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Rick Arroyo

North America / USA / Las Vegas

Meet the 2008 Las Vegas Latin Music Awards Winner in two categories Best Latin Jazz Band and Best Latin Jazz Performer, Rick Arroyo. Him and the Latin Percussion Ensemble provides the very best in Steel Drums, Jazz, Latin Jazz ( Afro-Cuban and Brazilian ), Salsa for Dancing and contemporary Jazz.

Born in the Bronx, New York, Rick started playing professionally music when he was 15 years old. Began playing piano at the age of 9, drums at age 11, congas and vibraphone at the age of 14.

Composer, Arranger and Las Vegas Latin Awards Winner in 2 categories, Rick Arroyo appeared in The Coral Reef Lounge at Mandalay Bay every Monday night for four years with his 10 piece Latin dance band, The Latin Percussion Ensemble.

He has played at The Blue Note, The House Of Blues, The Rio, Aladdin, Wynn, Tropicana, Bally’s, Venetian, Stardust, Sahara, Circus Circus, Harrah’s, Imperial Palace, Monte Carlo, Gordon Biersch Brewery, The MGM Grand & MGM Grand Garden Arena, Bellagio’s, Caesar’s Palace, Mirage, Treasure Island, Orleans, Flamingo Hilton, Las Vegas Hilton, Paris Hotel, Rancho Santa Fe Station, The Stardust, New York, N.Y. ( in the George Hamilton Cigar Lounge) Green Valley Station, Boulder Station, Sam’s Town, Alexis Park Resort, Stratosphere, Fremont Street, Riviera, Primadonna, Lady Luck, Avi Casino, Red Rock Casino, Renaissance Hotel, Suncoast Casino, Furnace Creek Inn, Four Seasons and many other locations in Los Angeles, Denver and in Las Vegas.

Rick has performed at several of The City Of Lights Jazz Festivals, The Clark County Amphitheatre, The Reed Whipple Community Center and other venues including radio and television Simulcast.

Rick has recorded and played with Esteban, Tito Puente Jr. Poncho Sanchez, Steve Rossi, Luis Conte, Bill Laster, Karen Briggs, Dick Mitchell, Dan St. Marsais, Artie Webb, Francisco Aguabella, Papo Conga, Dan Weinstein, David Romero, Joe Torres, Poncho Roman, Johnny Conga, Papo Rodriguez, Tata Palau, Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, Ghalib Ghallab, Luis Miranda, Bobby Matos, Johnny Polanco, Pachito Alonso, Eddie Resto, Larry White, Hector Casanova, Dick Berk, Ramon Flores, Art Velasco… Shared the stage with The Yellow Jackets, Fatburger, The Rippingtons, Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot, Carl Fontana Everrett Harp, Gilberto Santa Rosa and many others.

Rick Arroyo - Collash — Rick Arroyo – Collash

He has opened for Tito Puente, Willie Chirino, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jesus Alemany, Cubanismo, President Barack Obama, David Benoit, Richard Elliott, Michael McDonald, Donna Summers, The Beach Boys, Sammy Hagar and many others.

Rick Has performed for Jenny Jones, Maurie Povich, Oscar Goodman, Shelly Berkley, Chip Maxfield, Senator Harry Reid, Barack Obama, Monte Rock, Joe Cortez, Robin Leach, Oscar De La hoya and many other celebrities.

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.

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.

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.

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

Here we have Brazilian bandleader and composer Paula Maya

Today we have an exclusive that makes us very happy, since it is a talented artist from a country we had never talked about in this section: Brazil. We are talking about none other than the award-winning bandleader, composer, pianist, keyboardist and singer Paula Maya, with whom we had the privilege to talk by Zoom.

Paula has a very interesting background, since she was born in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, the birthplace of the world famous bossa nova genre and the popular composer, pianist and singer Carlos Antonio ”Tom” Jobim. It is clar that this had much to do with artistic inclinations that the woman would show later in her life.

Under her belt, she has several nominations and awards she received thanks to her talent and effort of so many years as her nomination to the Focus Web News Brazilian International Press Awards in the category of Best Brazilian Musician living in the US, her nomination to the Austin Chronicle Music Awards in the category of Top Ten World Music Bands, Winner of the Seattle Weekly Awards in the category of Best Brazilian Composer, her nomination to the Seattle Hot Rocks TV Show Music Awards in the category of Best Female Singer, among others.

Here are the most important topics we touched with lovely Paula about her life and career.

Singer Paula Maya — Brazilian bandleader, composer, pianist, keyboardist and singer Paula Maya

Paula’s early interest in music

Paula first developed an interest in music when she was only four years old or even younger, as she had musical toys such as pianos or keyboards she used to play with all the time. To this it is added that her mother always listened to classical music, which she already found beautiful back then.

What is interest about his direct family is the fact that there were no musicians in it. In fact, her father was a lawyer and her mother was a dancer and yoga instructor, but a cousin of hers was a bandleader, composer and music teacher who traveled to the United States and developed quite a big reputation at the time, so he became an example for Paula, who would end up following in his footsteps in the future.

When she turned 10 years old, she began taking piano lessons, which was her first formal experience with music. Since then, she has continued to learn about a lot of instruments and areas related to this art, which she assures that it is so rich and diverse that you never stop learning new things.

Paula’s mentors in music

Paula has been very fortunate to be mentored by some of the most talented musical celebrities in Brazil and one of them was producer and percussionist Teo Lima, with whom she has continued to work on her latest album to the present. Paula met this Brazilian legend in Seattle, where she lived for 17 years, and music led them to form a great friendship that has lasted until today.

They had wanted to make an album together for many years and it has finally happened, which was a dream for Paula, as she grew up listening to his greatest hits and dreamed about one day meeting him. Not only did she meet him, but also she became his friend and worked with him.

Another name we can leave out is guitarist Baden Powell, whom Paula met in her early twenties and describes him as someone who supported her a great deal in her career and even came to her shows to watch her sing.

Another artist who was important in her training was Luizihno Eça, who was one of the greatest exponents of bossa nova at the time and a great reference for all musicians who wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Paula at ONE-2-ONE BAR — Paula Maya performing at ONE-2-ONE BAR in Austin, Texas

Music theory and the Brazilian Conservatory of Music

Paula comments that, before entering the Brazilian Conservatory of Music, she had an excellent teacher who was a concert pianist of name Luis Magalhães, who taught her the best piano techniques that she uses today in her performances, meaning that she was admitted to the hous of studies with a solid foundation of knowledge that helped her a lot.

In addition to that, music theory has been very useful for Paula at the time of teaching her classes, since she is a music teacher and thinks that all this knowledge is fundamental for an artist’s education, since music is very logical and occasionally you must look for quick answers to certain situations that certainly require studying and academic training.

She also told us that she usually uses music theory when composing because of the theoretical part, but not always.

Paula as a bandleader, pianist, keyboardist and singer

When we asked Paula how she has developed and performed in all these areas of music, she laughs and says that this is just the beginning, as she is also in charge of producing, composing, recording her albums, running the business part, making booking arrangements, among other things. ”That’s the life of a musician nowadays, especially when you don’t have a machinery behind you to back you up” Paula said on this topic.

This means that, apart from all the musical knowledge Paula has, she also takes care of all the details regarding her work, but they do not have to do with her profession directly. She does not have a large team of assistants to back her up, so she manages everything related to her career herself.

Since there are so many things she should do, she has a calendar in which she arranges the day and time to do every activity and always follows it to the letter. The artist says that the hardest thing about this is finding the time to be inspired and compose, since so many occupations, sometimes, do not let her clear her mind. However, she has learned to take full advantage of those few spaces.

Paula playing the keyboard — Paula Maya playing the keyboard at Barton Creek Farmers Market in Austin, Texas

Paula’s role as a Grammy Award voting member

For some time, Paula was a Grammy Awards voting member in its version in English and Spanish, so we could not very well not ask her about this important issue.

She told us that, although it is true that she is no longer part of the committee responsible for voting, social networks and these new forms of communication have made things much easier, since judges and committee members have groups on Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms where they can conduct the necessary discussions.

In her particular case, what she considered when the time comes to vote for a nominee was talent and how much she liked a type of performance, but all member had their own particular approach to choosing a specific artist.

Something that Paula definitely did not like was that the majority of votes to an artist did not necessarily reward talent, but rather the popularity of the moment and promotion. She thinks this is not entirely fair, since talent, music skills and preparation do not always go hand in hand with popularity, but she is also aware that the ”game” is as well and she had to adapt to it.

Paula Maya & Bosa Nova Plus

Paula says laughing that everybody in Seattle expected her to play bossa nova because she was Brazilian, but she refused to do so. Eventually, she ended up doing exactly what the public expected and started playing bossa nova when she moved to Austin, Texas.

The fact that this Texan city has so many residents and musicians from Brazilian descent living in Austin has been an advantage for this genre to continue to become more popular and this niche to develop more and more. This led her to meet the musicians who have accompanied her in the band, who also came from playing bossa nova and other genres during their respective careers.

Antonio Laya a traditional artist

Latinoamerica / Mexico / Cancun

Antonio Laya “He tells us a little about his new single Abre que voy”

Today we are pleased to learn a little about the life of Antonio Jose Laya Gonzalez (Antonio Laya), a Venezuelan who with his voice and his particular way of dancing has managed to climb and carve his way to success, this Taurean with a great career as a singer of good salsa and especially son, he presents us his new single, abre que voy, a success that has gradually positioned itself on the best musical platforms from his current hometown, the beautiful city of Mexico.

Good afternoon friend Antonio, thank you in advance for the time you give us to learn a little about your life and give our great readers a little about your son, but in letters, we know from your artistic review that you come from a cultural world. the dance? Why the singing?

I come from a family of musicians, teachers and athletes, in 1995/96 I started in the popular culture workshops of the “Fundación Bigott” (cultural house of great social impact in Venezuela) in the Afro-Venezuelan percussion workshops with Professor Jesús Raúl Paiva, where he gave me the opportunity to enter this world of culture…

Years later this would bear fruit, when I joined the Vasallos del Sol group, a representative entity of Venezuelan folklore, on one of their tours in Europe “Germany” to be exact, one of its dancers stayed, leaving an open vacancy, it was then that I received the invitation to audition, at a festival of San Juan of the foundation, where I was able to win a spot. From then on I became a vassal of the sun.

All this experience in the middle of the show made me lean towards dance, where I got to venture as direct from my own dance school destined to spread the Cuban casino. With Vasallos del Sol I had the opportunity to travel the world, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Spain, Mexico, Korea, Japan, the United States,

How many years has it been since the idea of entering the cultural world of your country?

22 years since I formally started at the Bigott Foundation.

How did the idea of giving life to singing come about?

On the tour of the United States, I began to sing with the vassals accompanied by the guitar of Luis Gonzalez, assuring me later that it was there that he heard me and knew that I could sing, quickly and a few months later he called me and invited me to participate in a project that neither It didn’t even have a name, which would quickly begin to take shape and to date is known as the seventh bohemian.

I began to sing very badly, I lost my voice because I didn’t know how to use the phonator, I began to take classes with several teachers, the first of them Ronald Gonzalez, fundamental pillar to start singing, placing and improving my vocal technique, successively Fabby Olano, Gladys Salazar, Maigualida Ocaña, Dayan Montiel, Marcial, Gustavo Gerardo. We recorded 3 albums on national tours, the second of which is entitled “She takes me” a song that I believe made the Seventh Bohemia popular. Singing was not in the plans but it ended up being one of my great passions.

A song that marks you?

She sings: The earrings that the moon lacks, I have them saved to make you a necklace I found them this morning in the mist when I was walking next to the immense sea. Since I was a child I woke up very early listening to music by La Sonora Matancera, Felipe Pírela, Damiron and Danzón de Acerina, it fascinated me.

Let’s talk about the seventh bohemia. How do you join this septet?

I am a founder, just in the second rehearsal when only Luis Freites, Cesar “Chagu” Bolívar and Luis Gonzalez were there I was summoned along with Krlos Gonzalez to be part of the group, from then on I started singing “Bilongo” to be exact, hahaha I’m so in love with the black tomasa……….., El Jamaiquino, Me que, among others.

What is the greatest thing you have experienced so far with music? -You could perhaps refer to a concert or moment to share with an artist-

I think the greatest thing I have experienced in music is having shared the stage with great figures both Venezuelan and foreign, Francisco Pacheco, Canelita Medina, Trina Medina, among, Jose Alberto “el canario”, Cheo Feliciano, Alexander Abreu and his Habana de First, Manolito Simonet and his Trabuco, Tiburón Morales, El Septeto Santiaguero, among others. On the other hand, being at the 2014 and 2015 Pepsi Music Awards, the biggest thing, achieving 4 nominations for the 2015 Latin Grammys, a great privilege.

What has given you and what has taken away the artistic life you lead?

It has given me the satisfaction of feeling and receiving the applause of an audience, feeling the magic of a stage, dancing on the most important stages of Venezuela and the countries I visit, I don’t know if there is another artist who performed in the same weekend in two different facets and groups in the most important venue in Venezuela

The Teresa Carreño Theater where on Saturday I danced in my last Vasallos de Venezuela concert in the concert “Guiados por la Luz” occasion to baptize the latest production, with guests from the cultural movement and the next day singing with La Séptima Bohemia alternating with Francisco Pacheco, El Septeto Santiaguero, Jose Alberto “El Canario” Canelita Medina and El Tiburón Morales and as special guests all the best dance academies in Caracas.

Antonio let’s laugh a little. Tell us about the funniest thing that has happened to you at a concert and the most painful.

WUUAOOO, too many, Well, a concert with Los Vasallos where I went out to dance and my pants began to drop, at a concert at the Yerba Buena Garden Festival 2008 in San Francisco we got the foot burn of the century since the stage was al pure sun and linoleum floor and at the baptism of the album “She takes me” in the main hall of the Central University of Venezuela after the great presentation of the renowned Ramón Castro We went on stage and I couldn’t see anything through my glasses hahaha and I I put in the place of my partner Miguel Guanchez colliding spectacularly ahaha to start singing. What a laugh.

We know of the great success that you have had in Venezuela with the successes that you have sung and have marked the public, they have gone from a sound to a necessity for the dancer. What do you consider this great impact?

Definitely because I come from the world of dance, I’m a dancer and a dancer and I understood perfectly that I needed the same audience that the casineros came from, those of us who at some point went to the Goiticoa school or the Monagas house. By the way, as a curious fact, I was the one who organized one of the first casino parties in a place called Beisboland, a party where I dare say it was the second presentation of one of the most important dance groups in the Venezuelan casino Son Rumbero, where they danced “Cuentas Verdes y Amarillas de Adalberto Álvarez.

How has your foray into Latin music in Mexico been?

Since my arrival in Mexico I have participated in several musical projects, Los Panas.com, La Formula Perfecta, Swing Latino to mention a few, it has not been easy since musically Cancun has a particularity and that is that the music that is danced is still that of the 80s when they talk about salsa, of course with its exceptions, but it has cost me to adapt but in the end it is what is consumed here. Here the forte is the hotel industry, so the Latin genres that marked an era are what is worked on, that’s why as a salsero it has been difficult for me to adapt, although I have worked anyway.

The Salsa or the Son? Which one do you lean towards?

Definitely La Salsa, I grew up in the middle of the Salsa de La Sonora Ponceña, Willie Rosario and the great Ray Barretto to name a few. Son also became my passion but I have to be realistic! came into my life thanks to the Seventh.

Open, I’m coming. Tell us a little about this great topic?

When I got on the plane to leave my country, in addition to nostalgia, I only had one thought, to make my album as a soloist first, I knocked on many doors, I looked for a lot of help, until I finally reached what today is called “Abre que I’m going” in that search the day came when I remembered that I had a buddy who was Omo Aña (Drummer) Maurice Melo and that after conversations, long conversations we would take a first step, start aggravating a theme, my first promotional single.

What surprise do we have to see from Antonio Laya during this 2019?

With God’s favor, to continue recording my album, including my first music video, if money allows me, hahaha For this 2019 I’m going to release my second single, it’s called… (Thinks) Not yet, let’s leave it as a surprise , do a launch concert and seek my respective nomination for the 2019 Pepsi Music Awards and the 2019 Latin Grammys.

Where can our followers find you?

My social networks Facebook and Instagram through @ToñitoLaya, on twitter as @Negrolaya and through my YouTube channel, Toñito Laya

1 New artist Wito Rodriguez “I am distinct and different”

Norte America / Estados Unidos / Florida

Wito Rodriguez. “I am distinct and different”

Irwin “Wito” Rodríguez was born in Chicago to Puerto Rican parents and got his start in the musical field as a singer and musician. During his teenage years, he performed with a Rock and Roll band as a guitarist.

In 1968 Wito Rodriguez decided to move to “La Isla Del Encanto”, Puerto Rico, in order to search for his musical roots and experience the spicy sounds of his beloved Latin Ritmo.

His first encounter in the Salsa genre was with a Puerto Rican percussionist from the 60’s called “Chacón y su Orquesta”, where Wito learned all the Latin rhythms such as Guaguancó, Boogaloo, Mozambique, etc.

Chacón was his coach in Latin percussion instruments and Wito also fell in love with maracas.

Wito Rodriguez returned to Chicago in 1971 to join “Orquesta La Justicia” a local band that opened shows for artists such as: Ismael Rivera, Ray Barreto, Willie Colón, El Gran Combo and the legendary “Fania All Stars”.

Like many young men of that time, in 1973 Wito Rodriguez decided to join the United States Army and was sent to Europe.

During his stay in Germany, Wito Rodriguez took singing lessons with the Opera singer Barbra Sutton, and at the same time he created two bands with the names of “El Conjunto Sabor” and “La Sonora Antillana”.

These orchestras accompanied artists of the Salsa genre such as: Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Miranda, Tito Allen, Santitos Colón, Pete “El Conde” Rodríguez and the queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz.

After his retirement from the army, Wito joined forces with German band leader Rudi Fuesers and created the European Salsa Orchestra “Conexion Latina”.

With Conexion Latina, Wito Rodriguez recorded two albums; “Calorcito” and “Un Poco Loco”.

He also had the great experience of recording two songs with the band of Director and Arranger Peter Herbolzheimer.

During the 80’s, Wito wanted to broaden his horizons by forming his own groups called “Wito Rodriguez y Orchestra” and “Wito Con Cache”.

Missing his family and friends, Wito “crossed the pond” to return to the United States to finish his Army career.

He never gave up his passion for music, a new big band sound was on his mind, and he returns to the spotlight with the Wito Rodriguez Salsa Jazz Orchestra under the musical direction of trumpeter and arranger, Gino Picart.

“What a wonderful world” or “What a Wonderful World” is his third album released in January 2015.

Although busy in 2016 with live performances, a new album had also been produced and recorded between South America Venezuela and Orlando, Florida.

The most recent production called “Como el Viento” will be released in 2017. This album contains a compilation of songs recorded over the years in Europe than ever for the Western Hemisphere. I hope you enjoy your first solo release… What a wonderful world!

In 2018 Wito released another CD called “The Best of Wito” which has a mix of all the songs that fans thought were the best and respected their preferences.

Wito also has four new singles that he has released from his new album, which will be available from February 2019.

Through the internet platforms you can find these releases.

Always and Forever, Soy Caribe, Yo No Te Echo La Culpa and Now and Forever are the ones that have been released so far.

“As a bilingual singer, I am blessed to contribute to the music industry in my songs, singing them in English and Spanish, unity through my music in a mix of salsa and R&B, etc.” Wito Rodriguez

In the year of 2018. Wito Rodriguez was blessed to be nominated at the Hollywood Music Media Awards (HMMA) in Los Angeles, CA in November 2018.

You can also see his certificate as an honoree at the Fox Music Awards USA, Miami in November 2018, who was nominated and honored for being the Army Veteran Salsero Singer.

The Chicago Salsa Congress was one of its great events in 2018.

In March 2019 his new bilingual production Soy Distinto Y Diferente came out with the song Soy Caribe already nominated at the Hollywood Media Music Awards on November 20, 2019 in Hollywood California.

NMJ Animal Music Records LLC. [email protected]

PQ Promotions/Management Jenny Morales [email protected]

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