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Search Results for: Oscar D' León

Joel Uriola

Latino America / Venezuela / Caracas

Joel Uriola “I am the best, because I surpass myself”

Very soon the theme will be released, Cuidadillo there ok

This Venezuelan pianist, arranger and musical producer was born on January 4, 1963 in Caracas, in the popular parish of Antímano, the same one that saw the birth of Sonero del Mundo Oscar D´ León, by chance or his destiny was already written and en route. towards a dream that over the years would come true; be the best and that your work is recognized both nationally and internationally.

In our gathering, Joel tells us that when he is classified as the best, he has nothing to do with competing with others or with airs of greatness, but with surpassing himself in everything he proposes, he tells us that “my path is longer, but I came as Joel Uriola”, his name is a seal that ensures quality work.

With 38 years of musical career, Joel Uriola has plenty of talent, level and experience, in each production he uses the best group of Venezuelan musicians and continues to be at the forefront of music, all this is demonstrated in the more than 1000 musical productions in which he has participated as a performer, director or musical producer, with national and international artists.

Joel Uriola
Joel Uriola

Joel Uriola The best?

“That’s right, metaphysics says that you can’t talk about yourself in a negative way, you can’t sell a product if you don’t have good marketing, you must see beyond, be your own manager, most record companies are in the hands of ignorant people. the music that drive the artist’s work”. “Artists have the obligation to cultivate themselves, learn and not only be musicians, we must project ourselves in a big way”.

How did your childhood develop and what was the atmosphere of the time like?

“I had a good education in my home, with values, a grandmother with character, who told me that no matter where you lived, your behavior would make a difference, she always motivated me, just like my mother who also instilled in me to prepare myself, my grandmother was an enterprising woman, my father was a rumba guitarist and a professor at the Católica”. “I remember that I saw the debut of the Trabuco Venezolano in the CC Propatria, as fate would have it, my mother had an office there, as did the people of the Latin Dimension.”

At what age did you start in music and with which orchestras did you take your first steps?

“My musical beginnings took place at the “Prudencio Esáa” School of Music, starting professionally at the age of 17 with a group called Galaxia, I was the conga player, it was a Son group and we rehearsed at the observatory”. “Then I became part of the Caracuchos of Joseito Rodríguez from 1977 to 1979, whom I met thanks to Jesús “Totin” Rebolledo, later with the Latin Dimension from 1979 to 1980, from Cesar Monges I learned a great deal, and from 83 to 87 with Oscar D´ León.

And why is there that change from the conga to the piano?

“Due to the noise I made in the house when I was rehearsing and the equipment turned on at full volume, my mother subliminally gave me an organ, it was less noise, and then I began to imitate what the pianists did in a self-taught way, I remember the theme of Pete Rodríguez… What things life has, life, life”. “Then my mother bought me a piano and took me to audition at the School of Music and I stayed, I was a student of teacher Tiero Pezzuti, Gerry Well and Samuel del Real”. “In the nightclubs of El Rosal I did many substitutions, there I polished myself, I had a good preparation and some great teachers who are my friends”.

Joel Uriola - piano
Joel Uriola – piano

What anecdotes do you have about your experience of working alongside Oscar D´ León, and about that piano solo on the song “Cuídate bien”, did you ever think that being so young, almost 20 years old, your name would remain forever on the mind of the salsero?

“The time with Oscar was glorious, I got to know many places, we toured for 3 and 4 months, we enjoyed ourselves but we also had a lot of fun, I learned a great deal and disciplined.” “I had the blessing of meeting many musicians that I admired such as Eddie Palmieri, Salvador Cuevas, Barry Rogers, among others, with Domingo Quiñones I made a great friendship.” “As for improvisation, I feel great pride, it was something that came out at that time, I don’t know if it will come out again -laughs-“.

Which musician has been your biggest influence?

Markolino Diamond, Eddie Palmieri, Papo Lucca.

A pianist you admire?

“Markolino Diamond is my idol, a lot of what I do has to do with this guy, if he were alive he wouldn’t exist…”. “He was irreverent, crazy, he broke the schemes.”

How do you see the response of the salsa audience with your productions?

“There will always be admirers and detractors, with the level of awareness that you gain, it doesn’t bother you that there are people who don’t like your work, I make music for everyone”. “Public opinion can kill you if you are not prepared for it, but you must believe in what you do.”

How do you see the support of the media to spread your music?

“Thank God the record companies disappeared, those who knew the least about music controlled them, they decided that it was commercial and that it was not, in the alternative media there is response and support, however, social networks allow you to reach in a matter of seconds many places and you can do your own marketing”.

What do you think about the fusions that you are doing with salsa, for example, salsa and reggaeton?

“It works perfectly, it’s urban salsa, reggaeton with its lyrical content has improved a lot, they’ve softened it, reggaeton artists have great economic and communication support.” “The good things are guaranteed, reggaeton is seen as Salsa was seen in its beginnings, with bad eyes, but you see, Salsa is worldwide even the Chinese dance it, people consume what the radio puts on it, even if it’s bad, there’s room for everyone”.

As a music teacher, what have you contributed to the country?

“Train the next generation, in values ​​and discipline, and that seed continues to germinate, help people regardless of how they sometimes pay you.”

Why musician and not another profession?

“I wanted to be Disip (Venezuela’s intelligence corps), but when one is born marked for something, that’s what goes… My destiny is music.”

How do you see the music industry right now?

“Everyone is recording with their own effort, you make a song, you upload it to the networks, we have that powerful tool in our favor; the record companies limited you, hardly any albums are recorded anymore”.

Can you live from music?

“Well… Thank God I can do it, every day I get up like a conuquero to work, I can live from music.”

Of the 9 productions under your belt, which do you think is the best or the most important for you?

“Babalawo (2009), the best achieved, the best worked in all aspects, was sold in all religious houses.”

What motivated you to form your own orchestra?

“I’ve always been a leader, that’s why I decided to form my own orchestra, everyone has their moment”.

Isn’t it a difficult job to compose and arrange?

“You are born for this, it is not difficult, you must study and prepare yourself, my muse can arrive at 3 a.m., I get up and add or season my music in my own way, I listen to traditional Cuban music, jazz that inspire me.”

What is Joel Uriola doing right now?

“Currently I dedicate myself to producing for other artists of the Salsero genre, always offering quality, the most recent is the work with the Mercadonegro Orchestra with the theme Rumba Negrito”.

You are the arranger of the 3 songs that made the Bailatino orchestra known internationally, you have been the Producer and arranger in five songs of “Rumberos del callejón”, among other Venezuelan artists. What does it feel like to contribute so that other Venezuelans are successful?

“At the moment you do things, you do it with the best intention, and that is the greatest satisfaction, helping others grow regardless of how they pay.”

Do you feel that unity and camaraderie are lacking in the salsa guild?

“Totally, without unity nothing is achieved.”

What do you think of copying, imitating and not creating?

“He who imitates is destined to fail, one must have personality, you must not cling to something foreign to survive, what you do has more value, you must have creative capacity”.

Future plans or present?

“I am recording two songs, Cuidadillo there ok composition by Maurice Melo, a salsa with tasty rhythmic elements, timba and hard sauce, and the second song You are the teacher has a Christian connotation, with the Praise Orchestra, the song is my own. , a cool sauce with Christian sauce”.

Joel reaffirms us “My road is long, but I arrive as Joel Uriola, I am who I am, I am the best”.

Omar Negron

USA / Florida / Tampa

Omar Negron, The Virtuoso of Trumpet and Percussion

Omar Negron was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on March 3, 1972. Music came into his life as a family legacy.

Omar Negron
Omar Negron

From the age of 3 he began to play percussion “las pleneras y el bongo”, guided by his maternal grandfather, his paternal grandfather who was also a musician and cuatro player and his grandmother who sang Puerto Rican trova.

At the age of 7, he entered the Carolina School of Music where he learned to read music to interpret it in percussion, which he had already mastered.

The first witnesses of his talent were his classmates at the Angel Ramos de Country Club elementary school in San Juan P.R, where he was part of the central show in several of the school activities, in some of them even imitating the singer Oscar de León. .

At the age of twelve, while attending his regular studies, he was alternately accepted at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Free School of Music in San Juan.

Omar Negron
Omar Negron singing

There he began to study Trumpet since there was no room for percussion.

However, the percussion teacher allowed him to be part of his class, so he (Omar Negron) studied Trumpet and Percussion simultaneously.

Proven his talent, Omar Negron had the opportunity to be part of the School’s dance band, where he began playing Bongo and years later he would play Trumpet.

He was part of some talent competitions where he ranked first as a singer.

Upon graduating from the Escuela Libre de Música, Omar Negrón received the Rafael Hernández medal for his versatility playing different instruments, including his voice.

His musical career

At just 16 years old, Omar Negron makes his first professional recording as a singer, thanks to an opportunity he received from Mickey Cora and his Cabala Orchestra, where he was able to record and perform the songs: “Wanting to Live With You” and “We Will Always Be Friends” .

Omar Negron
Omar Negron

In 1990, Omar Negron was recruited by the Conjunto Chaney after the departure of the singer José Cheo Andújar.

A year later he made his first recording with the Ensemble, in the production entitled “Somos Amigos” where he performed the song “En Trance”.

Omar made three more productions with the Chaney Ensemble under the Hit Makers record label, but unfortunately none were released.

In 1994, Chaney made a recording with the Musical Production label, entitled “La Escuela de la Salsa”, where Omar recorded the songs: “I’m back”, “Impulsos”, “I fell in love”, “You are the vice”, ” Gaining Sensuality”, among others. This production earned them several awards including a Gold Record and an ACE Award.

It was a season of success and presentations in Europe, the United States, Central America and South America.

In 2004 he was invited by maestro Willie Rosario to be part of his orchestra after the departure of singer Rico Walker.

Opportunity that he enjoyed for three years and allowed him to gain experience as a son player and interpreter of many of his hits.

However no new recordings were made during that season.

In 2013 he launched himself as a soloist with the song: “No Son Juguetes”, composition and arrangement by Frank Poupart, a song that was widely accepted among the fans of romantic salsa in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Canary Islands, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia. among others.

Then he recorded the song by Ricardo Montaner and Jorge Luis Chasin “Bésame” which made him the winner of two Fox Music Awards in the city of Houston, Texas.

The same theme was placed number one on the Italian and Swiss tropical music radio charts.

A year later, he recorded “Waiting for you” written by Jesse Villareal and arranged by the great experienced arranger Tommy Villarini.

This single allowed him to open doors in countries like Belgium, Turkey, and Germany in addition to the United States, Central and South America, especially in Panama where his music is well accepted.

In 2016, with much more accumulated experience and with the help of a new work team, Omar Negron launches his new single entitled “Por Si Mañana”, composed by Jorge Luis Piloto and arranged by Ramón Sánchez.

This song is the Salsa version of the ballad recorded by the well-known Colombian group Mojito Lite.

Mura Peringa Orchestra

Europe / France / Strasbourg

Mura Peringa Orchestra, A tribute to Salsa culture, given by 9 crazy musicians of Latin music

Since 2006, the group (Mura Peringa) brings together 9 musicians (20 – 34 years old) united by their passion for Latin music.

Their influences are important musicians and orchestras such as: Sierra Maestra, Mercado Negro, Eddie Palmieri, Oscar D Leon, Maraca Valle, Chaparro y su Orquesta, Orlando Poleo, Fania All stars, Willie Colon and Hector Lavöe.

From the creation of the project, the heart of repertoire focuses on a color Salsa Dura 70’s, embellished with Bolero, Merengue, Chachacha, Son, Cuban Rumba, Timba.  The compositions and rearrangements of Mura Peringa, faithful or transfigured, were able to invite the crowds to dance on the stages of the French grand-est, and during the summer tours in Switzerland and in the south of France.

Mura Peringa’s music, tasty, throbbing, intoxicating, is supported by rich arrangements, and by the solid instrumental and stylistic mastery of her musicians.  The strength of Mura Peringa is her ability to metamorphose. The lead vocals on the front of the stage go from one musician to another, causing so many reversals of point of view.

The staging of the game and the transitions are served by a light creation that finishes training the audience at the rhythm of the clave and syncopations.  Get ready to swing; it will be hard to resist the call of the dance Mura Peringa, a tribute to Salsa culture, given by 9 crazy  musicians of Latin music. 

United in the most vibrant Salsa orchestra of the Great East, songs, brass and percussion invite you to dance to Afro-Caribbean rhythms and music.  Listening to the surprising compositions and rearrangements of Mura Peringa, you will not sit for long.

MusiciansCongas: Paul StengerTimbales: Nicolas SchmidtBass : Theron FuhrmannClavier : Sebastien ValleTrombone : Fabrice ToussaintSaxophone: Adrien LabordeFlute / Percus : Camille EvrardTrompet : Alexandre BrandTrompet: Adrien Arnaud

To enjoy, and to dance

Jorge Bautista

Latin America/ Mexico / Mexico City

Jorge Bautista, Musical director and percussionist of the Irawo Orchestra

Jorge Bautista is a musician from Mexico City, he began his percussion studies at the age of 5 due to family tradition.

Jorge Bautista
Jorge Bautista and his Congas

The timbal, conga and bongo are the first percussion instruments that he studies empirically until at the age of 15 he studies at the autonomous music school for 5 years and then diversifies his knowledge in percussion from various places in Latin America such as : Colombia, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Peru and Brazil among others as well as in Africa.

Accompaniments Sauce

The experienced percussionist musician Jorge Bautista has performed important musical accompaniments with great exponents of our Afro-Caribbean music such as: Jerry Rivera, Maelo Ruiz, Tito Nieves, Willie González, Alfredito de La Fe, Oscar D`León, Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda. , Ritchie Ray, Bobby Cruz, Roberto Roena, Oscar Hernández, Alberto Barros, Arturo Ortiz, Arturo Ortiz, Jimmy Bosch, Tito Allen, Viti Ruiz, Ray Sepúlveda, Herman Olivera and among others.

Jorge Bautista
Jorge Bautista

Latin Jazz Accompaniments

Among the stars of Latin Jazz, percussionist Jorge Bautista has performed accompaniments, among them we have: Arturo Sandoval, Ed Calle, Waney Bergeròn, Hector Infanzòn, Ola Onabule, Tlaxcatecalt Latin Jazz, Papo Sánchez, Ofunan, Daniel López, Latin Jazz On, Latin Hot Band, Density 6 and among others.

Other accompaniments

The Mexican multi-instrumentalist has also accompanied great music performers such as: Armando, Manzanero, Susana Zabaleta, Emmanuel, Kalimba, Samo, Víctor García, Carlos Cuevas, Alexander Acha, María León, Lisset, Aleks Syntek, Maria del Sol and Raul D’blasio.

Jorge Bautista and his musical instruments
Jorge Bautista and his musical instruments

Due to his great versatility, he has been invited to give clinics in different cities of the Mexican Republic as well as in several countries in the United States, Honduras, Colombia and Guatemala.

Currently the musician is sponsored by several major instrument brands worldwide: Gon Bops, Tama, Sabían, Promark, Remo, Rockears, GR, NND Percusión, and Veerkamp.

Tempo Latino 2023

Tempo Latino 2023
Tempo Latino 2023

Tempo Latino is a music festival held in Vic-Fezensac, France, in the region of Gers in Gascony it is the first and the greatest Latin American and Afro-Cuban music festival of the summer in Europe. The festival was founded in 1994 and has been held annually since then.

“In 2020 and 2021, the festival was only interrupted for two consecutive years due to the containment of the new crown pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic.”

With around 600 volunteers from all over the city for four days of intense activities and an audience of around 60,000 people from all over the world.

Tempo Latino offers a variety of Latin American and Afro-Cuban music, including Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, Cumbia, Merengue, Rumba, Latin-jazz, Reggaeton and more. The festival also features dance workshops, food stalls and other cultural events.

International performers and instructors from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Africa, the United States (primarily New York, Miami, and California), and Europe have participated in a number of concerts and workshops

Tempo Latino has grown from a small festival to one of the most important Latin American music festivals in Europe. The festival hosts some of the biggest names in Latin music, including Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades,  Eddie Palmieri, Oscar D’ León, Johnny Pacheco, Adalberto Álvarez, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Kassav, Totó la Momposina,  and Los Van Van. Tempo Latino has also helped advance the careers of many new artists.

Here’s more information on Tempo Latino:

  • The festival takes place in a beautiful setting in the heart of the French countryside.
  • The festival is family friendly and has activities for all ages.
  • The festival is a great opportunity to experience a different culture and learn about Latin American and Afro-Cuban music.

A festival of concerts takes place in the square and, at the same time, many free outdoor events for those who want to discover music in the city’s dance halls in the afternoon and evening. In the second edition, they have integrated dance, music, and percussion lessons.

The 28th edition of Tempo Latino will take place from July 27-30, 2023.

The lineup includes:

La Conga

27 July – Ana Tijoux (France)

Les Arenes

28 July 2023

21:00 – Orchestra Baobab (Senegal)

23:00 – Grupo Compay Segundo (Cuba)

29 July 2023

21:00 – Lila Downs (Mexico)

23:00 – Cimafunk (Cuba)

30 July 2023

21:00 – Bernard Lavilliers (France)

23:00 – La Excelencia (USA)

and many more!

Pass Concert: 

On the official website, tickets for four days are available for 120 € (during the festival, they cost 150 €).

Eric Duffau

The current director of Tempo Latino is Eric Duffau from Toulouse, France. He is also the founder of the music festival which he started in 1994. A passionate lover of Latin American and Afro-Cuban music, Dufour devoted his life to promoting this music to a wider audience and serves on the board of the French Association for the Promotion of Latin Music (AFMPL).

Director of Tempo Latino is Eric Duffau from Toulouse
Director of Tempo Latino is Eric Duffau from Toulouse

Dufoe was a tireless promoter of Latin American and Afro-Cuban music. He travels the world in search of new talent and works hard to make Tempo Latino a major cultural event. He is a passionate advocate of Latin music and works to bring this music to a wider audience.

Dufour graduated from the National School of Arts and Crafts (ENSAM) in Paris. In the early 1980s he worked as a DJ, during which time he became interested in Latin American and Afro-Cuban music. In 1989, he decided to create a festival to showcase this music and Tempo Latino was born.

https://www.tempo-latino.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/TempoLatinoFestival

The Tempo Latino Festival is Back

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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.