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Search Results for: Venezuela
Eduardo Ron and his Fondo Blanco Band liven up great events in Miami
Once again, the Venezuelan talent in the United States is a source of inspiration for the subject of these lines and it is the turn of Venezuelan musician, sound engineer and DJ Eduardo Ron. The artist has kindly taken a few minutes of his time to answer our questions about his career and group, so here are the most important topics of our conversation.
How Eduardo started in music in his native country
Since Eduardo was just a five-year-old boy, he proved to have a very capable hearing at home and already liked music very much, so his parents decided to enroll him in piano lessons, although he confessed that the instrument was not his thing. At school, he became part of bands with which he gradually found his preferred style and genres.
With these groups, he even competed in school band contests in Caracas, which are very common in the city. Over time, the only one of his close friends who ended up devoting himself to music was him, to the point that he became a ‘’one-man band’’ who took care of almost everything in his own musical project.
It was until 20 years ago where he began to include singers, percussionists and other musicians to be part of his group. That is when he changed the name to ‘’Fondo Blanco’‘, taking Eduardo’s last name, which is Ron (rum in Spanish), as inspiration.
What things Eduardo learned besides the piano
From a very young, Eduardo always liked to have contact with the part of the audio and equipment, which led him to study sound engineering at the Taller de Arte Sonoro. In addition to that, although he loves percussion and masters it to some extent, he was a keyboardist and singer for many years. He is no longer doing either at the moment, as he has decided to devote himself entirely to music production, mixing and mastering.
When Eduardo decided to move to the United States
About 14 or 15 years ago, Eduardo decided to move to the city of Miami due to the political and economic situation in Venezuela at that time. For the same reason, he had no choice but to start from scratch with the project in these new lands and return to play, something he had not done for years, but the situation warranted.
The artist describes the Miami music market as complicated, since the competition is fierce. A huge advantage he had was that he studied English since he was very young, so the language issue was not a problem for him, but that did not make the other drawbacks easier to solve.
One of the first surprises Eduardo got was that, in Miami, he has done no more than 50 events a year, while in Venezuela he had as many as 140 in a year. This is because the market is gigantic and it is difficult to make a big name in it, not to mention that live orchestras do not have as many bookings as before due to cost reductions.
Two years later, he had already got new artists working with him and his situation had stabilized successfully, although the process was not easy. Moreover, even today, he cannot demand exclusivity from those who work with him because he does not have the economic muscle for that, so he has a long list of musicians whom he calls for certain events. One of the first ones he always calls is Army Zerpa, whom he described as one of the best bassists and arrangers he knows, which is why he has become a key person for his project.
Artists with whom Fondo Blanco has shared the stage
Fondo Blanco has been fortunate to share the stage with great artists such as Oscar D’ León, Ricky Martin, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Marc Anthony, among others. Of course, the contact with these luminaries taught Eduardo many things and he assures that one of the best shows he offered was during a Santa Rosa concert, where there were more than 12,000 people. He assures that this is one of those days he will never forget.
However, just as he has had very positive experiences as the previous one, obviously not everything is rosy. The Venezuelan told us that one of those not so good days was during a Ricky Martin concert, an event he had to open that day. It turns out that his equipment was damaged two hours before his turn and he had to try to fix it in front of the crowd of 30,000 people who came to see the Puerto Rican superstar, but nothing he did worked and the audience began to hiss.
That same day, Ricky Martin’s keyboardist asked him to borrow his keyboard because his was damaged and, when returning it, it was totally messed up and what Eduardo had there had been deleted.
Today, although he remembers this with humor, the experience was so unpleasant that it led him not to accept other proposals due to fear that the same thing could happen again. However, once these fears were overcome, he continued to play with his band and has managed to adapt to what the Miami market required both locally and internationally, which shows that the goals and targets should not be disregarded no matter however difficult the circumstances become and Eduardo Ron is a great example of that.
Read also: What a pleasure to talk to Pablo Pérez ‘‘El Alcalde de La Salsa’’
Oscar Dudamel continues to achieve dreams and presents “La Rumba Me Llama”
Legendary Venezuelan trombonist Oscar Dudamel expands his musical vision with a new single that fuses the essence of classic salsa with his unmistakable style, which is why he does not hesitate to express “La Rumba Me Llama”.
This song is part of his upcoming album “Sueño Alcanzado”, a production that will be released on May 30 and represents the culmination of years of musical research, fusing the classic salsa sound with jazz influences and the romantic tradition of boleros.
In “La Rumba Me Llama”, Dudamel brings his trombone to the forefront of a vibrant composition that captures the essence of the rumba as an inescapable call. With a musical structure that evokes the great salsa orchestras and an impeccable instrumentation.
The piece stands out for its meticulous arrangements, powerful brass and an irresistible cadence, faithful to the spirit with which Dudamel has approached his music. The track is an invitation to the dance floor and a testament to the rhythmic power that has defined his career.
The album Sueño Alcanzado not only takes its name from a personal concept of triumph, but also from one of his most significant pieces.
The title track was born in an intimate creative encounter in Caracas, Venezuela, with Maestro Alberto Crespo, composer Eliel Rivero and Solange Ramírez, mother of his son Gustavo Dudamel.
Dedicated to her son and with her special participation on violin, this piece encapsulates the spirit of a project that transcends the musical to become a testimony of life.
More than a nostalgic production, “Sueño Alcanzado”, of which the song “La Rumba Me Llama” is part, is the reflection of an evolution. The music that accompanied him since his childhood now takes a new form under his direction, in a creative process that has brought together talented musicians with whom he shares the same vision.
His orchestra, based in Madrid, has become the vehicle to continue taking his proposal to international stages, demonstrating that salsa is still alive in every note and every drum beat.
“La Rumba Me Llama” is now available on all digital platforms and is just a preview of ‘Sueño Alcanzado’, Oscar Dudamel’s new album, consolidating his legacy with authenticity and mastery.
Oscar Dudamel Virtuoso Musician, Trombonist and Orchestra Conductor.
Oscar Dudamel, a Venezuelan trombonist, discovered his passion for salsa as a child when he first heard “La Murga” by Willie Colón. Although his formal musical training began with Maestro Pablo Canela and later continued within El Sistema as a classical musician, that early experience left a profound mark on him, inspiring his dream of playing the trombone and solidifying his love for salsa as his ultimate passion.
Dudamel was born on January 14, 1961, in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He grew up in a musical family where every gathering was celebrated with music, fostering his passion for the art from a young age. His parents purchased him a trombone, and he began his studies at the Yamaha Music Academy.
At the age of 7, he was enrolled in a music academy under the guidance of Maestro Pablo Canela, a composer and prominent figure in the music of the Lara State region of Venezuela.It was there that he started his training with the Cuatro, the traditional Venezuelan instrument, and the guitar, which became his first instruments.
In addition to his Cuatro training, Dudamel began studying and playing various percussion instruments, further broadening his musical repertoire.
His academic training took place at the Lara State Conservatory in Barquisimeto, and at the National System of Youth and Children’s Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela, also known as El Sistema.
During his teenage years, he became a member of the Youth Orchestra of Lara State (El Sistema Lara) and the Liceo Mario Briceño Iragorry Band, where he had the opportunity to expand his musical knowledge and explore various genres.
Dudamel entered a new phase of his life when he enrolled at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Music Conservatory to study theory and solfège, continuing his trombone studies under the guidance of his maestro, Óscar Vivenes.
Over the years, he became a member of the Lara Youth Symphony Orchestra of Lara, part of the national network of Venezuela’s El Sistema orchestras, actively participating in classical music.
However, his fascination with the Caribbean rhythms of salsa never disappeared. Thus, he combined his classical training with his passion for salsa, performing with renowned artist and sharing the stage with legends of the genre, such as Héctor Lavoe, Ismael Rivera, Ismael Miranda, Celia Cruz, Justo Betancourt, Marvin Santiago, and other great artists.
In Caracas, Venezuela, he founded his own orchestra, with which he had the opportunity to share the stage with notable figures such as Rubén Blades, Gilbert Santa Rosa, Luis Enrique, Guaco, Oscar D’ León, and many others.
Dudamel’s surname is synonymous with music. He is the father of Gustavo Dudamel, one of the most acclaimed classical music conductors in the world. Gustavo’s well-known fondness for salsa stems from his father, who recently fulfilled his lifelong dream of releasing a solo album titled Sueño Alcanzado, dedicated to his son.
Dudamel currently resides in Madrid, Spain, where he leads his ensemble, Oscar Dudamel y su Orquesta, performing salsa alongside his Venezuelan musician friends and colleagues at Café Berlín Madrid.
Research Sources:
Contact: Katie Baloian of Radio Notas (Compartiendo Ideas)
Alberto Crespo (Pianist and Arranger)
Also Read: Mariana “The Sonera of Venezuela and for the world”
Dance. The best of America United in a Single Project
Latin America / Cuba / La Habana
Since the 1950s, a very humorous genre called the casino dance was born in Cuba, a style based on dancing the Cuban music of the moment between couples. This lies in history since the fashion of Mambo and Cha Cha Cha in the most aristocratic clubs and in the fraternal halls of poor blacks of the beautiful island, they danced on Saturdays, Sundays or special parties on specific days, for the moment the rhythms sounded de la Aragon, Chapotin, Orquesta Casino, el Benni, among others, without leaving aside rhythms such as rock and roll, sounds of the time that fought for a space in the fans.
From the mixture and the dance relationship of those attending the clubs is born that change of couples in circular formation called the Rueda de Casino, a name that we will be developing in other editions of the magazine.
In America, especially in the south of this continent, Salsa Casino, as it is called in many places, has managed to lay firm foundations, much more than what is known in Europe or North America, in some countries becoming the reference number 1 of the Salsa dance modality. We have the best example in Venezuela, land of casinos par excellence, where we can add a great hundred dance schools nationwide, without leaving behind how strong it is in Colombia and Peru, among some countries that also use this discipline. as a strong influence on young and old.
It is incredible to see the great differences in styles and forms between the casinos in Europe and those in South America, but always the same concept, joining several couples to enjoy a good timba or a good son.
From the foregoing, the Cubashow Project arises, born with the primary objective of generating a training and development channel for the new generations that venture into the beautiful world of dance, mainly those linked to Cuban Salsa and its roots in popular music or traditional Cuban music, folklore and its Afro tendencies, all in relation to the strong wave of this discipline that is developing in the main capitals of many American countries.
BAILA QUE BAILA AMERICA a concept of union between southern countries to extend the dissemination of Salsa Casino in the continent brings together some of the best instructors from each country with the sole intention of conducting national and international training tours in all trends of the dances of Cuban culture, in this way we obtain from the best exponents classes, seminars, talks, forums, workshops and shows that can be viewed through the social networks of @BailaQueBailaAmerica the different schools, academies or instructors registered to the project.
Professional dance teams are structured based on their local projections, the work they do within each of their countries. An event of great proportions is expected for the month of June where we will be able to have the best instructors from all over South America together in a high caliber event, we just have to be attentive to social networks and future reports of this great magazine to join us. to this casual wave.
“Orquesta Zodiac” Its name came about due to the fact that in the early 70’s the ‘Walter Mercado’ program and the Zodiacal Signs were all the rage
In June 1971 what we know today as the Zodiac Orchestra was organized in the town of Loíza. Its name came about due to the fact that in the early 1970’s the Walter Mercado and the Zodiacal Signs program, which was broadcast on Channel 2 in Puerto Rico, was in vogue.
Tony Escobar’s uncle (the orchestra’s declamationist) suggested the name because it was an eye-catching and “new” name.
The Zodiac Orchestra was organized with members of a group called Loíza Power directed at that time by Paquito Pérez, who was 14 years old. In addition, it was nurtured with the best musicians of Loíza Sound of Javier Calcaño.
The idea of recruiting these musicians was Paquito’s, since he grew up with José Luis Vizcarrondo and Tony Escobar.
Through Loiceño composers Carlos José Cirino (Tata) and Floren Ayala, the recording was achieved, as they approached Dario Gonzalez of Borinquen Record who contributed to make possible the release of the first 45 and LP. Tata’s “El Adiós” and José Feliciano’s “Las Costumbres” (1971) were part of this musical proposal that was very well received by the public.
This album became one of the best selling LPs. Other musical proposals of the group that would become hits were: “Panteón de Amor” by Angel Laureano (1973), “Sinceridad” by Samuel Cirino, “Mi Guitarra” by Angel Laureano, among others. These great hits are frequently requested today on the Salsa Z-93 radio station.
After the initial success, many of the musicians dedicated themselves to work and to finish their studies, since they were married and were looking for security and economic stability for their respective families.
The Zodiac had the opportunity to travel to different cities in the United States such as: Boston, Connecticut, Philadelphia, New York, among others. They also traveled to other countries such as Colombia and others.
During these years, several orchestras were at their peak, such as: La Fania, La Selecta, Lebron Brother, La Corporación Latina, El Gran Combo, La Lupe, Chivirico Davila, Bobby Valentín, Tomy Olivencia, Ismael Miranda, Ricardo Rey, Roberto Rohena, Roberto Anglero, Justo Betancourt, among others.
In 1997 Paquito decided to retake and regroup the orchestra, and for some years he dedicated himself to reunite with the musicians and organize them again.
In 1999 he managed to restart La Orquesta Zodiac at the Z-95 festival in Mayagüez. Later they performed at the National Salsa Day dedicated to Cheo Feliciano in 1998.
These two presentations were made at the invitation of Pedro Arroyo (director of Z-93) to Paquito, and were a great success. El Gran Combo, Rubén Blades, Jimmy Zabater, La Solución, among others, also played in the tribute to Cheo.
The members of the current orchestra are young, and most of them were music students of Paquito Pérez, who worked as a music teacher for 30 years in the town of Loíza (before retiring).
José Luis Vizcarrondo, Tony Escobar and Paquito Pérez were schoolmates for years. The director of the orchestra in the beginning was José Luis, also collaborating with him were Tony Escobar (saxophonist and declamation player), Freddy Ayala (conguero) and Paquito Pérez (singer). All of them contributed ideas for the arrangements. Currently Víctor Pérez (Paquito’s brother) is the director of the wind section.
In 2010 the orchestra played in the National Salsa Day and in 2012 the orchestra played again in the same activity, but this time the activity was dedicated to La Orquesta Zodiac and La Corporación Latina. In which Z-93 gave them a well-deserved recognition and Paquito, José L, Tony, Tata, Laureano, and the rest of the new members of the orchestra were present.
Currently the orchestra meets periodically to practice, and are available for all kinds of activities.
Did you know that…! In June 1971 what we know today as the “Zodiac Orchestra” was organized in the town of Loíza in Puerto Rico. Its name came about due to the fact that in the early 70’s the program “Walter Mercado” and the Zodiacal Signs, which was broadcasted on channel 2 in Puerto Rico, was in fashion. Tony Escobar’s uncle (declamationist of the orchestra) suggested the name because it was a striking and “new” name …Referring to the image of the post belongs to the second production of this Puerto Rican group entitled “Spiritual Beauty Vol. II” published in 1973 under the label “Horóscopo Récord” and directed by the founder, arranger, pianist and saxophonist Mr. José Luis Vizcarrondo. It is worth mentioning that this production includes the classics: Montuno de Oriente, Vicio de Amor and Belleza Espiritual”. Another important fact about the group is that it is still in force with musicians of the new generation, but with the same Swing and musical concept.
It is worth mentioning that the main responsible for making Orquesta Zodiac publicly known in Venezuela, Latin America and the Caribbean was Mr. Ali Delgado. Mr. Ali Delgado, for the year 1985 under the record label Performance Records, Delgado comments in detail that for the date of publication of this production the only popular sector (neighborhood) of Caracas where the Zodiac Orchestra was known was in Pinto Salinas.
Delgado is a music producer, music lover, collector, director and founder of the projects Salsa de La Mata and Jazz con Clave in Caracas.
Also Read: Sessions from La Loma brings together salsa fans from all over the world in Puerto Rico