Search Results for: Willie Colon

José Madera

North America/ United State / New York

José Madera, Percussion & Arranger of Machito, Tito Rodriguez and Tito Puente

One would think that a job with the world famous Tito Puente

Band keep busy a percussionist.

But the musician, arranger and composer José Madera had yet found the time to record and write music for some of the most influential bands in the world.

Prior to joining Tito Puente over 35 years ago, Madera play for four years with the famous Machito Orchestra, and recorded with many artists of R & B (including James Brown, Diana Ross, David Sanborn and Aztec Two – Step).

As an arranger for Fania Records Plant, played in several comerciales successes, and through the years has composed music for the Fania All- Stars, Larry Harlow , Johnny Pacheco , Willie Colón, and Celia Cruz .

Although he has recorded some 75 albums in 20 years, as well as numerous radio jingles and film soundtracks, Madera still had time for his other career for 15 years he had worked as a teacher and conductor in a high school for the performing arts with private funds, in the city of New York.

Jose has written many arrangements for countless commercial Latin artists and has recorded or worked with many of them as well. Some of them include: Larry Harlow, Johnny Pacheco, Chico O’Farill: The Lincoln Center Afro-Cuban jazz orchestra, Celia Cruz, Tito Rodriguez, Fania All-Stars, Willie Colon, Joe Farrell, Machito, Graciela, Mario Bauza, Willie Rosario, Earl Klughand Eddie Palmieri, just to name a few.

Jose has also worked and recorded with many pop, R&B and jazz artists.

Some of them include Diana Ross, James Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Paquito D’Rivera, George Benson and Lionel Hampton among others.

Jose has performed on over 250 recordings. He has worked on several television show soundtracks including “The Simpsons” and several motion picture soundtracks including ”The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love” where he was the musical arranger and conductor for the Tito Puente segment of the film.

Jose also taught the art of playing Latin percussion instruments at BOYS HARBOR in New York City for 28 years.

Jose has done and continues to do musical clinics around the country at various schools.

¨He was the musical director of the Latin Giants of Jazz from 2001 to 2009¨.

José Madera continues his musical direction with the Mambo Legends Orchestra, a band comprised of former members of the Tito Puente Orchestra, which is dedicated to performing new creative Latin and Latin jazz concepts, as well as some of the music of Machito, Tito Rodriguez and Tito Puente.

José Madera has personally re-created and re-arranged much of the music that the ban ds performed during the heyday of the Mambo at the Palladium Ballroom in New York City, which is considered by many critics to be the “Greatest and Mostinnovative Era” in the history of Latin music.

Madera’s saxophonist father Jose “Pin ” Madera, was one of the original members of the Afro -Cuban Orchestra Machito .

Young Joseph was influenced by drummer Machito (The best Latin Big Band drummer I’ve ever heard).

Later I was influenced by José Mangual and the same Tito Puente. The LP Timbale bell (circa 1966) was the first instrument Wood LP , today plays a variety of congas , bongos , guiro and bells LP.

Compared with the instruments that were used years ago , the sounds I get from the LP instruments are very authentic.

As an arranger, it is very gratifying to know that whatever you write will be accompanied by instruments LP, which only improve the quality of interpretation.

In 2008, Madera was entrusted to the Department of Research and Development LP designing the Signature Series José Madera Congas .

José Madera is proud that these drums, bearing his name, present a sound and a visual such outstanding features.

Eddie Montalvo

USA / New York / New York

Eddie Montalvo, Was a personal friend of the singer and legend of Afro-Caribeña music Héctor Lavoe

Eddie Montalvo, two time Grammy award winner, born and raised in the South Bronx of New York City, descendent of Puerto Rican roots, found his passion for music at very early age.

His parents Leonardo and Carmen instilled in Eddie the richness of Latin music and the heritage of their Puerto Rican culture.

During his high school years, he ventured in the school band and decided to become a conga player.

In 1970 at the age of 17, Eddie’s first professional show was with Joey Pastrana which led to another show with Tony Pabon & La Protesta and Ernie Agosto y La Conspiracion.

Then immediately after studio recordings commenced with La Conquistadora de Martin Galagarza, Tony Pabon y La Protesta.

Then in 1976 Eddie joined the band Los Kimbos of Orestes Vilato as the band’ conga player.

Montalvo’s distinctive and unique conga playing was spreading like wild fire among his peers and in the music industry which consequently led his endorsement in 1976 by the instrument company Latin Percussion and recordings with Luis Perico Ortiz, Nicky Marrero, Jose Fajardo, Pupi Lagaretta, Luigui Texidor, Los Kimbos, Hector Casanova, Santiago Ceron and renown artists such as Celia Cruz, Hector Lavoe, Fania All Stars and Juan Luis Guerra and with Johnny Pacheco where Eddie was a member of his band for two years.

Eddie has had the privilege to record in over 200 productions for renown artists, as well as up and coming artists.

In 1977 Eddie had the honor of joining the band of one of salsa’ greatest artists, Hector Lavoe. Not only did Eddie successfully embraced the roll of conga player with Hector Lavoe’s band, but also did back up chorus for him as well.

While his time with Lavoe, Montalvo was hired to record on the album “Siembra” with renown artists, Willie Colon and Ruben Blades which sold over 25 million copies worldwide and became one of the most prestigious Salsa productions of all times.

In 1979 Eddie proceeded to audition and became the youngest member of the renown Salsa band, Fania All-Stars.

After numerous accolades, worldwide notoriety and sold out concerts, today Fania continues bringing to the world the very best of Salsa of which Eddie continues being a member and is about to embark on Fania All Stars 2013-2014 World Tour.

During this time it’s when the opportunity of a lifetime presented itself. Ruben Blades approached Eddie in 1983 to join his world renown group, Seis del Solar.

After a series of successful tours around the world, Eddie recorded on the 1986 Grammy award winning album “Escenas” with Seis del Solar.

Then in June 2009, Ruben Blades reunited the Seis del Solar for the 25th Anniversary of Buscando America in an ambitious tour of the Americas.

Culminating with the world tour of Todos Vuelven in 2010 which earned Eddie a Latin Grammy win in 2011 for the live recording of Todos Vuelven Live Vol 1 & 2.

Eddie Montalvo also had the privilege of performing with Ruben Blades and Sting at the Amnesty International in Santiago, Chile.

Eddie Montalvo has achieved many goals and one of them was to record his first production titled On My Own in 1995.

He also had the privilege of participating in a supporting roll in the 2006 movie “El Cantante” based on the life of his personal friend and Salsa legend, Hector Lavoe, and also recorded in the sound track of the Broadway play The Capeman with Paul Simon.

In August 2012, Eddie Montalvo finally launches his new recording project titled “Desde Nueva York a Puerto Rico”.

This amazing production is a master piece in the making which was brilliantly produced by Eddie Montalvo and Jose Lugo, which has gathered some of Salsa’ greatest like: Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Willie Rosario, Papo Lucca, Domingo Quiñones, Rico Walker, Issac Delgado, Wichy Camacho, Pichie Perez and Tito Gonzalez.

Since Nueva York a Puerto Rico took the music industry by storm and earned Eddie an American Grammy nomination on February 2013 for Best Tropical Latin Album.

The first single of the album titled El Hijo del Ricachon featuring Ruben Blades received airplay in the Northeast and Puerto Rico.

The following singles Caonabo featuring Cheo Feliciano and Abicu featuring Tito Gonzalez are currently receiving airplay in Puerto Rico and throughout the Northeast of the U.S with much success.

This is one production all hardcore Salsa lovers cannot miss. Eddie is also presently showcasing and featuring his talent with Jazz artists like Lou Caputo, Dave Chamberlin, Joe Battaglia and Pucho & Latin Soul Brothers.

As one of the most sought after conga players, Eddie will continue to build his legend as a skilled clinician who shares his limitless knowledge of music to congueros and percussionists around the world.

Mura Peringa Orchestra

Europe / France / Strasbourg

Mura Peringa Orchestra, A tribute to Salsa culture, given by 9 crazy musicians of Latin music

Since 2006, the group (Mura Peringa) brings together 9 musicians (20 – 34 years old) united by their passion for Latin music.

Their influences are important musicians and orchestras such as: Sierra Maestra, Mercado Negro, Eddie Palmieri, Oscar D Leon, Maraca Valle, Chaparro y su Orquesta, Orlando Poleo, Fania All stars, Willie Colon and Hector Lavöe.

From the creation of the project, the heart of repertoire focuses on a color Salsa Dura 70’s, embellished with Bolero, Merengue, Chachacha, Son, Cuban Rumba, Timba. The compositions and rearrangements of Mura Peringa, faithful or transfigured, were able to invite the crowds to dance on the stages of the French grand-est, and during the summer tours in Switzerland and in the south of France.

Mura Peringa’s music, tasty, throbbing, intoxicating, is supported by rich arrangements, and by the solid instrumental and stylistic mastery of her musicians. The strength of Mura Peringa is her ability to metamorphose. The lead vocals on the front of the stage go from one musician to another, causing so many reversals of point of view.

The staging of the game and the transitions are served by a light creation that finishes training the audience at the rhythm of the clave and syncopations. Get ready to swing; it will be hard to resist the call of the dance Mura Peringa, a tribute to Salsa culture, given by 9 crazy musicians of Latin music.

United in the most vibrant Salsa orchestra of the Great East, songs, brass and percussion invite you to dance to Afro-Caribbean rhythms and music. Listening to the surprising compositions and rearrangements of Mura Peringa, you will not sit for long.

MusiciansCongas: Paul StengerTimbales: Nicolas SchmidtBass : Theron FuhrmannClavier : Sebastien ValleTrombone : Fabrice ToussaintSaxophone: Adrien LabordeFlute / Percus : Camille EvrardTrompet : Alexandre BrandTrompet: Adrien Arnaud

To enjoy, and to dance

“My best inspiration and my best teacher is my dad.” Inheritance, discipline and academic training forged the Padilla dynasty that empowers salsa.

Robert and Ricardo Padilla have a fundamental importance within the musical movement we know as salsa. The father is a historian, curator and consultant. The son is a journalist, producer and broadcaster.

The role of Robert Padilla, who tropical music connoisseurs consider the most important salsa collector in the world, is unrepeatable, as he weaves together history, characters, facts and archives; delivering a holistic approach to salsa as a concept. His motivation is pure interest in preserving and spreading the culture.

The relevance of the museum that he conceived and guarded is unquestionable. He acquired the property and fitted out the building with the required specifications and ambience with the purpose of having a repository that keeps the salsa memory alive and in force.

When Ricardo was asked if his father influenced his training in the preservation of the musical archive, his successor answered: “That’s right. My dad and I have many things in common; among them, we love salsa. I grew up watching my dad play records and listen to music. But, my grandfather also had an influence because during the 1940s and 1950s, (the golden era of the Palladium, with Tito Rodriguez) Don Hector Padilla Rosado (RIP) had bodegas in New York.

My grandfather was part of what was happening there and danced mambo in that environment. My grandfather told me all that story and my father repeated it to me (…) the Padilla family would not be the Padilla family if we did not talk about my grandfather, Don Héctor. So we are three generations that in one way or another have dedicated ourselves to supporting music because it has changed our lives for the better.”

Robert Ricardo — My best inspiration and my best teacher is my dad.” Inheritance, discipline and academic training forged the Padilla dynasty.

Ricardo considers his father the biggest fan of salsa. “Beyond being a historian, he is the number one salsa fan. My dad has the largest collection of tropical music in existence.” That collection includes records in different formats, photographs, memorabilia, videos and audios of live shows, all documented and classified. Recently to his already incalculable collection was added that of Don Mariano Artau (RIP), who was collecting and curating unique musical treasures for more than seventy years.

In Ricardo’s case, he studied Journalism at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. What the father began as a hobby, the son saw as a profession. The gratitude and admiration he has for his father is evident when he says: “I thank my dad (…) all those concerts he took me to as a child formed me. And all those people he connected me with, later became mentors for what I do today as a Salsoul programmer.” And he adds: “my greatest inspiration and my best teacher is my dad; and he will continue to be so in every sense of the word”.

Speaking of orchestras, the salsa sound that Robert favors is that of the duo that popularized Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe. For his part Ricardo affirms: “I say that Willie Rosario doesn’t have a bad album. He is a role model; being true to himself, molding a sound supported by great arrangers that he himself chose to refine that style.

He is so special in so many areas (…) So much so that even his life has been compiled in a book, and at 99 years of age, without having the need to play, he continues to do so because music is not necessarily something that only generates money for him; it is something that generates motivation to continue living. Without detracting from Don Rafael Ithier with his mulatos, or Don Papo Lucca with that southern giant, or the orchestra of the King of the bass, Don Willie transcends music and is an example of how to live”.

The Padilla’s, organically; to the succession they added a good dose of discipline and polished themselves with the commitment to take their musical training -which has not yet culminated- seriously, becoming the most admired influencers of salsa.

This dynasty is committed to their self-imposed mission of excellence. They say goodbye as a team and almost in unison affirm: “we are at your service”. I responded gratefully with “we’re still in salsa”, knowing that neither Puerto Rico nor the salsa world can repay this dynasty for the monumental contribution to the culture and musical history of this archipelago that has been the cradle of the greatest exponents of salsa, which the Padillas empower by sharing these stories of Puerto Rico with the world.

Bella Martinez ISM correspondent – Puerto Rico

José Mangual Jr.

The son of the master and pioneer of Bongó, José Mangual “Buyú”

The son of the innovative and pioneering bongo musician, José Mangual Sr., aka “Buyú”, José Mangual Jr. was born and raised in East Harlem, the Spanish Quarter of New York City known as “El Barrio”. By the age of fifteen, José Jr. was already playing in local groups.

In 1968, Mangual Jr. was invited to play bongos and sing background vocals for a fledgling orchestra led by a young man named Willie Colón.

The lead vocalist for this group was also a young singer named Hector Lavoe.

Along with his perennial rhythm section “compadre”, legendary percussionist Milton Cardona, Mangual would become a part of history, as they made some of the most important recordings in the annals of salsa music.

Mangual Jr. showed his skill as a composer, author, and lead vocalist with Colón’s orchestra.

José Mangual "Buyú" — Photo of José Mangual Jr in concert

With Kent Gomez in 1973, Mangual co-authored the song “San Miguel” for Tony Pabón y la Protesta. This song featured him as a lead vocalist.

After Willie Colón and Hector Lavoe parted ways to pursue different ventures, it was José Mangual Jr. who took over the musical direction of Lavoe’s band.

Shortly after this in 1977, Mangual formed his own record label, True Ventures Inc., and released A Tribute to Chano Pozo.

This album features the classic recordings, “Campanero” and “Cuero ‘Na Ma”. It also established Mangual as a lead vocalist to be reckoned with, and a serious record producer.

Live Jose Mangual Jr — Photo of José Mangual Jr on stage

The 1980’s saw José Mangual Jr.’s fame grow even more, as he became a premier artist for Velvet Records, and further solidified his fan base in South America, Europe and the Orient.

His skills as a percussionist, vocalist, composer, and musical director were sought out by many including Juan Luis Guerra, Rubén Blades, Herb Alpert, Dizzy Gillespie, David Byrne, Celia Cruz, Ramon Orlando, Mario Bauza, Mongo Santamaria, The Fania All-Stars, Junior Gonzalez, Ismael Miranda, Louie Ramirez and many others.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Mangual’s career is his ability to evolve and refine the sounds of his music.

The 1990’s saw him forming and leading his band Sarabanda, while still pursuing the projects he always wanted to do.

In 1995, Mangual released his long-awaited Tribute to Chano Pozo Volume II. This album ranks among his finest, and gives listeners a glimpse into the mind of a master musician who grew up during the golden age of modern Latin music.

In 1998, Mangual produced and musically directed Caiman Records new salsa and Latin jazz release, “Son Boricua”, by his band of the same name.

This session features his original composition, “El Jibarito”, which pays homage to the island of Puerto Rico, and his Boricua heritage. The album and group was the recipient of the New York Latin Critics’ ACE Award as Best New Latin Release for 1998-1999.

Mangual’s recent new release with “Son Boricua”, entitled Homenaje a Cortijo y Rivera is a moving, swinging homage to the music of Rafael Cortijo and “El Sonero Mayor” Ismael Rivera.

What makes this work so noteworthy is that it marks an even deeper trip, not only into Latin jazz, but into the panorama of what the sounds of a Latin New York are: the sounds of the streets of “El Barrio”.

Photo by Jose Mangual Jr — José Mangual Jr on stage

Here, Mangual displays all of the attributes of his professional career, from being the musical director and a lead vocalist, along with the “Smooth One”, Jimmy Sabater, to being a composer with his original composition, “Boricua Blues”.

With this release, Mangual, Sabater, and “Son Boricua” captured their second ACE Award in 2002.

A third ACE Award would follow in 2003 for “Son Boricua’s” 2002 release, Mo!

His most recent participation as a vocal leader in the production of the Quinteros, Quintero’s Salsa Project entitled Our Home, nominated for the Latin Grammy 2019.