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Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte, master of the piano and musical composition

Eusebio Enrique Iriarte, “Culebra Iriarte, was born on January 24, 1947 in Maiquetía, in the Republic of Venezuela.

Enrique Culebra Iriarte, master of piano and musical composition

In his childhood, Enrique Iriarte was already taking his first steps in the musical world with his father, who played several instruments.

His name was born in the Sonora Caracas thanks to the vocalist Johnny Perez when he discovered the thinness.

After his incursion in this world, with the inherited talent and the permanent updating and musical practice, has allowed him to treasure a long trajectory full of experiences next to orchestras such as La Sonora Caracas, Federico y su Combo Latino, El Sexteto Juventud, Don Filemón, in the beginnings of La Dimensión Latina for 10 months.

He also accompanied Oscar D’León on piano, for whom he also arranged his songs, among which are: “Mata Siguaraya”, “El Manicero”, “Siéntate Ahí”, “Mi Bajo y Yo”, “Mis Hijos”, “Juanita Morei”, “María”, “Ven Morena”, among many others.

In 1981 he recorded his first long-playing record, standing out with the song “La Ola Marina”, a piece that reached the first place in the music scene. It is worth mentioning that this album earned him a platinum record.

With more than six decades of artistic career, this Venezuelan virtuoso has left an indelible mark on salsa, collaborating with great artists such as Oscar D’León. During his career, the experience gained in iconic groups such as: La Dimensión Latina, Sonora Caracas, Federico y su Combo Latino, among others.

Currently, he continues to perform with his Sonora and has already become an internationally recognized musician.

Enrrique “CulebraIriarte Icon of Salsa is declared Illustrious Son of La Guaira and Cultural Heritage of Venezuela.

“Mr. Felo Bacallao Founder of the Aragon Orchestra, we are very proud to have as Cultural Heritage this distinguished MUSICIAN Maestro Enrique Culebra Iriarte”.

Reconocen trayectoria de “Culebra” Iriarte

September 28, 2019

The outstanding Guairean musician and arranger Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte was honored for his career, being considered one of the best salsa pianist, in an event held in the auditorium of the Bolivar Chavez Square.

Iriarte has stood out as a member of orchestras such as La Sonora Caracas, Federico y su Combo Latino, Sexteto Juventud and Don Filemón.

He was one of the founders of Dimensión Latina, the group that paid tribute to him yesterday and with whom he shared in some of the interpretations made by Rodrigo Mendoza, José and Edie Pacheco.

Culebra accompanied Oscar de Leon for many years as arranger of many of his songs.

The Mayor’s Office of Vargas presented him with the Armando Reverón order, within the framework of the municipal program “Forjadores y Forjadoras de Identidad Guaireña”, which seeks to exalt the work of men and women from Guaire.

Culebra Iriarte's trajectory recognized — Culebra Iriarte’s trajectory recognized

“This is an emotional act with the presence of many musicians of the region, friends and relatives of Iriarte, to exalt the legacy that for years has given us this extraordinary musician. This is the twelfth award to people who have marked the local history”, said Alexis Rumbo, secretary of municipal government.

Percussionist Augusto Felibertt relates: exactly from 1997 to 1999 I was in the ranks of Maestro Enrrique ¨Culebra¨ Iriarte and his Sonora playing the Tumbadoras, at that time the founding members were:

Enrrique ¨Culebra¨ Iriarte: Pianist, Musical Director and Arranger, Eli: Bassist.

Juan Pablo Barrios: Timbalito, Campana and Bongo, Larry Machado: Singer, Perla Tabata: Singer, then Maritza De Quisquella, Cesar Pinto: 1st Trumpet, Yenny: 2nd, 3rd Trumpet a special guest, substitute percussionists: Yomar Mendez (Caballo) and Heyzer Cabrera.

Tremendous experience lived with all these musicians. Fabulous.

Note: The rehearsal studio at No 41 in Caño Amarillo-Caracas.

Augusto Felibertt y Enrrique Culebra Iriarte Foto en Rincon Caribeño

Cheo Navarro, Naty and El Maestro Enrique “Culebra” Iriarte Respected Masters and indisputable referents of the sound of Salsa and its history in Venezuela!!!!!

It has been for me immensely pleasing to share and receive with them this valuable recognition from SALSA SUPERIOR INTRNACIONAL!

Enrrique “Culebra” Iriarte, Alfredo “Guajeo” Naranjo, Dj. Augusto Felibertt, Elio Pacheco, Cheo “Bailatino” Navarro and Joseito Rodriguez 2nd Edition of the International Award 2022 by Richard Roman Director and Founder of Salsa Superior Miami.

Enrrique “Culebra” Iriarte, Alfredo “Guajeo” Naranjo, Dj. Augusto Felibertt, Elio Pacheco, Cheo “Bailatino” Navarro y Joseito Rodríguez 2da Edición de la entrega de Reconocimientos

Also Read: Eddie Palmieri brought salsa for the first time and live from Sing Sing Penitentiary in New York

Milonga’s contribution to Latin music in general

There are many Latin genres that have managed to find a place in the USA music scene thanks to the constancy of many of its great exponents, salsa being the genre we talk about the most. However, today we want to change the subject a little bit and analyze what is milonga and how popular it has become in recent years.

Malevo y su dama — Recreation of ”Malevo y Su Dama” in Buenos Aires, 1970

Definition of milonga

The milonga can be defined as a folkloric musical genre coming from the Rio de la Plata region, which is usually performed with a guitar accompaniment in 6/8 time. Usually, it is divided in two modalities that are the milonga campera (the genre in its purest form) and the city milonga (style subsequent to the milonga campera).

Etymology of ”milonga’’

Although the musical genre is known for being originally from Argentina, Uruguay and certain parts of Brazil, ”milonga” means ”word” in the Quimbundu language (a language of Angolan origin that corresponds in several expressions with Portuguese). It is important to mention that this is the language used by some tribes from Angola, which was a colony of Portugal, and that many of the slave population of those lands was transported to Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

According to information received from some scholars, after the defeat suffered by the Argentine founding father Juan Manuel de Rosas in Caseros at the hands of Entre Rios Governor Justo José de Urquiza, the Brazilian soldiers caught the porteños off guard while singing guajiras in mockery, at the same time that the porteños sang milongas.

In the ears of Brazilians, these songs sounded like gibberish they could not understand. In the end, as a result, the term had such an impact that locals began referring to their own creolized guajiras as milongas.

La milonga de buenos aires — Yanina Quiñones and Neri Piliu dancing “La milonga de Buenos Aires” at the 4th TangoLovers Festival 2018 in Athens, Greece

A little history of milonga

Milonga is known for its joy, speed and sensuality at the time of being performed by its dancers. Its binary rhythm is of great simplicity, so it is in stark contrast to the four beats of the guitar that gives the melody to the dance and is usually accompanied by lyrics occasionally.

It has always been closely related to paya and tango. In the case of paya, milonga used some of its elements specifically for the dance, while tango uses some details of the rhythm and the melody in milonga for its own dance. Today, the three genres are considered a very important part of the Rio de La Plata music scene and each of them has their own characteristics that distinguish one from another.

Milonga had much to do with the birth of tango, but at the same time, it evolved and maintained its independence. In fact, there is some sort of mix of the two called tango milonga that is almost extinct, although it is known that many musicians wanted to use it to give the rhythm of the tango more strength and sustainability.

As for the places where milonga could be danced, the genre used to be found in neighborhood clubs, dance halls, tearooms and boites. The music used was usually recorded, although the venue owners hired small bands occasionally to change the modality. The popularity of these groups was so great that several of their musicians managed to join highly recognized orchestras at the time.

Couples who went to milonga clubs to dance ballroom tango and outskirts tango. The first only consisted of beat and elegance, while the second had beat, elegance and figure. Among the most famous places to dance milonga that remain active to this today, we can mention El Barracas Central, Unidos en Pompeya, El Sunderland and many others.

Se dice de mi in milonga — Theddy Lizama and Pamela Ramos Aracena dancing ”Se dice de mí” in Santiago de Chile, November 2022. Source Fuente General de la Nación Argentina

Milonga at present

Today, milonga has become a genre of big importance for people eager to learn to dance things other than salsa, bachata or merengue. This genre offers them the opportunity to try something completely different thanks to which they can connect with others in ways they would not have imagined due to its peculiar rhythm and overflowing sensuality.

In addition to that, every day there are more and more events also called milongas, which consist of massive dances where couples show their best moves to the rhythm of various genres, such as milonga, tango, and vals criollo. In general, the scheduling of a milonga is divided into blocks of three, four or five dances that are separated by short pieces of light music. Apart from that, each block contains a sort of rhythm that is grouped by orchestra, singer or composer.

These events were very typical in Argentina, but have been gradually spreading throughout various parts of the world, including the United States. Nowadays, it is fairly common to find restaurants, night clubs and academies that offer this kind of entertainment to their attendees such as Alberto’s Night Club (San Francisco), The Tango Room (Los Angeles), Milonga La Paz Tango Club (San Francisco), Tango De Rey (San Diego), Tango La Nacional (New York), Fairmont Tango Club (Philadelphia), Dance Fire Studio (New York), and many more.

Andy Gonzalez started as a musician at the age of 13 in the Latin Jazz Quintet in New York

Andrew “Andy” Gonzalez passed away on April 9, 2020.

Virtuoso bassist, arranger and musical director of Don Manny Oquendo’s “El Conjunto Libre” and Eddie Palmieri’s “La Perfecta”.

Andy has worked throughout his extensive artistic career that spans almost 50 years, with approximately 800 recordings, where he has had the opportunity to be as co-leader, producer, musical director or sideman.

Andy began as a musician at the age of 13 in the Latin Jazz Quintet, a group inspired by the music performed by vibraphonist Cal Tjader and in which he shared with his brother Jerry.

Although long before that, Gerardo Gonzalez, Gonzalez’s father, had already begun his son’s musical

Gerardo was the vocalist of Augie Melendez y Su Combo, an ensemble influenced by the sound of Sexteto La Playa.

Andy Gonzalez virtuoso Bajista, Arreglista y Director musical de “El Conjunto Libre” de Don Manny Oquendo y de “La Perfecta” de Eddie Palmieri

It is worth mentioning that during their time in the Latin Jazz Quintet, the Gonzalez brothers met a person who would change their lives: pianist Llewellyn Matthews, with whom they learned the discipline necessary to “graduate” as professional musicians, both were part of the big band of this decisive leader.

Later came Eddie Palmieri’s La Perfecta, his brother’s Fort Apache Band, the Grupo Folklorico Experimental Nuevayorquino and Manny Oquendo y Libre, 4 groups that changed forever the perception of the music we know today as Salsa.

He collaborated with The Fort Apache Group, Dizzy Gillespie, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Astor Piazzolla and Ray Barretto.

Andy González is a fundamental reference in the history of Caribbean music and Latin jazz. He has played with almost mythological musicians at times when they left a deep mark on both Latin jazz and dance music.

Andy González se inició como músico a los 13 años en el Latin Jazz Quintet en New York

He has been bassist for Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barreto, Conjunto Libre, Grupo Folklorico Experimental Nuevayorquino, Fort Apache Band, and on some occasions for Ismael Rivera y sus Cachimbos, Cortijo y su Combo and Sonora Matancera.

In this conversation, held in Santiago de Compostela -during the Compostela Millenium Festival in August 2000- he vibrates when talking about his record collection, he declares himself a fan of the study of the roots of the music he makes and reviews his artistic life since when with his band, at the age of 13 and together with his brother Jerry, they imitated the sound of Cal Tjader.

Passion for music

I’m as much a music fan as I am a musician. Just like any music lover. I’m a fan of the things I appreciate that are important in the history of music. I have studied a lot and that has allowed me to notice the quality and quantity of artists that this music has produced. Great artists, people who have contributed a lot. When you have and study a collection of records like the one I have, you realize that now there are few.

Andrew “Andy” González muere El 9 de abril de 2020ººº — Andrew “Andy” González muere El 9 de abril de 2020

Inspiration

Cal Tjader was my inspiration when I started. Also for Fort Apache Band, because their music had a strong jazz component, but with Cuban rhythms. Good rhythms. We had a great interest in what Cal Tjader was doing.

When we started playing we were copying what Tjader was doing. We were little kids of 13 and 14 years old. We had a very similar repertoire with the same quintet, where Jerry played congas.

Once we even had a dance next to the place where Tjader played, doing the same music. Armando Peraza played congas for Tjader and once he saw us and congratulated us. We always had the support of musicians with more experience, veterans of other generations.

Dj. Augusto Felibertt, Andy Gonzalez, Rafael Muro y Omar Mejias. Centro Cultural La Estancia en Caracas

Main Source: Pablo Larraguibel

Also Read: Roberto Rodríguez fue un trompetista y compositor cubano, autor del éxito de Ray Barreto «Que viva la Música»

Yasser Peralta and his musical experience

Latin America / Argentina / Buenos Aire

We have the opportunity to meet the dancer and teacher Yasser Peralta, who is dedicated to teaching Son and Rumba in the Cuban style, being something very striking due to the naturalness of his classes and we can believe that it is because his Cuban blood flows through his veins, giving the essence and flavor to the dance. He tells us that the development of his profession as a dancer and instructor began when he was little, since he was dedicated to dancing at parties, being a very common characteristic for most Cubans.

When he moved to Argentina, that did not stop him and in order to maintain his firm roots in his native land and to have his beloved culture very close, he went dancing, where he took advantage of every trip to Cuba to take classes, of which he was with:

Julia Fernández Regisseur of the National Folkloric Ensemble.
The Aspirins: Rumberos majors of Regla.
Luis Roblejo, professor of Modern Cuban Dance.

He tells us that he not only took classes, he also took training courses in both Cuba and Argentina; in Cuba he was in Cubadanza and in FolkCuba. In Argentina he was with two great dance masters of various genres and musical styles including the Cuban style such as the Mambo in 2 L.A. styles. All this made him increase his knowledge and resume of his musical career, being expanded by studying music, where he learned to play piano, guitar and percussion. And over time he began to organize events through his production company “AhíNaMá!”.

Of all his life journey, he tells us that “it was not only learning and having a profession, he enjoys dancing and teaching the genres of popular Cuban roots such as Afro-Cuban dances, Son and Rumba, because I understand that you have to go to the basis to better interpret current Cuban music…

On the other hand, I am from the Timba generation and I apply all of the above”, that is, dancing and teaching Cuban popular root genres are 2 of the things that I enjoy a lot, especially since In the future, he sees the possibility of traveling to, meanwhile, dedicate himself more to the production of cultural events of these Latin genres.

Photo - Workshop with Yasser Peralta — Photo – Workshop with Yasser Peralta

Yasser tells us that he has an event production company called “AhíNaMá!” where they hold workshops and teach at other academies:

La Viruta

AhíNaMá!

Vibra Dance

Tuesday: 20.30hs. $140

Thursday: 20.30hs $150

Wednesday: en Feeling 21.30hs más baile Social $120

Friday: 21.30hs más baile Social $150

Yasser expresses himself to all of us and above all recommends that lovers of Latin rhythms, whether they are dancers or artists who want to expand in the artistic area, “open your studio to other genres, other styles.” “Everything nourishes and gives resources to personal dance and there is nothing more difficult (but sublime) than achieving one’s own style; especially that they study the music they dance to, understand its structure and the “root” sub-genres that make it up. That is what makes the detail, and the difference is in the detail”.

For more information:

Facebook:
- https://www.facebook.com/yasser.peralta/
- https://www.facebook.com/ahinamaproducciones/

Class:
- Cuban Style : https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=822097507972681&id=402506703265099
- AhíNaMá en Feeling: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=877213132439763&id=739677559526655
- Son: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=886905821470494&id=739677559526655
- Rumba: https://youtu.be/BiTCxVsVeag
- Musicality: https://youtu.be/ypUe_CYHRfk
- La Viruta: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=809590925890006&id=402506703265099
- Vibra: https://youtu.be/yRo9ZI1D1r0

The Guaqueros took the CCCT in the Musical Explosion

Latin America / Venezuela / Caracas

Musical Explosion CCCT

Invershow is known for being a leading company in the organization and production of events, offering the most advanced technology, innovation, qualified personnel committed to meeting the highest standards of quality and safety for its realization; as happened last month (March) in the Musical Explosion held at the CCCT shopping center in Caracas, Venezuela and lasted 3 days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday).

On the Friday before enjoying the concert, the attendees dedicated themselves to tasting in the kiosks set up for this activity since it began in the afternoon with other musical groups, the audience present was more contemporary due to the musical genre (pop-rock), which was presented at 8 pm Zengarden in honor of U2, being a complete success you could appreciate not only the songs and music they played, but also the quality of the sound, the lighting.

Aloflamenko, Poker y Guaco in Musical Explosion CCCT

La Mama de las Rumbas - Musical Explosion CCCT — La Mama de las Rumbas – Musical Explosion CCCT

Word spread among the people of Caracas who passed near the CCCT, encouraging them to come closer and at the same time, spreading the word to go on Saturday, since other groups are presenting, among them:

Aloflamenco, Póker and finally Guaco; and indeed, on Saturday March 3, the CCCT was filled to be able to listen to the good music of the DJ, dance, participate in raffles on stage, and the most awaited musical group by the Venezuelans Guaco arrived, everyone left their seats to be in front row to see, hear and sing their songs with them, at the end of the event, people were very excited, there was even a couple who gave a surprise taking advantage of the moment to officially get engaged.

Musical Explosion CCCT - Photo — Musical Explosion CCCT – Photo

Musical Explosion CCCT - Photo 2 — Musical Explosion CCCT – Photo 2

Musical Explosion CCCT - Photo 4 — Musical Explosion CCCT – Photo 4

One of the things that drove the participants crazy was the interaction of the musical group with the public singing their songs together, and as Venezuelans we feel proud of our artists.

Photo 3 Poker - Musical Explosion CCCT — Photo 3 Poker – Musical Explosion CCCT

On Sunday they played Criollo House, Trabuco Contrapunto and closing the event “The Perfect Melody” being a great musical explosion for all its spectators; definitely the name of the event was in keeping with the moments lived by all those who accompanied them these 3 days, a total success, meeting the expectations of the artists and spectators. We thank INVERSHOW for allowing us to participate, promote and enjoy the event, we are sure that your next events or concerts will be sensational like this one.

On May 4 in honor of mothers, so you know if you want to enjoy a great event, buy your tickets for “La Mama de las Rumbas” at http://www.mitickera.com/Evento/La-Mam% C3%A1-de-las-Rumbas.

For more information contact them through:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/INVERSHOW-197857140255607/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/invershow

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDTz2TAz4Nqoqye_RWzv0ew

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