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International Salsa Magazine presents Alexander Abreu and his Habana de Primera

International Salsa Magazine presents a Cuban musician today considered by critics as one of the best trumpet players of the moment in Cuba and probably in the whole world.

He is Alexander Abreu Manresa, born on September 6, 1976 in Cienfuegos.

Owner of innate conditions and a unique talent to play the trumpet in a wonderful way.

Alexander Abreu, in spite of his youth, equals greats of the instrument such as El Guajiro Mirabal, Arturo Sandoval or Dizzy Gillespie, without ignoring that as a singer he has a melodious voice and, as if that were not enough, he also works as a composer and musical director.

He began playing trumpet at the age of ten, he studied music at the conservatory of music in his hometown Cienfuegos and at the National School of Art where he graduated in 1994 and in that same institution has served as a teacher, the impeccable way of playing his instrument allowed him to reach the top in Cuban music with only twenty years of age; he was part of the Cuban jazz group Irakere, worked with exponents of Cuban Timba Paulo FG and Issac Delgado and his Orchestra.

On the other hand, he has made recordings in other genres with musicians, composers and singers such as:

Armando Anthony Corea, known as Chick Corea, is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist and composer.

Arnaldo Rodríguez, young talented arranger, composer, singer and director of the Cuban Musical Group Arnaldo y su talismán, born in Ciego de Avila, Cuba.

Baby Lores, musician, singer and arranger from the city of Cienfuegos, the Pearl of the South.

Hugh Ramopolo Masekela, trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer and South African jazz singer from South Africa.

James Morrison Catchpole, English soul and pop rock singer, songwriter and guitarist.

Luís Represas, Portuguese singer and composer.

Ron Sexsmith, Canadian singer-songwriter.

Alexander Abreu created, in 2007, his own group, which he called Havana D’ Primera, with several of the most talented Cuban musicians, the first presentation of the band took place on October 4, 2008 at the Cabaret Turquino of the Habana Libre Hotel in Havana.

With Havana D’ Primera, he has made three albums, they are: Haciendo Historia in 2011, Pasaporte in 2013 and La Vuelta al Mundo in 2015.

He has also released the singles: Rosa la Peligrosa, Me Dicen Cuba and Prohibido. Alexander Abreu Manresa is trumpet and lead vocalist of Havana D’ Primera, as well as composer, arranger and musical director of the group.

This work aims to highlight the enormous and excellent musical career of one of the best musicians of the island of Cuba in the new generation, with just thirty-eight years of age, the music of Alexander Abreu has transcended borders, his recordings exceed one hundred albums in different countries and in multiple musical genres.

From our website, we want to highlight the magnificent musical career of Alexander Abreu Manresa.

Despite his youth, Alexander Abreu’s musical gifts and excellence have allowed him to play and record with a great number of musicians and groups, not only in his native Cuba, but also in other countries of the world, to mention a few, we have then, as far as our music is concerned: Adalberto Álvarez, Amaury Pérez, Andy Montañez, Irakere, Juan Manuel Ceruto, Klimax, Mayito Rivera, Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, Pablo Milanés, Pachito Alonso, Team Cuba, Teresa García Cataurla, Van Van and Yurumí y sus Hermanos.

Havana D’Primera nominated to the Latin Grammy Awards 2022

“We are nominated once again for the Latin Grammy Awards, this time with the album Será que se Acabó. But it’s not just me. Cuban music is nominated, which is reflected in this album with all the energy. I think it’s the most powerful album I’m going to make in the history of my life.” This is how Alexander Abreu announced the magnificent news.

Será que se Acabó, Havana D’Primera’s latest album, was nominated for the 2022 Latin Grammy Awards in the category of Best Salsa Album.

“At The Latin Recording Academy, we continually strive to support and encourage Latin music creators, and these nominees epitomize musical excellence and represent the great moment our music is going through,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy.

Alexander Abreu & Habana de Primera

You can read: Yissy García Calzadilla, former member of the Anacaona Orchestra, plays drums, timbal and bongo

Sundays Are Salseros In London

5 Clubs to not stop dancing Salsa even on the last day of the week

Salsa parties don’t stop in London, its fusion of Caribbean rhythms with a subtle swing and a few drops of Latin folklore make this genre one of the most contagious and fun to dance as a couple or with friends.

For that, here we make a list of the best places to dance Salsa on the last day of the week and if you do it regularly you will obtain health benefits such as muscle toning, improvement of cognitive functions (memory and coordination), the release of stress, increased self-esteem through a positive and confident attitude, in addition to improving circulation and the physical appearance of the legs. Let’s start now!

Room 1 alternates Salsa & Bachata, while in Room 2, they present Kizomba starting at 8 PM

We started with Medbar in Southampton. It’s the perfect place to drink, dine, and dance, as well as being one of the hottest hotspots in the heart of Oxford Street (50 Oxford St, Southampton SO14 3DP). Every Sunday from 6 PM is about Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba. Beginner classes start at 6 PM, and advanced level lessons start at 6:45 PM. The value of each lesson is £8.

End the week with Medbar’s famous Latin nights and take advantage of the S.B.K social parties on Sundays from 7:30 PM until 2 AM.

Government-issued photo identification is required to access the bar.

A totally Latin atmosphere in London is the Salsa Soho Bar, Restaurant, and Nightclub, cataloged by many as one of the most authentic Latin music venues in the United Kingdom. Here you can enjoy the free Latin warm-up with Crossbody (LA) style Salsa classes for 45 minutes from 7:15 PM and continue with Salsa and Reggaeton lessons at all levels starting at 8 PM, you can also enjoy excellent South American dishes and 50 types of cocktails in this bar open seven days a week and located at 96 Charing Cross Rd since 1997. So live the experience of visiting Salsa Soho every Sunday and enjoy the Sundays X–perience until 2 AM with DJ José Luis. Admission is £5 after 8 PM. For more information visit their website. https://www.bar-salsa.com/soho

You can get there by train within 8 minutes of travel from Victoria

We continue with the Off The Cuff Live Music Bar located in the heart of Herne Hill (Arch 645, 301-303 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 0JN, UK). Voted by Mr. Hide magazine as one of the top five independent music venues in London, this bar offers one-hour Salsa Sessions every Sunday of the month from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM, and the cost of admission is £10. Get fun the Sunday afternoon in the excellent company of Salsa.

During the weekly events there is a rotation with the best DJs in East London

We now walk through Juju’s Bar and Stage open six days a week. This place with a wide variety of events brings Latin parties every Sunday night for seven hours with DJ Javier “La Maquina De Cuba” and the Sambroso Sambroso dance academy.

Admission is free and starts from 4 PM to 11:30 PM. Juju’s Bar and Stage is located at Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR.

And in November! This prestigious space will play host to the EFG London Jazz Festival, London’s largest annual event, acclaimed for showcasing talent from around the world. This year the constellation of established and emerging stars will be intoxicating starting on Sunday, November 13^th with the presentation of Cuban artist Yuri Hernández, who organically entered Latin Jazz in 2020 with the single Loco Soñador. DJ Flecha (Joel Verdecia) will also perform in this presentation. The ticket costs £8.50 and the sets will be distributed as follows 6 PM – 8 PM and 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM. Get your tickets and don’t miss out on the EFG London Jazz Festival from November 11^th to November 20^th.

Bar Salsa Temple is located on Victoria Embankment, Temple, London WC2R 2PH, United Kingdom

We end this tour at Bar Salsa Temple. Every Sunday is Cuban hits night. Relive the Havana of Puros by the River Thames! DJs Jorge Andre & DJ JJ Latin mixes the most recognized songs of yesterday and today from Timba, Salsa Cubana, Cubatón, and Bachata. Free Beginner Salsa Classes start at 6 PM, one-hour Sensual Bachata lessons start at 7 PM (£7), and Intermediate Cuban Salsa (Salsa Rueda) instruction is at 8 PM (£7).

Bar Salsa Temple is one of the largest Latin clubs in the country and is located on the Embankment, London. Join and experience the flavor of Cuban Sundays until 2 AM.

AQUILES BÁEZ

Swing And Tradition Of A Distinguished Venezuelan Artist

Chapter I: Aquiles’ Farewell

“With all the pain in my soul, I must publicly communicate that my friend, my brother, my accomplice Aquiles Báez passed away this morning at 5 in the morning in the city of Aachen, Germany. Aquiles was in the middle of a concert tour here in Europe. He flies high gordito.” Ramón Arturo Aular (Báez’s friend, musician, and professor at the Aachen Conservatory of Music) informed the community through his Twitter account the Monday, September 12^th.

The virtuoso musician, noble guitarist, arranger, and excellent composer died of a sudden heart attack at the residence of his friend Ramón Aular. His last concert was held in the city of Cologne located in western Germany as part of his 2022 European tour, the first he did after the cessation of activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The noble 58-year-old artist had already performed in Spain and was preparing to present his music in some German cities such as Berlin, Tubingen, and Hamburg, before finishing his tour in France and Portugal.

“I think it is important to project the work that one has been developing in other latitudes. This is very interesting because I realize that the music I make is universal, it is not limited only to playing for the Venezuelan diaspora, which of course also provides an audience”. Báez expressed this to an international media.

During his artistic career, he recorded 17 albums and collaborated on more than 150 recordings with other artists. Báez was a professor at the Berklee College of Music (Boston, Massachusetts) and was recognized for his mastery of the guitar with “elements of mixed Caribbean and Afro-Venezuelan cultures with classical music and Jazz.” Fragment extracted from his biography.

In life, he shared stages with artists such as Paquito D´ Rivera, John Patitucci, Romero Lubambo, C4 Trío, Ilan Chester, Simón Díaz, Huáscar Barradas, Worlds of Guitars, Aquiles Machado, Serenata Guayanesa, Iván Pérez Rossi, Fareed Haque, Dawn Upshaw, Richard Bona, Luisito Quintero, Solo Razaf, Marco Pereira, Oscar Stagnaro, and Ensamble Gurrufío.

Before passed away, Aquiles Báez was preparing the publication of two studio albums and the creation of five more. He was also in charge of making the music for the Venezuelan play Mi último delirio, which premiered on September 2^nd with the lead role of his friend Héctor Manrique and with great reception from the public and specialized critics.

Chapter II: Getting to know the musicians’ Master to the rhythm of the compass

His older brother, Julio, was the one who instilled in him a love for music by giving him his first instrument, the Cuatro.

Aquiles Báez was always an irreverent musician who made the type of music that he felt. “It is important to make music from what one feels it is, from that forceful energy that is the act of creating…Lately, I have been respected. It was hard to get that position. They have not always respected me, perhaps because of my way of being, irreverent. The people who manage cultural spaces have always taken me as an anarchist… I consider myself someone accessible, the teacher thing hasn’t gotten to me, seeing everyone below me, that seems pathetic to me…” Aquiles expressed this to a Venezuelan media.

“Throughout his career, Aquiles has received various awards and recognitions. These include Pepsi music awards and the William Leavitt award given by the Berklee College of Music; In addition, he has stood out with more than a dozen awards as a composer of music for film, theater, and dance. Extracted from his biography.

In 1996, at the age of 32, Aquiles decided to move to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After two semesters he dropped out, considering that he was “learning the same thing but in another language.” And that was not only his thinking, but also what he demonstrated during his stay as a student at the academic campus, so shortly after he entered the Berklee College of Music again, but this time as a professor.

On this academic campus, he gave “clinics, workshops, and seminars at different universities and musical institutions such as Indiana University, Temple University, Queen College, Krems Summer camp, Curitiba Music Office, The Jazz School in San Francisco, among others, in Europe and the United States”, according to his biography.

Shortly after, he participated as a guest musician on the albums of Panamanian artist Danilo Pérez: Central Avenue (1998) and Motherland (2000), both albums nominated for Grammys.

Aquiles Báez was a founder and member of the board of directors of Guataca productions. In this space, they continue to support emerging Venezuelan artists. Báez’s methodology for finding new talent was to research, listen to them live and contact them. “Why not support those guys who come after you? Why not make life more pleasant for them? Or a lighter path than one had. This road is not easy at all, it has been very hard, and it continues to be hard. And one continues and believes that he has acquired a certain reputation…” Báez expressed this in an interview conducted by a Venezuelan media outlet.

Chapter III: Anecdotes of a famous life

Last night sharing with the beloved Maestro Carlos Cruz Diez (Panama. October 29, 2016)

Countless artists expressed their affection and grief for Aquiles’ departure, expressing testimonies of a life full of joy, love, and passion for musical colors.

“One of the artists who has inspired me the most and a great human being. He made it possible for us to make our first album, the tour of the United States and opened the doors of his home for us. We made a lot of beautiful friends with Aquiles. D.E.P, Maestro, compaíto Aquiles Báez”. Jorge Glem (Cuatrista and member of the group C4 Trio).

“The wonderful Aquiles Báez was a musician capable of playing all Venezuelan music of all genres“. Alfredo Naranjo (Vibraphonist)

“Dismayed by the sudden death of my dear friend Aquiles Báez, one of the great musicians of our country, guitar teacher, and eternal officiant of humor and simplicity”. Leonardo Padron (Writer)

“Today we are less. I have just been informed that our admired and beloved musician and my dear friend, Aquiles Baez, has passed away. This news is heartbreaking and unfair. Aquiles is one of the most creative and generous people I have ever met”. Héctor Manrique (Director and theater actor)

“Thank you for being an inspiration in music and a big brother in life. Without your unconditional support, I would not have even reached the corner”. Álvaro Paiva Bimbo (Guitarist and 2022 Oscar nominee for the soundtrack of the Disney movie “Encanto”)

“How can we forget this great friend and fellow adventurer”. Claudio Nazoa (Comedian)

“I was left with the desire to carry out the project we had to record an album together. What profound sadness!” Miguel Delgado Estévez (Musician, arranger, and producer)

Finally, the Venezuelan percussionist Omar Ledezma Jr. expressed his sorrow for the death of Báez.

LENTEJAS. That’s what the gordo called me. 7 years of my life I played and toured the world with Aquiles Báez. We met at one of his concerts at the Bellas Artes thanks to my dear Carlos Reyes, another great guitarist from our country, at the time I worked at the MACCSI. Years later, arriving in Boston, he called me to be in his group and I couldn’t believe it. The gordo was my musical hero thanks to his Platabanda and the number of times I saw him accompanying great singers. He was the one who told me to grab El Cajón and start putting in the merengue and the gaitas. I knew his bad jokes by heart: “Vamos a tocar la canción de DC: Di si encontraste…”, with him, I learned to be a person first, then a musician, I learned not to make ugly faces if I made a mistake, with him, I had to press on reading, to be punctual, to put my batteries.

Anyway… with the gordo I learned to be a professional musician, because with his virtues and defects, for me, he was the best.

I love you my gordo, wherever you are. Thanks. #aquilesbaez”.

You can continue reading the article about Omar Ledezma Jr. From The Venezuelan Melody To The Caribbean Rhythm.

Here is a small excerpt from this interview of 2021:

Years later, and with experience acquired in presentations, and groups, Omar Jr. met his first mentor, Aquiles Baez, a famous Venezuelan artist, guitar virtuoso. Together with Aquiles, he made his first international tour of the United States. “With Aquiles, I had the pleasure of playing Venezuelan music. We play with many artists in the United States… Thanks to him I developed percussion (Non-autochthonous element) in Venezuelan music”. Ledezma Jr. commented.

“Fall in NY. How beautiful are the colors of Autumn in NYC. Enjoying that watercolor of nature”. Aquiles Baez (November 8, 2018)

Melissa Aldana Will Headline The Wellington Jazz Festival

The Most Acclaimed Latin Saxophonist On The International Jazz Scene

Melissa Aldana started playing the alto saxophone at the age of 6

Melissa Aldana is a Chilean saxophonist and composer nominated for the Grammy Awards (2020) for her skills with this wind instrument, she has six studio albums, and her fame has spread to all Jazz circuits around the world.

Aldana with his quartet will headline the Wellington Jazz Festival 2022 to present to the fans the debut album with the company Blue Note Records titled 12 Stars, and you cannot miss the opportunity to experience this exceptional live performance with flowing harmonic notes seasoned with feeling in the Wellington Opera House (111 – 113 Manners Street, Wellington, New Zealand) on Sunday, October 23^rd from 7PM to 8:30PM, and the ticket price is $69.

The Wellington Jazz Festival is an entry point into the Jazz music calendar for fans and the curious. This event will offer more than 100 magical concerts in bars, restaurants, and live music venues in the capital. This year the splendid festival will take place in mid-spring in Aotearoa (New Zealand’s Maori name), featuring some of the best international Grammy Award-winning and nominated artists, as well as renowned talent from this Oceanian country and the world.

On the other hand, Melissa Aldana was the first South American woman and instrumentalist to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Contest (Washington -USA) in 2013. This artist born in Santiago de Chile in 1988 is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music with a full music scholarship in 2009, moreover, she also comes from a musical family where her father and paternal grandfather played this instrument.

The discography of this tenor saxophonist goes back 12 years when, at only 22 years old, she came out on the music market with her debut album Free Fall (2010). It is followed by Second Cycle in 2012, Melissa Aldana & Crash Trio (2014), and Back Home in 2016. Her fifth studio album was Visions (2019), an album that earned her first Grammy nomination for Best Solo by Improvised Jazz in recognition of her impressive tenor solo on her composition Elsewhere.

12 Stars was composed in Harlem (New York - USA) in 2020 — 12 Stars was composed in Harlem (New York – USA) in 2020

Most recently her record production is 12 Stars, an anecdotal album that she wrote during the Covid-19 pandemic and the product of the struggles she went through due to the breakup of a long relationship. “This is a very important album for me. I felt like I had a lot to say because of all the experiences I had during 2020. After the personal process that I went through, I feel more connected to myself and my imperfections… Embrace everything I hear, everything I touch, including mistakes, is more significant than perfection”. Aldana exposed in her biography

12 Stars was recorded under the Blue Note label and released on the music market on March 4^th. “I feel super privileged, but I had a feeling that this had to happen at some point. I’ve been very consistent with my band and my projects for a long time. I am very motivated for what comes next”. Aldana expressed to an international digital medium.

Melissa will end her presentations in Europe this year with a tour during November that will take her to the capital of Spain on Friday, November 11^th (Teatro Fernán Gómez) and on Saturday 12^th, she will be in Badajoz (Teatro López De Ayala). While on Monday, November 14^th, she will perform at the Zig Zag Jazz Club (Berlin-Germany), and on Wednesday, November 16^th, she will have the same but this time at the Porgy & Bess in Vienna, Austria.

The Padova Jazz Club (Padua- Italy) will be handed over to Melissa Aldana on Friday, November 18^th, and a day later she will do so at the Teatro Lauro Rossi in Macerata, Italy.

Where To Go Dancing Salsa In Sydney?

Seductive Afro-Cuban music comes to life in the Australian capital every night of the week

You probably already knew that a lot of Salsa is heard and danced in Australia. But, have you ever wondered, which are the best places to go Salsa dancing in Sydney? Here, we’ve rounded up six of our favorites.

ESTABLISHMENT BAR

Salsa Tuesdays are back at the Establishment Bar! This iconic Sydney spot is unique and sophisticated. It has narrow spaces, a 42-meter-long marble bar, and columns lining the walls that recreate the style of ancient Greece.

Establishment Bar with its lush lighting offers its attendees Afro-Caribbean music on Tuesday nights with live bands, dance shows, DJ playing Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Reggaeton & Bossa Nova until 3 AM, and live percussion. Weekly you will learn basic concepts in the free Salsa class starting at 8 PM, in addition, to enjoying cocktails ($10) and mojitos ($12) all night so you can enter an authentic Latin American Rumba.

This multi-award-winning bar is located on the Ground Floor, 252 George St, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia.

THE ARGYLE

Wednesday nights are from The Argyle! This two-floor club has been powering Sydney nightlife for fifteen years (2007).

This venue located at 18 Argyle St, Las Rocas, Sydney NSW 2000, has six bars, an iconic outdoor patio with spacious mini-environments to enjoy a Salsera night with the lineup of DJ Miro and his friends, as well as live bands in constant rotation.

These fun mid-week nights start at 7:30 PM to 1 AM and are $10 (includes a Salsa lesson). The dress code is casual, and minors are not allowed after 9 PM.

THE COLLAROY

Friday nights are Salseras at The Collaroy! Located right on the beachfront at 1064 Pittwater Road, Collaroy, New South Wales, Australia, this restaurant/bar with live entertainment and DJs downstairs on weekends stays open until 3 AM.

On Fridays from 8 PM to 9 PM, they offer Salsa classes (free) and from 10 PM the Latin party starts until 3 AM with live percussion and a DJ playing Afro-Cuban melodies, urban music, and Bossa Nova.

The Collaroy has an open-air terrace with a magnificent panoramic view of the peninsula’s north.

LATIN DANCING UNDER THE SAILS – BROADBEACH

Latin Dancing Under The Sails may change its date due to weather

Salsa takes over Saturdays at The Oasis Shopping Center! Every last Saturday of the month the LatinMania team brings the Latin Social Dance event outdoors at the Oasis shopping center located in Broadbeach Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia with music provided by DJs specialized in Salsa, Timba, Bachata, Merengue, and Salsaton from 7 PM to 10 PM.

The event is free and this month the theme will be Halloween. So don’t miss this opportunity to dance Salsa in Sydney with Colombian-born instructor Alejandro Barriga next Saturday, October 29th.

PLANT 4 BOWDEN

Every first Sunday of the month is Salsero at Plant 4 Bowden! This place is 100% green and adheres to international standards for green building design earning a 5-star rating for its operations.

Plant 4 Bowden, characterized by its environmental sustainability, presents its Salsa nights every first Sunday of the month from 4:30 PM to 10:30 PM with food, drink (local craft beer from barrel), Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba along with wonderful musical shows on the ground floor. The ticket price is $20 at the box office, and it is located at 5 Third St, Bowden SA 5008, Australia.

The magic of Salsa in this space happens surrounded by greenery with ample indoor seating and outdoor areas.

SALSA IN THE PARK

There is no better time than now. Go out dancing Salsa today in the Park (Sydney – Australia)

The second Sunday of every month is a Salsa immersion in the Park! Salsa in the Park is a free event that offers 3 hours of Latin music and social dancing outdoors at El Pabellón del Norte, 95 Marine Parade, Broadwater Parklands, Southport next door to the revolving chapel adjacent to North/Smith Street.

The half-hour lesson starts at 3 PM, and then the Social Dance continues until 6 PM with music provided by top DJ’s mixing old and new Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha Cha, and more.

Who can attend? The whole family and their pets. No experience is required. What are the benefits? Meet new friends, you’ll get fit, improve your mental health and coordination, and stay active. When? The next date is Sunday, October 9th.