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Search Results for: Salsa music

José Hildemaro Hugas Amarista “El Sonero del Amor” from Venezuela to the world

José Hildemaro Hugas Amarista, better known artistically as “Hildemaro, El Sonero Del Amor”, was born on November 10, 1957 in Caripito, a city in the eastern Venezuelan state of Monagas.

He is a Venezuelan singer-songwriter whose interest in music began at a very young age, participating in various children’s programs on the radio station in his hometown and in Maturin, the capital of the state of Monagas.

In 1970 he won the first “Festival De La Canción Inédita” held in Caripito.

Then he moved to Carúpano, where he began to sing with different musical groups of that city, such as “Los Bravos” and “Soles De Media Noche”.

"El Sonero del Amor" from Venezuela
“El Sonero del Amor” from Venezuela

Later he was called by the “Combo Melorítmico” of Maturín, where he stayed for a year. He always wanted to sing in the capital.

In 1976 his dream came true when he was called to be a part of the Front Train Orchestra “Los Satélites”, for seven (7) months, the proposed goals began to be different and began to work to achieve them. In 1979 he joined the “Orquesta Ideal”, with which the song “Contigo Besos Salvajes” was played all over the country and was successively imposed among the first places.

In 1981 he joined the “Supercombo Los Tropicales” of Maracaibo, then the “Noche Caliente” orchestra and later the “Porfi Jimenez” orchestra.

In 1985 he joined the orchestra of Renato Capriles: “Los Melódicos”, which gave him the greatest and best experience, given the popularity, prestige and discipline imposed by its director.

In 1986, as a soloist, he recorded his first LP of tropical music under the name “El Jr. de la música tropical” for the record label “Sur Americana del Disco”, , with the name “El Jr. de la música tropical.”

In December 1987 he received a wonderful offer from the record label “Top Hit (T.H.. ) and in 1988 he records his first LP, as a “sensual salsero” for Venezuela, titled “Amanecí Contigo” under the pen of José “El Flaco” Bermúdez, who is also the creator of the style that pushes him towards the international market, where all his songs hit with great acceptance and have his greatest impact in Peru (his second home as he usually calls it), starting his successful career as “Hildemaro, El Sonero Del Amor”.

José Hildemaro Hugas Amarista "El Sonero del Amor" from Venezuela to the World
José Hildemaro Hugas Amarista “El Sonero del Amor” from Venezuela to the World

In 1989 he recorded his second LP entitled “Sin Tabú”, which went gold a few weeks after its release, and this album took him back to Peru, where he is considered one of the main idols of Salsa Sensual. Panama, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, United States, Europe (Spain, Italy, France, Holland, Switzerland, among others), Asia (Japan), among many other countries, have joined his successful career.

In 1990 he recorded his third album called “Romantic and Sensual”, consolidating himself as one of the best voices of Latin American and Caribbean Salsa, qualities that were also reflected in his fourth production entitled “Lo Mejor De Mí” in 1991.

In 1993 he recorded his fifth album under the name “Al Natural”.

In 1994 he was invited to participate in the recording of the album “Con Ganas” by the Cuban Issac Delgado, where he performed a duet of a song composed by José L. Cortes called “Que Pasa Loco”, which quickly became an international success and took him to other latitudes.

In 1995 he released his sixth production with the title “Lo Que Siento”. One year later he signed a contract with the Mexican label “Balboa Records”, where he recorded the album “La Mejor Salsa Con Hildemaro”.

"El Sonero del Amor" from Venezuela and Viti Ruiz
“El Sonero del Amor” from Venezuela and Viti Ruiz

In 1999, he was invited by the Venezuelan group “Melody Gaita”, along with other artists, to record a tribute song to his friend and colleague Oscar D’ León.

In 2001, “Orquesta La Constelación” decided to record an album with several artists, in which he participated with two (2) songs (Peruvian waltzes), “Cuando Llora Mi Guitarra”, in duet with Andy Montañez, and “Jamás Impedirás”, which allowed him to sound nationally and internationally.

In 2002, he is called by another Venezuelan group “Pajarito Vola Show”, along with other artists, this time to participate in a well-deserved tribute to Betulio Medina. In 2002 and 2003 he burst in the national and international radio stations with two (2) singles “Corazón Loco” and “El Celular”.

In 2016, he begins to sound again in the radio stations with the song “Que Voy a Hacer Sin su Amor”.

In addition to his talent to sing Salsa Romántica, he is recognized for his interpretation of the Bolero. And on stage he has shared the stage with artists of the stature of: Oscar De León, Tito Rojas, Tito Gómez, Paquito Guzmán, Andy Montañez, Maelo Ruiz, Viti Ruiz, Gilberto Santa Rosa, David Pavón, Ismael Miranda, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Tony Vega, Nino Segarra, José Alberto “El Canario”, among many others.

"El Sonero del Amor" from Venezuela and El Canario
“El Sonero del Amor” from Venezuela and El Canario

Among his many facets is his love for sports, especially volleyball, which he has practiced since he was very young. He is an honorary member of the FUCUFOCA Foundation, which has been responsible for the organization of the Festival de la Canción Inédita de Caripito for fifty-one (51) years. Faithful collaborator of the Friends of Palencia Foundation and sponsor of several institutions.

Through his foundation HH Productions, he has carried out social actions such as Collaboration in the construction of the Virgen del Rosario Church in Caripito;

Donations of medicines and food to the needy, assistance to sports teams with equipment and clothing, organization of charity concerts and support of the “Amigos de la Palencia” Foundation.

Through his foundation HH Productions, he has carried out social actions such as Collaboration in the construction of the church “Virgen del Rosario” in Caripito;

Donations of medicine and food to people in need, help to sports teams with equipment and clothing; Realization of benefit concerts and concerts of popular attraction in collaboration with the end of year festivities of his hometown.

He has always given value to new talents, helping them in their first steps with his advice and teachings, such as Angel “Tu Angel”, Hildemaro Jr. “La Continuación”, Gilberto Hugas, among others.

Between the years 2022 and 2023 he will celebrate his forty (40) uninterrupted years of artistic life, with a long international tour in countries such as: Colombia, Bolivia,

Peru, Panama, United States, Canada and Europe. He is now promoting the songs “Si Tú Te Vas” and “Amigos Especiales” from his new production, which he is preparing with his inseparable director and producer, José “El Flaco” Bermúdez.

 

Also Read: Carlos “Nene” Quintero comes from a family of musical prodigies

Déjalo, the latest track by Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

The song -composed by Pablito Ruiz- is catchy and brings us the essential style of the orchestra with the renewed touch added by singer Pedro Blasini.

Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

Within the first 16 seconds, Rafael ‘Bodo’ Torres on piano and Pedro Perez on bass create a lively and energetic musical introduction, perfectly arranged by Roberto Perez.

Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional photos by Adriana Vega
Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional photos by Adriana Vega

Twenty seconds after the melody starts, Pedro Blasini’s voice enters accompanied by the timbales in a hushed tone.

Through this recording, Pedro Blasini establishes himself as the lead vocalist of the International Orchestra of his uncle, the notable percussionist: Pedro Conga.

The arrangement combines musical intricacy with the required flexibility to captivate listeners searching for love dramas in the salsa de golpe scene.  And when it comes to beats and cuts, within the first ten seconds of the opening minute, Jan Duclerc’s unique trumpet cut fuses seamlessly with Pedro Conga’s tumbadora, creating the perfect harmony to complement the lead vocal.

At the 1:30 mark, José Joel Díaz introduces his timbal cymbal with subtlety, underlining the prominence of the conga.  Raúl Díaz’s bongó delivers consistent accompaniment, providing a masterclass in both rhythm section perfection and percussion timing.

Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional
Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

From the 1:40 mark onwards, the harmonies of Charlie Cruz, Nino Segarra, Alejandro Villegas, and Blasini himself shine.

At minute 2:34, “Bodo’s” piano collaborates with Pedro Perez’s bass to demonstrate their musical partnership, resulting in exceptional musical performances.

The vocalist harmonizes well with the tumbadora, as the drumbeat establishes its presence from the very first minute and gradually intensifies until, during the lead-up to the third minute of the song, the coordination between the lead’s tumbadora and Héctor Morales’s trombone unequivocally proves that (as they say in Puerto Rico) “there is no one for anyone.”

It is clear that there are no bounds to the experience and innovation behind the musical production led by Julio “Gunda” Merced, Rafael “Bodo” Torres, and Santo Santiago.

Pedro Conga, a Puerto Rican musician, displays his exceptional talent through his music.

Pedro Conga
Pedro Conga

He was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico. He explains that he received the pseudonym “Conga” during the years he spent accompanying Justo Betancour. Betancour bestowed the name upon him due to his prodigious talent on the congas. Pedro “Conga” subsequently established himself as a master, doing invaluable work in fostering the growth of SALSA. His orchestra was privileged to welcome vocalists of the highest caliber, including:

He carried out this mission with unmatched finesse and superior quality.

Anthony Cruz, Tito Rojas (“El Gallo de la Salsa”), Ismael Ruiz (“Maelo”), Rafy Cruz, and Edgardo Diaz.

Among his songs are “Pienso en ti,” “Tú me niegas tanto amor,” “No te quites la ropa,” “Quiero volver,” “Te quiero amor,” and “Si supiras,” among others that have become salsa classics.

The productions he created with his orchestra achieved great success not just in Puerto Rico, but also in the United States, Europe, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Peru.

Furthermore, he has received international acclaim for his productions due to the versatility and freshness showcased in each album.

Pedro Conga is renowned in the music industry for his ability to blend rhythm, flavor, and emotion into a single composition.

Bella Martinez Puerto Rico

Also Read: Ray Barretto Giant Force y A Conguero’s Conguero

[Read more…] about Déjalo, the latest track by Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

Latin America / November 2023

Omsling D'Leon November 2023

Hildemaro November 2023

José Alberto "El Canario" and his orchestra enjoy a great international reputation in the Latin music scene"The Sun of Latin Music" the first Grammy Award for Salsa Eddie Palmieri's historic album

Déjalo, the latest track by Pedro Conga y su Orquesta Internacional

Metamorphosis: from music to photojournalism, a reinvention without limits.

Calibrated maracas

DIRECTORY OF NIGHTCLUBS

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ARGENTINA

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ARUBA

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BELIZE

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BOLIVIA

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BRAZIL

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CHILE

Colombia
COLOMBIA

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COSTA RICA

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CUBA

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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ECUADOR

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GUATEMALA

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MEXICO

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PANAMA

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PERU

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PUERTO RICO

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VENEZUELA
NOVEMBER 2023 FESTIVALS

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CUBA
Baila en Cuba

Memories Miramar La Habana Hotel

Nov 19 2023 – Nov 24 2023

4H56+4VQ, Quinta avenida entre 72 y 76 Fraccionamiento

Miramar, La Habana 11300, Cuba

Mexico Circular flag
MEXICO
Big Salsa Caribbean

Tijuana Dance Open

BIG Salsa Festival Caribbean Cancun

Nov 02 2023 – Nov 06 2023

368C+H7, km 17, Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera, 77500

Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

 

Tijuana Salsa Bachata Kizomba Festival

Nov 09 2023 – Nov 13 2023

Hotel Gamma De Fiesta Inn Otay
Blvd. Tijuana 17226

Tijuana , Mexico, 22430

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URUGUAY
USC

Uruguay Salsa Congress

Nov 21 2023 – Nov 26 2023

Punta del Este Convention Center
Av. Pedragosa Sierra esq. Aparicio Saravia

Punta del Este, Uruguay

 

Mario Bauza

North America / United States / New York

Mario Bauza, Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York, Clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter and arranger

Mario Bauzá (Havana, April 28, 1911 – Manhattan, July 11, 1993) was a Cuban saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, arranger and composer.

Known above all for having been the musical director of the Machito orchestra (of whom he was also a brother-in-law), he was a pioneer of what is now known as Afro-Cuban jazz.

Mario Bauza The Legendary Mambo King
Mario Bauza Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York

Bauzá played the clarinet in the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra. However, after traveling to New York in 1927 with the Antonio María Romeu orchestra, he was so impressed by the Big Bands of Paul Whiteman, Fletcher Henderson and Tommy Dorsey, and by the Harlem music revues, that in 1930 he decided to emigrate definitively to USA.

During the trip, he became friends with Antonio Machín. Mario Bauzá would return on the same boat in which Don Aspiazu’s orchestra was travelling, who immediately began the arrangements to record El manisero.

Upon arriving in New York, Bauzá went to live in Harlem with his cousin, the trumpeter René Endreira. Bauzá began playing the saxophone at house parties with pianist Lucky Roberts and began to absorb African-American culture.

Mario Bauza
Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York

Between 1930 and 1931, he was a trumpeter in the Antonio Machín quartet and made important recordings with this group in New York City. Anecdotally, it is said that he had learned to play the trumpet in just two weeks.

His first jobs were with the orchestras of Cass Carr, Noble Sissle and Sam Wooding.

In 1933 he entered Chick Webb’s orchestra as first trumpet, where he ended up as music director. He then worked with Don Redman and Fletcher Henderson, eventually landing Cab Calloway.

Being in that band, Mario brought the young trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie to the orchestra.

Bauzá married Estela Gutiérrez, sister of Francisco Raúl Gutiérrez Grillo, known as Machito.

On December 3, 1940, he debuted with Machito at the Park Plaza, a dance hall, with the Afro-Cubans, later working for almost four years at the La Conga club.

Bauzá works for Machito as artistic director, taking care of the arrangements and hiring the musicians.

The style of the Afro-Cubans mixes the son montuno of Cuba with features of swing bands.

Mario Bauzá Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York
Mario Bauzá Pioneer of Afro-Cuban jazz in New York

Thanks to this, musicians like Dizzy Gillespie or James Moody introduced Afro-Cuban rhythms into jazz, starting in 1947.

He became interested in jazz when he heard Frankie Trumbauer play the saxophone performing Rhapsody in blue with the Paul Whiteman orchestra.

In the forties, Mario will develop the sound of Afro-Cuban jazz. His work as a clarinetist, trumpeter, saxophonist and arranger in the Machito orchestra constitutes one of the main pillars in the emergence and development of that Cuban genre.

Master Timbalero Luisito Quintero

North America / United States / New Jersey

Master Timbalero Luisito Quintero hails from Caracas, Venezuela.

Where his father, a respected percussionist in his own right, tutored and encouraged his son to become one of music’s best percussionists.

Luisito comes from a long line of outstanding musicians including his uncle, Carlos Nene Quintero and cousin Robert Quintero.

He studied at the respected Orquesta Sinfonica de Venezuela (The Symphonic Orchestra of Venezuela) and his percussion technique soon garnered attention from his colleagues.

Master Timbalero Luisito Quintero
Master Timbalero Luisito Quintero – Photo

Luisito joined the popular music ensembles Grupo Guaco and Oscar D’Leon, where he enjoyed worldwide acclaim.

Luisito Quintero has worked and recorded with many of music’s legends including The Rolling Stones, Vanessa Williams, Paul Simon, Santana, Jack De Johnette, David Sanborn, George Benson, Joe Sample, Bill Cosby, the late Celia Cruz and Tito Puente, Cachao, Eddie Palmieri, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, Richard Bona, Ravi Coltrane, Nathalie Cole, Diana Krall, Giovanni Hidalgo, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Spanish Harlem, Willie Colon and countless others.  One of his recent projects finds him as musical director for Louie Vega and the Elements of Life Band, as well as extensive work with Jack DeJohnette’s Latin Project.  He has also had the privilege to tour and record with the Tony & Grammy award winning Jazz artist, Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Quintero himself has earned more than thirteen Grammy certificate awards for his participation in numerous recordings.

Luisito Quintero has two solo projects under Vega Records/BBE, entitled “Percussion Maddness” and “Percussion Maddness Revisited”.

Timbalero - Luisito Quintero
Master Timbalero Luisito Quintero – Photo

Scheduled for release in the spring of 2013, his upcoming production entitled “3rd Element”, features guest artists Gato Barbieri, Oscar Hernandez, Doug Beavers, Richie Flores, Steve Khan, Reynaldo Jorge and his cousin Roberto Quintero.  Currently, Luisito is the touring & recording percussionist for the legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea and for Spanish Harlem.

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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.