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Mambo City 5 Star Congress

Europe / United Kingdom / London

28 Apr 2017 – 01 May 2017

Mambo City was founded by Robert and Jean White in August 1999, they both started dancing Salsa in 1992 and gained seven years of dance experience in Colombian, Cuban and Cross body Style Salsa before going on to teach, they quickly established themselves as teachers, promoters and gained a reputation for running great events.

They were introduced to ‘cross-body’ Salsa by Pedro Gomez, a Puerto Rican Instructor based in Italy. This lead them to go on to take classes with many famous US proponents of that style including Eddie Torres, Nelson Flores, Tomas Guerrero, Frankie Martinez and Delille Thomas. Classes with these instructors lead them to promote workshops in the UK and the production of the inspirational video in 2001, “MamboCity Presents SantoRico”. This was instrumental in inspiring a generation of dancers from the early 2000’s, helping to shape cross body dancing in the UK and further afield.

The London 5 Star Salsa Congress

In 2003, they started their International festival, The London 5 Star Salsa Congress, currently the longest running Congress in the UK, since establishing this Festival they have gone on to collaborate with other promoters and dancers in organizing events around the UK and abroad and continue to work regularly with international performers, Instructors, bands and Djs.

Both Robert and Jean teach at Mambo City venues and Robert also DJs (as Cruz and Bobby Blanco). He has a diverse musical background and is a former session musician who has played Reggae and R&B on a semi-professional basis.

Come and experience 2 Days of Dance Workshops catering for all levels, from absolute Beginners to Advanced, in various dance styles: Cuban Son, Afro Cuban, Rumba, Cha Cha Cha, Cross Body Style Salsa “On1?, New York Style Mambo “On2?

Address: Radisson Blu Edwardian, Heathrow Airport, 140 Bath Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 5AW, England
Phone: +44 (0)7050 696 480
Location: UK
Email: [email protected]

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016

Europe / Germany / Berlin

Our promise: to entertain you. We are aiming to make the difference – every time. With 15 years of experience in organizing Salsa events we want to set the standards for our industry.

Parties from 4PM until 9.30AM. We dare you to dance all night long to the music of some of the best DJs in our community on three different dancefloors. Plus the afternoon and the time after sunrise until breakfast. Expect to encounter the highest level of social dancing in Europe as we gather many of the best dancers from all over the world.

We present you the shows in a unique and entertaining way as you will not see it anywhere else in our community. We entertain you. You will see much more then only a number of high quality dance shows. We also bring you Stand Up Comedy. News shows and we bring you back into the history of our dance community.

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 - Photo 1 — Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 – Photo 1

Berlin Salsacongress 2016 also features a number of seminars and lectures, including the famous Olu Olu Coffee Lounge which had its offline premiere at Berlin Salsacongress, plus history lectures and seminars such as the “Gentleman’s secrets”. We believe that in the age of social media it is more important than ever to talk and discuss face to face.

Needless to say that Berlin Salsacongress 2016 also offers a large number of high quality workshops for all levels. For those who are too advanced for the regular workshops we offer three amazing choreography bootcamps with some of the best artists in our industry. Plus, the Master Pass gives you exclusive access to the Master Classes where you can learn in a small group on a real master level.

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 - Djs Kizomba — Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 – Djs Kizomba

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 - Djs Bachata — Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 – Djs Bachata

Berlin Salsacongress is featuring the Stargate shows since 2008. The Stargate shows offer upcoming talents the chance to make their way to the top and dance on our main stage at night if chosen by the audience in the afternoon shows.

Now we became also co- creator of the Stargate Champions League which offers the winners of the Stargate competitions an additional chance to become European Stargate Champion and win a 1500€ cash prize in the finals. Get Sensual!

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 - Shows — Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 – Shows

At the Berlin Salsacongress we offer you beside one of the largest Salsa events in Europe also an amazing Sensual Festival with some of the best Kizomba and Bachata instructors in the world. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy a fully sensual event while being together with all your friends from Salsa from all over the world – all in one place! SENSUAL ARTISTS-KIZOMBA

We offer one floor exclusively every night only for Kizomba and another one for Bachata.

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 - Flyer 1 — Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 – Flyer 1

We invited some of the best sensual DJs to give you only the best music. With the combination of a Sensual Party Pass (or Party Pass) and an Upgrade KiZZ you can enjoy the whole sensual part with 12 Kizomba workshops, 10 Bachata workshops and parties Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 - Flyer 2 — Berlin Salsa Congress 2016 – Flyer 2

For information and tickets:

https://www.berlinsalsacongress.co/tickets2016.html

Enjoy the Tempo Latino 31st edition with the best of Latin music in Europe

That has been a very long year waiting a new edition of the biggest Latin music event in Europe! This July, fans of our music will finally be able to enjoy the 31st edition of Tempo Latino, which is one of the largest international festivals of Afro-Cuban, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin music. During the four days of the festival, the audience can enjoy the best of salsa, Latin jazz, mambo, timba, and fused rhythms every year.

This festival is usually held in the small village of Vic-Fezensac in southwestern France, since 1994, which is when its first edition took place. Nowadays, the event is typically held during the last days of July and the first days of August.

A little of the history of Tempo Latino

As mentioned previously, the festival began, and is still held, in Vic-Fezensac, a small village of around 3,700 inhabitants located in the Gers, which is well known for its bullfighting tradition. This association was founded in 1993 by music lover and Latin music DJ Eric Duffau, an artist who sought a different alternative to traditional commercial communities and aimed to bring traditional musical roots to the heart of Europe.

The first edition, which took place in the summer of 1994, aimed to transform the small French village into the mecca of salsa, Cuban son, and Afro-Latin jazz for four days a year.

An initiative that began as a small project has grown into one of the biggest salsa festivals of the world, which already enjoys the support of 500 local volunteers who organize into neighborhoods and homes. To this day, Tempo Latino has achieved a perfect balance between an ambitious production and a local and friendly atmosphere. It should also be stressed that it has been held on a regular basis since 1994, except for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evolution and golden age

The festival expanded so much thanks to its authenticity and freshness that it has come to be known as “The One” and has established itself as a mandatory stop for the greatest Latin music glories, including Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri, Rubén Blades, Willie Colón, Tito Puente, Los Van Van, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, La Sonora Ponceña, Oscar D’León, Cheo Feliciano, Ismael Miranda, Johnny Pacheco, and many others.

Similarly, since its foundation, the festival has also served as a springboard for new musical talent, including solo artists and groups performing salsa brava, Latin hip-hop, Afro-Cuban funk, and other genres from places such as Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and New York.

Activities beyond the concerts

Tempo Latino has come to a point where it is no limited only to stage performances, which are still the main attractions for attendees. They also offer dance workshops, which are designed for both amateurs and professional dancers interested in learning more about the roots and evolution of Latin rhythms.

Similarly, the festival also offers music and percussion workshops, introducing both amateur and professional musicians to important topics such as the clave, rhythm, and a bit of the history of Latin and Afro-Cuban music. In the case of percussion workshops, instructors teach students how to play the congas, timbales, bongos, and campana. As for wind instruments and musical combos, classes are given in trombone, trumpet, and saxophone.

We also cannot fail to mention the international market, where attendees can buy all sorts of things from our countries, such as instruments, clothing, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, souvenirs, and more.

Orquesta Akokan, which is going to perform in this edition

Stages and structuring of the festival

Another of the great attractions of Tempo Latino is its “geo-rhythmic” network of locations, where you can find both concerts and peripheral activities that can be enjoyed simultaneously. Below are some of those that will be available for the 2026 edition:

Tempo Arena: This stage is located in the Vic-Fezensac bullring, known for its open acoustics and intense energy every night of the festival. Among the top artists that will perform there are Maïté Hontelé Y La Novia, Orquesta Akokán (Friday, July 31), Matt Bianco, Rogê (Saturday, August 1), Alfredo Rodríguez, and Tony Succar (Sunday, August 2).
La Conga (Tempo Social Club): This other stage is also very popular because it has a beachy vibe with real sand and operates from early morning until late into the night. As for the artists who will be performing, we can mention the queen of Argentine electronic cumbia, La Yegros, DJ Çarava, and DJ Lafuriosa.
Camp Tempo: This open-air format is packed every year with new musical proposals, alternative fusions, brass bands, and street groups that give life to the village during the day. In the 2026 edition, some of the alternative bands will include Chicos y Méndez, Chicharrón, Pixvae, and Aguanomas.
Saint-Pierre Church: This venue is solely and exclusively reserved to small, intimate acoustic concerts where, as a general rule, only pianists and Latin jazz artists perform in the festival’s most solemn format.

Fernando Lavoy The Montunero of Salsa and Son

The Indelible Footprint of a Masterful Voice in the Golden Era of SAR Productions.

Introduction and Musical Legacy, Fernando Lavoy was one of the best-kept and most dazzling secrets of 20th-century Afro-Cuban music.

Born on May 6, 1950, in Havana, Cuba, he possessed an exceptional mastery and vocal quality that quickly caught the attention of the era’s biggest icons.

It was the legendary trumpeter Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros who, blown away by Lavoy’s innate gift for traditional phrasing and improvisation, affectionately dubbed him “El Montunero” (The Montuno Master).

Fernando Lavoy El Montunero de la Salsa y el Son

Throughout his career, Lavoy showcased his talent as both a singer and songwriter in heavyweight ensembles, including:

The celebrated Sonora Matancera
Chocolate Armenteros’ orchestra
Conjunto Dinastía Diez
Roberto Torres’ mythical SAR All Stars

He also led his own group, “Los Soneros.” His tragic murder in 1992 in Miami, United States, cut short the life of a brilliant artist, but left an indelible mark on the heritage of tropical music.

The Rise in New York and the Alliance with SAR Productions

After emigrating to the United States in 1980 in search of new artistic horizons, Lavoy immediately immersed himself in New York’s effervescent Salsa and Son scene.

His first big break came courtesy of Chocolate Armenteros, contributing masterfully to the album “Y sigo con mi...” under the SAR Productions record label.

Sar All Stars La India de Oriente,Jorge Maldonado Y Fernando Lavoy y en el tres Charlie Rodriguez

Founded by Roberto Torres, this record label was characterized by a unique musical aesthetic: it championed the classic texture of Cuban son, extending song lengths to allow generous space for instrumental solos and pure improvisation.

In 1981, Lavoy solidified his place as a member of the SAR All Stars, catapulting his voice into the spotlight of the most demanding music lovers.

Unlike other commercial acts of the era (such as Fania Records) that leaned heavily into crossovers with the English-speaking market, SAR Productions stood firm in direct Cuban roots. While they injected subtle nuances of jazz, they preserved that traditional, deep, and organic cadence that captivated Hispanic audiences.

Fernando Lavoy y Los Soneros: A Distinct Identity

Between 1981 and 1982, Fernando Lavoy recorded two foundational albums under his own name: “Los Soneros” (1981) and “Fernando Lavoy y Los Soneros” (1982).

Although the norm at SAR was to use the talented house band to back soloists, Los Soneros presented themselves as an autonomous group with their own identity, produced by the infallible Roberto Torres.

The ensemble stood out for its solid instrumentation led by trumpeter Juan González, who served as director and arranger, accompanied by his son Juan González Jr. on piano and the virtuoso Juan Méndez on bongo.

The band was formally structured as a classic, old-school conjunto: four powerful trumpets, bass, conga, bongo, and three backing vocalists stylishly led by Norman Rodríguez.

Analysis of a Masterpiece: The 1982 Album

The 1982 record is absolute proof of Lavoy’s musical maturity; he composed 50% of the repertoire.

“No voy a dormir”: The album opens electrifyingly, where a powerful trumpet introduction gives way to Fernando’s entrance, followed by a masterful trumpet solo by Juan González and an explosive bongo breakdown by Juan Méndez that builds into a montuno climax.
“Cóquela suave”: A son montuno penned by Lavoy that, true to its name, begins with a smooth, gentle cadence before transforming into a hard-hitting, danceable son, enriched by a sublime piano solo from Juan González Jr.
“Pegaditos”: A famous composition by Miguel Matamoros who, along with Arsenio Rodríguez, stands as one of the pillars of son is reinterpreted while respecting the purity of its traditional structure. The track shines with a high, piercing trumpet that floats above the Cuban singer’s vocals, experimenting with tempo variations that gradually increase the rhythmic intensity alongside flawless backing vocals.
“Juana la sin goma” & “No vuelo contigo”: The album closes with the former, a track packed with playfulness, dance energy, and high-octane lyrics, and the latter, a more laid-back son that, without quite becoming a bolero, maintains the majestic structure of Cuban son with a vibrant closing montuno.

Ultimately, Fernando Lavoy’s work remains a foundational pillar that vindicates the sabor, rhythm, and eternal essence of son montuno.

Text courtesy of Maida Lorena Lavoy.

Foto Museo De La Salsa, en Barrio Obrero, en su visita en 1991 junto al gran cantante puertorriqueño Yayo El Indio y Carlos Molina Castellanos, actual director del Museo De La Salsa

Also Read: Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros: The Golden Legacy of the Cuban Trumpet

The Senior Mulato Jerry Rivas and His Half-Century Legend with El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

From the chords of the Puerto Rican cuatro to the eternal voice of “Los Mulatos del Sabor”

Few names resonate with as much power, respect, and relevance in the salsa firmament as that of Jerry Rivas.

Born in Tampa, Florida, but with his soul deeply rooted in the heart of Orocovis through his parents’ heritage, Jerry Louis Rivas Díaz has carved his name in letters of gold into the history of Caribbean music.

El Mulato Mayor Jerry Rivas y su Leyenda de Medio Siglo con El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico

Nearing 50 years as the lead vocalist for El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Rivas is more than just a singer; he is a living institution of salsa, a definitive sonero of his era, and the guardian of a legacy that continues to keep the entire world dancing.

Roots, Strings, and the Making of a Self-Taught Musician

Jerry’s history with Puerto Rico formally began in 1960, when his family moved back to the “Isla del Encanto” to settle in Bayamón.

There, the young Jerry began to breathe in the folklore and rhythms that defined the Boricua identity. What many do not know is that long before commanding microphones and international stages, Jerry was deeply passionate about string instruments.

As a fundamentally self-taught musician and singer, his first great love was the guitar. Over time, his musical curiosity led him to master the Puerto Rican cuatro, the island’s national instrument par excellence.

De los acordes del cuatro puertorriqueño a la voz eterna de Los Mulatos del Sabor

Not content with just that, he decided to delve deeper into the roots of Afro-Caribbean music, learning the secrets of the Cuban tres under the tutelage of the renowned professor Carlos Seguí.

This solid foundation as an instrumentalist not only shaped his ear but also gave him an impeccable sense of rhythm and timing that would later define his unique style for soneo (improvisational singing).

The Path to the Top: From Local Bands to a Historic Recruitment

Before the spotlight of El Gran Combo fell upon him, Jerry Rivas honed his craft throughout the island’s musical circuit, leaving his mark on every project:

Grupo Complicación: His teenage musical battleground, where he served as a guitarist for three years.
Conjunto Cojoba: A group he joined in 1972, sharpening his stage presence.
Conjunto Chaney (1974): Jerry was part of the select group of founding musicians of this project, which years later would become a powerhouse of romantic salsa.
Latin Brass (1976): The definitive showcase where his voice truly began to shine on its own.

It was precisely in 1976 when destiny knocked on his door. Following the shocking departure of the iconic “Niño de Trastalleres,” Andy Montañez who left the orchestra after 14 golden years to join Venezuela’s Dimensión Latina El Gran Combo found itself facing one of the most difficult transitions in its history. Replacing a legend seemed like an impossible task.

However, the keen eye of Don Quique Lucca (founder of La Sonora Ponceña) did not fail. Don Quique recommended the young Jerry to Don Rafael Ithier. After hearing him perform, Ithier didn’t hesitate: in 1977, Jerry Rivas officially joined the “University of Salsa.”

Nacido en Tampa, Florida, pero con el alma arraigada en las entrañas de Orocovis por la herencia de sus padres, Jerry Louis Rivas Díaz

Nearly 50 Years of History at “The University of Salsa”

Joining such a demanding institution in the midst of an era-defining shift was a monumental challenge. Audiences initially viewed the new member with skepticism, but Jerry, armed with unwavering humility and immense talent, never tried to imitate his predecessor; instead, he forged his own legend.

Across nearly five decades, his voice has immortalized anthems of the global salsa songbook. Essentials on any dance floor like “Azuquita pa’ el café,” “Ojos chinos,” “Y no hago más na’,” “El menú,” “Cupido,” and “La clave” carry his unmistakable stamp.

His elegant performance style, combined with his sharp wit and deep respect for the dancer, solidified the orchestra’s golden age and ensured the transition was a resounding success.

“Joining El Gran Combo was a tremendous school and responsibility. Replacing Andy was no easy feat, but Don Rafael Ithier gave me the confidence to just be myself on stage.” Jerry Rivas, looking back on his beginnings.

Pocos nombres resuenan con tanta fuerza, respeto y vigencia en el firmamento de la salsa como el de Jerry Rivas.

The Present and Vibrant Legacy of an Eternal Sonero

Now in 2026, the tropical music landscape has changed drastically, but El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico remains unshakeable at the top.

Jerry Rivas stays incredibly active, leading the vocal front of “Los Mulatos del Sabor” alongside the orchestra’s newer generations, Anthony García and Joselito Hernández. This blend of Jerry’s veteran wisdom and the energy of the new vocalists has injected a refreshing vitality into the group.

Jerry Rivas is not just a survivor of salsa’s golden age; he is the living bridge connecting the rich traditions of the 20th century with contemporary audiences.

From his days tuning strings in Bayamón to packed stadiums across Europe, Latin America, and the United States, his journey stands as a testament to discipline, passion, and love for his culture.

We wish lifelong health, inspiration, and continued success to this eternal maestro who, besides being one of salsa’s most beloved voices, has never ceased to be, in every sense of the word, a complete musician. Long live the music of Jerry Rivas, and let the drums keep rolling!

Also Read: The Gran Combo of Puerto Rico “Los Mulatos del Sabor”