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Search Results for: World Salsa

Let’s remember the movie Dance with Me , a memorable example of the Salsa Casino

A particular taste that people have for more than three (3) centuries is that we like to unwind from the daily routine and see new things, and one of the activities that until today we use as a distraction is the movies.

Since the eighteenth century, the story began with the beginning of cinema, being the first (1st) in Paris, France in 1895 where people could enjoy viewing the projected images in motion, evolving from the projection of black and white to color and the silent cinema to the application of cinema with sound, becoming more and more attractive and popular for its viewers since it has become a form of escape for either an educational, informative or recreational purpose.

Dance with me movie
Dance With Me – movie cover

Currently in the 21st century, a great variety of films of different styles have been reproduced; This time we want to talk about the romantic film ” Dance with Me ” which was released in 1998, which we found attractive and unique for being a romance and dance film which was directed by Randa Haines, and starring Vanessa Williams and Chayanne.

It all starts with a Houston dance instructor named Ruby (played by Vanessa Williams), who throughout history believes she has found a competitive dance partner who matches her height and style and is a handsome Cuban immigrant who works as a manager who is called Rafael (played by Chayanne), a young and attractive Cuban dancer, who went through very hard times in his life due to the loss of his father, making the decision and intention to change of scene and forget a little about the sorrows , traveling to Houston.

In the dance studio, everyone is preparing for the Open World Dance Championship in Las Vegas, in this dynamic and competitive opportunity Rafael has the best hope of participating with Ruby, who will be his best hope to be able to participate in this great championship. From that moment on, an important lesson will be given to all the actors of the film as well as the viewers, and that is that the most important lesson for dancing is to follow the heart.

Salsa Casino Dance
Capture the scene the Dance with Me Movie

So if you want to see an example of how it is danced and how it is seen in a competition of “Salsa Casino” or another tropical rhythm, you can see this movie ” Dance with me ” which also has a touch of romantic drama, making it more interesting and showing that it can one need when dancing as a couple or on a wheel (a form of dance of the Salsa Casino usually or they are montuno, guaracha and also chachachá, among others, where it is formed by pairs of dancers in an indeterminate number who perform figures of dance combined between them), and as they show us that it is not only the dance steps and learning the figures (turns) but it is the communication they have (corporal and visual), which is very different from verbal communication, since that anything goes in that; communicate and let yourself be carried away by the rhythm that beats in the body, mind and heart of the dancers.

ISM presents the Dominican salsa singer Quique Mota

 

International Salsa Magazine presents Quique Mota as a new Dominican talent of Latin music, a salsa singer born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1974, during his youth his parents Luis Mota and Balbina Castillo observed his emotion, passion, taste every time he listened those tropical rhythms of the time, which were the Merengue, Son, Timba, Salsa, the latter most notorious motive inclining his taste towards this contagious rhythm.

 

And his interest was further developed when he was influenced by his paternal uncle Ramón Mota “mon trumpeta” making the decision to soon become a vocalist, starting with the parties in the neighborhood, singing whenever he had the opportunity and on Fridays at his school, where he was forced to sing since his companions always liked to hear him sing.

Motivated by great singers such as Ismael Miranda, Ismael Rivera, José Alberto “El Canario” Oscar D’León, Paquito Guzmán, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tonny Vega, Wilmer Lozano, among other artists, he decided at the age of fifteen that that was what I wanted to do on a professional level; So he began to work on vocalization for a few years and singing in different popular events, he gained experience both as a singer and as a composer.

He mentions that Salsa is more than a musical genre that was born from the neighborhoods and that became popular through the corners and / or streets of New York between 1960 and 1970 … it is the history and experiences of the people, the town (person generally lower class), where the musicians express their musical themes in their lyrics, especially the romantic part and the rumba, managing to reach their listeners and / or dancers in their being; For Quique personally it is his relief, a poem as well as the song, an essence in his life with which he was born and at the age of 15 he wanted to find the meaning of his dreams of being a great salsa musician.

Quique Mota
Quique Mota Photo

The salsa genre emerged many years ago where it acquired its fame, but today the young population believe that Salsa is old music, outdated with a very good reputation, unfortunately the majority of the young population chooses what is fashionable, listening more reggaetón, hip-hop, electronics, rap, among others, losing in the process the opportunity to listen and enjoy good music, acquiring in the majority (rap and reggaetón) vulgar language as well as the degradation of the person (woman and ¬ / o men).

He tells us that if we want to make Salsa notice and popularize, we need to support both new talents and great artists and make ourselves noticed, without thinking that it is old music, that it can evolve and update us with a modern language without reaching vulgarity so much in the letter as in the clothing, so that it adapts to the taste of the new and current generation; And another very important point is that the songs that you create are adapted to the country where the singer and if not explain the meaning, for example in the Dominican Republic there are many terms that we do not know, and in his next musical theme that is a romantic sauce I call it ¨ Ella es mi Golpe¨ what does it mean ¨She is the love of his life¨, which tells us that it will be released in about 2 and a half months with its video clip.

All his songs are his own, they are his experiences, experiences, things he sees, phrases that his life offers him … many things can give the emergence of phrases for the creation of his musical themes; Quique Mota, presents his first single. “Dice”, a song of his authorship, which already sounds on the Dominican Republic stations and internationally, such as Canada, USA, among others, with which he intends to gain the popularity of the public.

 

For Quique, the pandemic that we live to date due to COVID-19 was not an obstacle as it happened to many, I take advantage of the time of course with all possible precautions to avoid contagion to continue with his musical career, he mentions that The human being is a being that adapts to his environment and this was a clear example, only that one has to know how to take advantage of the tools that one has at hand, musical talent is not only about concerts, parties … depending on what We can do to benefit ourselves without putting ourselves at risk is to overcome difficulties and many of them took advantage of one of the most extensive and complex tools that is the Internet.Although almost all of us use it, we do not use it correctly but in the most basic thing. … Such a wide work tool and knowing how to use it is a success for you… for example events, classes, concerts, live interviews through social networks.

Quique Mota Photo
Quique Mota at the recording studio

Quique had his ups and downs in his musical career and he tells us that his friend Montuno Salsa advised him and it was his apprenticeship and motto in his beginning as a new talent … “time job … do not faint easily and lose the opportunity to continue since you have to take advantage of the opportunities “…” dreams are pursued and fought, they are not achieved overnight, they are processes that must be fought as warriors … a Well made sauce, even if it doesn’t have the support that you think or need, it will like it wherever it is as long as it is well made and it doesn’t get tired of working … and the most important thing is I put my work in the hands of papa Dios, the great one … “

Quique mentions that everything is crossing and emerging is thanks to: his Venezuelan producer Franklin Zamora, who upon meeting him in the Dominican Republic knew what Quique really wanted and how to express it and / or express it, he also has Mary Yemaya, a Venezuelan promoter and producer of salaeeos events, it is she who guides him in Salsa and encourages him to contact us to promote it and get to know it better; He also thanks Juan Carlos Trinidad, José Bello, Montuno Salsa, Dj Salsero 2020, Etnia Salsera,, Joseph Fonceca, Edward Serrano and mainly his family, especially his beloved wife. He wants to extend a special thanks to the people of Venezuela for contributing a group of talented and valuable people who have helped him to pursue his dreams and to join great talents of Latin music worldwide, becoming one of the best exponents of the salsa genre in his country.

He mentions that he wants to give a special thanks to the people of Venezuela, for bringing many valuable and talented people into their lives, who will pursue their dreams and get hooked on the great talents of salsa music worldwide, becoming one of the best exponents of the salsa genre of your country.

Let’s meet the Pharaoh of Salsa, who is he? Oscar D ‘Leon .

Biography of Oscar D ‘Leon

Óscar Emilio León Simosa, was born in the populous Antimano parish in Caracas -Venezuela, on July 11, 1943, known in the artistic world Óscar d ‘León, son of Carmen Dionisia Simoza and Florentino Padrón. However, he did not recognize him at the time of birth, so the marriage of Carmen Simoza and Justo León decided to take care of the child.

From an early age, little Oscar enjoyed the popular parties that were held in Antímano and listened to the music of great orchestras such as La Sonora Matancera, the Billo’s Caracas Boys Orchestra, the Matamoros Trio, and two of his greatest musical inspirations, Celia Cruz. and Benny Moré.

He began his musical career relatively late, at 28 years of age, after having carried out two jobs totally unrelated to music, such as taxi driver and mechanic; He was educated academically as a surveyor, but never practiced that profession.

Oscar D' Leon
Oscar D’ Leon Photo

Oscar learned to play bass empirically, his innate talent for music was so extraordinary that it allowed him to earn a position in one of the orchestras that played in a renowned nightclub in the city of Caracas. There Oscar also did the choirs, but he did not interpret any song as a soloist.

His life changed when the lead singer of the orchestra was absent from one of the presentations and Oscar proposed to fill that vacancy and he did it in a great way, so much so that he received the approval of all those present.

In 1972, the owner of “La Distinción” told him that he would dispense with his services, since he would require an orchestra of higher quality and experience. Oscar offered his group to the owner of the premises, although he did not have it. It was here that D ’León went, together with the trombonist César Monges, from door to door looking for some musicians with whom he considered he could put together a group with which the venue could get out of trouble. It is there where they meet the percussionists Elio Pacheco and José Rodríguez, the trombonist José Antonio Rojas (Rojita) and the pianist Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte (who would later be replaced by Jesús Narváez). At this moment the project to create the Latin Dimension is accelerating.

They premiered on March 15, 1972, in a rehearsal at the home of “Culebra” Iriarte in La Guaira and debuted in “La Distinción”. In that same 1972 the orchestra recorded their first full-length album and obtained their first hit, the song “Pensando en ti”. This first success led them to be hired to participate in the Maracaibo carnival festivities. We must emphasize that Víctor Mendoza was the one who suggested using his stage name as “Oscar D´León”. There were many songs that Oscar hit with the Latin Dimension, “Llorarás”, “Taboga”, “El Frutero”, “Mi Tierra”, among many more.

In 1976, at the highest point of popularity, Oscar D’León confronted differences with the rest of the members of the group, for which he separated from the Latin Dimension and formed his own orchestra; “La Salsa Mayor” recording his first LP titled “Con Bajo y Todo”.

After some legal problems that momentarily led him to remain briefly detained and deprived of liberty and to be questioned in the media, he decided to change his image and presence, dispensing with the qualifier “El Diablo de la salsa” that had been given to him in Panama.

In 1986 he relapsed into acting, this time in the Venezuelan film “Hell is sure.” Later, he began his international leap, taking his music to countries such as Japan and to stages such as Madison Square Garden in New York, the Poliedro de Caracas and the Teresa Carreño Theater. At this stage, he alternates and records with those who had been his youth idols: Celia Cruz, Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente.

He also presented himself as the companion for singers of the new salsa generation who was part, like him, of the label belonging to Ralph Mercado “RMM”: La India with whom he would record the song “Hazme el amor” or José Alberto “El Canario” with who would record “The flavor arrived.”

Oscar D' Leon Photo
Oscar D ‘Leon smiling for the photo

Oscar D´León has received numerous awards and honors. In 1996, with the album “Sonero del Mundo” in collaboration with the Cuban musician Willy Chirino makes him obtain the nomination for the Grammy.

On March 15, 1998, the city of New York honored him by naming that date as Oscar D’León Day.

On December 20, 2009, he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a Caracas clinic after suffering a heart attack in Martinique, from which he recovered after undergoing catheterization.

On November 21, 2013 he received the Latin Grammy Award for Excellence for his musical career, thus recognizing the impact of his performance in the world, also that same year he would receive the Grammy Award.

Today, Oscar continues to delight us with his wonderful musical talent …

Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Life is fun. Dare to live it

Bella Martínez was born in Puerto Rico. She is a graduate of Natural Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She lived in the state of North Dakota as a member of the United States Air Force. She completed her master’s in Health Services Administration and Quantitative Methods at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

In 2016 she published Schizophrenic: Imaginary Episodes from a Different Life. In 2020 she wrote Insurrecta: Schizophrenic Chronicles of an Indomitable Life from Ediciones Scriba NYC. She maintains contact with her followers through the blog Life is beautiful, dare to live it. Her mission is to inspire Spanish-speaking people around the world to live life to the fullest.

Her writings have been published in several international literary anthologies, including: Divina, la mujer en twenty voices by Ediciones Scriba NYC -awarded at the International Latino Book Awards 2019, in Los Angeles, California- and in various editions of the poetry book Siglema 575, of minimalist poetry, Ediciones Scriba NYC. If you want to know more about Bella, you can do so by visiting Bellamartinezescribe.com or through her pages on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.

Bella Martinez led a pretty fun life
Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

Bella Martinez I lead a pretty funny, sometimes complicated life; although I try every day to simplify it. I’ve even thought that one day I could be a minimalist…. Sure, in my own way; like everything else. I almost forgot to mention that I’m a vegan and a salsa dancer who dances until she collapses.

I should add that I love music that allows me to dance and express what is otherwise impossible to write or draw. In short; I dance salsa, I cook, I write and I dare to face whatever life brings me.

My mission is to inspire Spanish-speaking people around the world to dare to live a unique life because as I titled my blog: “La vida es bella…. Dare to live it”; I believe that life is to be lived the way you want it to be lived, doing good without looking out for others. I invite you to take a look at my blog .

I post about dance, music, beauty, fashion, vegan cooking, literature and everything else I can think of. Well, at least that’s the intention.

As for my narrative; and according to my great friend of always, Dr. Lopez Feliciano: “Through humor, and the narrative of the transgenerational transmission of the tribe, core values such as freedom, truth, integrity and fidelity are exposed.

The schizophrenic chronicles unveil an imaginary world in which cats, heifers, lice, mice are personified; and shoes, brooms, cars, keys and paper dolls are animated. The approach to reality is fantastic spun with ideas of references that are only experienced by an untamed life.”

And I say, “I expose in my memoirs through wacky stories and mocking the harsh daily reality of an ordinary routine; visiting stamps of my memories and nostalgically longing for the peasant activities of my ancestors whom I remember daily. You can’t help but fall in love with my picturesque narrative…”

The memories of Jimmie Morales comes to us from the pen of Puerto Rican writer Bella Martínez. In this new proposal by Martinez, she herself reported that: “it details the memoirs of the conga player who made his way into the world of salsa to become one of the most influential percussionists in the genre he has dedicated his life.”

From the pen of Puerto Rican writer Bella Martínez comes: A Conguero for History, The Memoirs of Jimmie Morales.
Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer
Life is fun. Dare to live it

The official launch of this daring text in which the author stresses the importance of our music and the influence that Puerto Rican performers have had throughout the history of salsa beyond our shores was on Thursday 19 November 19 2020.

This launch coincided with Puerto Rican’s Day. The list of contributors Bella counted on during drafting included the maestro Willie Rosario, who wrote the prologue, and the most prolific soloist of commercial salsa: Gilberto Santa Rosa, who wrote the introduction and the back-cover text. The virtual presentation of Un conguero para la historia was sponsored and streamed through the Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña.

The text is available in paper form through the following links:

Amazon.com – Global:

Un conguero para la historia: Las memorias de Jimmie Morales (Paperback).

Walmart.com:

Un conguero para la historia, Las memorias de Jimmie Morales (Hardcover).

The book is also available at:  – Fundación Nacional para la Cultura Popular, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico.

– El Candil Library, Ponce – Puerto Rico

– Laberinto Library, Old San Juan – Puerto Rico

– Pure Sound, Bayamón – Puerto Rico

– RZayas Music, Juana Días – Puerto Rico

– The Bookmark, San Patricio Plaza – Puerto Rico

In the following text, fro-Antillean music researcher and Colombian journalist Robert Téllez Moreno, who is a biographer of Ray Barretto and Willie Rosario, summarizes what the reader will find in the memoirs that the conga player Jimmie Morales shares with his followers through the voice of Bella Martínez:

Percussionist Jimmie Morales was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The son of Puerto Rican parents and owner of a natural talent, he developed an interest in music when as a child he listened to groups such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

As from 1967, Jimmie and his family settled in Puerto Rico, from where his connection with Afro-Caribbean music emerged, after having listened to various Cuban, Puerto Rican and New York conga players such as Ray Barretto, Patato Valdez, Candido Camero, Mongo Santamaria, Johnny ‘Dandy’ Rodriguez, Milton Cardona and Eddie Montalvo, among others.

His first approach to the instrument occurred when his neighbor, Rubén Beltrán allowed him to play congas at his home. Later, he joined the youth group ‘La Justicia’ , with which he began to work permanently, while having his own instrument given away by his father.

After three years of work with ‘La Justicia’, Jimmie Morales joined Beto Tirado’s ‘La Predilecta’, in which he remained until he joined Tito Allen’s orchestra to work as a conga player until 1978, when he received an invitation from the maestro Willie Rosario, ‘Míster Afinque’, to join his orchestra in place of Papo Pepín.

According to Jimmie Morales, during those eight consecutive years, he lived his most formative stage, and what he considers his “formal training in the music industry”. This happened when he was a member of Willie Rosario’s orchestra, which was one of the greatest institutions of the salsa movement.

With Willie Rosario’s orchestra Jimmie Morales participated in the productions: ‘El Rey del ritmo’, ‘El de a 20 de Willie’, ‘The Portrait of a Salsa Man’, ‘Atízame el fogón’, ‘The Salsa Machine’, ‘Nuevos Horizontes’, ‘Afincando’ and ‘Nueva Cosecha’.

In 1986, Jimmie Morales joined Gilberto Santa Rosa’s nascent orchestra ‘El Caballero de la Salsa’, participating in multiple recordings and traveling the world.

At the same time, Morales began an impressive career as a top-level studio musician. He received credit for hundreds of recordings of such artists as: Lalo Rodríguez, Oscar León, Paquito Guzmán, Eddie Santiago, David Pabón, Héctor Tricoche, Edgard Joel, Marvin Santiago, Tito Rojas, Rey Ruiz, Ismael Miranda and Frankie Ruiz, the latter, with this latter he participated in all his solo albums.

As an accompanying musician, Jimmie Morales has appeared as an accompanying musician on hundred of recordings of great figures such as: Willie Colón, Ismael Miranda, Juan Luis Guerra, Tito Nieves and Jerry Rivera, among many others.

In 2010, as a leader of his own proyect, Jimmie Morales released ‘El Tumbao’ with the songs “Píntate Los Labios María” popularized by Cuban guitarist of the Buena Vista Social Club Elíades Ochoa and arranged Louis Cruz, who was Ray Barretto’s pianist in the 70s. The recording also includs “The Continental”, a jazz standard, arranged by seasoned José Madera, who was percussionist and arranger for Tito Puente’s orchestra for more than 30 years.

Recently, Jimmie Morales has contributed with his talent to the recordings: ’40… y contando en vivo desde Puerto Rico’ by Gilberto Santa Rosa, an album that captures one of the most emotional nights of the recent tour of the ‘Caballero de la Salsa’ and ‘Opus’, the eighth album by singer Marc Anthony, and recorded at Art House Society and Criteria Studios in Miami under the direction of multi-Grammy Award winning pianist and producer Sergio George.

Jimmie Morales, continues his commitment to music, from the area of pedagogy, sharing his experience and knowledge through workshops and clinics provided to young people from different countries, who have a genuine interest in music.

Bella Martínez: Amazon

Bella Martinez, the irreverent Salsa writer

 

Home

José Madera Niño “Salsa became part of my growth”.

Latinoamerica / Venezuela / Caraca

The also visual artist has the technology to complete his project in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Venezuelan José Madera Niño & 3er.Mundo Orchestra launched its new song “Me gusta, pero…” in the voice of guest singer Memo Arroyave, accompanied by a video clip showing the other facet of Madera Niño: painting. This single is the fifth one to be included in his second album Matices.

The musician, composer, and orchestra leader said: “This song of my own was already in post-production when the pandemic was announced. It would not have been possible to complete this project from our homes without technology, the dedication and commitment of Irving Manuel and Jorge Estevez to mixing and mastering, the working hours of Alfredo Montilla for the editing of the video between Venezuela and Colombia“.

Voice of guest singer Memo Arroyave
The Venezuelan orchestra José Madera Niño ; 3er.Mundo launched their new song “Me gusta, pero…”,

José “Flaco” Bermúdez was at the forefront of the musical direction and arrangements. Yomar Méndez “Caballo” (timbal), Arnaldo Guacarán “Patatín” (bongó and bell), Wilman Sánchez Jr. (trumpets), Hugo Olivero (saxophone), José Antonio Padilla (trombone), David González (bass) and Irving Manuel (piano); Rodrigo Mendoza and Eloy Ríos on backing vocals, with José Madera Niño (congas and minor percussion) as executive producer.

Matices combines the voice color diversity of each of the guest soloists thus far such as Pedrito Flores, Irving Manuel, and Charlie Guzman. This salsa album will be composed of ten pieces and shall have the participation of several performers: “We want to present the world with good music, food for the soul and for the spirit in this difficult time we are living“.

MULTIFACETED

La orquesta venezolana José Madera Niño & 3er.Mundo lanzó su nueva canción "Me gusta, pero..."
José Madera Niño “Salsa became part of my growth”.

It should be emphad that José Madera Niño is extremely multifaceted because in addition to be a visual artist as a profession, he is also a musician by conviction: “I have been drawing as far back as I can remember. When I was 14, I entered the School of Plastic Arts Cristóbal Rojas. I alternated my artistic activities with my high school studies and weekends were for the music”.

From there, he became a self-taught percussionist from a very young age thanks to the salsa boom in Venezuela in the mid-70s. This synergy between his two passions led him to form his orchestra: José Madera Niño & 3er Mundo, which flirts with Latin Jazz.

It seeks to extrapolate his plastic compositions to music and then create true works of art for the demanding music lover’s ear and the elegant dancer at the same time.

His first recording De amor, desamor y rumba took four years to come to light, due to the pauses imposed by self-management: “It is not easy to make an album without sound financial support. This first album is a sort of day-in and day-out chronicle of any ordinary individual. Inspired by all the music I listened to in my teens in simple and clear language”.

"It's not easy to make a record without a solid financial backing. This first album is a kind of chronicle of the everyday life of any ordinary person. Inspired by all the music I listened to in my adolescence, with a simple and diaphanous language".
The Venezuelan orchestra José Madera Niño ; 3er.Mundo

Journalist María Fernanda León recently interviewed him about his second CD Matices, consisting of ten musical tracks. He has released four of them on digital platforms from last year to 2020.

Madera Niño 3re Mundo
Madera Niño 3re Mundo

-Why the name 3er Mundo?

-The name thing was an irreverent way of saying that in spite of our disadvantages, we are capable of great things from passion, talent, and study. We are much more than a qualification.

-Why salsa and not another genre?

-I listen to all kinds of music. In fact, when deciding to live from it, we get to handle different genres and I enjoy that, but I have a special taste for salsa because it became part of my growth. It was always present in the atmosphere while I was playing in the street in my neighborhood, in high school, and on the bus when I was going to art school.

– Most of the songs are written in your handwriting, what inspires you?

-I was always interested in writing, I had a lot of unfinished ideas. When I began pre-production I dusted off all that material and turned it into songs.

-Why Matices?

– This production is a kind of canvas; music is the pigment, the stuff. The musicians and singers are their nuances. I think it is a different production from the first one, but the same essence.

-You changed your concept of an album with only one performer. Now you invited several of them…

-For me, it was very important to build a sonority for the public to recognize us when listening to one of our songs. Gustavo Gerardo was for a long time the voice that identified us, but it is not easy to hold someone if you cannot guarantee economic stability. Besides, he was already planning to start a career as a soloist, which by the way is already beginning to bear its first fruits at an international level.

-Who is participating?

-In this second production I have Pedrito Flores, who is an excellent singer and inherited this responsibility of being at the forefront of the band in live performances. Besides, I am privileged to have several guest vocalists such as Rodrigo Mendoza, Irving Manuel, Charlie Guzmán, and Memo Arroyave, among others that I will soon announce. All this with the intention of reaching a wider audience. I think such alliances are beneficial for the genre.

-When will all the songs come out of the oven?

-I have been presenting the songs as singles. Every month or every 45 days I make a release until completing the ten songs. Later last year, I have been released four songs. However, the pandemic that affects the entire world delays the production a little bit further, but we continue to work.

– You are an artist. How do you shuttle between your two passions?

-It’s not easy but I think it would be more difficult not to. I’m not very organized so I live in a constant effort to divide my time. I have participated in more than sixty group exhibitions and three solo exhibitions. My work is present in several art galleries and private collections.

Madera Niño 3re Mundo
Madera Niño 3re Mundo

-Your son also ventured into salsa last year. What do you think of the support offered to talent today?

-I think the boys are increasingly better prepared to meet the challenges.

The industry has changed and maybe those of us who have years of experience years in the business spend more time assimilating it. Young people know that besides recording on their own, they have to handle the many forms of promotion, know about graphic design, marketing, etc. That is very good because there are no record labels that invest in emerging artists. There are lots of young talent.

-How do you see salsa in Venezuela? Is there sufficient promotion and support?

-There is not sufficient support so I think we cannot wait any longer, we have to conduct ourselves. Work hard toward our dreams, we must learn to use the tools that technology offers us.

-Do you consider your albums a work of art?

– Yes, they consist of the same elements: color, balance, space, and atmospheres.

-What does José Madera Niño want to show every time he is on stage?

-A good show, a well-assembled band, a costume according to the situation, in short, the respect the public deserves.

Editor/ Lic. María Fernanda León

President of San Juan Producciones

Photos/ Courtesy: José Madera Niño

 

 

Por Maria Fernanda Leon, ISM Corresponsal – Caracas – Venezuela

 

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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.