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Search Results for: Latin genres

Goodbye to José Antonio Abreu, the most beloved Master – Part 2

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

José Antonio Abreu. The Venezuelan musical miracle

BY ANA ROSA MASSIEU

The pedagogical plan of El Sistema contemplated, since 1980, approximately, the foundation of exemplary pedagogical structures and models as scenarios for the training and improvement of musicians. As the demand for children entering El Sistema and its nuclei has grown, projects for the construction of new educational centers are on the rise.

José Antonio Abreu - On the European stage
José Antonio Abreu – On the European stage

Among them, the Simón Bolívar Conservatory, the Montalbán Children’s Academic Center, the Center for Social Action for Music, the Academic Center for Luteria and the twelve Latin American Academies for the instruments of Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Horn, Contrabass, Clarinet , Classical Harp, Trumpet, Oboe, Bassoon and Trombone.

http://www.musicabancaribe.com/Publicaciones /Libro_digital/VenezuelaEnElCielo/info/capitulo6 /i/index.php#prev

The Simon Bolivar Conservatory

The Simón Bolívar Conservatory offers training of the highest pedagogical and artistic rank to the ever-increasing number of students, with a very complete curriculum of studies in which orchestral practice accounts for approximately 70%. The title of Performing Musician is awarded, an important endorsement that allows graduates to continue higher studies at universities.

“…the Simón Bolívar Conservatory has emerged as the head and model of a network of conservatories already established in Yaracuy, Carabobo, Aragua, Guárico and Ciudad Bolívar. However, I am excited and pleased with the new challenge we are facing: broadening the musical and artistic horizon of that large contingent of students that El Sistema has and of those who will join in the future.

These are the new contents: the Venezuelan Popular Music Teaching Program, in all its aspects, including that of Afro-Venezuelan roots; the Urban Music Program; the Jazz Program, which is already in progress with our Simón Bolívar Big Band Jazz Symphony and the Latin and Caribbean Music Program, which especially includes the salsa genre.

Cambiando Vidas - flyers
Cambiando Vidas – flyers

This is already underway with the creation of more than 15 pilot nuclei and the formation of a body of teachers specialized in these genres. The idea is that these programs capture and channel the talent of many musicians and students who have greater virtues for these musical currents, always pursuing and achieving the same level of excellence as those who perform symphonic music in our orchestras”.

Valdemar Rodriguez. Taken from the interview with Valdemar Rodríguez, clarinetist, Director of the CSB, creator of the Latin American Clarinet Academy, among other titles and positions, by Chefi Borzhacchini in the digital book Venezuela en el Cielo de Los Escenarios. Caribbean Bank, 2010

Latinocaribe2014-02-03
Latinocaribe2014-02-03

http://www.musicabancaribe.com/Publicacio nes/Libro_digital/VenezuelaEnElCielo/info/c apitulo6/ii/

Diversification of teaching, orchestras and festivals

In the same way that teaching has been diversified, including different musical genres –popular, urban, jazz, Latin Caribbean, salsa– other orchestras have emerged dedicated to developing each of these genres, as well as festivals to promote them at the regional level.

These events, organized by El Sistema, revolve around an artist, musician, composer, instrument, or arise for the meeting between musical talents from various regions, local or international.

Among them are the FIP-Llanos International Percussion Festivals, the Spain Venezuela Festival, the Festival of New Venezuelan Clarinetists, the Chamber Music Festival (in Mérida and Caracas), the International Flute Festival, the International Bassoon Festival, and the International Clarinet Festival. , International Oboe Festival, Young Virtuosos Festival, Youth Festival, Young Directors Festival and Latin American Music Festival, among others.

Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela

The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (OSSBV) was founded by maestro José Antonio Abreu and is currently the apex ensemble of the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela.

Concert directed by Dudamel 40th anniversary Feb 2015
Concert directed by Dudamel 40th anniversary Feb 2015

Under the musical direction of maestro Gustavo Dudamel, its 180 young musicians, whose ages range between 18 and 28 years old, named Ambassadors of Peace by UNESCO, have been trained in the Orchestral Academic Program of the Simón Bolívar Musical Foundation, through the which have received master classes with outstanding world-class teachers and soloists, including teachers from the Berlin Philharmonic, the Sibelius Academy in Finland, the Bach Academy in Stuttgart and the New England Conservatory in Boston.

His performances with internationally renowned directors include Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Baremboim, Krzysztof Penderecki, Essa Pekka-Salonen, and Lorin Maazel, among many others.

Other Orchestras

  • Simón Bolívar Afro-Venezuelan Orchestra
  • Simón Bolívar Youth Baroque Orchestra
  • Youth Orchestra of Caracas
  • Youth and Children’s Orchestra Alma Llanera of Guárico State
  • Simón Bolívar Latin Caribbean Orchestra
  • National Flute Orchestra of Venezuela
  • National Children’s Orchestra of Venezuela
  • Simón Bolívar Symphonic Rock Orchestra
  • Francisco de Miranda Youth Symphony Orchestra
  • Carabobo Youth Symphony Orchestra
  • Prison Symphony Orchestras
  • Teresa Carreño Youth Symphony of Venezuela

Bands

  • Youth Symphonic Band
  • Simon Bolivar Simon Bolivar Big-Band Jazz

Assemblies

  • Assembly 7/4
  • Carabobo Metal Assembly
  • Metal Ensemble of Venezuela

Chamber Groups

  • Simón Bolívar String Quartet
  • Liberators Quartet
  • Teresa Carreño Quartet
  • Yaracuy Quartet

Choirs

Choir of White Hands Simón Bolívar National Youth Choir of Venezuela Network of Prison Orchestras and Choirs

More information at: http://fundamusical.org.ve/agrupaciones/

The system in the world

The philosophy and methodology of El Sistema has had an almost magical ability to inspire artists, educators, and social activists across the globe, as Tricia Tunstall puts it in her book Changing Lives…

Play, sing and fight
Play, sing and fight

“its guiding principles—the orchestra as school of civility and the passage from a vision centered on music to a humanistic vision of social change through music” have been taken as a model to follow and El Sistema has been implemented or adapted in more than 66 countries in which five continents Programs inspired by El Sistema have emerged in:

  • AMERICA: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United States, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Republic Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay.
  • AFRICA: Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda.
  • EUROPE: Germany, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Denmark, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Finland, France, Wales, Greenland, England, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Luzembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania , Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.
  • ASIA: Afghanistan, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore.
  • OCEANIA: Australia, New Zealand. More than 66 countries on five continents.
Venezuela Sembrada de orquestas Coros Cortesía FundaMusical
Venezuela Sembrada de orquestas Coros Cortesía FundaMusical

More information can be found at:

http://www.elsistemausa.org/el-sistemaaround-the-world.htm http://sistemaglobal.org/ http://www.sistemaeurope.org/ http://fundamusical.org.ve/category/elsistema/el-sistema-en-el-mundo

Gustavo Collazos

Latinoamerica / Colombia / Cali

Gustavo Collazos tells us. Its history and its Salsa Caleña

Did you know that in the beautiful city of Cali, Colombia, the rhythm that prevailed both musically and commercially and culturally of all the Latin rhythms that came to the country was Salsa? A musical style from the Caribbean, which over time achieved an evolution, giving rise to Salsa Caleña, a new and different style of composing and dancing Salsa that is characterized by being a very fun, cheerful, fast dance by the dancers who dance it. they dance.

Well this time we have the opportunity to meet Gustavo A. Collazos, founder and director of the Academia Fiebre Latina, who tells us his story as a dancer and lover of Salsa Caleña:

Gustavo Collazos, has been a lover of Salsa since he was 8 years old, from his 14 years he dedicated himself to teaching salsa dance to the children of the sector since it was something that he was passionate about.

Fiebre Latina
Fiebre Latina

With the passage of time, he formed the “Latin Fever” Academy in Colombia, thanks to the support of his brother and partners, including “Carlos Ceballo” director of “Salsa Pura”, a company dedicated to teaching foreigners in Cali, ” Francy Barahona” based in Paris, pioneer of Salsa Caleña in Europe, “Eduardo Alban” with Anfitriones, who trains new talents to give continuity to the process.

With the aim of creating a brand that would be different in the musical world, they began to merge acrobatics, rhythms and techniques from other dance disciplines of all genres but based on Salsa Caleña, placing them in a competitive and show format creating an unstoppable fever.

Photo of Gustavo Collazos - Salsa Caleña
Photo of Gustavo Collazos – Salsa Caleña

Currently the Fiebre Latina Academy has not had a headquarters for 3 years, so Gustavo dedicated himself to expanding Salsa in the USA as artistic director of “Cali Salsa Miami”; He is known and considered by his students and/or followers to be a teacher, due to his career and contribution to salsa. For now, he has toured Colombia, Switzerland, Miami and India (currently living there) expanding his culture as a dancer, workshop facilitator and choreographer. , letting people know how spectacular is.. Salsa

Photo of a choreography in Salsa Caleña in Fiebre Latina
Photo of a choreography in Salsa Caleña in Fiebre Latina

Now I start a project in “Casa Latin”, where they bring the experience of living Latin dance, especially Salsa Caleña, the festivity and joy in India, making them the pioneers in Asia and under the support of their brand and experience to position their culture there.

Salsa Caleña in Fiebre Latina
Salsa Caleña in Fiebre Latina

He had the opportunity to be a finalist in the Reality Colombia has talent version of “Got Talent” where he contributed the knowledge of recognizing salsa as a significant element in high-performance shows.

To learn with the “Casa Latin” Academy, it is not necessary to have experience, that is, you can start from scratch according to your dance goal, participating in the classes. Gustavo mentions that “Dancing is not just exercise, dancing frees you, leads you to set goals, to achieve them, to enjoy the melody of music, to meet cultures, people and make new friends”…

“dancing is a profession like any other, we are dreamers who leave everything they have learned in their life in a person, and it remains eternally in their being, we not only teach to dance we give emotions, moments, life. Once you start dancing you can’t stop. It is you, your partner, the music and the world put into a melody”.

Gustavo Collazos - Salsa Caleña
Gustavo Collazos – Salsa Caleña

For more information:

WebSite:

  • Fiebre Latina: https://www.fiebrelatinacolombia.com/
  • Casa Latín: http://casalatin.com/

Facebook:

  • Gustavo A. Collazos: https://www.facebook.com/fiebrelatinacol
  • Fiebre Latina: https://www.facebook.com/fiebrelatinacolombia/?timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=100000181341290
  • Casa Latín: https://www.facebook.com/CasaLatin/

Instagram:

  • Fiebre Latina:
  • Casa Latín: https://www.instagram.com/casalatin/

Twitter:

  • Fiebre Latina: https://twitter.com/fiebrelatinacol?lang=es
  • Casa Latín: https://twitter.com/casalatin

YouTube:

  • Fiebre Latina: https://www.youtube.com/fiebrelatina
  • Casa Latín: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIUEsU50MX8TT_EsXS6Inw

Teléfono:

  • Casa Latín: +91 87929 23775   /  +91 73491 52846

Edgardo ‘‘El Bambino’’ and his extensive and interesting musical career

Edgardo ”El Bambino” Otero Lugo is the one to whom we want to dedicate some of the lines of this edition in International Salsa Magazine. The talented Puerto Rican vocalist has given us a few minutes of his time to talk exclusively about his beginnings, his career and other unpublished details that are not read in other media.   

dgardo ‘’El Bambino’’
This is Puerto Rican singer Edgardo ”El Bambino” Otero Lugo

Edgardo’s childhood and music   

As Edgardo’s childhood took place in his hometown of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, the artist recalls that he would sit on the balcony of his house and play with buckets and sticks to pretend to play music. His mother, fed up with the noise he made, decided to enroll him in the school choir so that he could explore his curiosity about music in a more professional way. That was when he was in the fifth grade of the elementary school.   

As the years went by, the boy’s love for music just kept growing, until he got his first big opportunity thanks to singer-songwriter Edwin Crespo, who had already written for famous groups such as La Sonora Ponceña at the time. Back then, Edgardo was only 14 or 15 years old, so he still needed a lot of guidance on these issues, so maestro Crespo was the ideal person for that. 

It just so happenes that Pedro Crespo, Edwin’s father, was the founder of his own orchestra and grandfather of some of Edgardo’s cousins. Since they all lived nearby, Edwin heard him singing one day and liked his voice, so he offered to teach him how to sing professionally and invited him to join his Orquesta Ética, which is where it all began.   

By being part of the Orquesta Ética, Edwin decided to spend two or three days a week explaining to Edgardo what to do and how to do it so that everything would go wonderfully for the young vocalist, and that is exactly what happened. So much so that Edgardo spent about three years singing for the group, in which he claims to have learned much of what he knows today.   

Edgardo ‘’El Bambino’’ next to Frankie
Edgardo ”El Bambino” next to ”El Sonero del Barrio” Frankie Vazquez

The Rukanos   

After having left Orquesta La Ética, Edgardo was also part of Orquesta Los Rukanos, which was much bigger, had more instruments and more musicians. Therefore, it represented a bigger and more complex challenge. 

In 1981, he was invited to join the group by a Guyanese friend and colleague named Ferniand Pudia, who asked Edgardo to join him in a musical project he was working on, which he would name Los Rukanos, paying homage to the term used to refer to peasants and working class men in the South American country.    

Alongside with this orchestra, of which Edgardo was also one of the founders, he managed to perform in completely new stages and to follow his path in the learning of this complex and rich world that is music.   

Conjunto Quisqueya   

During a concert in his hometown, the members of Conjunto Quisqueya heard Edgardo singing and liked his voice so much that they invited him to play with them in a project for Nelson García, who at that time was the second trumpet of the orchestra.   

Having accepted the offer, the group recorded a whole LP called ”Nelson García y Merengue ’86”, which was a very nice experience for Edgardo since he had never had the opportunity to record in a studio before and finally he was able to do so. And it was not just any studio, but one of the most important in Puerto Rico, which was Tele-Sound Recording Studios.   

”Playing with the members of Conjunto Quisqueya was a spectacular experience. Their musicians are wonderful human beings with whom I still have very strong friendship bonds” said Edgardo about his experience in the ensemble.   

Edgardo ‘’El Bambino’’ in the army
Edgardo ”El Bambino” singing during his time in the army

Orquesta La Nueva Época de Ángel Rivera 

There were some years that merengue was gaining a lot of popularity in Puerto Rico, so the artists and groups of the moment had to adapt to fulfill the musical taste of the audience. Such was the case of saxophonist Angel Rivera, also originally from Vega Baja, who created an orchestra and invited several musicians to play with him, including Edgardo.    

The result was good acceptance from the public to the extent that the orchestra participated in competitions and won some awards thanks to the work done.    

This was very useful for Edgardo’s career, since he succeeded in diversifying his rhythms and learning to play new things and genres, which made him acquire a lot of knowledge. Until such time as he played with Conjunto Quisqueya, he had only done salsa, so trying merengue was really enriching for the musician.   

Service time in the army   

Edgardo was in the Puerto Rico National Guard for about 24 years in total and he remembers a time when he was mobilized to the Iraq War in 2006, the year in which he met Edwin ”El Calvito” Reyes, who was part of the 3rd Infantry. El Calvito” had a group whose lead singer could not speak Spanish, so he learned the lyrics phonetically in order to perform them.   

The chemistry between all the members was so great that they even played a few times at the U.S. base in Baghdad, where he stayed until 2008. It was then that he returned to Puerto Rico to adapt gradually to civilian life again, during which time he met Raphy Santana and joined his Tribute Orchestra, which made music to pay homage to maestro Héctor Lavoe.   

Permanent move to the United States   

In 2019, both Edgardo and his wife were retired from their jobs, so they thought it was a good time for a change of scenery, as they felt that nothing interesting was going on musically. This led them to move to the United States to settle permanently there, although he continued to travel to Puerto Rico to meet some commitments with La Corporación Latina, of which he was still part at that time. 

Read also: Momotombo SF with former members of Malo and Santana 

Ronald Borjas is a Venezuelan singer, musician and composer

Ronald Borjas is currently considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa in Venezuela with an international projection that grows every year.

He is a Venezuelan singer, musician and composer, born in Maracaibo, the capital of the state of Zulia, on November 19, 1981.

Ronald Borjas is a Venezuelan singer, musician and composer
Ronald Borjas is a Venezuelan singer, musician and composer

At the age of 10, his love for the timbal was born, a few years later, at the age of 14, he began singing as a soloist in the Bochinche Orchestra. Throughout his adolescence he stood out as a soloist in bands such as: Caribe, Asterisco, VHG and Bacanos.

He completed higher education at the Cecilio Acosta University (UNICA) where he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Music – Musical Education in 2002. In the same year he went on stage with the Venezuelan Super Band GUACO, where he debuted as a soloist and composer with the song “Te vas” from the album “El Sonido de Venezuela”.

Not only did he develop as a composer, Ronald also plays other percussion instruments such as the bass, the guitar and also the trumpet.

After 11 years as one of the main voices of Guaco, in 2014, Ronald decided to take another path and that is when the great project of his life began, developing his career as a soloist in genres such as Salsa, Bachata and Pop.

Ronald debuted as a soloist with the song “Te Doy Mi Voz” dedicated to his fans, with which he received the nomination for the Latin Grammy for “Best Tropical Song”. That same year, his musical godfather, Salsa legend Oscar D´ León invited him to his show at Madison Square Garden in New York, where he introduced him to thousands of people and baptized him as his “godson”.

That same year, he released “Te Encuentraré” a song that reached #1 on the Venezuelan radio charts Record Report and its video clip, filmed in New York, managed to enter the ranking of the most viewed videos on the HTV channel.

In 2015 he began his musical expansion to other borders, achieving success in countries such as Ecuador and Colombia where his third single titled “Dame Tu Amor” was positioned in the first places of the radio stations as well as in his native Venezuela, while in Peru, it was named the “tropical song of the summer”.

Ronald Borjas is currently considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa in Venezuela with an international projection.
Ronald Borjas is currently considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa in Venezuela with an international projection.

At the end of that year he officially released his first album “Da Capo” with an event that brought together in Caracas, Venezuela a hundred figures of the national show, as well as the press, radio and TV of the country in an unprecedented event. This release in its first weeks, managed to accumulate more than 10,000 digital downloads on his official website www.ronaldborjas.com.

“Da Capo” had valuable collaborations and a first featuring with his godfather Oscar D´León, with whom he recorded “La Quiero Para Mi”. In addition, this album has songs by Amaury Gutierrez, Robert Vilera and his uncle Neguito Borjas, among others.

In 2016 he began releasing his song “Cántalo” which quickly became an anthem of joy and managed to position itself in the first place on Venezuelan radio. That year he won several national awards of great importance such as “Mara de Oro Internacional”, “Cacique De Oro”, Explosión Creativa and Supremacy, all of which recognized him as the “Salsa Singer of the Year”.

That same year he signed a contract with Sony Music as an artist from the Andean Region and embarked on his first international concert tour entitled “Da Capo tour” with which he visited Aruba, Panama and several cities in the United States.

In 2018, he released “Loco por Volverte a Ver” a song he wrote with Nacho Mendoza, Cáceres and Sharo Torres. He also made his second featuring with the “Caballero de la Salsa” Gilberto Santarosa with whom he released “Ellas te van lleva” the first collaboration with an international artist that also managed to position itself as number one on the radio charts.

Ronald Borjas is currently considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa in Venezuela
Ronald Borjas is currently considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa in Venezuela

Shortly after, in 2019, he received a double nomination for “Album of the Year” with the song “Lo que pase aquí” as one of the songs on Tonny Succar’s album titled “Más de Mi” and “Salsa of the Year” with the song “No Queda Nada”. In addition to the collaboration he did with “Quintero´s Salsa Proyect” which was nominated for “Salsa Album of the Year”.

Also in 2019 he released his second album entitled “Bailamos Otra Vez” where he recorded songs of his own, as well as those of Servando Primera, Oscarcito and Amaury Gutiérrez. From this album come hits such as “Amor Demente” “Estoy Dispuesto” “Tu y Yo Tenemos” “Te Quiero para Mi” among others.

Shortly after he announced his collaboration with another former Guaco partner, Nelson Arrieta with whom he released the song “Sobran Los Momentos” which also gives name to the tour they would do together where they traveled through countries such as Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Spain, Peru, Panama and the United States achieving great acceptance by the public.

He started the year 2020 with several collaborative releases. “Para Ustedes” from the album origenes where he participated as a guest and achieved #1 on the radio in Venezuela, then he released the song “Juegos Eróticos” with Victor Muñoz and promoted it in his country with great acceptance.

The “pandemic” stage begins and confinement did not stop him. In March he releases the version of the song “María Antonia” by the Venezuelan singer Gualberto Ibarreto, in April he releases “Aunque Parezca Extraño” with Manuel Petit who invites him to this collaboration. In May, together with his uncle Neguito Borjas, Jorge Luis Chacín and Nelson Arrieta they join in a project entitled “Los Mágicos”. In June “Ahora Me Llama” comes out, a song he had recorded for Rumberos del Callejón.

As if that were not enough, in July he records an intimate concert where he invites Victor Muñoz, his uncle Neguito Borjas and Nelson Arrieta to release it as a gift to his fans through his YouTube channel.

He closes the last months of 2020 with the song “Mía” written by Ronald and Salvador Solano that became the anthem of the ´Zumba´ reaching several places in the world. After this, he released one of his songs, “Ya Lo Decidí,” with which he again achieved first place on the radio and was accepted by the entire public.

He started 2021 as a special guest at Gilberto Santarosa’s concert at the Filmore Theater in Miami, where they performed the song “Ellas Te Van Llevando” together. Months later, he released the song he recorded as a duet with José Alberto “El Canario” entitled “A Mi Me Gusta” which quickly managed to position itself on the main playlists of digital platforms in the world. He closed that year with the song “Dime Cómo Hago” which he recorded with Nelson Arrieta and Oscarcito, a salsa that took over the public’s taste and today is one of the most chanted in his concerts.

2022 started with another important collaboration with Motiff, a song titled “Me Descontrola” which quickly entered the top spots on radio billboards and digital platform listings, and was also the song chosen by the renowned company Zumba to use as the official song at its world events.

In 2022, he also launched a very ambitious musical project that he carried out with his friends and fellow countrymen Adelmo Gauna and Nando De La Gente called “Los Pikis” with which they released a series of videos where they compiled erotic salsa hits from the 80s and 90s. Such was the success that in just two months they achieved more than a million views on YouTube.

In May 2022, the live concert titled “Sobran Los Momentos” premieres where Nelson Arrieta and Ronald Borjas invite the founder and lead voice of Guaco, Gustavo Aguado, and together perform several of the hits of the Venezuelan super band, such as “Vivo” “Pídeme” “Eres Más” and “Lo Eres Todo”. Oscarcito was also there performing his hit “Si Tu Me Besas” and the one he has with Arrieta and Borjas “Dime Cómo Hago”. All this incredible material can be enjoyed on the official YouTube channel of Ronald Borjas and Nelson Arrieta.

To close the year, he released the song “Se prende el Parampampan” with his musical friend, Acosta, a fun salsa that unites their musical styles, which together with a video recorded in Puerto Rico, managed to enter the public’s taste, turning this song into an anthem for Venezuelan parties. For his part, Ronald Borjas released a solo single titled “Los Vecinos” which is accompanied by a humorous video directed by Alex Galán.

2023 began for Ronald Borjas with his third featuring with an international artist, this time with the Puerto Rican legend, Tito Nieves. A romantic salsa titled “Te Busqué” that was accompanied by a video where the two singers can be seen in a performance and story. The video currently has more than half a million views on Ronald’s official YouTube channel.

Ronald Borjas
Ronald Borjas

Months later, Ronald reunited with his cousin Luis Fernando Borjas and recorded the song “Cuestión de Tiempo”, which was widely accepted by the public, surpassing two and a half million views of the video and positioned itself as one of the most listened to songs by “Lo Borjas” on digital platforms. This name gave rise to a joint tour with which they have traveled to the main cities of Venezuela, achieving sold out in each one of them.

He closed the year with a great concert “Live in Miami” where he reunited several of his musical colleagues and friends, such as Oscarcito, Victor Muñoz, Motiff, Los Pikis and for the first time since their separation, Toto and Beet from the group Caibo joined together with Ronald, performing the hits “La Despedida” and “La Promesa”. This great reunion of artists can be found on Borjas’ YouTube channel and has also surpassed more than 600,000 views in less than a year.

2024 began with his fourth song in a duet with an international artist, this time with the Nicaraguan, “the prince of salsa” Luis Enrique with whom he recorded “Y Si Mañana”. A great launch was made through the media in Venezuela and it has been a song that quickly became the favorite of the public of both singers and in a few weeks it was positioned in the main salsa lists on Spotify.

After this success, Ronald begins his “Tour LATAM 2024” through Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Panama and Uruguay, countries where he managed to sell out all his performances and reunite with his public after several years. The success of this tour will soon take him to Europe where he will be performing several shows in Spain and other countries that have not yet been announced.

Also Read: Tribute to Johnny “Dandy” Rodríguez Jr. His first recording was professionally with Tito Puente in 1964 and was titled “Exciting Rhythm of Tito Puente”

Juan Sebastian Bar “The Temple of Jazz and Salsa in Caracas”

In the heart of the city, there is a refuge of sophistication and art: Juan Sebastián Bar.

Delight your palate with our cocktails, each a fusion of classic flavors and contemporary notes, while live jazz and salsa create the most special melodies.

In the heart of the city, lies a refuge of sophistication and art, Juan Sebastián Bar.
In the heart of the city, lies a refuge of sophistication and art, Juan Sebastián Bar.

Aldemaro Romero, Alfredo Sadel, Billo Frómeta, Dámaso Pérez Prado, Tito Puente, Bobby Capó, Pedro Vargas, Leo Marini, Libertad Lamarque, Ray Barreto, Lucho Gatica, Olga Guillot, Marco Antonio Muñiz, Julio Gutiérrez, Vicky Carr, Armando Manzanero, Sergio Mendes.

They all passed through Juan Sebastián Bar, the so-called temple of jazz, but which is actually a brotherhood of music lovers. For 43 years it has been a reference in Caracas’ nightlife, even with its ups and downs. Every night, from Tuesday to Saturday, it offers a space for disconnection.

That brick cave, with its cork walls and the bar illuminated with bottle bottoms, has its anecdotes, the first one sinceevery night the famous saxophonist Victor Cuica threatened them and the second one. It stars the maestro Aldemaro Romero in a taxi heading to the place, one of his usual places to eat and drink.

The taxi driver who is already approaching the place located in El Rosal, comments: “poor those people who could not complete the facade and left it in bricks.” The scene speaks of that ostentatious and cosmopolitan Caracas of the seventies and eighties. The truth is that over the years the area was transformed into a financial district of large glass towers and the two-story brick house became the after office on Venezuela Avenue.

The name of the establishment, founded by Eleazar López Contreras -yes, the grandson of the former president of Venezuela- is a play on words with the name of the composer Juan Sebastián Bach, who holding a pair of cutlery serves as the logo for the business, under the design of Jorge Blanco, the famous illustrator who created the character of the Castaway.

In choosing the place, they considered other equally humorous options such as Bar Thoven.

The musical repertoire ranges from jazz to salsa. In the place you can listen to virtuosos of these genres such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tonny Bennet, Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón, among others.

Alfredo Naranjo, a percussion virtuoso who has left his mark on the international music scene, will delight us once again with his incomparable talent.

Alfredo Naranjo, a percussion virtuoso who has left his mark on the international music scene, will delight us once again with his incomparable talent
Alfredo Naranjo, a percussion virtuoso who has left his mark on the international music scene, will delight us once again with his incomparable talent

He recently participated in the Chicago International Festival and has received a Latin Grammy nomination for his unparalleled percussion performance on the album: Soy Puro Teatro: Tributo a La Lupe by Mariaca Semprún and with her, he also recorded a version of the gaita María la bollera.

Considered one of the greatest exponents of salsa and Latin jazz, Alfredo Naranjo has a long career that began at an early age at the Conservatory of Music of the National Youth Orchestra.

In 1986 he joined the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Orchestra, and then continued his training at the University of Long Island, New York.

He has played with artists such as Dave Samuels, Tito Puente, Ray Charles, Alex Acuña and Carlos “Nené” Quintero, and groups such as Guaco and Ensamble Gurrufío. Cheo Feliciano referred to him as “the best vibraphonist in salsa.”

He has been the leader of El Guajeo, a fundamental piece of contemporary Caracas. He has recorded albums such as Cosechando (1993), A través del tiempo (1997), Vibraciones de mi tierra (1999), Alfredo Naranjo y El Guajeo I y II (2001 y 2006), México Music Fest (2011), Lado A Lado B (2015) and Be Jazz Sessions (2018), an album that was awarded at thePepsi Music Awards in the Jazz Album category.

Enjoy a unique evening in a sophisticated atmosphere, where the passion for music is breathed in every corner.
Let yourself be seduced by the enveloping rhythms of Latin music in a sophisticated atmosphere.

Every Wednesday, Dj. Augusto Felibertt transports us through a unique musical journey.

Every Wednesday, DJ Augusto Felibertt takes us on a unique musical journey.
Every Wednesday, DJ Augusto Felibertt takes us on a unique musical journey.

We look forward to seeing you at @Juansebastianbar to enjoy an unforgettable evening!

Wednesday to Saturday from 5:00pm on Venezuela Avenue and Mohedano Street, El Rosal.
Reservations at 0414-3080587

Also Read: Gato Barbieri was an excellent and virtuoso Argentine saxophonist par excellence

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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.