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Do You Know In Which Country Rubén Blades Start his Tour?
The United States Will Be The First Country Where The Panamanian Artist Will Present Salswing Tour!
The multifaceted artist and political activist, Rubén Blades, announced his return to the American stage with his friend and fellow countryman Roberto Delgado & Big Band, starting next November 20th.
The Salsero icon announced the beginning of his tour through his official Facebook account: “We are very happy to be able to work and get in touch with our audience again, after almost two years without being able to do so. With the Roberto Delgado Big Band, an orchestra of 20 musicians that is sounding better, we are eager and want to share our latest album Salswing!, and the usual songs… Please, don’t stop getting vaccinated”.
There are eight cities that the living Salsa legend will visit in North America, starting on November 20th in Oakland (CA), Los Angeles (CA), Atlanta (GA), Miami (FL), passing through Boston (MA), and New York (NY) on November 28th and December 2nd respectively, and having as a special guest the extraordinary American actress, singer, and wife of Blades, Luba Manson who will be showing the repertoire of her Jazz album Triangle released in October 2020.
Later, Salswing Tour! & the Roberto Delgado Big Band will present their penultimate concert this year on Friday, December 3rd in Washington (DC), and will close this magnificent tour on Sunday, December 5th on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan at the mighty Arena Arie Crown Theater in Chicago (IL).
Regarding this great 2021 tour, Nelson Albareda, CEO of Loud And Live, the company in charge of carrying out this series of concerts and those of Latin stars such as Carlos Vives, Juanes, Farruko, among many others, commented: “It is an honor for us working with a Latin icon, who has inspired generations through his salsa music and long artistic career. Rubén Blades is not only a great artist but also a great ambassador, and activist for our Latin community”.
The prestigious Panamanian songwriter will show for the first time the eleven songs of his most recent album “Salswing!” title that also gives the name to the tour.
Salswing! has 11 tracks including, Mambo Gil, Cobarde, Canto Niche, and Ya No Me Duele, the latter written by Jeremy Bosch and Rubén Blades with arrangement by Tom Kubis. Salswing! was recorded in collaboration with the record’s bassist and musical producer, Roberto Delgado, and his band made up of 20 talented Panamanian musicians, and it was released on the digital market on April 15th, 2021.
“Although the connection between Jazz and Salsa has been historically documented, much remains to be described and recognized. The combinations and collaborations between musicians of these genres have been numerous over the years and include figures of the stature of Mario Bauza & Dizzy Gillespie, Machito & Charlie Parker, Luis Russell, and Louis Armstrong. With this record production, I try to continue that relationship, verifying that art does not have a nationality but rather represents a spirit that transcends races, geographies, and languages”. It is extracted from his official page.
Rubén Blades has been performing with Roberto Delgado & Bing Band for ten years in the most prestigious stages around the world. In these eight concerts, there will be a historical tour of recognition of the Latin origins of jazz as well as the influences of the son, Afro-Caribbean music, and swing. In addition to including the hits always chanted by the crowd in any corner of the planet.
Who Is Roberto Delgado?
Roberto Delgado was born in the capital of the Chiriquí province in western Panama on June 27th, 1961. This prodigious artist has developed in the musical environment as a Producer, Singer, Bassist, and Arranger.
His upward career began with his studies at the prestigious Conservatory of Music of Fine Arts in Mexico City (Mexico) and later at the Golden West College of Huntington Beach California (United States).
With more than 40 years of experience, Roberto has been a member of ten Panamanian groups counting the Salsa singer orchestra, Roberto Blades (1992) and he is currently the director of his big band made up of 20 musicians and with whom he has shared the stage since 1996 together with the master Rubén Blades.
In the enormous list of famous artists that Delgado has accompanied in productions and tours in addition to the Blades brothers are Cheo Feliciano, Celia Cruz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ismael Miranda, Andy Montañez, Tito Nieves, La India, Víctor Manuelle, José Alberto “El Canario”, Luigie Texidor, Maelo Ruiz, Charlie Aponte, Joan Manuel Serrat, Carlos Vives, and many more.
The conductor together with Rubén Blades has performed on the major international stages, including Madison Square Garden (New York), Hollywood Bowl (Los Angeles), Shepherd’s Bush (London), Poble Espanyol de Barcelona (Spain), numerous Latin American auditoriums, and acclaimed festivals in Europe and the Caribbean.
Also, this duo has three Latin Grammys (2015, 2017) and two Grammys for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album in 2016 and 2018.
Currently, Roberto Delgado (60 years old) and Rubén Blades (73 years old) continue to transgress the barriers that will be the first Latin artists touring Salswing! in the middle of the pandemic throughout the North American territory.
An important fact to attend the Rubén Blades and Roberto Delgado & Big Band concert series in Los Angeles County is mandatory to wear masks. At the moment, mandatory vaccination in the United States only applies to public employees and workers of large companies.
ISM: Fanny Almanera better known as La Sonera del Callao
On this occasion we have the opportunity to interview the Peruvian Sonera called Fanny Almanera also known as La Sonera del Callao, her nickname comes from her native country El Callao, Peru.
She was born on January 23 and is the 9th daughter of her parents (Don Héctor Almenara and Carmen Barreto), from a very young age she knew and learned many things about the music of both parents; in the lyrical genre thanks to his mother and his best teacher Dona Ana María Parodi and with respect to his father who is / was a collector of the best exponents of Salsa (especially Cuban and Puerto Rican music), both listened almost all the time to Justo Betancourt, La Lupe, Candido Fabre, Benny More, Ismael Rivera, Los Papines, Irakere, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, among others.
When she turned 16, she realized that she was passionately and in love with the dynamic salsa genre and made the decision to leave the choir and classical music, since her love and her taste is for the salsa musical, thanking her father greatly for showing her , show him and listen to the best collection of salsa music to date … “Music is like medicine … it fills the soul and innovates over time” and over time, while gaining his experience, his own audience would give him their nickname La Sonera del Callao and with the favor of God take his parents, especially his father, to Cuba.
She also had the honor of participating for the first time in the choir to Junior Gonzales and alternate Grandes with Peruvian Orchestra such as Peru Salsa by Beto Villena, Las Estrellas de la Maquina by Boris Gomez, La Nueva Generación by Franco Covetto, during that time chosen as the best nobel voice of the salsa genre for the 80s; and at the same time he made several recordings for different groups, likewise he recorded an unpublished song of his own entitled “Yo Te Espero”.
Unlike other musicians, Fanny Almanera during this season met and currently has friends of renowned musicians, who interacted with her and her family, even before becoming a singer.
Between the 70s and 80s, Las Leyendas Latinas arrived in Peru with Ray Barreto and Adalberto Santiago, who gave him the great opportunity to sing with them “Quitate La Máscara”, then with Linda Caballero (La India), the song “Mi Primera Rumba ”, Then with the salsa pharaoh Oscar de León with the song“ Toro Mata ”and also with the great Lebrón Brothers with the song“ Sin Negro no hay Guaguancó ”. With the Owner of the Soneo Carlos “El Cano” ESTREMERA the song “Amame en Camara Lenta”, with Frankie Vazquez “El Cuarto de Tula”, with Yolanda Rivera the song “Rumba en el Patio”, Vity Ruiz brother of Frankie Ruiz the song “La Cura”, with Aldalbeto Santiago on the song “Nadie se Salva de la Rumba”.
In all these golden opportunities, he managed to ask her many questions to perfect her singing, including knowing more about how to rhyme the phrases and after a while with her imposing voice, Fanny captured the attention of the greats of salsa, representing Callao and for which the Chalaco people named it “La Sonera Del Callao”.
She tells us that she is very happy with this great experience acquired, especially that she met many internationally recognized artists, many met them in person and others thanks to social networks, expressed by many who have a very beautiful voice, which is why she sang many songs musical expressing that at the time of singing he likes it because it is his passion with all his steps (vocalization, expression, movement).
During the Covid-19 pandemic it affected her like the rest of the world, in her case the recordings of her musical themes could not be made as before since the recording studio did not work as before, she had to sing with a smaller group of people, they couldn’t get together to practice; Although he was on a halt due to the pandemic, he was able to record a challenger “El Virus Se Mata Con Musica”, invited by a Cuban musician which was also recorded by Cuban artists, which was successful as it was heard in different parts of the world.
Thank God, despite all the complications that arose regarding her musical career, she achieved many things during this pandemic and also remained active thanks to social networks and is currently activating social activities in clubs, where They work in small groups live or online.
Fanny Almenara, continues with her impeccable musical career, loving music and recording a song entitled “Amor de mis Amores”, a salsa version with the Orquesta NG del Callao Director Franco Crovetto.
For her vast artistic career, she was awarded by different musical associations and by the company Pinsen Callao, Asocosalsa Peru (Ceremony Tite Curet, Busto Hector Lavoe, Charlie Palmieri and 25 Anniversary of Artistic Life (Okonkolo Association) and a few days ago she received the award The Miami Radio Salsa Superior Award Director Richard Roman (“La Dama De La Salsa” Award)
After his voice reached Cuban pages like the page “Benny More”, “Un Millón De Adalsoneros” and “Al Son Del Pinar Del Rio” She was invited to the day of Son 8 de mayo led by the gentleman of son Adalberto Álvarez, later I also record a song authored by the Reyna del merengue Milly Quezada “Gracias A Ti” dedicated to those who are always in the front line such as doctors and nurses in Covid 19 and the latest that the production of the song La Sitiera Tributo has recorded to the Cuban diva Omara Portuondo in which Nelson Gonzales participated in the tres, Eddie Montalvo on the congas, Nohelia Zambrano from Colombia on the violin and Luis Perico Ortiz on the Trumpet
For more information:
- Tik Tok: @fannyalmenara
International Area – September 2021
Vicente “Little Johnny” Rivero Conguero, Percussionist, Producer, Composer and Band Leader
“Tell me your name in leather, Little Johnny, Little Johnny” Hard Strike.
Conguero, percussionist, producer, composer, and conductor, Little Johnny Rivero has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific.
Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, Rivero was attracted to Latin jazz and the sounds and rhythms of the New York area rumberos as a child.
At age 10, Johnny began practicing percussion and joined his school band.
Shortly thereafter, he took dance lessons, which eventually led him to stage performances with the bands of the time at such famous venues as the Manhattan Center, Colgate Garden, Copacabana, and the Palladium.
At age 14, Rivero joined Orquesta Colón, the youngest Latin band in New York City, and recorded two albums with them.
Shortly thereafter, he took dance classes, which eventually led him to perform on stage with the bands of the time in such famous venues as the Manhattan Center, Colgate Garden, Copacabana, and the Palladium.
In 1973, Rivero moved to Puerto Rico with his parents and joined Sonora Ponceña in 1974.
After playing bongos with them for a year and a half, he switched to congas, which rekindled the love he had for the instrument as a child.
Rivero attributes the rhythms and professional direction he learned from Quique Lucca and his son, Papo Lucca, as qualities that have made him what he is today.
During the 16 years that Rivero played with La Sonora Ponceña, he traveled all over the world and made 18 highly respected albums with them.
Rivero has recorded with producers such as Eddie Palmieri, Brian Lynch, and Dr. Lonnie Smith.
In May 1997, Rivero shared the stage with his inspiration and idol, José Mangual. Rivero’s credits also include work with Charlie Palmieri, Dave Valentín, Rubén Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montanez, Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Giovanni Hidalgo, Ray Barretto, Patato Valdez, Changito, Tata Guines, John Santos, Sergio George, Bebo Valdes, Paquito D’Rivera, Tito Puente, and many other artists.
Rivero’s first solo effort, “Pasos Gigantes,” was well-received by critics and music fans.
He wrote and produced all the songs on that CD, showing off his skills as an arranger and musician.
He is currently working on his next CD, “Music in Me”, his first Latin Jazz album, which will include musicians, Brian Lynch on trumpet, Zaccai Curtis on piano and keyboards, Luques Curtis on bass, Louis Founche on saxophone, Andrei Matorin on violin, Ludwig Alfonso on drums, and Anthony Carrillo on bongo and bata drums.
Currently, Rivero is traveling internationally with Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri.
He also continues to record in-studio sessions and perform with many of the most respected acts in Latin music, including his own band.
Legendary conguero, percussionist, producer, composer and bandleader Little Johnny Rivero is proud to present his latest album, Golpe Duro, with Anthony Almonte.
From New York and after moving to Puerto Rico, he spent sixteen years with the Sonora Ponceña band and recorded eighteen highly respected albums.
He has played with many of the biggest and most respected names in Latin music, including nine-time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri.
During that same time, Little Johnny formed his salsa band and his Latin jazz band and continued to teach percussion at Kennedy High School in the Bronx, NY. It was there that Anthony Almonte, a high school student at the time, would become one of his music students.
Little Johnny has always had a passion for writing music and over the course of four years since his last album, he was inspired to write once again. He set out to create a danceable album that would highlight the roots of Son Montuno, Guaracha Mambo, and Latin jazz.
The only thing missing was a singer. In a rehearsal, his friend and colleague Jeffery Lopez mentioned that there was a talented “new guy” on the block. He came down, and here he was, Anthony Almonte from Kennedy HS. As they say “the rest is history” and the result of their collaboration is Little Johnny’s latest album, Golpe Duro.
Website: Little Johnny Rivero
Article of Interest: Eddie Palmieri: A Memorable Career