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Search Results for: Latin Jazz

David Atanacio Percussionist, Composer and Singer Unveils a New Sound

David Atanacio, grounded in the values of honesty, integrity, loyalty, responsibility, and respect, appears to be an individual of strong moral and ethical character. He is someone who can be fully trusted, a faithful and committed friend and colleague who always tells the truth and acts with righteousness.

His sense of responsibility ensures he fulfills his commitments, while his respect makes him a considerate, open person capable of building harmonious relationships. Together, these values suggest a dependable, upright, and kind personality, making him a positive and admired presence.

Born in New York City and raised in Puerto Rico, specifically in the municipalities of Bayamón and Cataño, David Atanacio has cultivated a unique musical identity rooted in a powerful fusion of Cuban rumba, flamenco rumba, and Afro-Caribbean influences.

David Atanacio Percussionist, Composer and Singer
David Atanacio Percussionist, Composer and Singer

In 1993, he began his musical journey as a bongo player for his uncle’s “Grupo Típico,” later joining a local orchestra as a conguero in 1996. In 1997, he was presented with the opportunity to become a singer, marking a turning point in his musical destiny.

Recruited to co-found “Grupo Folclórico Yuba Iré,” it was with this group that he began to perfect his mastery of rhythms like La Bomba, La Plena, El Guaguancó, El Yambú, and more. During this same period, David Atanacio discovered his talent for composing and began writing his first songs, including one titled “Lo que dice el Tambor” (What the Drum Says).

He was recommended to work with the “Orquesta Abran Paso” from Puerto Rico, with whom he accompanied luminaries such as Ismael Miranda, Adalberto Santiago, Junior “Hommy” González (RIP), Larry Harlow (RIP), among others.

He then received a call from the Puerto Rican Maestro “Paoli Mejías,” percussionist for “Carlos Santana’s” group, who invited him to be part of his first musical project, “Mi Tambor.” On this album, David’s song “Lo Que Dice el Tambor” was recorded, appearing as Track No. 7. The album was nominated for “Best Latin Jazz Album” at the Latin Grammys in 2004.

David Atanacio: Percussionist, Composer, and Singer Unveils a New Sound

David Atanacio: Percussionist, Composer, and Singer Unveils a New Sound

In 2003, the King of Rhythm, Mr. Afinque “Don Willie Rosario,” invited David to join the front line of his orchestra, where he remained until 2005. After leaving Willie Rosario’s Orchestra, David decided to move with his family to Tampa, Florida.

Even in his new home, David never lost touch with his roots. One day, he received a call to contribute background vocals to the production “Sobrevolando” by the acclaimed Puerto Rican group “Cultura Profética” (2019). This production earned them the Latin Grammy for “Best Alternative Album” in 2020 and a nomination for “Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album” at the 2020 Grammy Awards.

David Atanacio is a “Sonero de Calle” (Street Sonero), with ample talent and ability to succeed. He is a percussionist, composer, and possesses the added artistry of the “Soneo del Guaguancó” (Guaguancó vocal improvisation).

Atanacio is now releasing his musical proposal, “David Atanacio & Champán D’ Barrio,” featuring aged salsa and plenty of flavor.

David Atanacio & Champán D' Barrio
David Atanacio & Champán D’ Barrio

The album contains ten tracks, eight of which are his original compositions. The production features special guest Herman Olivera, who performs a duet with David on a meticulously crafted song titled “De la Vieja Escuela” (From the Old School). The first single from this project, “Lo que dice el Tambor,” is hitting the airwaves, now presented under his orchestrated concept, “David Atanacio & Champán D’ Barrio.”

The Puerto Rican sonero recently released his latest single, “No Me Llores Más” (Don’t Cry For Me Anymore), a masterfully interwoven piece that pays homage to the musical genres that have shaped his artistic journey. The song perfectly fuses Cuban rumba, guaguancó, Spanish flamenco rumba, and son.

More than just a song, No Me Llores Más is a deeply personal sonic exploration that honors the genres that have influenced David Atanacio since his beginnings.
More than just a song, No Me Llores Más is a deeply personal sonic exploration that honors the genres that have influenced David Atanacio since his beginnings.

More than just a song, “No Me Llores Más” is a deeply personal sonic exploration that honors the genres that have influenced David Atanacio since his beginnings. Rhythms such as trova, décimas, aguinaldo, bomba, and plena have profoundly impacted his musical development, adding unique nuances to his artistic expression and reaffirming his commitment to the cultural heritage of his homeland and the Caribbean.

“No Me Llores Más” Credits:

  • Lyrics, Music, and Lead Vocals: David Atanacio
  • Background Vocals: Herman Olivera Jr. & Adriel González
  • Musical Arrangement: Carlos García
  • Piano: Yassel Puppo
  • Bass: Kevin Pagan
  • Trombone Solo: Carloscar Cepero
  • Percussion: Diego Centeno
  • Spanish Guitar: Alex García Potia

With an exquisite arrangement by Carlos García and impeccable execution by top-tier musicians, “No Me Llores Más” marks a new chapter in David Atanacio’s career. It’s where tradition and vanguard embrace to the rhythm of the drum, the guitar, and pure emotion.

This track will be available on all digital platforms starting June 14, 2025.

The rumba lives, the son renews, and David Atanacio’s voice celebrates it!

Press Contact: David Atanacio [email protected] 813-569-9581

Reference: Luis Rojas

Also Read: Herman Olivera the sonero of the 21st century

Multi-instrumentalist Ian Dobson talks about his trips and academic background

American artist Ian Dobson, like many of his compatriots, could not resist the charms of Latin music and its huge diversity of rhythms, so today he talked with us about the way he walked to become the talented multi-instrumentalist he is today.

Enjoy Ian’s incredible story in the following lines and learn everything he has to share.

Ian with his drum
Ian Dobson posing for the camera with his steel drum and ukulele

How Ian became interested in music

With just five years old, Ian already took a genuine interest in playing the drums and did not have any other family members who also liked music, except his aunt, who was a violinist. Although he does not have a very special motivation to love this instrument, he remembers that when he was 12, someone showed him a samba rhythm on his own drums, and he liked it so much that he continued playing it himself until perfectioning it. As a teenager, he was very involved in jazz, which also led him to Latin jazz and other genres derived from it. 

On reaching majority, he had already discovered a little more of Latin music, so he began studying Spanish in order to understand it better, which of course helped him a lot for the following years. His curiosity about this colorful culture was such that he embarked on a series of trips to many Latin American countries, one of which was Venezuela, more specifically Margarita Island, in 1988. Ian wanted to practice his Spanish and see what rhythms he could find in that country, the most popular being salsa and merengue.

Genres and countries that most influenced Ian

Among the Latin American countries we can name are Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Cuba. He also had the opportunity to play on several cruise ships and visit many Caribbean islands.

Each and every one of these countries had things that caught his attention musically. In the case of Venezuela, Ian was able to study the maracas during his master’s degree in percussion in Washington. One of his teachers was Euclides Aparicio, with whom he was able to learn much more about the music of this nation. 

Ian playing the marimba
Ian Dobson playing the marimba in Mexico

The artist points out that the country that most aroused his attention was Cuba, but he assures us that he liked all of them due to the musical and cultural diversity he found on all his trips, and he hopes to return to the same destinations someday. 

Mexico was the country where he spent more time, staying there for a total of six months. 

Academic background

Ian has a very interesting academic background that has provided him with a huge amount of knowledge applicable to his career. We can mention the University of Lisbon, where he was studying Portuguese and found it fascinating because there were many people from the African colonies, resulting in this music permeating Portugal and mixing with local music. One of its most renowned composers was Fernando Lopez-Graça, whom Ian had the opportunity to meet during his stay in the European country.

He became so interested in this subject that he wrote essays on how Brazilian music influenced Portuguese music and what role Africa played in all of this. Ian had already earned his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, so he found all these topics very interesting and took them into account when it comes to studying music.

He also studied jazz at the Oberlin Conservatory, and although he did not complete his classes there, everything he learned obviously helped him a lot later on. At the University of Washington, he earned a bachelor’s degree in percussion and learned much more about music from a purely academic point of view.

Ian with a child
Ian giving classes to a little child some years ago

Ian the multi-instrumentalist

Ian studied timpani, marimba, vibraphone, piano, drums, percussion, and many other instruments throughout his career, so he can be considered a multi-instrumentalist who has sought to specialize in as many areas of music as possible.

During our conversation, Ian showed us through video call some of the instruments he was going to play that same day, such as steel drums, an electronic marimba, a drum set, a ukulele, DJ equipment, and so on.

He assures us that he is capable of playing these instruments and others during his performances, but he loves steel drums and the ukulele, which are a fundamental part of his repertoire.

Ian the teacher

While it is true that Ian has no private students right now, he previously offered music lessons for some time, gave workshops and created online spaces for his students and followers to learn from his experience.

Today, he only offers concerts, but he always tries to make them as educational as possible. In fact, he always has a few extra pairs of drumsticks that he offers to some of his concertgoers so they can play themselves while Ian explains what to do. This makes the performance much more interactive and dynamic thanks to audience participation.

The most satisfying aspect of being a teacher was to see his students gain much more self-confidence, which led them to pursue their goals with greater intensity. No matter how bad his mood may be at any given moment, he is always happy to see others learn and enjoy what they do.

Read also: Efrain ‘‘Junito’’ Davila, Victor Manuelle and Ricardo Arjona’s producer in International Salsa Magazine

Beatriz Márquez Castro, an exponent of romantic songs, “Feeling” and Bolero

Beatriz Márquez Castro is a singer, composer, and pianist, born on February 17, 1952, in Havana.

Beatriz Márquez Castro. Cantante, compositora y pianista
Beatriz Márquez Castro. Cantante, compositora y pianista

She is the daughter of the prestigious composer and performer René Márquez. She began her artistic career in 1968.

An exponent of romantic songs, “feeling,” and bolero, she gracefully delved into these genres, performing pieces by prolific authors such as René Márquez, Marta Valdés, Juanito Márquez, Silvio Rodríguez, and Germán Nogueira, among others.

Her mezzo-soprano range has enabled her popular “descents” to low tones, as well as her unexpected and no less appreciated “ascents” to much higher tessituras, without losing her defining style. This style is very appropriate for songs and boleros, genres in which she has remained one of Cuba’s leading cultivators.

She is known as “La Musicalísima.”

We are witnessing the realization of a long-cherished project with which the performer, pianist, and composer Beatriz Márquez settles a debt both on a family level and within Cuban discography.

After several years of searching through archives and old recordings, thanks to the collaboration of Cuban audiovisual producer Felipe Morfa, it was possible to prepare “Este encuentro” (Colibrí Productions, 2023). This album features a selection of known and unreleased pieces by singer and composer René Márquez Rojo (1914-1986), some of which were popularized in their time by internationally renowned figures like Antonio Machín or the Puerto Rican Daniel Santos, to name just two examples.

Beatriz Márquez Castro, an exponent of romantic songs, "Feeling" and Bolero
Beatriz Márquez Castro, an exponent of romantic songs, “Feeling” and Bolero

Given the influence René had on the career of his daughter and grandchildren, this is an album full of love and, above all, gratitude.

While he was best known for his songwriting, it is important to highlight the mark he left as a charanga singer.

Among others, we can mention his work with the charangas of violinist Cristóbal Paulín, Oscar Muñoz Bouffartique, and René Touzet.

He debuted at the Mil Diez radio station with the group led by Julio Cueva, to which he dedicated himself for ten years.

From the late 1930s onwards, the lyrics by the artist from Villa Clara quickly resonated with the public.

“El Inquieto Anacobero” recorded “El disgusto de bigote” with the Sonora Matancera in 1949 and also sang other Cuban songs such as “Soltando chispas,” “A San Lázaro,” and “El granito de maíz.”

René’s songs, among which “El quinqué” cannot be missed, speak of his natural ingenuity for storytelling.

Upon his death at 72, he left a musical legacy that has since been defended by his descendants.

In over five decades of her artistic life, Beatriz has become her father’s most faithful interpreter, having recorded songs for several albums such as “No respondo,” “Explícame por qué,” and the now famous “Espontáneamente,” initially included in the LP “Es soledad” (Egrem, 1970) and re-recorded on multiple occasions.

In “La Musicalísima”‘s discography, prior to this material, there were only two phonograms exclusively dedicated to the work of a single author: “Beatriz canta a Juan Almeida” (Egrem, 1978), followed forty years later by “Libre de pecado” (Colibrí Productions, 2018), a tribute to maestro Adolfo Guzmán, thus contributing to the rescue of the island’s musical memory.

“Este encuentro” spans traditional trova and moves from guaracha to son, without forgetting some of the composer’s most notable boleros.

It also allows us to appreciate René Márquez’s interpretive qualities by hearing his voice, rescued from old recordings.

The special participation of singers Evelyn García and Michel Maza, continuators of the family saga, is noteworthy.

Now, the 2015 National Music Award winner and the main architect of this phonogram invites us to explore René Márquez’s immense body of work, one that will by no means be forgotten, across eleven tracks._ Jaime Masó

Beatriz Márquez - Este Encuentro (2023)
Beatriz Márquez – Este Encuentro (2023)

Beatriz Márquez – Este Encuentro (2023)

Tracks:

  1. Este Encuentro
  2. La Vida Es Un Momento
  3. Muchachito Inocente
  4. No Respondo
  5. Nunca Habrá Distancia
  6. Soltando Chispas
  7. En El Cielo De Mi Vida
  8. Imposible Amor 09. Popurrit 10. Espontáneamente 11. Mi Placer

By:

L’Òstia Latin Jazz

Augusto Felibertt

Ecured

Instituto Cubano de la Música

Also Read: Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte, master of the piano and musical composition

Los Surik is a musical group formed in Victoria, Las Tunas, in eastern Cuba

Los Surik, a musical group from Las Tunas a province known for orchestras recognized both nationally and internationally has distinguished itself in the Cuban music scene for its excellence.

Los Surik is a group that was created in Victoria Las Tunas, in eastern Cuba.
Los Surik is a group that was created in Victoria Las Tunas, in eastern Cuba.

This group of fifteen musicians (four of whom are vocalists) was established in Victoria, Las Tunas, in eastern Cuba.

They began their professional careers in 1982, focusing on harmonious arrangements through the use of complex structures, all in service of preserving the authenticity of the genres they perform, such as son, guaracha, merengue, song, and bolero, among others.

Los Surik used to rehearse at the home of José Luis Borrel, across from the old La Gran Señora store (at the intersection of Lucas Ortiz and Julián Santana streets). Later, they moved their instruments to Benny Revuelta’s house, on Gonzalo de Quesada street, at the corner of Lucas Ortiz.

This orchestra has stood out in the world of music in Cuba for its excellence.
This orchestra has stood out in the world of music in Cuba for its excellence.

Los Surik’s repertoire included, among other pieces, classic Spanish and American pop songs, and instrumentals that Benny would recreate with his saxophone. Pablín (now deceased) was an excellent singer, later a finalist on the TV show Todo el mundo canta. Paco Mesa also shone as a vocalist. Catalá was comfortable on the drums, as was Omarito on the bass. The speakers in the photo were designed by José Luis Borrell, who, in addition to being a musician, was a great electronics enthusiast.

In 1994, the group released an album titled Alma Musical (CD (Magic Music 0003-3)). Some of the songs from this album were number one in Cuba at that time.

Los Surik holds an interesting first in their career: its members ushered in the era of discography in Las Tunas, by recording the first long-play record in the territory in 1985. The album features 12 tracks, most of which were authored by group members, and it was recorded at Siboney studios in Santiago de Cuba. Due to its foundational nature, the album is an invaluable piece for the cultural heritage of Las Tunas.

Group Photo and Member

This photo was taken in the 1980s at the home of actress and promoter Blanquita Becerra (center), during the time when this once very popular and distinguished lady of Cuban lyrical theater resided in Las Tunas.

Among other members of the musical collective pictured are Arturo Gooden, Alberto Bada, Benny Revuelta, Gerardo Leyva, Raúl Cáceres, Héctor Aguilar, and Rafael Diez.

At that time, Los Surik was composed of the following musicians:

  • Julián Galbán Cruz – Bass
  • Fernando E. Quintana – Saxophone
  • Herminio García Rodríguez – Trombone
  • Gastón H. Allen Binhan – Trumpet
  • Rolando Portillo Cedeño – Trumpet
  • Arnaldo García Estrada – Keyboards
  • Eldo A. González Mantilla – Piano
  • Pablo S. Machado Palmero – Congas
  • Edilberto Machado Alba – Timbales
  • Luis Alfonso Guerra Ramírez – Bongos
  • José Eugenio Marín Tejeda – Vocals
  • Virginia Iznaga Cantero – Vocals
  • José Manuel Arnedo Rodríguez – Vocals
  • Francisco G. Mesa Marrero – Vocals

Lost Treasures and Alma Musical

Los Surik - Alma Musical (1994)
Los Surik – Alma Musical (1994)

Almost all the orchestra members were composers of the songs they performed. Sadly, many of these songs were never recorded on any album, so we cannot enjoy the high quality of the tracks they created. Only a lucky few had the chance to enjoy them live in concerts they gave outside of Cuba.

Los Surik – Alma Musical (1994)

Tracks:

  1. Dame Un Traguito (Son)
  2. Estoy Romántica (Ballad son)
  3. Amor De Película (Son montuno)
  4. El Cantante Enamorado (Son)
  5. Lo Que Cae Es Candela (Son)
  6. A Ese Le Llaman Parejero (Son montuno)
  7. La Fuerza Del Amor (Merengue)
  8. Juanita Morey (Merengue)
  9. La Luna Compartir (Ballad son)
  10. Voz Universal (Son)
  11. La Noche Junto A Ti (Bolero)

Musicians:

  • Julián Galbán Cruz (Bass)
  • Fernando E. Quintana (Saxophone)
  • Herminio García Rodríguez (Trombone)
  • Gastón H. Allen Binhan (Trumpet)
  • Rolando Portillo Cedeño (Trumpet)
  • Arnaldo García Estrada (Keyboards)
  • Eldo A. González Mantilla (Piano)
  • Pablo S. Machado Palmero (Congas)
  • Edilberto Machado Alba (Timbales)
  • Luis Alfonso Guerra Ramírez (Bongos)
  • José Eugenio Marín Tejeda (Vocals)
  • Virginia Iznaga Cantero (Vocals)
  • José Manuel Arnedo Rodríguez (Vocals)
  • Francisco G. Mesa Marrero (Vocals)

By:

L’Òstia Latin Jazz

Dj. Augusto Felibertt

EcuRed

Also Read: Septeto Nacional de Ignacio Piñero has played an important role in Cuban music for over seven decades.

Tribute to Alberto Naranjo and his musicians

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

40 years of El Trabuco Venezolano A Deserved Tribute to Alberto Naranjo and his musicians

Teresa Carreno Theater. Caracas, Venezuela August 21 to 25, 2017
Collaboration and Photographs by Lysbeth Weffe

From August 21 to 25, at the Teresa Carreño Theater (TTC), in Caracas, the Tribute to maestro Alberto Naranjo was held for his 57 years of artistic life, and to the group of his creation El Trabuco Venezolano for its 40 years of founding . With a long time of preparation and a lot of love involved, as it said in the hand program and was perceived in the environment, the event had the general production of Franklin Rojas, the Grupo Madera Foundation and the Teresa Carreño Theater Foundation.

Alberto Naranjo and Noel Mijares
Alberto Naranjo and Noel Mijares

More than an orchestra, El Trabuco Venezolano has been an authentic Venezuelan salsa movement born from the initiative of Alberto Naranjo, a veteran drummer and arranger who has walked the trade through the most diverse tendencies and schools of popular music in the Caribbean, always counting with the direct support of the musical producer, Orlando Montiel(I).

It was at a recital conference given by César Miguel Rondón and Domingo “El Flaco” Álvarez at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Caracas, in August 1977, that El TrabucoVenezolano(2) made its public debut.It immediately became the most finished and interesting musical project known to the city of Caracas up to that time. Alberto Naranjo organized it under the concept of a big band with the idea of ​​developing a particular proposal that would differ from its similar ones in the rest of the Caribbean, with a sound that bridges salsa, jazz, funk and Venezuelan.

With seven albums released, two of them live with the group Irakere from Cuba, and having passed more than a hundred performers through its ranks, El Trabuco, more than a group in conventional terms, has been a download and meeting space for local musicians, as well as the best of schools for many of them.

Alberto Naranjo
Alberto Naranjo

He also counts among his achievements, having motivated the Caracas salsa environment of the moment, imposing a high standard that influenced the formation of the best salsa orchestras, apart from creating, in short, his own Caracas sound brand(3).

The activities of this large tribute began on Monday 21 with the talks in the Protocol Plate of the TTC: “History in Venezuelan salsa” with Franklin Rojas and “Hera & Pablo, the Venezuelan salsa dance”; on Tuesday 22, Cheo Guevara’s discussion on “Alberto Naranjo, and his historical mark” and the forum “The production of salsa content in alternative radio” moderated by Zulay Millán. They continued like this throughout the week.

Several workshops were held, among them, “Percussion Tuning” dictated by Nicolás Monterola and “Latin Percussion” by Professor Frank Márquez. Also in the lobby on the ground floor of the TTC, the following concerts were presented: Caracas Legends Ensemble, with its tribute to Eddie Palmieri, the Salsarría Orchestra, Grupo Madera, Mundito and his Orchestra La Celestial, The Big Band of San Agustín and the Orquesta Carlin.

Grupo Madera
Grupo Madera

The highlight of this week of well-deserved recognition was the Trabuco Venezolano concerts at the Ríos Reyna venue on August 24 and 25, presented by Zulay Millán and José Gregorio Acero.

Although with a room not completely full and recalling other times of splendor of a TTC that received the stars of the show from all over the world, we enjoyed two nights of memorable, tasty, lively and educational concerts, with a stage full of great musicians. and a full Alberto Naranjo, going through it and playing around more than directing the members of the big band. With the best of the best-known musicians and singers of Venezuela in the genre, with some of the original members of this group and new talents, we were able to delight ourselves in an exquisite waste of salsa, jazz and funk, lasting three hours each day.

“The teacher was narrating the stories of the different themes that they interpreted…”

Alberto Naranjo at the Teresa Careño with his orchestra "Trabuco Venezolano"
Alberto Naranjo at the Teresa Careño with his orchestra “Trabuco Venezolano”

The member musicians of El Trabuco Venezolano 2017, present at the concerts on August 24 and 25, were: Alberto Lazo (piano), José “Mortadelo” Soto (bass), William Vásquez (three), William Mora (tumbadoras), Frank Márquez (timbale), Franklin Rojas (bongo), Hugo Olivero (sax), Eduardo “Mondy” Dávila (sax), Manuel Barrios (sax), Irvin Blanco (sax), Edwin Ruiz (sax), Adrián Suárez (trombone), Eliel Rivero (trombone), Pedro Carrero (trombone), Franklin Moreno (trombone), Oscar Mendoza (trombone), Vicente Freijeiro (trumpet), Rafael Rey (trumpet), Gustavo Aranguren (trumpet), José “Cheo” Rodríguez (trumpet) , Noel Mijares (trumpet), Edgar “Dolor” Quijada (voice), Troy Purroy (voice), José Luis Peña (voice), Yeci Ramos (voice), Arturo Guaramato (voice).

The teacher was narrating the stories of the different songs they performed, referring to the fact that his musicians were chosen by meritocracy, sharing with the audience and ordering someone to shut up on more than one occasion, in a humorous tone, yes. He reminded us that they are not only dedicated to salsa and in some pieces where they did not sing, he emphasized that they were instrumental and that they could help us soar our imagination and dream.

Yeci Ramos, Juan Jose Conde, Edgar "Dolor" Quijada, Jose Luis Peña, Troy Purroy
Yeci Ramos, Juan Jose Conde, Edgar “Dolor” Quijada, Jose Luis Peña, Troy Purroy

The great experience of this meeting of musicians that has been El Trabuco Venezolano was reflected in a repertoire of 13 songs, including originals, emblematic and premieres, which they gave us.

They began with the songs “Yo Soy La Rumba” (Marcelino Guerra) with the solo voice of Troy Purroy and a timpani solo by Frank Márquez, “Bravo Rumbero” (José “Cheo” Navarro) sung by Edgar “Dolor” Quijada, “ La Negra Tomasa” (Guillermo Rodríguez Fiffe) in the voice of Arturo Guaramato, “Tres Días”, an original theme by Chucho Valdés and ceded to El Trabuco, sung by José Luís Peña, with the participation of the dancers Hera and Pablo. At this point, the entire audience had warmed up, and there was even a couple from the public who danced in the hall from the beginning of the concert until the end, both days.

The night continued with the emblematic “Almendra” (Alberto Barroso). This theme arranged by Naranjo for Arturo Sandoval 46 years ago, featured the masterful participation of Noel Mijares -Venezuela Big Band Jazz, Desorden Público- on trumpet, interacting with great complicity with the maestro. It followed with a premiere, “Alna’s Mambo” an instrumental composition, subliminal as Naranjo described it.

Yeci Ramos, Juan Jose Conde, Edgar "Dolor" Quijada, Jose Luis Peña, Troy Purroy - Photo
Yeci Ramos, Juan Jose Conde, Edgar “Dolor” Quijada, Jose Luis Peña, Troy Purroy – Photo

The concert continued with “Gongo Blues” (Eduardo Cabrera), a theme in which the extraordinary solos of Eliel Rivero on the trombone, Gustavo Aranguren on the trumpet, Manuel Barrios on the saxophone and Alberto Naranjo pleased us playing the kettledrum. . He followed up with the instrumental “El Ojo del Huracán,” a Latin jazz combo, which was written in the early ’70s and still sounds weird, Maestro Naranjo said.

Then with the song “Oye como va” (Tito Puente) the rumba was lit up, the lights in the room were turned on and hardly anyone could keep up without stopping and dancing. In the song “El Hijo del Sonero” (Ricardo Quintero) Yeci Ramos sang, in “El Cumaco de San Juan” (Francisco Delfin Pacheco), Arturo Guaramato and in “Compañeros” (Ricardo Quintero), Juan José Conde, these three songs they were accompanied by the drums of Grupo Madera.

“Imágenes Latinas” (Bernardo Palombo – Andy González), was the theme chosen as the finale, a piece that has become a cult object among music lovers, the salsa audience and lovers of Latin jazz, according to the words of connoisseur José Orellán .

It featured the extraordinary participation of Adrián Suárez in the trombone and bodyguard solo, and the interpretation of the son player Edgar “Dolor” Quijada.

Alberto Naranjo in his tribute
Alberto Naranjo in his tribute

At the concert on Friday 25, El Trabuco Venezolano and its creator were declared CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE NATION by the Institute of Cultural Heritage (IPC) and the Ministry of People’s Power of Culture of Venezuela.

With the hope that this experience can be repeated in other theaters in the country and the world, we congratulate the organizers, Alberto Naranjo and the musicians of El Trabuco Venezolano for having received such well-deserved recognition as Cultural Heritage of the Nation.

Notes: (1) and (2) The salsa book. Chronicle of urban Caribbean music. Cesar Miguel Rondon. Ediciones B Venezuela SA., 2007. (3) Taken from the Caracas Exhibition. Ciudad del Son, montage and texts by Alejandro Calzadilla, at the La Estancia Cultural Center, belonging to the company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA La Estancia), September 2017.

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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.