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Tempo Latino

Europe / France / Vic-Fezensac

Tempo Latino: The biggest party for every Latin Music lover in Europe!

In Vic-Fezensac, in the heart of Gers in Gascony, Tempo Latino is the biggest European festival of Latin music and Afro-Cuban, salsa, Latin jazz and hip-hop. This is a reference to music and Latin music. This year they are bigger than ever with the participation of dancers, musicians, orchestras and amazing dj’s around the world.

Tempo Latino presents each year for 4 days and 4 nights, a varied concerts and internship program with artists and professors of international level including from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Africa, US, Europe and Japan.

Thursday, July 27

The party starts on July 27 with the Colombian group Puerto Candelaria. This amazing group was formed in 2000 in Medellín, Colombia, the result of the fateful meeting of six talented musicians, united and guided by talented composer Juancho Valencia to create a totally new and original musical show.

The imaginary land of Puerto Candelaria is a sonorous place and the spiritual home to the members of the group and to all who enjoy taking a musical journey with the sound of the Candelarios. The group’s founders never imagined that a decade later their idea would come to be hailed the most daring, controversial and innovative Colombian musical project of recent times.

Puerto Candelaria bases its sound in popular Colombian rhythms, full of imagination and magical spirit that provoke the senses and awaken heightened emotions in audiences around the world.

Their creation of contradictory rhythms like Cumbia Underground or Jazz “a lo Colombiano” is responsible for creating a special place for their country in the global markets of jazz, experimental, and world music. On Thursday and thanks to the France-Colombia’s year celebration, this day will be a reunion between these two cultures.

Friday, July 28 Calypso Rose

Then, on July 28 you will have the pleasure to see the performance of Calypso Rose. This iconic singer is a calypsonian. She began writing songs at the age of 15, turned professional in 1964 and has written more than 800 songs and recorded more than 20 albums.

Saturday, July 29 Unity. Michael Jackson Latin Tribute

Friday 29 will be time to present the Michael Jackson Latin Tribute with the amazing show of the talent of Tony Succar and Unity. Unity is a testament to the power of music and one man’s indomitable spirit.

The passion project of Peruvian-born, Miami-raised producer/multi-instrumentalist/arranger Tony Succar, Unity features more than 100 musicians, such Latin superstars as Tito Nieves, Jon Secada and Obie Bermúdez, and the mixing magic of Jackson’s legendary engineer Bruce Swedien in the first ever Latin album salute to The King of Pop.

Sunday, July 30 Orkesta Mendoza

And finally, the event will end with the concert of Orkesta Mendoza. Orkesta Mendoza is a Latin music band from Tucson, Arizona. It was founded by singer and guitarist Sergio Mendoza in 2009. Through the use of Latin percussion, accordion, brass, and steel guitars, the band’s style, dubbed “indie mambo”, is a combination of ranchera, cumbia, psychedelic and indie rock.

Sergio Mendoza – vocals, piano, guitar
James Peters – drums
Joe Novelli – lap steel guitar
Marco Rosano – saxophone, clarinet, accordion, keyboard
Salvador Duran – vocals, cajón, maracas
Sean Rogers – double bass

With all the concerts, dance and parties, you can’t miss the summer event that brings all the Latin talent to Europe.

Tickets: Pre-sale prices

One night 30€ – 36€
4 days pass: 100 – 120
Free entrance for kids under 12 years old

Transportation and accommodation

Transport: http://tempo-latino.com/CommentVenirTempo

Accommodation: http://tempo-latino.com/Hebergement

Our favorite Dj’s: DJ Mabe / Jacoviche / Emile Omar / Jomax …

Tempo Latino - Information — Tempo Latino – Information

For further information and tickets:

http://tempo-latino.com/accueil
Tourism office in Vic Fanzensac : 05.62.06.34.90
Telephone: 05.62.06.40.40.

And all the social networks

Facebook: @tempolatino
Twitter : @tempo_latino
Instagram: @tempolatino
Youtube: tempolatinofestival

Argentine tango bassist and Latin Grammy winner Pedro Giraudo returned to his roots

Latin Grammy winner Pedro Giraudo spoke exclusively to us for International Salsa Magazine, so we are very pleased to bring you the best of our conversation with the Argentinian bassist and composer. Next, these are the highlights of his beginnings and his exciting career in his native country and in the United States, where he currently resides.

Argentine bassist Pedro Giraudo posing for the camera

Pedro’s beginnings in music

Pedro comes from a family of musicians. In fact, his father was a bandleader and his mother sang in a choir, so he was surrounded by music practically since he was born. He has memories of him watching his parents rehearse and play instruments when he was very young, so he was always very familiar with this kind of thing.

During his adolescence, he performed recitals with various ensembles, some of which played classical music, jazz, and tango. His professional advancement was very gradual, but he was doing some activities that prepared him for what was to come years later.

His love for this world grew so big that, once he turned 19, he moved to the United States precisely to study music and learn everything he could about what can be expressed through it. His musical interests initially focused on jazz, but that changed over time.

Already at the end of his last year in college in New York, he was working regularly with various groups of different genres.

Interest in tango

Although, as we have said, Pedro comes from Argentina, he had not been particularly interested in tango at first, but his numerous trips around the world made him feel a little uprooted and detached from his beginnings. For this reason, nostalgia made him reconnect with the traditional music of his homeland. In addition, the fact that he was Argentinean encouraged many groups to call him, even though his knowledge of tango was not yet very deep at that time.

After giving himself the opportunity to play tango more formally, he also set to work to study it much more to learn about its most famous composers, its various styles, its ways to write music in the genre, among other things. In addition to that, he started to transcribe a lot of music to know what it sounded like in different styles and to gain practice.

This path eventually led the artist to become part of many tango bands and even to lead some ensembles.

Pedro and friends — Pedro Giraudo, pianist Ahmed Alom, symphonic director Sergio Alessandro Bušlje, violinist Sami Merdinian, and accordionist Javier Sanchez

Groups Pedro was in

Pedro’s main goal in arriving in the United States was to become a double bassist, and after finally achieving it, he graduated from college and started to explore his role as a composer and leader of his own ensemble. From there, the band varied for characteristics and changed members and in size over the next 15 years. The last thing was a 17-piece big band.

Then, in the year 2014, due to the death of a great friend, Argentine pianist Octavio Brunetti, the Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts asked him to lead an event to celebrate his life and music. Therefore, in 2015, the musician started his tango project, which he would name Pedro Giraudo Tango Quartet, taking this request as a starting point.

Today, he focuses all his efforts on tango ensembles, although he does recognize that he is increasingly angling for the classical side. For example, for his latest album, Pedro used a symphony orchestra, and since the last few months, he has been conceiving his next project with a chamber orchestra.

Great collaborations in his career

Throughout his career, Pedro has been able to work with great music glories such as Paquito D’ D’Rivera, Rubén Blades, Pablo Ziegler, William Cepeda, and many others. One of the nicest things about this work for the Argentine is that he is always surrounded by very talented people from whom he can learn a lot.

One of them was bandoneonist Hector Del Curto, who was one of the first people Pedro started playing tango with in New York. Del Curto, in turn, had the great honor of playing with the greats of the golden age of Argentine music, such as Osvaldo Pugliese.

It was through Hector that Pedro was able to meet and play with Pablo Ziegler, who was the principal pianist of Astor Piazzolla’s Second Quintet and greatly influenced the way tango is played on the piano. In fact, playing along with him on the double bass was an experience of which he learned so much, which he appreciated.

Pedro and his Grammy — Pedro Giraudo holding his Latin Grammy in Las Vegas

In the case of William Cepeda, the artist made some arrangements for him and he received many valuable lessons from him, such as the importance of keeping musicians engaged with sheet music to prevent them from getting too lax. It was also with Zepeda that he made his first arrangements for a symphony orchestra.

On the other hand, Paquito taught him how to be a practical musician and to make perfect, well done arrangements for any occasion.

Latin Grammy winner

Pedro is fortunate to be a Latin Grammy winner thanks to his album “Vigor Tanguero” in the category Best Tango Album in 2018. When we asked him about his experience, the double bassist said that there are some details he does not fully understand, such as the elements taken into consideration when voting for an artist in a category. However, that did not overshadow the joy of winning such an important award.

He says his victory was a surprise. At the time, he remembers being on tour with Pablo Ziegler, and after a four-hour rehearsal, his phone had about 40 missed calls congratulating him, while he did not even know that the nominations were being announced that day. To his amazement, he was included.

The final event was in Las Vegas, where Pedro finally heard his name and felt a total joy and pride for all he had achieved. In this respect, he said, “I’m not a person who collects awards, but this is a recognition I’m very proud of, to be honest.”

Venezuela violinist and former musician in El Sistema Ali Bello has many interesting things to say

Venezuelan musician Alí Bello has become one of the best Latin music violinists in New York, so we could not miss the opportunity to talk to him and learn as much as we could about his fascinating story. The young man has given his best to become a true icon of Latin Jazz in his current city of residence, so do not miss this great conversation.

Ali playing the violin — Venezuelan musician Ali Bello playing the violin live

Alí’s beginnings in the world of music thanks to El Sistema

From a young age, Alí became interested in music, which led him to join the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, where he studied classical music as an extracurricular activity. This in order for Alí and his classmates to be busy in any activity until their parents came to pick them up after work.

This was when an orchestra or school of music was formed clase to his father’s work, so Bello was enrolled in these classes from 2 to 5 p.m. after school. So it went for him since he was in kindergarten, and he learned to play the xylophone and the recorder. When the boy was seven years old, the school orchestra located in La Rinconada, Caracas, was officially created, but due to how small Ali was, the only instrument the school could assign him according to his size was the violin, which he keeps playing diligently to this day.

After many years of being part of the National Youth Orchestra, he got ahead with his musical career and decided to go to the United States to continue his university studies and train as a professional musician.

Other instruments besides the violin

In addition to the violin, Alí also plays a lot of percussion, since he considers it very important. He thinks every folk and Latin musician must handle percussion as efficient as possible and each of its rhythms in order to internalize the style they want to play on any instrument.

“Percussion and singing have always fascinated me, so I try to devote myself to both even a little bit, but it is undeniable that the violin has always been my main instrument. I’ve tried to focus all styles and everything I work on towards the violin to turn it into the main element,” the musician added on this subject.

Ali and Gustavo — Ali Bello, his son and maestro Gustavo Dudamel

How the opportunity to study in the United States came about

Initially, Alí was supported by his violin teacher Margaret Pardee, who taught at the Juilliard School and went to Venezuela to give master classes. It was Pardee who encouraged Alí to continue his education in New York, which he finally achieved thanks to the Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho scholarship fund and the Simón Bolívar Musical Foundation.

This is how the Venezuelan artist obtained his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and PHD.

At college, he met Johnny Almendra, thanks to whom he discovered genres other than classical music, in which he was not only the performer of melodies but could also create his own music. He then discovered styles of Venezuelan and Latin music that inspired him to explore more varied rhythms different from what he had known before.

He played regularly with Johnny Almendra and his modern charanga group Los Jovenes del Barrio for a time and subsequently played for La Típica Novel and other orchestras. As Alí gained experience in the world of charanga and Latin music in general, he started having opportunities to learn and explore other genres such as Brazilian music, Afro-Cuban music, Latin jazz, and many more.

Collaborations with major artists in the industry

All this hard-won ground gave Alí the opportunity and the honor to collaborate with great artists in the industry such as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Johnny Pacheco, Rudy Calzado, Pedro Cortés, José Fajardo senior, Pupi Legarreta, and many more. All these figures helped him not only to have a better understanding of the Afro-Cuban style and tradition, but also of the influence of New York on music.

Ali and Pupy — Maestro Pupy Legarreta and Ali Bello

Thanks to this knowledge base, he had the courage to release a record album, La Charanga Syndicate, in which, as the name suggests, he uses charanga and all the influences coming from the musicians he has known and continues to know. For this reason, he feels he now has something to say and bring to the style.

Another important thing for his career was his participation in Jay-Z’s concert to celebrate the anniversary of the release of his first album. The rapper wanted to mark the occasion by playing with a symphony orchestra, so hired many musicians of all kinds to make a great show at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Fortunately for Ali, he was well-known in the music scene at the time, so he was contacted to participate in the event.

In that sense, the violinist is very happy to be in New York, as the world’s greatest artists always take this city into account for their concerts, which gives musicians like him the opportunity to have access to these great figures in the industry.

Ali as an arranger

In addition to being a percussionist and violinist, Ali has also ventured into musical arrangements quite successfully thanks to all the academic training he had received up until then. However, as he became a more experienced professional, he began to notice that his own ideas and thoughts came to life in his work. So, having the theory in his head, he could take those ideas he had had and develop them within the rhythmic and stylistic elements which are willing to use on each occasion.

In addition to that, the artist also works on production and mixing a bit to achieve the necessary sound. He even has his own studio where he plays for his own productions and other artists’ records as a freelancer.

Ali and Juan — Ali Bello and Juan Carlos Formell from Los Van Van in Poland

Julio Albino Y Su Secreto A Voces released ‘‘Pasaporte A Rumbero’’

After a few months of absence, we’re finally back with the batteries recharged to put a magnifying glass on the current projects of the best soneros right now. Today it is the turn of percussionist Julio Albino, who, as usual, delights us with every project he releases.

But before that, we are going with a bit of the artist’s story so that everyone can know him better.

Julio during an event — Julio Albino during a live event

A little bit about Julio Albino’s beginnings

Julio Albino, also known artistically as Junito, became interested in music in his homecity of New York, and after his subsequent return to Puerto Rico, this curiosity did nothing but grow as time went by. It was then that he started listening to the music of legendary names in the industry such as “El Rey de Los Timbales” Tito Puente and Oreste Vilato, who inspired him to join the San German’s school band to some extent. He would later pursue an artistic career through collaborations with more experienced artists.

He ventured into this world professionally in the 1960s, when he began to be taken into account by several of the greatest salseros of the time, such as Frankie Ruiz, Hector Tricoche, Marvin Santiago, Paquito Guzman, Junior Gonzalez, Los Hermanos Colon, Joe Quijano, among others.

There is no denying that each of these collaborations contributed to Julio making known his great talent as a percussionist, but he would not rest until he was able to form his own project, which he eventually achieved. That was how he founded his own orchestra, Julio Albino Y Su Orquesta Secreto A Voces.

Secreto A Veces

Thanks to all the effort invested in his career, Julio has managed to secure a place for his orchestra in the salsa scene, and his best-known musical works are proof of this. His big debut came in 2005 with the album ‘‘Bailalo’’, which ranked high on the charts in countries such as Italy.

Ten years later, he also released the album “Haciendo Ruido” and, the following year, he came with his single “Chachara Con Cua” and the promise of a new album. In 2018, he released “Edén Borinqueño” as his second promotional single, and shortly after, Julio released the full album, which he named “El Secreto Ya No Es Secreto”.

secreto a voces — Cover art of the song ”Pasaporte de Rumbero”

Pasaporte de Rumbero

In 2025, Julio once again showed why he deserves the place he has earned and released his new single “Pasaporte de Rumbero”, with which he looks to consecrate himself as a worthy heir to the soneros who previously gave him the opportunity to join their ranks. Similarly, he shows absolute respect for Afro-Caribbean culture and its deepest roots.

This joyful and energetic piece is not only a reflection of the Puerto Rican artist’s talent, but also of the strength and modernity of his orchestra, which is deeply connected to the Cuban musical tradition. From the very first seconds of the song, listeners can appreciate a festive street atmosphere, but at the same time with sophisticated percussion led by Julio himself, who boasts incredible technique that serves as a guide for the rest of the musicians accompanying him.

Among the members of the orchestra, we can mention trombonist Juan Colón, trumpeter Juan “Junito” León, saxophonist Ricardo Dávila, pianist Gabriel Rodríguez, and bassist Luis Rodríguez. Likewise, the lead vocalist is the charismatic singer Ángel Ríos, who contributes his exquisite phrasing and an enviable dominance of the clave at all times.

Israel “Cachao” López, a Cuban musician and composer, has been hailed as “the Inventor of Mambo”

Born in Havana on September 14, 1918, and passing away in Coral Gables, Miami, on March 22, 2008, Israel “Cachao” López, often known simply as “Cachao,” was a Cuban musician and composer.

Israel Cachao López musico y compositor cubano, ha sido definido como el Inventor del Mambo

He became a legend in Cuban music with his masterful handling of the double bass and was renowned for his performances in mambo and Latin jazz.

His talent earned him two Grammy Awards (in 1995 and 2005), a Latin Grammy in 2003, an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He has been described as “the inventor of mambo” and is considered a master of descarga (live improvisations).

He began by playing various instruments until he settled on the double bass, which allowed him, as a teenager, to join the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra, where his father and older brother also played.

“Cachao” left Cuba in 1962 with a long list of successes and stated in a 2007 interview that if it weren’t for his compatriot and colleague Dámaso Pérez Prado, “mambo would not have been heard worldwide.”

Israel Cachao López nacido en La Habana, un 14 de septiembre de 1918 y falleció en Coral Gables un 22 de marzo de 2008 en Miami

His first stop was Madrid, where he stayed for a year before emigrating to the United States. In the U.S., he resided in New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami.

López also played acoustic bass with his brother, the multi-instrumentalist Orestes López. They literally composed over 3,000 songs together and were highly influential in Cuban music from the 1930s to the 1950s.

They created the “nuevo ritmo” (new rhythm) in the late 1930s, which transformed the danzón by introducing African rhythms into Cuban music, ultimately leading to mambo.

He won several Grammy Awards for both his own work and his contributions to albums by Latin music stars, including Gloria Estefan. In 1995, he won a Grammy for Master Sessions Volume 1.

In 2003, he won a Latin Grammy for Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album alongside Bebo Valdés and Patato for El Arte Del Sabor. He won another Grammy in 2005 for his work ¡Ahora Sí!

His nephew, Orlando “Cachaíto” López, became one of the pillars of the famous Buena Vista Social Club.

Cachao performed with artists such as Tito Puente, and his music has been featured in films like The Birdcage and the soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

The Actor Andy Garcia produced a documentary titled Cachao… “Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos” in 1993 about his music. He also shared stages with Celia Cruz and her husband Pedro Knight, as well as with trombonist Generoso Jiménez.

Leyendas de Nuestra Musica Latina Pacheco, Puente y Cachao

His last musical collaboration was with Gloria and Emilio Estefan on the singer’s album titled 90 Millas.

López passed away on the morning of March 22, 2008, in Coral Gables, Florida, at the age of 89, due to complications following kidney failure.

Cachao y Su Ritmo Caliente – Monte Adentro (2000)

Tracks:

Monte Adentro (Cógele el golpe) (A. Castillo Jr.)
Goza Mi Trompeta (O. Estivill)
Guajeo de Saxos (E. Peñaver)
Estudio en Trompeta (I. López)
Gozar Timbero (O. Estivill)
Trombón Criollo (O. Portillo)
Malanga Amarilla (S. Contreras)
Controversia de Metales (I. López)
Descarga Cubana (O. Estivill)
Pamparana (A. López)
Sorpresa de Flauta (O. Estivill)
Oye Mi Tres Montuno (A. Echevarria)
La Floresta (O. López)
Avance Juvenil (B. López)
Redención (O. López)
Descarga Mambo (D.P.)

Musicians:

Israel López “Cachao” (Double Bass)
Guillermo Barreto (Timbales)
Tata Güines (Tumbadora)
Rojelio “Yeyo” Iglesias (Bongos)
Gustavo Tamayo (Güiro)
Alejandro “El Negro” Vivar (Trumpet)
Armando Armenteros (Trumpet)
Generoso “El Tojo” Jiménez (Trombone)
Oreste López (Piano)
Enemelio Jiménez (Alto Sax)
Emilio Peñalver (Tenor Sax)
Virgilio Lisama (Baritone Sax)
Richard Egües (Flute)
Niño Rivera (Tres)
Roliyo y Reyes (Chorus)

Recorded in Havana, 1957-1958

Cachao y Su Ritmo Caliente - Monte Adentro (2000) — Cachao y Su Ritmo Caliente – Monte Adentro (2000)

The tradition of being musicians comes from grandparents and great-grandparents, all the Cachaos are musicians.

By:

Dj. Augusto Felibertt

L’Òstia Latin Jazz

Also Read: Israel “Cachao” Lopez Sobrado in fame and respect in the seventies was dedicated to maintain the tradition at the highest level