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Luis González “El tsunami de la salsa” 50 años, mi música… Mi pasión

The trumpeter and director of the orchestra known as ‘The Tsunami of Salsa’ -Luis Gonzalez- delivers his new album under the title ’50 years, my music… My passion’.

With this production, Luis González takes the opportunity to celebrate five decades of musical life; during which he has been a musician of important orchestras, such as the Ray Barretto Orchestra, the Luis “Perico” Ortiz Orchestra and the Willie Rosario Orchestra, from which González left to form his own.

It should be noted that for thirteen years the trumpeter has been known as ‘the tsunami of salsa’ while becoming the director of his musical proposal, which he has kept active on local and international stages since 2009.

The launching of ’50 años, mi música… Mi pasión’ took place on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at the headquarters of the National Foundation for Popular Culture in Old San Juan. Present were Rafy Arroyo, Ricky Ramos and Jorge “Yoyo” Ocasio representing the current enrollment of the Luis González Orchestra; in addition to the ‘King of the Bass’ -Bobby Valentín- and trumpet player, director of the Juan Morel Campos Music Institute of Ponce and director of the Del Sur al Norte Orchestra, Julito Alvarado.

In ’50 años, mi música… Mi pasión’, guest musicians include trumpet players Jan Duclerc, Jesús Alonso and Julito Alvarado; pianist, arranger and music producer Pedro Bermúdez; Efraín Hernández on bass; William “Kachiro” Thompson on tumbadoras; Richard Carrasco on bongó; Gamalier González on trombone; and the voices of Pichie Pérez, Juan Bautista and Darvel García on backing vocals. On vocals, Rafy Arroyo, Ricky Ramos and Pedro Arroyo participated as guests.

Interestingly, a trend that has been emerging lately in salsa recordings also took over the tsunami. I am referring to the batá drums, which for this album were played by Anthony Carrillo and Juanchi Sánchez. The album was recorded at Rolo Recording Studio, under the direction of Luis González himself. The mixing and mastering was in charge of Vinny Urrutia.

The composers responsible for the songs chosen for this, the tsunami’s third release, include Francisco “Chalina” Alvarado, Yova Rodríguez, Luis “Perico” Ortiz, Eliu de Jesús, Cucco Peña, García Guadalupe, Ricky Ramos, Pedro Arroyo and Onorio Rivera. For the musical arrangements, Tsunami counted on arrangers of the stature of Oscar Hernandez, Javier Fernandez, Luis ‘Perico’ Ortiz, Ricky Gonzalez, Roberto Perez, Isidro Infante, Julito Alvarado and Pedro Bermudez.

Currently, the orchestra better known as ‘El Tsunami de la Salsa’ counts on the musical experience of its members: Rafael “Bodo” Torres (piano), Mario Vélez (bass), Luis González (leader, fiscorno and trumpet), Ito Torres and Simón Rivera (trumpets), Jorge Echevarría (trombone), Rigo Díaz (timbal), Jorge “Yoyo” Ocasio (tumbadoras) and Wilfredo Rosario (bongo).

So, we are still in salsa. Yes, salsa lives! The efforts of this bandleader attest to that. Congratulations and may the next one come.

By Bella Martinez, ISM Correspondents, San Juan, Puerto Rico

NOTICIAS CON SABOR on June 2022

The latest of salsa in the Bay Area of San Francisco

Someone to look out for is percussionist/bandleader/catalyst Javier Navarette who has been creating a serious buzz with his new group Javier Navarette and His Socially Distant Friends which features a “who’s who” of stellar Bay Area talent including esteemed violinist Anthony Blea, vocalist/percussionist Hector Lugo, rising star on the guitar, Kai Lyons, bassist Ayla Davila, percussionist Jesse Weber and charter members such as tresero/guitarist Camilo Landau, NY based trombonist and Javier’s brother Raul Navarette and PMO vocalist Chriselle Durandy. Navarette and friends play an intoxicating brew of danceable Salsa, Cuban descarga, Rumba, Afro-Cuban folklore, Bomba, Timba and Latin Jazz played superbly by this all-star ensemble that have impressed large audiences at Carnaval San Francisco, the UC Theatre, Rocky’s Market and other festivals and hot spots.

Navarette is also currently a member of the hot Bobi Cespedes Band and was formerly a member of renowned bands such as Charanson, La Mixta Criolla, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir among others. He has established himself as one of the SF Bay’s rising stars….a rumbero with excellent chops, taste and well versed both in the Cuban and Puerto Rican culture and heritage. Navarette also has taught in the classroom spreading the knowledge to younger grade school children in the Bay Area. Navarette is also booking the popular Modupue Sundays series at Rocky’s Market in Oakland. Go Javier!!

Javier Navarrette from Javier Navarrette and His Socially Distant Friends

The Western Region Puerto Rican Council will once again present their “El Dia De San Juan” Salsa Festival on Saturday, June 18, 11 am to 7 pm at Swiss Park, 5811 Mowry Avenue in Newark. Headlining the show will be Frankie Vasquez “El Sonero Del Barrio”. Vasquez is considered one of the finest soneros in the business today. With a star studded career that includes working with Manny Oquendo and Libre, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Los Soneros Del Barrio, Pedro Bermudez, Doug Beavers and many others, Vasquez displays his art of the soneo, his distinctive vocal tone always backed up by a swinging band on record and live. Also appearing for the first time will be Izis La Enfermera De La Salsa from Puerto Rico, Gambizi & Dos Four hot from Carnaval SF, Hip Hop Jibarito, Orquesta Saboricua and Rinkinkaya playing Bomba, Plena and Jibaro music and DJ Santos Lopez. For more information, go to wrprc.org!

SF JAZZ and the San Francisco Jazz Festival are featuring an impressive array of Salsa, Cuban and Latin Jazz starting Wednesday June 8 with Pacific Mambo Orchestra. Followed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Grammy nominee Aymee Nuviola 6/9; Chucho Valdes with Dianne Reeves and Joe Lovano 6/12; Changui Majadero 6/13, Danilo Perez Global Messengers 6/14; Issac Delgado’s Con Tumbao Project w/Miguel Zenon, Oscar Hernandez, Pedrito Martinez, Alain Perez, Tony Succar and more 6/18. SF JAZZ and Stanford University also co-presents two legends: Piano master Eddie Palmieri and trumpet phenom Arturo Sandoval at Stanford’s Frost Amphiteater on July 23. Info: www.sfjazz.org.

The new hot spot for live music on Thursday’s is Charley’s LG, 15 N Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos featuring the following for June: Orquesta La Moderna Tradición on 6/2; Carlos Xavier and his band 6/9; Edgardo Cambon and Candela 6/16; Son Y Clave from Los Angeles on 6/23 and Julio Bravo and Salsabor on 6/30. Presented by your friends at International Salsa Magazine and World Salsa Radio. Yours truly, Luis Medina from KPFA/WorldSalsaRadio.com will be your MC and DJ for the evening. WSR’s El De La Clave SF-Felipe Martinez will give dance lessons starting at 8 PM. Get a discount on your advance tickets by visiting charleyslosgatos.com.

Tregar Otton from Orquesta La Moderna Tradición

More clubs and events

La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley has been gaining a lot of notoriety with their monthly Baila events. The June edition will also celebrate the cultural center’s 47th Anniversary on Friday, June 17th starting at 7 pm. Corey Raynor, the venue’s production manager who organizes the event will also be celebrating his birthday. The show will feature the explosive sounds of veteran timbalero Eric Rangel and his Orquesta America as well as KPOO/KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz in the main theater and DJ Ron Palma in the Bachata lounge. Salsa and Bachata dance lessons start at 7:30 pm. For tickets and information, please visit lapena.org.

It’s Summertime and outdoor venues have opened back up for Salsa, Timba and Latin Jazz! Modupue Sundays at Rocky’s Market at Oakland’s Brooklyn Basin is featuring the exciting band La Mixta Criolla on Sunday, June 5 under the direction of percussionist/vocalist Hector Lugo and a special Bomba dance performance by Shefali Shah. The festivities start at 5:30 pm. Another great band Orquesta La Moderna Tradición will be at Rocky’s on Friday night, June 10th from 6 to 9 pm. Rocky’s Market events are all outdoors and located at 288 Ninth Avenue in Oakland. For more information, visit rockysmarket.com.

The Office on 1796 Willow Pass Road in downtown Concord is now offering Rumba Sundays every Sunday from 5 to 10 pm in a large, covered outdoor patio with a huge dance floor featuring Salsa bands such as Orquesta Taino on Sunday, June 5th. The Office features live salsa monthly with SF Salsa Congress staple DJ Super Chino spinning Salsa, Bachata and more in-between the breaks! Check out their Facebook page for more info!

Orquesta Taino posing for the camera

The Cigar Bar continues with their mission to bring you exciting danceable bands in their unique venue that combines great food, fine drinks, a parlor for cigar enthusiasts and a hot dance spot for weekend patrons. The June Latin music offerings are the following: Pacho y Orchesta Evolution 6/3; Orquesta La Original w/Alexis 6/4; Orquesta Borinquen 6/10; Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble 6/11; N’Rumba 6/17 ; Manteca 6/18; Orquesta Taino 6/24 and La Clave Del Blanco on 6/25.

The Ramp is heating things up for the Summer at their fine outdoor venue with their huge dance floor at 855 Terry Francois Blvd in San Francisco. Their calendar includes great acts on Saturday afternoons starting at 4 pm with DJ Mendy with live music starting at 5 pm featuring N’Rumba on 6/4; Julio Bravo y Salsabor on 6/11; Somos El Son with Braulio Barrera 6/18 and Orquesta Borinquen on 6/25.

The Seahorse in Sausalito features fine Italian cuisine, beer and wine and a fine space for dancing on Saturday and Sundays starting at 6 pm with KPOO/KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz. Featured acts for the month of June include La Clave Del Blanco on 6/4; Julio Bravo y Salsabor 6/5; Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca from Los Angeles on 6/11 and 6/12; Edgardo Cambon y Candela 6/18; Louie Romero and Mazacote 6/19; The Latin Rhythm Boys 6/20 and Eric Rangel and Orquesta America on 6/26.

Be sure to check out my radio programs Con Sabor on Saturday evenings from 9 to 11 PM PST on KPFA 94.1 FM and www.kpfa.org and Sabiduria Con Tumbao every Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 PM PST on worldsalsaradio.com. Enjoy your Summer! Ciao 4 now!!

Louie Romero from Louie Romero Y Su Orquesta Mazacote

By Luis Medina, ISM Correspondents, San Francisco, California

By Luis Medina, ISM Correspondents, San Francisco, California

NOTICIAS CON SABOR on June 2022

The latest of salsa in the Bay Area of San Francisco

Javier Navarrette from Javier Navarrette and His Socially Distant Friends

Tregar Otton from Orquesta La Moderna Tradición

More clubs and events (título 3)

Orquesta Taino posing for the camera

Louie Romero from Louie Romero Y Su Orquesta Mazacote

By Luis Medina, ISM Correspondents, San Francisco, California

Yova Rodriguez The Jibarito of Mayagüez in the Bronx New York

Mayagüez, is one of the 78 municipalities into which the Island of Enchantment is politically divided: Puerto Rico.

It is the eighth in size and located at the western and central end of the island. Its name comes from a Taino voice that means according to the official historian of this town – Don Federico Cedó Alzamora, “Lugar Grande De Aguas”.

It was founded by the Spaniards and history records a September 18, 1760 with the name of “Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria”, in the territory already occupied by a rural population that was called “Sitio de Mayagüez”. The city has also been known as “Ciudad de Dios”, “La Atenas de Puerto Rico”, “La Sultana del Oeste”, “La Ciudad de las Aguas Puras”, “Capital de la Hospitalidad”, among other names.

Giovanni (Yova) Rodríguez Ruiz was born in Mayagüez, being the youngest of six siblings, raised alone by his mother Doña Delia Ruiz Crespo. At the age of 7 years old, he began singing Christmas aguinaldos and was influenced by his maternal uncle José Ruiz Crespo ¨Pipo El Indio¨ and his great uncle Antonio ¨Toño Ruiz¨ who played the Puerto Rican cuatro. At the age of fifteen he began his studies at the Ernesto Ramos Antonini Music School in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico.

It is here that he began his singing and percussion career and at the age of 16 he became the singer of the school’s band. In 2004 he began the project ¨Yova Rodríguez & his ensemble Sakao – Akà, Homenaje a Polo Montañez¨.

Since the release of his musical work Yova Rodríguez conjunto Sakao – Akà has become one of the most sought after ensembles in Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela and New York, since 2010 resides in the Big Apple, La Babel de Hierro N.Y, working in musical composition for singers of the stature, Danny Rivera, Herman Olivera, Marcial Isturiz, Orquesta Boricua Legends, and the great Andy Montañez among others and to mention a few and traveling through several Latin American countries with most of the artists already mentioned.

In 2016 he starts with his promotional song ¨Me Quedaré¨ with arrangements by trumpeter Nelson Jaime Gazu, a song dedicated to the thousands of Boricuas who have left their beloved Puerto Rico. In 2017 he composed the song ¨Mi Barrio¨ dedicated to his native neighborhood and was presented in Mayagüez, at the same time the Mayor José Guillermo Rodríguez gave him the keys of the city and a recognition, in the same year he composed the song ¨Borinquén se Levanta¨ with the participation of great luminaries of Salsa in New York such as El Pulpo Colon, Jhon Benítez, Luis Mangual, José Dávila among others and by the hand of the Cuban trumpeter and arranger Agustín Someillan Garcia, in January 2018 is presented in Medellín-Colombia in the outstanding local Son-Habana, returns to New York and composes the theme Medellín, is presented last June 23 with a resounding total success in the event a day of Salsa for Medellín.

Yova Rodriguez himself informs me that he is already preparing his fourth album with pianist and arranger Arturo Ortiz. And at the same time he belongs to the board of directors of the Galería de La Salsa in Spanish Harlem in New York.

Other themes that social networks have been responsible for spreading recently will see the light in the next production of Yova Rodriguez, the same that will be titled YOVA RODRIGUEZ ENTRE LOS PUEBLOS and will be part of this production the recent theme composed to the First Peruvian Port: El Callao; highlighting here the fact that Yova has never set foot in our territory but that has not been an impediment for his pen to recreate scenarios: neighborhoods, corners and, mainly, its people. As he says in his lyric “…he who knows about salsa, knows that it is enchanting there in the Chimpún Callao…”

We come to the final part of this biographical sketch, thanking Yova Rodriguez for his kindness in sharing with this server the data and images that accompany this publication.

We wanted to honor the musician, singer and composer, but without leaving aside the tremendous human being that our guest embodies, both as a son and brother, as a fellow professional musician and, especially, as a family man.

A facet that is hidden behind the public man (singer-songwriter) but that impresses greatly in Yova’s pen: first, when sharing a message in each of his lyrics; second, his constant attempts to honor his children Ariana and Kerby on a daily basis, taking as a guideline that old adage that says: “You preach by example”; finally his constant struggle to shorten the physical distances between them, something that surely his Muse manages to do.

For the year 2022 from the pen of the composer Yova is still in force.

La Muñeca de La Salsa is here with us again

La Muñeca de La Salsa or La Chica del Bling

For the second time, we have here Puerto Rican artist Almodovar. She is a salsa singer and other genres, composer and dancer. Pleasure to meet you, Melina, how are you doing? Glad to have you here.

Thank you, Karina. Thank you for the time and I’m super pumped to be here with you for international salsa magazine (laughs).

Melina Almodóvar is a salsa singer, composer, and dancer

Why do they call you La Muñeca de la Salsa or La Chica del Bling?

La Chica del Bling comes from maestro Bobby Cruz, who did a song with me in 2016. We made a recording that was called Salsa Factory Bunch. He wrote that song specifically for me, which was called El Bling. That’s how he starts calling me La Chica del Bling and, as there are so many people who know the trajectory of Mr. Bobby Cruz, those who know that he wrote the song for me identify me as La Chica del Bling. That is something very special for me, since he is one of my salsa icons from day one.

In the case of La Muñeca de La Salsa, when I moved here to Miami, I was looking for a nickname similar to El Caballero de La Salsa or El Niño Bonito de La Salsa. Seeing how my name is like that of another renowned singer in Puerto Rico Melina Leon, I wanted to find another name that would identify me and noticed that many Latino men called me muñeca (doll in English). That’s how I came up with the name La Muñeca de La Salsa.

Your family has always been closely related to arts. Your father was a singer, your mother was a dancer and your grandmother was an artisan. What did you get from each of them?

That’s an excellent question. I’m often asked that, but not that way. My dad was a bolero singer and like ballads and old music like Camilo Sesto, and it was thanks to one of his songs that I was named Melina. He also liked Marco Antonio Muñiz and all the singers from that era. He would go to bars to sing until five in the morning and he used to take me to these gatherings in Puerto Rico. He always had his guitar in his car and was invited to parties to sing because he did it for free.

My mom was a flamenco dancer, she studied dance all her life and wanted me to dance too. So, she put me in jazz ballet classes since I was little. I studied with a lady whose name was Sophy Sanfiorenzo, who was also Chayanne, Ricky Martin, and Los Menudo’s teacher of that time. She was very well known in the city of Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Dancing was something secondary for me, but my mom wanted me to take it more seriously. At the end, we made a deal and agreed that I would study salsa and Caribbean dancing.

My grandmother always wanted me to be an artist and pushed me to be what I am today. She does a lot of crafts such as sculptures and paintings. I didn’t inherit those skills (laughs). My aunt is an architect and also paints very well, while another aunt is also very good with crafts. My family is very artistic and I followed that road.

Melina Almodóvar is very proud to be boricua

Her referents

I understand that your grandmother gave you some cassettes with songs by Celia Cruz and Rubén Blades, did these artists influence you or were there others?

My grandmother gave me a Rubén Blades CD and my aunt was the one who introduced me to salsa music thanks to her taste for this genre. Most of the family liked bohemian songs made by Pedro Flores, Rafael Hernández, Bobby Capó, Sylvia Rexach, among others. My grandmother and the rest of my relatives liked bolero a lot. In my case, I like bolero very much and I have done concerts dedicated to this genre, but what moves and motivates me is salsa.

You always listened to tropical music as a kid in Puerto Rico, but I understood that I was cut out to sing salsa when started studying it and understand it deeply. In high school, I came to sing pop, jazz, country, merengue, bachata and many other genres. However, salsa is what I like the most.

You described your move from Puerto Rico to Memphis as a culture shock. What was the most shocking thing about that time?

It’s one thing to move from Puerto Rico to Los Angeles or New York or Florida where there are a lot of Latinos. When I moved, I was very young and went to live in the southern United States, where they listen to country and blues. For me, the most shocking thing was the culture. In Puerto Rico, everyone talks on the front doors and there was a lot of closeness. When we moved to Tennessee, we didn’t know anyone, so we had to start creating a new life and finding our way in this new city.

Melina Almodóvar performing at North Beach Bandshell

You were part of Orquesta Caliente. According to many, that was the first successful Latin salsa orchestra in Memphis. What do you think was the formula for success of this orchestra?

It was a combination of many things because I have been part of many groups and tried to organize orchestras in different places. After that experience, I tried to start an orchestra in Nashville, Tennessee, for a while and tried to start another one in Atlanta, Georgia.

When I was 17 years old, I was called and asked if I knew how to sing salsa, to which I replied yes. That’s when i was given a cassette tape with several songs made by Tito Puente, Ruben Blades, Celia Cruz, among others. I went home and started writing the songs down letter by letter to learn them by heart and audition for the orchestra. That day, I realized that all the musicians were American and extremely talented. I was 17 years old at the time and had no idea who I was playing with, which led me to look up their histories and they were really well trained and talented. Almost all of them were professors at the University of Memphis at the time, but they wanted to form a salsa orchestra.

So, we started playing in different places. Given that there was no internet and no social media, we had to create our own flyers by hand, make copies, go to the houses and put up them there. The first day we played, not a lot of people showed up, but it was a good start for us. After three months, not one more body fitted there.

For me, it was a beautiful experience because we started playing everywhere and were at plenty of festivals in South Florida. We were so into what we were doing and all the members wanted the music to work out spectacularly, so we were united in a common objective. I think that was the key to our success.

Tell me about the Hollywood Salsa Fest

We have been doing this festival for about seven years now and it was a dream come true because I never thought there would be more than 10,000 people there for throughout the day. It is a culmination of all the work we have done since I came to Miami. It was a great achievement.

This Hollywood Salsa Fest of this year included Maestro Charlie Aponte, Timba Live, Salsa Ballet de Cali, Maestro Bobby Cruz, Tito Puente Junior and many others.

Melina Almodóvar next to Oscar D’ León