrill seated and in black and white — Chico O’Farrill dabbled in rock

“The Architect of Afro-Cuban Jazz” worked for four years (1943 – 1947) in Montmartre, the Cuban cabaret with the greatest French style. In the same way, he belonged to the Bellamar Orchestra, directed by Armando Romeu with Luis and Pucho Escalante, and Mario Romeu, among many other members.

As a trumpeter, Arturo traveled to Mexico and Europe. He created Los Raqueteros del Swing band, being the director and member of the orchestra. Subsequently, he founded Los Beboppers (the first Cuban bop group) with continuous performances at the Hotel Saratoga. Here, Chico was once again at the helm as director of the band and musician with his related instrument, the trumpet.

In the 1950s he began his successes as an arranger, working briefly for various musical directors such as Gil Fuller, Noro Morales, Frank “Machito” Grillo, and Benny Goodman.

Likewise, he composed his first masterpiece, Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite in five movements: Canción, Mambo, 6/8, Jazz, and Rumba Open. This masterpiece of composition was made and recorded for the imprint of the businessman Norman Granz, with the Machito Orchestra as the rhythmic base and accompanist.

The expert comments on Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite were numerous, but here are two of the most outstanding opinions:

Luc Delannoy: “It begins and ends with a hypnotic flute and conga duo that reflects the essence of Cuban treatment; the union of musical universes: the European (the flute) and the African (the conga). These two instruments are joined by the oboe, followed by the trumpets, saxophones, and the double bass “Tumbao”… After a return to swing and bebop in the fourth movement, Chico takes us back to the origins of Latin jazz with a melody of clear Arabic accents, before immersing himself in the universe of Afro-Cuban percussions.”

And Benny Carter commented on the Afro-Cuban Jazz Suite the following: “The reason for the coherence of the rhythmic parts and their relationships with the solos that have their own life and independence, Masterpiece of a genius.”

Arturo "Chico" O'farrill dressed in black and with a red background — His last album was Heart Of A Legend

After the enormous success of this powerful piece of music, O’Farrill wrote Cuban Fantasy for Stan Kenton during his stay in New York (EE.UU). However, Kenton eventually changed the name of the piece and it was called the Cuban Episode.

In 1953 he moved from New York to the California state and founded his orchestra with renowned musicians such as Mario Bauzá, Doug Mettome, Jimmy Nottingham, Eddie Bert, Fred Zito, Lenny Hambro, Flip Phillips, and the saxophonist Eddie Wasserman. The orchestra used the Afro-Cuban rhythmic section of Machito, harp, and oboe.

Under this concept, he recorded for Norman Granz and performed in two emblematic venues of the American Jazz music scene: Birdland (New York) and Hat Ballroom located in Los Angeles, California. During this period he composed three new movements: “La Jungla”, “Contrast”, and “Rhumba Finale”, baptized as “Manteca Suite”. The latter recorded in 1954 with Jazzist Dizzy Gillespie and an orchestra with 21 talented musicians.

In 1956 he returned to Cuba in search of inspiration and immediately began to work for the best record companies such as Panart and RCA Víctor. In this record label, he made “Chico’s Cha-Cha-Cha”, adapting the Charanga rhythm to the Big band format. This album was released, once again, on compact disc by BMG during the last decade of the 20th century.

Two years later the restless O’Farrill traveled to Mexico due to the great platform that this country provided for Latin American musicians at the time. During that residency, he once again stood out with a special sound. He appears on television as music director for singer Andy Russell, and there his life takes a dizzying turn. He started the semi-retirement period but never stopped composing. By that time, he composed his next and one of his greatest works “Azteca Suite” for trumpeter Art Farmer. And he made history once again!

In the 60s and with the rise of rock, Chico returned to New York and made arrangements for such important figures as La Lupe (They Call Me La Lupe); Cal Tjader (Along with Comes Cal); Count Basie (High Voltage); Gato Barbieri (Chapter Three: Viva Emiliano Zapata); Ringo Starr (Night and Day) and dabbled in Rock music with David Bowie (I Know That It Will Happen and Looking for Lester) and finally was the director of the Venezuelan Aldemaro Romero’s Orchestra.

In this stage that lasted until the end of the 20th century and already in the 70s, the Big bands went from being an innovation to being displaced by other rhythms that were rapidly increasing in popularity. These genres used new techniques, styles, sounds, and harmonies. It led to the appearance of icons in Jazz and the disappearance of the exclusive Bing bands for ballroom dancing.

For this reason, Chico O’Farrill reinvents himself and begins to work in the lucrative field of music for audiovisual advertising.

Arturo "Chico" O'farrill in black and white — Pure Emotion album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Latin Jazz Performance

In the mid-nineties, American Jazz producer and director Todd Barkan contacted the “Afro-Cuban Jazz Architect” to pay tribute to his career with a compilation of his musical hits. The name of the album was Pure Emotion and it got a nomination for Best Latin Jazz Performance at the 37th Grammy Awards.

O’Farrill toured Europe with his orchestra in 1996 and recorded his latest album entitled “Heart Of A Legend” with 14 tracks.

For this album, they had an orchestra of 18 musicians and a collaboration of international artists. The arrangements and musical direction of “Heart Of A Legend” were in charge of his son Arturo O’Farrill Jr. and who continues with his legacy.

On June 29, 2001, at 80 years old in New York City, Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill passed away.

Undoubtedly, Chico O’Farrill was always a visionary, and he was at the forefront for more than half a century of the musical genre today recognized worldwide as Latin Jazz.

In memory of the 20 years of his physical disappearance

Arturo “Chico” O’Farrill Forever!

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Antonio “Tony” Succar, percussionist, composer, arranger, band leader and music producer

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Antonio “Tony” Succar (Lima, May 18, 1986) is a Peruvian-American percussionist, composer, arranger, band leader and producer.

Succar was born in Lima, Peru. When he was two years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in Miami, Florida.

Among his relatives were several musicians who encouraged Succar to develop his own musical interests. The family’s musical tradition began with his paternal great-grandparents, Mexican composer Lauro D. Uranga and Spanish flamenco dancer Adelina Esteve Gregory.

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson Antonio “Tony” Succar — Antonio “Tony” Succar (Lima, May 18, 1986)

Succar’s father, Antonio F. Succar, is a pianist and his mother Mimy Succar Tayrako Sakaguchi is a singer. Since he was 3 years old Tony started playing in The Peruvian Cajon, when Succar was 13, he started playing drums with his parents’ band when they played at weddings and other private and corporate functions, mainly in Miami, Florida, USA.

Succar attended Miami Sunset Senior High School in Miami-Dade County. At the time his ambition was to be a professional soccer player, and he played on several teams, including his high school team when it won the 2004 state championship. He later tried to earn a soccer scholarship to Florida International University. Unable to get a scholarship, he asked his father for study advice.

The advice he received was to apply to FIU’s School of Music.

Seeking an interview with the school’s drum instructor, he ended up auditioning for the Latin jazz ensemble and was quickly accepted. Succar earned a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance in 2008 and went on to study for a master’s degree, which he earned in 2010.

Succar already had an active musical career while still an undergraduate student. As a junior in college he took over as musical director of the family band, which he renamed Mixtura.

On September 21, 2010, Succar released an album recorded at his graduation recital, a live concert with Mixtura at the Wertheim Performing Arts Center in Miami. This CD/DVD contains a mix of Latin-influenced arrangements of classic jazz numbers and original material. It received numerous positive reviews including from Audiophile Audition5 and JazzChicago.

After graduating from FIU, Succar became artist-in-residence in 2012, and continued to work with the school’s music students on a number of projects. He is the youngest artist to ever hold this appointment at FIU.

Succar has worked with several prominent artists in Latin music genres. These include Tito Nieves, La India, Kevin Ceballo, Michael Stuart, Jon Secada, Jennifer Peña, Jean Rodriguez and Obie Bermudez, who collaborated with him on Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Unity features over 100 musicians, Latin superstars such as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Pena, Michael Stuward, Angel Lopez, Sheila E., Judith Hill, Jean Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas, Maribel Diaz, Kevin Ceballo, hosted on PBS TV by Gloria Estefan, and the magic of Jackson's legendary engineer Bruce Swedien. — Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson is a collaborative project to produce a musical tribute to Michael Jackson.

The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson

Unity: The Latin Tribute to Michael Jackson is a collaborative project to produce a musical tribute to Michael Jackson. In addition to live performances, the project plans to release an album consisting of 14 Jackson songs rewritten to include Latin influences, primarily salsa and Latin American rhythms, Succar, who was a long-term fan of Jackson’s work, is the founder and producer of the project. Unity launched in 2015 with a concert at Miami’s Olympia Theater sponsored and broadcast on PBS TV, 360 stations, primetime, Friday night at 9:00 p. m., and also sponsored by Universal Music Classic.

Unity features over 100 musicians, Latin superstars such as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada, La India, Obie Bermudez, Jennifer Pena, Michael Stuward, Angel Lopez, Sheila E., Judith Hill, Jean Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas, Maribel Diaz, Kevin Ceballo, hosted on PBS TV by Gloria Estefan, and the magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer, Bruce Swedien.

Succar’s sound is refined and distinctive. His up-tempo songs have an unmatched explosive energy, while his slower arrangements are soulful and captivate the listener with the intricate nuances that are signatures of his sound.

Tony is currently working on his next album and touring the world with his band.

He has performed at the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival (Aruba), the Ravinia Festival (Chicago), Auditorio Telmex (Mexico), Vivo Beach (Puerto Rico), Tempo Latino (France) and the 2019 Latin Grammy Awards (MGM Grand Las Vegas ), among others.

Contacts:

Youtube: tonysuccarofficial

www.tonysuccar.com

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