Search Results for: Latin

Omar Lugo

North America / Puerto Rico / San Juan

Omar Lugo “Young Promise of the Juvenile and Romantic Salsa of Puerto Rico”

Omar Lugo - Puerto Rico — Omar Lugo – Puerto Rico

With a modern, restorative and very representative style, the talented Puerto Rican Omar Lugo arrived to reinforce Latin music, offering a trend with a youthful and urban touch; who in addition to being a singer and performer of various musical instruments, is a composer.

Lugo, is a native of the beautiful Caribbean municipality of Arroyo, belonging to the free state of Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico. This promise of salsa, was born on November 23, 1993 and tells us that, from a very young age, he showed interest and ability to vocalize from the age of 15, when he began to educate himself and train musically in the band of his beloved town of Arroyo and later in adolescence, he accompanied artists of various musical genres in Borinquen.

Let’s see Omar, since when did you start in composition?

“Friend, that was the product of compiling various experiences that I had in love and coincidentally gave me the opportunity to compose my first song “Si supieras”, which I recorded when I was 15 years old, under the arrangement and production of my older brother. Jayson Lugo; serving all this experience to start my artistic career at the age of 17.

That song is a declaration of love, and many identify with it by being able to gather the feelings that a person inspires in you, If you knew, it had, by the way, a lot of radio success, it is a letter that I wrote from the heart”-. This is how he told us for International Salsa Magazine.

The young Puerto Rican, Omar, is characterized by fusing urban and electronic sounds that identify his style for “la salsa”.

Omar Lugo - Mexico Salsa Sabor — Omar Lugo – Mexico Salsa Sabor

In addition, he has shared stages with artists from his country as main singer and musician, such as: Fabián, Juan Vélez, Three Son Salsa, Kimary Carrero, Ricky Luis, Barreto y su Plena, Víctor Manuelle, N’Klabe, Tito Nieves, NG2 , Charlie Cruz, Ken-Y, Keykon, Pirulo, Frankie Negrón, Boni & Kelly, Planéalo, Oscarito, Aníbal de Gracia and many more.

It is noteworthy that Omar has a number 1 on the Billboard Charts (Tropical Charts), with the single “Amor de Verdad” by Charlie Cruz, being Omar Lugo, one of the youngest salseros in history to reach that position. in the musical genre “salsa”.

He adds that, in 2017, he performed at the “El Aniversario de la Salsa” event, at the Paquito Montaner stadium, in Ponce, before more than 15,000 spectators, receiving a standing ovation for his performance. Finally, he told us that he is currently recording his first record production under the direction of his brother Jay, a fundamental and key piece in his musical growth, by the way, winner of the 2018 Latin Grammy.

It was an honor to have in International Salsa Magazine, as a special guest, this talented Puerto Rican Omar Lugo, who has been demonstrating with his music, the interest of attracting young people to salsa with modern touches in his songs.

Takafumi Nikaido

Asia / Sapporo / Japan

Takafumi Nikaido, In his time in Cuba he studied with prominent percussionists Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”

Takafumi Nikaido born in Sapporo Japan in the year 1993 started playing the saxophone at the age of 6 and at the age of 7, after watching a live performance by Earth Wind & Fire he was inspired to pick up the percussion and studied under the Fujio Saito.

At the age of 12 he traveled to Cuba to take classes on dancing and percussion where collaborated with the Los Muñequitos de Matanzas.

Upon graduating high school he attended Berklee college of music as a scholarship student.

He studied theory and performance from people such as Eguie Castrillo, Tiger Okoshi, Mark Walker, Oscar Stagnaro and Jim Odgren.

In 2014, he traveled to Cuba again to attend the Fiesta del Tambor Percussion Competition where he received the “Best Foreign Entrant Award”.

In his time in Cuba he studied with prominent percussionists Jose Luis Quintana “Changuito”, Adel Gonzalez, Adonis Panter Calderon, Osain Del Monte.

During his time in Berklee he performed with artists such as Oscar Feldman,Terence Blanchard, Jon Secada, FANTINE, Sivamani, Ruben Rada, Totó la Momposina and Mane De La Parra.

In the summer of the same year, he became involved with the “The Untied East Jazz Quintet” and played at 9 venues all over Japan and South Korea.

Alongside musicians Zahili Gonzalez Zamora and Gerson Lazo, they formed the musical group “MIXCLA” and perform regularly mainly within the Boston.

In 2015, he performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival as a member of the Zahili Gonzalez Zamora Project.

He is currently studying in Berklee College of Music and have been participating in musical projects other than Latin music like pop, jazz.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/takafumi.nikaido
Website: http://www.takafuminikaido.com/

Salsa: From New York to the world!

North America – United States – New York

Last February we actively participated in different activities in New York, promoted by different instances and always supported from the Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery Museum and The Johnny Cruz Show.

Johnny Cruz: We were part of the Somos Puerto Rico event, together with more than 25 artists and with the collaboration of La Boom, which allowed thousands of people to work for our island: Puerto Rico. There was a lot of music, and we were accompanied by artists such as Jova Rodríguez, Arlene, Roberto Vásquez, Anissa Gatners, Fernando Berniero, Alex Bautista, Jen Carrasco and Kevin Tapia, among others.

We also had typical food for sale and many initiatives aimed at saving so many lives in need. From this event we want to continue bringing families to the United States and they can be calm until they stop shaking in the south west of Puerto Rico. You are not alone!

In addition, we are working hard on a documentary about Frank Ferrer, always thinking of immortalizing figures that have consolidated Salsa in the world as a Latin genre of world projection.

Salsa, as you know, is a typically New York musical genre, the result of the influence of great Latin jazz musicians, and the existence of a youth of Latin origin born, or resident in New York, in slums where Salsa is the best expression, spiced up by the exile produced by the Cuban Revolution and the awareness of American racial minorities.

In 1964, Johnny Pacheco, a flutist of Dominican origin, and Jerry Masucci, a young businessman, founded the Fania label, which gave the old Latin labels, a more modern sense of Caribbean music. Musicians and singers of the previous generation were reinvented, but others were incorporated as a young Willie Colon, the Palmieri brothers, Eddy and Charlie; Papo Luca, Ray Barreto, Larry Harlow. And, there were also singers who put their voice to Salsa to tell stories of the street, daily or reflexive, that were the mirror of the life of the neighborhoods: Cheo Feliciano, Adalberto de Santiago, Andy Montáñez, the Ismaeles -Miranda and Ribera-, Justo Betancourt, Héctor Lavoe or Rubén Blades.

Johnny Cruz Salsa: From New York to the world!

The influence of the Cuban revolution had led composers and salsa musicians to become aware that it was necessary to compose songs that talked about what was happening in the streets from a critical perspective, giving way to a new salsa and foot reality for characters as Frank Ferrer started from folklore and protest to arrive at salsa mixing both concepts in an exemplary album: Yerbabuena. All this and much more can be enjoyed very soon.

For this month of March, Puerto Rico will organize the 1st World Salsa Collectors Meeting and of course we will be there representing New York with the Salsa Museum (SPAHA Salsa Gallery Museum). From March 7th, at least 15 organizations of this type of collector from seven countries will exhibit their collections of the Caribbean genre.

The collectors meeting will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, in Miramar, under the theme “La Salsa se baila así” and will be free admission. It will be attended by collectors from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico and several cities in the United States.

That day will be the official release in LP format of the album “Mario Ortiz, 55 Aniversario”, nominated for the last edition of the Latin Grammys.

The event includes memorabilia exhibitors of legendary salsa artists such as Willie Rosario, Bobby Valentín, Roberto Roena o la Sonora Ponceña, as well as the Museo de la Salsa de Puerto Rico or the Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular.

Pieces from the Jairo Varela Museum, renowned deceased Colombian musician, whose orchestra Grupo Niche is still active and triumphing around the world will be presented. The writer Daniel Nina, will give a lecture about Salsa, and Puerto Rican dancer Tito Ortos will talk about the history of salsa dancing. We can enjoy live music with the group Cubaneo 54, and a great closing with the several times awarded Big Band of the Free School of Music of San Juan, directed by Professor Manuel García. See you there!

As always, remember that Spanish Harlem Salsa Gallery is in 1708 Lexington ave New York N.Y. 10029. Open free to the public all Thursdays & Fridays from 4 to 7 pm and Saturdays from 1 to 8 pm. Check the updates in our website: spahasalsagallery.com.

Johnny Cruz - Spaha Salsa Gallery — Johnny Cruz – Spaha Salsa Gallery

Also, The Johnny Cruz Show, the #1 Salsa Show on television on all 5 Boroughs of New York on CH67. Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.

Contact: Johnny Cruz. 917-747-8505. [email protected].

By Johnny Cruz Correspondent, New York City, New York

ISM – May 2023

International Salsa Magazine

Joe Bataan’s music remains in force

Joe Bataan in the Spaha Salsa Gallery

There are many artists of international stature have been in the Salsa Museum and left some valuable object in our facilities, and this month, it was the turn of American singer and musician Joe Bataan, who was kind enough to share with producer Johnny Cruz and his show partner Boris Calderón.

Joe Bataan and Johnny Cruz in the Spaha Salsa Gallery

In one of the videos taken during the visit, the artist mentioned that the place was awesome and had expanded so much that another building would have to be made soon for so many valuable acquisitions. Let’s remember that both the artists and their families have been donating all kinds of garments, instruments and things related to their careers to be exhibited in the museum with the purpose of showing the public this valuable part of our culture.

After such an extraordinary exchange, we believe it believe to talk a little about the story of this talented man and how he has reaped all the success obtained at the time.

Story of Joe Battan

Bataan Nitollano is a New York singer of African-American and Filipino origin from his parents, but he grew up in the neighborhood of Harlem, where he got in trouble with the law and was trained in music.

Joe Bataan signing a jacket in the Spaha Salsa Gallery

While he spent a short time in prison, he studied music, and trained in playing the piano, something that would be extremely important for his artistic career. Once he was released, he formally began his career as a singer and formed his first group, which he named ”Joe Bataan and the Latin Swingers”. At that time, the young man was heavily influenced by two genres that were very fashionable at the time, which are boogaloo and Afro-American Doo-wop.

Although Bataan was not the first to enter the aforementioned genres, his very particular talent made him worthy of the attention of the newly created record label Fania Records, which signed the artist in 1966 and released his first single ”Gypsy Woman” the following year. The song ended up being a huge hit in the Latin community in New York City and laid the foundation for what would end up becoming what we know today as Latin Soul.

During the time Joe worked with Fania, he recorded about eight albums, which became a true sensation due to their mix of Doo-wop in Latin rhythms with English soul, which was quite new at the time. Everything was going well until he had some frictions with the label manager Jerry Masucci concerning the economic issue, so the singer ended up leaving the company to launch his own label Ghetto Records.

The artist's signature — The artist’s signature

In the 1980s, he spent a long time away from music to devote himself to teaching at the same center where he was held and experienced some health declines that kept him silent for quite some time until he ws back in play in 2005, when he released his album ”Call My Name” whose rhythms were based on Latin soul and got many positive reviews. This album proved that Bataan was still a talented artist even though his genres are no longer the most popular.

Today, he is a person with extensive experience in the world of music who is always willing to give his everything to any fan who wants to listen to him. The Spaha Salsa Gallery team is pleased to have had his presence in recent days, so we hope that meetings like this one can be repeated.

Contact: Johnny Cruz. 917-747-8505. [email protected].

By Johnny Cruz, ISM Correspondent, New York, New York City