Search Results for: Latin Music

Ismaray Chacón Tejeda

Latin America / Cuba

Ismaray Chacón Tejeda, a cuban who carries the betrayal of her land and her family throughout the world

When it comes to dances, rhythms and sounds, it is impossible not to take as a reference the island with the most impact in the world of dance in the entire world, the beautiful island of Cuba, how many countries are not nourished by all the culture that this pearl of the Caribbean It allows us to see with its cultural roots, it seems that on the day of creation they left in Cuba all the musical dance creativity that they had.

Today we will be talking with one of the distinguished artists of the Cuban cultural movement in Europe, a member of a family legacy in Cuba, the so-called aspirins, we are talking about Ismaray Chacón Tejeda, a Piscean eradicated in Switzerland.

Welcome and always grateful for opening the doors of your life to make it known to our readers and your followers, we are going to get to know you a little.

Thank you for this great opportunity sir.

Ismaray let’s start by talking about the roots of your country. Do you live for folklore or do you enjoy it?

I enjoy it and at the same time I live it, it satisfies me is transmitting it and having the greatest result that a teacher can have, seeing the progress of the students, knowing that they deepen and feel identified with my culture, with my dance.

What does folklore mean in your life?

My identity as Cuban. It is life, feeling, experience… Everything!!

How was the idea of being part of the dance world born in you?

I was born and raised in that environment for my family. My grandfather rehearsed every week at home with his group and I didn’t miss a concert. I am the result of that environment.

How long study and career?

Professionally I started at the age of 17, after I left the School of Art Instructors (EIA), which I could not finish, I auditioned in a group called Obini Bata (Bata Woman). This group and my family were my true school. Look, we rehearsed twice a week all day where we learned the different taps, songs and dances plus the rehearsal of the group for the weekly function, the other days I practiced with my family, or I attended a drum, güiro or cajon (religious festivals) . All that mix was very important to me as it gave me the foundation for my career.

How many countries have you traveled making known the culture of your Island?

Uff!… (Between laughter and emotion) I have really been very lucky to visit many and repeatedly. Singapore, Russia, Morocco, Israel, France, Italy, Spain, England, Sweden, Finland, Peru, Denmark, Poland, Serbia, Germany, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Ukraine, Switzerland, among others. I would like to go to the brother countries of Latin America and be able to exchange cultures. I went to Mexico but only on vacation.

What countries have you not visited that you would like to know?

Colombia, Argentina, USA, Africa (Nigeria, Congo), Dubai, China, Japan, India, Venezuela and other Latin countries, hopefully I can. Hey, let the promoters know (between laughs)

The Casino (Cuban Salsa), the rumba or the Afro-Cuban?

What comes to mind when you hear the name Luis Chacón Mendive?

Phew!… my map, my friend, the example to follow, my teacher, my idol, my little green old man, my adoration.

You have a traditional surname and a lot of renown in Cuba. At some point in your training was it a requirement or a motivation?

Yes, it was both. A motivation because it is a great pride for me to belong to this important family and to have that experience, which made me lean towards this side of dance, but at the same time, a challenge because I grew up with my grandfather and my father and every time I had to work, the other artists always said…

that’s Aspirin’s granddaughter… Koky’s daughter… There were those who trusted that I would do a good job, but there were also those who wanted to see if I was up to the job. that last name. Sometimes even though I don’t like to be the center of attention, I had to show it and be a fool as we say in Cuba.

congress and competition with Ismaray Chacón Tejeda

Why Aspirin?

Many say that when they see us play, dance or sing, their headaches go away hahahaha. In truth, it was from the great Aspirin who worked at that time and the boss always had pain in his teeth and sent him to the pharmacy to buy Aspirin. As it was very often, from there he got the nickname.

Do your dream and your reality go hand in hand? Did you dream of having another profession?

Today I can say yes. Being an artist was one of my dreams of the many I have. I remember when I was a child I wanted to be a flight attendant to travel the world and learn about other cultures, today I am lucky to travel carrying my culture and exchanging, I managed to be a flight attendant but in my own style. I’m very lucky.

What has the dance world given you and what has it taken from you?

It has not taken anything away from me, on the contrary, in addition to meeting so many beautiful people, it has given me life, emotions, sacrifices that today help me to value things more, it keeps me healthy and when I execute it, from that moment on all my problems they leave…it’s my therapy.

If you were born again, would you go back to dancing? Why?

Yes, a thousand times. Because art in general is a way of expressing what we feel, in the case of dance, we express it and transmit it with our body….it is life!

Photo of Ismaray Chacón Tejeda in a social

How is Cuban folklore currently spread in the world? Are lines of the original traditions maintained?

Well… this topic is very open and with different points of view, and the word Folklore says it all… In Cuba we have the Afro-Cuban and the Cuban, my point of view to summarize it in a few words, is an oral culture that was always transmitted through generations and family traditions, there is no book like in classical music where everything is written, rather what was seen that older people were doing was repeated, of course everything evolves and transforms over time of the generations even what is sung, the touches or their dances.

But in a certain way patterns are created to follow. I think that in order to spread it and teach it, it is important to know the basics and from there I totally agree with the evolutions, mixtures and others. We just have to be careful not to mistreat it.

What new projects could you share with us?

I currently live in Switzerland although I feel that I must start a new stage of my life in another European country. I also hope one day to be able to return to my country, be with my family and from there continue in the art that is what I love. For now I continue teaching and transmitting my culture throughout the world, already happily married I would like to have the blessing of one day having my family. Together with my husband Serguei Yera Madera, singer of La Reve, we want to continue developing our careers. We keep making history 😉

Grateful for letting us enter a very small corner of your life, we see that you are a true lover of your culture, we hope to continue seeing you succeed in the whole world. For our readers, you already know that this beautiful artist can be followed on her social networks.

Photo of Ismaray Chacón Tejeda and his family

Los Van Van in Europe

Europe

Los Van Van in Europe 2018

For decades, Los Van Van has been a world-class salsa orchestra that no one can keep silent about. The sixteen-strong formation continues to connect with this time through irresistible Cuban rhythms and Caribbean passion.

The band has been one of the first Cuban groups to use synthesizers and drum machines and has even created a completely new style: a superswing mix of a traditional charanga set-up (flute and violin combination), wind instruments and modern electronics, called ‘Songo’ by the Cubans.

In addition to Changui and Son Montuno, two traditional Cuban styles, Los Van uses different kinds of music such as rock, funk, disco and hip hop. Today Los Van Van consists of a selection of the best musicians of the first generation and new Cuban talents and vocalists. , led by Samuel Formell, son of the legendary founder of the band, Juan Formell.

In November you can enjoy to seventeen unmissable concerts for lovers of latin and salsa all around Europe!

Luis Perdomo

North America / USA / Nueva York

Luis Perdomo, one of the most eager jazz pianists in New York.

Luis Perdomo is one of the most active jazz pianists in New York. Originally from Venezuela, she began playing the piano at age 10, and by age 12 she was playing professionally on radio and television, as well as in concerts and clubs.

Luis later moved to the US to attend the Manhattan School of Music on a scholarship, graduating in 1997 and later earning a master’s degree from Queens College, where he was a student of the great pianist Sir Roland Hanna.

Shortly after moving to New York, he quickly established himself as an in-demand pianist amassing an impressive resume.

Some of the artists Luis has recorded and/or performed include Ravi Coltrane, David Sanchez, Tom Harrell, John Patitucci, Ray Barretto, Brian Lynch, Miguel Zenon, Dave Douglas, David Weiss and The Cookers, David Gilmore, Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye, Henry Threadgill, and Steve Turre, among others; a roster that is as remarkable for its high standard as it is for its diversity.

Luis is also recognized as a member of several bands, especially the groups led by Ravi Coltrane, with whom he spent 10 years and Miguel Zenón, with whom he has had a collaboration that is currently in its 18th year.

Luis has also made a mark as a performer. Composer and arranger on recordings by Ray Barretto, Ignacio Berroa, John Benitez and Ralph Irizarry.

He has also been commissioned as a composer by the Jazz Gallery, The Afro Bop Alliance and Arturo O’Farrill’s Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra. He can be heard most recently on Ravi Coltrane’s Grammy-nominated “Spirit Fiction” and Miguel Zenón’s “Típico.”

In 2002 he won the 2nd Grand Prize at the “3rd Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition” in Paris, among a group of 66 international pianists. He can be heard most recently on Ravi Coltrane’s Grammy-nominated “Spirit Fiction” and Miguel Zenón’s “Típico.” In 2002 he won the 2nd Grand Prize at the “3rd Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition” in Paris, among a group of 66 international pianists. He can be heard most recently on Ravi Coltrane’s Grammy-nominated “Spirit Fiction” and Miguel Zenón’s “Típico.” In 2002 he won the 2nd Grand Prize at the “3rd Martial Solal Jazz Piano Competition” in Paris, among a group of 66 international pianists.

As a sideman, Luis has performed at most major music festivals and venues in over 50 countries, and as a frontman, he has toured Europe, Japan, South America, and the United States.

Luis has also been very active around the world in recent years as a teacher, soloist and as the leader of his own trio: The Controlling Ear Unit and various other projects, and has released nine highly praised recordings as a leader: “Focus Point”. (2005), “Awareness” (2006), and the highly acclaimed “Universal Mind” with Drew Gress and Jack Dejohnette (2012) for Ravi Coltrane’s RKM Music label. “Pathways” in 2008, the “Childhood” project in 2012 and “Links” in 2013 were recorded for Criss Cross Jazz.

His “Twenty – Two” project, featuring “Controlling Ear Unit”, was released in 2015 on the Hot Tone Music label. This high-octane CD teams Luis with bassist/vocalist Mimi Jones and drummer Rudy Royston. The two most recent CD’s: ” Montage “; Luis’s first piano outing and “Spirits and Warriors”; a quintet release for the Criss Cross Jazz label featuring drummer legend Billy Hart, was released in May 2016. Luis Perdomo has also participated in over 200 recordings as a sideman.

As an educator, Luis has taught master classes at conservatories in Amsterdam and Paris, Princeton University, Hochschule Fur Musik und Theater (Munich, Germany), Berklee (Valencia, Spain), IUDEM (Caracas, Venezuela), Esmuva (Madrid, Spain) ; and the School of Jazz in Berkeley, California, among others.

He has taught jazz summer camps, including “Jazz in July” at the University of Massachusetts, Langnau Jazz Nights in Switzerland; The Banff International Workshop and the University of Manitoba in Canada, Badajoz Jazz Worshop in Spain; EAFIT University in Medellin; Tonica Jazz Festival in Guadalajara, Mexico and Guimaraes Jazz Workshops in Portugal, among others.

In 2016, Mr. Perdomo served as artistic director of the Langnau Jazz Workshops in Switzerland. Luis has also taught at the New School for Social Research, and is currently an adjunct professor of piano at Queens College in New York City.

For more information, visit www.luisperdomojazz.com.

Charlie Aponte presents his best salsa album

North America / USA / Las Vegas

Charlie Aponte presents his best Salsa album. Partying with his first Latin Grammy 2018 nomination

Puerto Rican salsero Charlie Aponte has plenty of reasons to celebrate his first Latin GRAMMY nomination, with his second production

“Pa’ Mi Gente” which was recognized in the category of “Best Salsa Album” for the nineteenth installment of these prestigious awards that will be delivered on Thursday, November 15 in Las Vegas.

“Very grateful to the Recording Academy, especially its members, for this important support that is definitely one more step to continue reaping success” said the artist who is reaching his five years as a solo artist.

“Pa’ Mi Gente” achieved an important debut, reaching the top of the “record pools” lists, with its songs, “La Salsa se Hizo Pa’ Bailar” and “No se le Presta el Alma”, which have been the most listened to, likewise; “Nobody takes away what you dance”, which was the first promotional single and which contains a video on his official YouTube channel, by this artist who works independently with the Criollisimo Inc. label.

This album is made up of 11 songs, among them one of his own authorship under the guidance of the musical director on the album and all his presentations, maestro Sammy García, who together recorded this production in the MÁS Audio studio of the sound engineer and producer Angelo Torres.

Charlie Aponte, who will soon release his new music video “Besos de Azúcar”, continues with his artistic commitments, including New York, Medellín and various presentations in his native Puerto Rico, and to end the year he will be with the public of Colombia, in the “Heroic City” Cartagena.

Biography Charlie Aponte:

Charlie Aponte, one of the most beloved voices remembered by thousands of salseros around the world, returns to the stage as a soloist in 2015 after 41 years of belonging to the salsa university, “El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico” Now he’s back as a solo artist.

Born in Caguas, PR on February 2, 1951. It was in 1973 when, after the departure of Pellín Rodríguez, he joined the “Mulatos del Sabor”. Since then there have been many successes that have been proclaimed as successes through Charlie’s voice. He has contributed as a vocalist and displayed his capacity as a sonero in hits such as “Brujería”, “Amor Brutal”, “La Loma del Tamarindo”, “Compañera Mía”, “No hay cama pa’ tan tan Gente”, “Hojas Blancas”, “ Rice with Beans”. Among many others.

In 2014, together with the multi-award winning producer, Maestro Sergio George (Top Stop Music), he presented his new musical proposal “Una Nueva Historia”. This new proposal has the best and most recognized composers and arrangers. Presenting the song “Para Festejar” as his new single in promotion, and grateful for the public’s reception of his musical production, which was on the Billboard charts for 10 consecutive weeks, which catalogs it as an excellent piece of music.

He debuts as executive producer of his new proposal “Pa’ Mi Gente”, a production by the best musicians, arrangers, composers, available in all major stores and digital platforms. In this new project he has a bolero composed by the artist, among other surprises for the public that follows him.

Accustomed to leaving his soul in each of his performances, he assures that with this album he intends that his followers listen to him, dance and continue to appreciate the quality with which his music is made.

The King of Bass Mr. Bobby Valentin

North America / USA / Nueva York

One step away from the Latin Grammy. The King of Bass Mr. Bobby Valentin

The Latin Grammy nomination of the experienced Bobby Valentin in the category of Latin jazz with the production “Mind of a Master” is another recognition of honor for his half-century musical career as an arranger and conductor.

“Mind of a Master” is the production with which Bobby Valentín enters the competition on the nineteenth day of the Latin Grammy. (Archive National Foundation for Popular Culture). Bobby, nominated last year in the category of salsa with “My rhythm is good”, is one of the five contenders for the Latin Grammy in the “Best Latin Jazz Album” section.

The other finalists are also Puerto Rican Néstor Torres (“Jazz Flute Traditions”), Adrian Laies (“The house of a jazz pianist”), Dafnis Prieto (“Back To The Sunset”) and Hermeto Pascoal (“Universal Nature”). . In a conversation with this medium, Bobby said that he will immediately capitalize on the nomination to promote the album at international festivals.

“We have sent to several festivals in the United States a report of what the album is and my career. We are waiting for answers. Right now I have a presentation at the Interamericana on Wednesday, October 17, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Music Department and there is a person interested in going to Costa Rica. It’s slow, but I have a lot of faith that little things will continue to appear. Latin jazz is another audience, although I know that many people who like salsa like it”.

The King of the Bass added that he feels as if he has won the precious golden phonograph. “The nomination of what is a salsa album is another style. This is another corner. What I’m saying is that after one is competing, even if you don’t win, the competition is good, as is being nominated among so many productions. For me the competition in Latin jazz is stronger than in salsa”. Bobby presents “Mind Of A Master” alongside The Latin Jazzists, who are mostly the musicians from his salsa orchestra, like Angie Machado and Eliud Cintrón. Bobby isn’t worried about purists arguing that they’re not jazz soloists.

“The musicians are happy. It is a genre that they like. Here they have been more concerned with projecting their styles and expressions”, Bobby reacts. A salsa musician can play jazz. This is how history supports it. Mongo, Puente, Machito, Mario Bauzá, Mario Rivera, Eddie Palmieri, Hilton Ruiz and Jerry González, among others, began in mambo and Afro-Caribbean dance music, prior to their foray into jazz.

“Like Ray Barretto, who was also linked to jazz. Finally, we all look for that corner. The same Néstor Torres, who started with Batacumbele. After one has done so many things in the tropical genre, one seeks satisfaction as a musician by looking for another corner”.

Jazz, however, is not new to Bobby Valentín. “Latín Gravy”, “Codazos”, “Shinny Stockins” and “Maiden Voyage” are several of the works recorded on his salsa albums. “It always caught my attention. When I was in New York, Latin jazz was mambo jazz. Later the name changed, but before it was done for the dancer, although there were solos. It’s no longer for the dancer. Now people sit down to listen to him. It was a good change.”

Bobby has not decided if he will travel to Las Vegas to be present at the awards ceremony, to be held in November. “I still don’t think so. It’s not because I’m going to win or not. To be competing even if I don’t win is reason for joy. I feel very happy. I have no plans yet”.

Next Wednesday the 17th he will perform with The Latin Jazzists at the INTER Metro Jazz Festival. That night he will perform the “Mind Of A Master” sequence. “I feel very happy. This record is like a baby to me. Although we have played tropical music, this is a new baby and that it is nominated for a Latin Grammy makes me feel very happy”.