Search Results for: Latin Jazz

Anacaona Orchestra

Latin America / Cuba / Havana

Anacaona Orchestra. Women of Cuba Since 1932

Genesis Founded in 1932

Anacaona Orchestra founded on February 19, 1932 by Concepción Castro Zaldarriaga and her sisters, being then the first female sextet of Son Cubano and in 1934 expanded to the Jazz Band and Charanga Típica format, projecting itself to the world from the famous ¨Aires Libres of the Saratoga Hotel. ¨ in the Havana Prado.

Between the 1940s and 1960s, these talented women toured throughout North to South America, the Caribbean and France.

In Mexico, one of the countries most visited by the orchestra at this stage, its images and sounds were recorded in some film of Mexican Cinema, such as: ¨the night is ours¨, ¨I do not deny my past¨ and ¨Women of theater¨ in which they alternated with film and music artists from that country. Also at that same time they recorded with the RCA Víctor label.

The Aguirres

The sisters Giorgia and Dora Aguirre, with a solid musical background, specializing in Double Bass and Saxophone, recently graduated from the ¨Amadeo Roldan¨ Music Conservatory, joined the Anacaona Orchestra with its original founders in 1983, under the direction Alicia Castro, with whom they learned the most genuine genres of Cuban popular music, the rigor and discipline in this profession.

3rd Generation

After the retirement of the Castro sisters in December 1987, she assumed the direction of the Georgia Aguirre Orchestra, who, together with her sister and other young women who had also graduated from music schools, continued the work begun by the founders, consolidating a style that combines tradition with modernity, to preserve and enhance the history of Anacaona.

Tours

Internationally, they have traveled to more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, America and the Caribbean, performing at important festivals and multiple stages, among which the most outstanding are:

The tour of 34 countries in the People’s Republic of China; his participation in the play ¨El Burgués Tropical¨ under the direction of Gerome Sabarì, inspired by Moliere’s classic, El Bourgeois Gentleman”; the tour made through some cities in the United States in which they also had a very emotional meeting with Graciela Pérez, singer and founder of Anacaona and the show “Sabor de la Habana” that opened the season of Cuban shows at the Cabaret Del Gran Casino Monte Carlo of the Principality of Monaco,

In addition to other important jazz and summer festivals in Spain, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, Canada, Jamaica, Aruba, Curacao, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Peru, Honduras, Venezuela and Mexico, among others.

Exclusive with tres player Iván Camblor from the group Pellejo Seco

Cuban musicians have always found the way to stand out in the entertainment world thanks to their talent and commitment and one of those examples is Ivan Camblor, tres player and vocalist with whom we have had the privilege to talk about his career and what was achieved with the group led by him right now, which is Pellejo Seco.

During the conversation, the artist elaborated on a few topics we found relevant to discuss and we were pleased to hear some of the most important data of one of the most important Cuban son groups in the Bay Area today.

Ivan playing the tres — Cuban musician Iván Camblor playing the Cuban tres live

Iván Camblor’s beginnings in music

As is the case of many other artists of his kind, Ivan showed a very early interest in music, specifically since he was at school in his hometown, Havana, Cuba. He defines himself as a self-taught composer who began his musical learning on the street, while he attended classes like any child his age.

From a very young age, many veteran musicians saw in him the enormous potential he had for music, so they began teaching him all they knew, leading him to the path of Cuban son and traditional Cuban music. Today, these genres is still his north after so many decades.

The Felix Varela School of Music

When he was old enough, Iván attended the Félix Varela School of Music, where he studied music appreciation theory, but unfortunately the island’s economic situation affected that part of his learning. Over time, the conditions of the institute started to worsen, making many teachers resign and leave students without chances to continue their studies, including Ivan, who could not see the classes he wanted because of the lack of staff.

Being unable to study what he wanted, Ivan decided to continue learning on his own with the musical groups he had contact with and that is how it continued until today.

His singing, composition and ability to play the Cuban tres came with the experience he acquired on the street and with friends who knew more about music than he did. He refers to guitarist and tres player Octavio Sánchez ”Cotán” and El Niño Rivera as his greatest teachers and influences.

With the experience gained, he had the opportunity to go through all the Cuban music companies, since there were not many tres players at that time and tres teaching was very new.

Ivan with Chucho Valdez — Pellejo Seco vocalist Sulkary Valverde, Cuban pianist Chucho Valdez, and Iván Camblor

Music composed by Iván for films

Just as Iván was in several groups, he also had the opportunity to compose original music for films and such was the case of the film ”Hacerse El Sueco” directed by his great friend Edesio Alejandro, who contacted him to support him in the musical part of the production.

It is then when he proposed him to write four or five original tracks to be used for the film, but Ivan did not mind getting credit, but helping his great friend with his project, so all the material is under his label Orula Music.

However, he is grateful for the experience and the opportunity to help a good friend who needed his talent at that moment.

Ivan’s coming to the United States

Ivan remembers his coming to the United States as one of the most difficult things he had to do, since it is not easy to leave his roots and everything he knows to seek a different kind of future in other lands.

At first, Ivan was not at all convinced of this decision, but his then partner and mother of his only son made him see that it was the best for them to leave Cuba and go to the United States to try their luck, to which the artist finally agreed.

For many years, the tres player thought the worst of his host country because of the ideas the he grew up with in Cuba, but upon arrival, he found that the reality was very different from the propaganda he was bombarded with in his childhood and youth.

Once he was there, he started working on the area of music that he liked most since he was in Cuba, composition. It was then that the idea of forming his own musical group started going round his head.

Iván creó el Pellejo Seco — Iván Camblor conceived Pellejo Seco as a Cuban son and traditional Cuban music group

How the group Pellejo Seco was created

Ivan conceived Pellejo Seco as a project in which he would pay homage to the Cuban community, so he tried to find the best musicians for the task. One of them was Cuban trumpeter Marcos Diaz, Puerto Rican Hector Lugo, trumpeter Mario Silva, Liban Montoya, Mexican singer Rogelio Maya and singer German Donatien. This is the original group with which the artist started his band, but others have already joined other orchestras or have started something on their own.

That was more than 20 years ago and, today, Pellejo Seco has managed to consolidate itself as one of the main Cuban music groups in the Bay Area. Now, it is the most required traditional Cuban music sextet in the area.

As for the name of the band, Ivan chose the name ”Pellejo Seco” as a tribute to the Cuban peasants whose skin is hard and dry as leather due to the sun and the working conditions that they are exposed to.

Rocío Hernández is the Announcer and General Producer of “La Metrópolis”, an entertainment radio program broadcast every Thursday in Caracas

Rocio Del Valle Hernandez Diaz, better known as Rocio Hernandez, Venezuelan born in the current state of La Guaira, in its capital La Guaira where all the people from Guaira or Vargas were born, at that time it was Vargas, until its current change of name of the entity.

I was born on July 20, 1986, here in my beautiful country Venezuela, I come from a working class family with strong Spanish ancestry and a little bit of Venezuelan indigenous race, which I am very proud of my roots, all Venezuelans have a mixture of European, indigenous and African, we carry it in our blood.

Rocío Hernández is the announcer and general producer of "La Metrópolis", an entertainment program broadcast every Thursday in Caracas — Rocío Hernández is the announcer and general producer of “La Metrópolis”, an entertainment program broadcast every Thursday in Caracas

I am 37 years old and I am the mother of a beautiful, intelligent and magical 10 year old girl, who came into my life in 2014.

The eldest of 3 sisters, all of whom are professionals in this country, and Aunt of 1 niece and 1 nephew.

My family is a fundamental support for the development of my entire career, which I will now tell you, thanks to them my parents and sisters always move forward with work, honesty, respect, responsibility and education, values instilled in our home always.

Current resident in the state of La Guaira, specifically in the Carayaca Parish.

Administrator in Customs and International Trade graduated from the Universidad Simon Bolivar USB and Universidad Marítima del Caribe UMC, professionally my main base as a career.

It has been almost 20 years of career in this area of administration and international trade. I am a University Teacher specifically in the area of English Language in its teaching as a foreign language for 2 universities in this country currently I have worked for other institutions teaching Arancel de Aduanas, economic integration, foreign trade , also advertising and marketing, budgeting, marketing for careers such as graphic design, interior design and advertising and marketing ,additionally I got certified in Radio Voiceover in 2018 I started those studies from 2017 to 2018 in the Latin American Institute of voiceover in the Chacao municipality in the city of Caracas.

This study I did in parallel to my work in the administrative area of finance during that time, at that time. Which I started and finished satisfactorily.

The radio broadcasting certification gave us, radio production, radio technical equipment management, diction, public speaking, brand positioning and networking for that time, a very complete course, which allowed us to develop all our skills and abilities to speak into a radio microphone and the general public, this certification required us to design a real radio program, with 1 month test airing with real production, real guests, real recording and airing in a real way, on the web platform (www.radiosinprecedentes.com. ve) of the institute once a week for 1 month, at that time with my study group we designed this format The Metropolis with the help of the teacher of the subject of production is how this group of 5 people 4 women and 1 man designed the format of the program “The Metropolis”, which helped us to pass the subject, practice and experience a radio program which remained as a sketch there, to use in the future if we wanted so, at present each one went different ways inside and outside the country, and have developed different types of programs in the area where they work or simply do not practice radio broadcasting.

In my case I always dreamed of having my own radio space after getting certified because for a natural and authentic reason, from the bottom of my heart I wanted to take the course to get certified and practice radio broadcasting, even if it was for 15 minutes something short or long.

But it was not until the year 2023 that opened the door to have my radio space, after knocking on about 2 to 3 doors, through a lifelong friend who knew I was looking for the opportunity, I was offered this opportunity by the board of IUS radio an innovative radio, and offered me the schedule accepting the proposal and these coincidences and without chronicities of life and destiny, has allowed me to develop The Metropolis every week on Thursdays from 11am to 12pm. Radio space which I am going to comment below:

La Metrópolis an entertainment program transmitted every Thursday from 11am to 12pm by the platform or website www.iusradio.com.ve, in which I am the announcer and main producer of the space, this radio space is a place where we announce and recommend the best places to enjoy and visit in Greater Caracas hence its name La Metrópolis we inform about what is there, what is happening, what is happening, what is new in the most important area of our country, La Guaira, Caracas and Miranda.

This includes all the human beings that live here and their daily activities of importance and impact, human, social, musical, productive, scientific, educational, artistic, cultural, business, commercial, among others, everything that makes life here.

That is why we started in this first year with 3 original sections that I am going to talk about:

Section 1 La Tienda: Varied national and international news. Guide of places to visit and activities in the great caraca.

Section 2 El Café: Space for interviewing our guests (people who contact us or contact me or the production of the station).

Section 3 El Coctel: Space for interaction with our public, contests, gifts, with our fans, collaborators and society.

And that contact with whatsapp networks, Facebook, Instagram, X, fixed or cell phone.

Already after this year, on our own initiative and together with the production of ius radio, an innovative radio station, La Metrópolis has released 2 new sections of our own creation, which I will name below:

Section 4. Cinema City: Space of anecdotes, historical and current curiosities of the 7th art, Cinema.

Section 5 La Pasarela: Space for current trends in national and international fashion.

These sections have these original names to associate them to the city since they are allusive to the activities that we live in a City.

The musicalization is under my selection and musical taste. The musical cut is Pop and Rock in Spanish and English, Ballads in English and Spanish, Bossa Nova, Jazz, Ryth and blues, Venezuelan music, music of national talent, classics of always, Latin music only Salsa, Merengue and finally Rap and Reggaetón, keeping a close eye on the content of messages and lyrics that are not offensive and out of order for our esteemed, valued and exclusive radio audience of my program and the station. I am and we are careful in that out of respect for our listening audience and the national communication laws.

At this time the Metropolis has an approximate or regular audience of 100 to 200 people estimated, with low and high peaks.

This is how in the section in the coffee everyone’s favorite we always have our guests here we have had the opportunity to have in the booth, interviewing from film directors, actresses, singers, dancers, musicians, educators, doctors, lawyers, artisans, music DJ, motivational Coach, holistic healers, therapists, publicists, musical groups, dance groups, music academies, journalists, writers of books and stories, who make life inside and outside the country, but have a common denominator, they have a dream and make this country a better country to live, they are useful to them, their families and society.

A space to project them, and allow them to express and show what they do and their impact, this is how La Metropolis is ready to support any activity that allows human development in its maximum expression. Trusting that we will reach more public with more frontiers promoting everything positive for people for the coming years of professional work.

Rocio Hernandez is a Broadcaster and General Producer of "La Metropolis". — Rocio Hernandez is a Broadcaster and General Producer of “La Metropolis”.

So after all written about me, which I do in parallel with my work as a mother, daughter, sister, and administrative and teaching professional at present, I want to tell you that the satisfaction is great to achieve all these activities in a professional manner within the radio broadcasting, which is a magical, recreational space within a work of continuous learning, it is more than a dream, It is a hobby, it is a passion, it is a love to do radio, and I feel very proud and happy to do this activity for me and for all the people of the medium and for the public and Venezuelan people who need it so much, thanks to my producer and the entire team of the station and its directors who support us in making quality content for our country, with the greatest and deepest love and respect for this activity. With gratitude always.

Thank you for this opportunity to show and express myself.

Rocío is a Broadcaster and General Producer of "La Metrópolis". — Rocío is a Broadcaster and General Producer of “La Metrópolis”.

Facebook: Rocio Hernandez

Also Read: If you want to listen to Tasty Salsa tune in to Ritmo Sabor y Salsa with Nesmary J. Gómez

Marimba is the name given in Spanish to a very old musical instrument that, over time, has gained visibility and importance in many countries.

The marimba is a musical percussion instrument with a rich history that spans continents and cultures.

Although its exact origin is debated, it is believed that the marimba has its roots in Africa and was developed by different African cultures such as the Bantu and the Marimberos.

The term “marimba” comes from the Bantu “marimba” or “malimba”, meaning “single bar xylophone”.

In America, historical records indicate that diatonic xylophones, precursors of the modern marimba, were introduced in Central America between the XVI and XVII centuries.

The first known marimba in America dates from 1545 in the Santa Lucia hacienda, in the municipality of Jiquipilas, Chiapas, Mexico. In Guatemala, historian Domingo Juarros documented in 1680 the use of marimbas with gourd resonators by Mayan musicians.

Musical Duo of a Guitarist and a Marimba player in Guanacaste in Costa Rica dates back to 1888

Throughout the 17th to 19th centuries, the marimba spread throughout most of the Americas and became a typical element of Mayan and Ladino ensembles.

Today, the marimba is considered a patriotic symbol of Guatemala and Costa Rica, and its music, along with the traditional songs and dances of Colombia’s South Pacific region and Ecuador’s Esmeraldas province, was inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The modern marimba, like the one seen in the image provided, consists of a series of wooden slats of different sizes, arranged from largest to smallest, each with a different sound pitch.

They are struck with mallets to produce musical notes, and each key has its own soundboard.

The development of the modern chromatic marimba was established in Chiapas, Mexico, around 1890.

This instrument has been integrated into a variety of musical genres, from traditional Latin American music to academic concerts, jazz and martial bands.

The marimba remains a vital instrument that celebrates the cultural heritage and musical creativity of the regions where it is loved and played.

Image of a musical duet between a guitarist and a marimba player dated Guanacaste, 1888.

Learning about the materials and components of the marimba, being aware of the playing techniques and learning about the existing varieties helps to broaden cultural knowledge and to discover a wonderful universe of particular sounds.

It is enriching to know, among other things, that a series of woods of multiple sizes arranged from longest to shortest are essential to assemble the keyboard. For the soundboard, on the other hand, it is necessary to work on the tuning so that each wood of this structure is in tune with each key.

As for playing procedures, the four-stick technique and the art of glissando appear as alternatives to keep in mind. Of course, the most advisable thing to do is to attend a marimba workshop in order to master the techniques correctly.

Nor should we forget that, since ancient times, many types of marimbas have been made and used and have contributed their characteristic sounds to multiple musical genres and styles.

Thanks to those who dare to experiment with instruments and musical compositions without being conditioned by prejudices, for example, the folk marimba and the midi marimba can coexist in harmony, to cite two specific cases.

Saurce: Recuperando la historia en Guanacaste

Also Read: Son Cubano is one of the most popular musical styles in Cuba and Kiki Valera is one of its leading exponents

Europe / June 2024

FRANCE	DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
Salsabor Paris 31 rue Chapon 75003 Paris, France +33 1 42 71 61 61	Salseroparis 9 Rue du Petit Pont, 75005 Paris, France +33 6 50 16 74 76	La Peña Saint Germain 3 passage de la Petite Boucherie 75006 Paris, France +33 1 46 33 19 89
Cubana Café 47 rue Vavin 75006 Paris, France +33 1 40 46 80 81	Canela Club Latino Paris 77 Rue du Faubourg du temple 75010 Paris, France +33 6 46 78 28 35	Le Balajo 9 rue de Lappe 75011 Paris, France +33 01 47 00 07 87
La Pachanga Officiel 8, rue vandamme 75014 Paris, France +33 1 40 47 63 69	Pachamama PARIS 46 rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine 75012 Paris, France +33 1 55 78 10 00	Cuba Compagnie Café 48 BD Beaumarchais 75011 Paris, France +33 1 48 06 07 11
	O’Sullivans Backstage By The Mill 92 Boulevard de Clichy 75018 Paris, France +33 1 53 09 08 49
GERMANY	DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
Clärchens Ballhaus Auguststraße 24 10117 Berlin, Germany +49 30 555785440	Havanna Berlin Hauptstr. 30 10827 Berlin-Schöneberg, Germany +49 30 78899655	Soda Club Berlin Schönhauser Allee 36 10435 Berlin, Germany +49 30 44056071
Zapatissimo Dance School Kolonnenstrasse 29 10829 Berlin, Germany +49 176 20470772	Brotfabrik Frankfurt Bachmannstr. 2-4 60488 Frankfurt, Germany +49 69 24790800	Latin Palace Changó Münchener Strasse 57 60329 Frankfurt, Germany +49 69 27220807
	Cascadas Ferdinandstr. 12 20095 Hamburg-Mitte, Germany +49 69 27220807
SPAIN	DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
ACM CitY Carrer Can Pallarès 2, Cerdanyola del Vallès 08290 Barcelona, Spain +34 675 30 26 64	Antilla Barcelona C/ d’Aragó, 141 08015 Barcelona, Spain +34 610 90 05 58	Mojito Club Rosselló, 217 08008 Barcelona, Spain +34 654 20 10 06
Morena Barcelona calle 11 num.29 08860 Castelldefels, Spain +34 691 46 57 72	¡Qué Chimba! Av. del Vallès, 117 08223 Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain	Seven Dance (Dio Club) Carrer del Perill 10 08012 Barcelona, Spain +34 934 51 61 18
Azúcar SalsaDisco Calle de Atocha, 107 28012 Madrid, Spain +34 639 64 29 06	Discoteca El Son C. de la Victoria, 6 28012 Madrid, Spain +34 671 05 67 91	Discoteca Prisma C. de Alcalá, 192 28028 Madrid, Spain +34 638 92 16 98
Sala Olvido C/ Olvido 15 28026 Madrid, Spain +34 619 22 29 19	The Host C/ Ferraz nº 38 28008 Madrid, Spain +34 918 05 36 48	Cuba Live Ramón y cajal número 2 07011 Palma de Mallorca, Spain +34 618 86 78 20
	El Edén Boliviano Carrer Gremi de Tintorers, 49A 07009 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain +34 676 64 68 26
UNITED KINGDOM	DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS
Rosies Birmingham 259-262 Broad St B1 2HF Birmingham, UK +44 121 632 4936	Revolucion de Cuba Leeds 64-68 Call Lane LS1 6DT Leeds, UK +44 113 350 6556	All Stars Salsa Fridays 122 Oakleigh Road North N20 9EZ London, UK +44 7956 941172
Bar Salsa Soho 96 Charing Cross Rd WC2H 0JG London, UK +44 20 7379 3277	Bar Salsa Temple Victoria Embankment, Temple WC2R 2PH London, UK +44 20 7395 3690	Earl’s Court Salsa & Bachata Club St Philips Church, Upper Grand Hall, Earls Court Road W86QH Earl’s Court, UK +44 7831 715368
JUJU’s Bar & Stage Ely’s Yard 15 Hanbury Street E1 6QR London, UK +44 020 7770 6109	The LightHouse Bar & Club 62 Rivington Street EC2A 3AY London, UK +44 20 3325 9745	Wimbledon Salsa & Bachata Club Drake House, 44 ST George Road EC2A 3AY London, UK +44 7831 715368

Promo Aquae Flaviae 2024

JUNE 2024 FESTIVALS by Karina Bernales
BULGARIA		Sunny Bachata Jun 24 / Jul 01 2024 Grand Hotel Pomorie – Medical Spa 5 Prof. Stoyanov St Pomorie, Bulgaria 8200 € 120
CROATIA		Croatian Summer Salsa Festival Jun 10 / 16 2024 Resort Villas Rubin Villas Rubin Rovinj, Croatia 52210 € 185
FRANCE		Kizomba Gala Challenge Jun 06 / 10 2024 The Career 2 bis, Rue du Souvenir Français Saint Herblain, France 44800 € 71,79
		Camargue Bachata Zouk Jun 21 / 23 2024 Hotel Les chambres de la Tour Avenue d’Aigues-mortes Saint-Laurent-d’Aigouze, France 30220 € 85
		Annecy Bachata Lake Festival Jun / Jul 01 2024 Pré du Lac – Ternélia 209 impasse des Champs fleuris Saint-Jorioz, France € 89
		Only Salsa Jun 07 / 09 2024 Hotel Robert Vergnaud Village Hall Rue des Ecoles Rivedoux-Plage, France 17940 € 179
GERMANY		Adicto: Berlin Bachata Festival Jun 21 / 23 2024 Atelier Gardens Oberlandstraße 26-35 Berlin, Germany € 79.00
LITHUANIA		Kaunas Bachata Festival Jun 06 / 09 2024 BLC – Business Leaders Centre K. Donelaicio st. 60 Kaunas, Lithuania 44243 € 120
NETHERLANDS		Kizzvenlo Kizomba Congress Jun 20 / 23 2024 Horster Fabriek Venrayseweg 116, Horst Netherlands 5961 AJ €70.00 + 1.00 fee
PORTUGAL		Estrutura Kizomba Summer Jun 06 / 09 2024 Hotel Casino Chaves Lugar do Extremo – Vale de Anta Chaves, Portugal 5400-001 € 70
		Aquae Flaviae International Congress Jun 14 / 16 2024 Hotel Premium Chaves-Aquae Flaviae Praça Brasil Chaves, Portugal 5400-123 € 75
		Kizombada Jun 07 / 10 2024 Jazzy Dance Studios R. Alm. Barroso 52ª Lisbon, Portugal 1000-013 € 72.50 + € 2.99 booking fee
SPAIN		BLO Dance Festival Jun 07 / 09 2024 Hotel Servigroup Koral Beach Passeig Marítim del Mediterrani, 43 Orpesa Castelló, Spain 12594 € 60
		Latin Dance Summer Edition Jun 07 / 09 2024 Evenia Olympic Resort Semyora de Rossell 35 Lloret de Mar, Spain 17310 € 89
		Urban Bachata Festival Jun 14 / 16 2024 Hotel Occidental Aranjuez Plaza de la Unesco 2 Aranjuez, Spain 28300 € 90
		Splash Kizomba Festival Jun 20 / 23 2024 Hotel Gandia Palace C/ Rioja 41-43 Gandia, Spain 46730 € 45
SWEDEN		Sweden Summer Kiz Jun 06 / 09 2024 Dance Studio Sveavägen 128 Stockholm, Sweden 113 50
UNITED KINGDOM		Ginga Boo UK Kizz Festival Jun 07 / 09 2024 Cornerstones Church 300 Saxon Gate, Milton Keynes United Kingdom,MK9 2ES £ 77