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Willie Rosario, El Rey del ritmo by journalist and music researcher Robert Téllez M.

Puerto Rico Date Be more by Bella Martínez writes announces the release in Puerto Rico of the second edition of the authorized biography of Míster Afinque, Willie Rosario, El Rey del ritmo by music journalist and researcher Robert Téllez M.

This second edition, which has been revised, expanded and updated, has 62 more pages, every time master Willie Rosario has remained active since the publication of the first edition in 2019 to date. It also contains photographs that were not included in the first edition, images from Willie Rosario’s own archive and from the archive of the most important salsa collector, Robert Padilla.

The book, which has a preface signed by musician “Bobby” Valentín and a foreword by researcher José Arteaga, also compiles significant accounts from composers, musicians, instrumentalists, arrangers and vocalists who have been part of Rosario’s orchestra throughout different periods.

The new cover photo is by photojournalist Conrado Pastrano, the cover design is by graphic artist Felix Disla and the illustrations are by artist Frank Rosado.

The content of the back cover of the first edition, which includes the praises of Edwin Clemente, Edwin Morales, Elmer González, Hiram Guadalupe Pérez and Néstor Galán, was moved to the inside of the text, adding the recently captured praise in the voice of Ricardo Padilla, programming director of Salsoul radio station.

The back cover text is by the prodigious arranger, composer and music producer, who was exalted to the Hall of Fame of the U.S. East Coast and who, like Willie Rosario, is a timbalero and orchestra leader: Tito Rodríguez, Jr. Tito tells us about “El Inolvidable’s” friendship with Willie Rosario, as well as the way in which Mister Afinque received from Tito Rodríguez the first songs that Rosario would record with his orchestra, including the classic ‘Changó ta vení’ (composition by “Justi” Barreto), arranged by René Hernández. He also shares with us the closeness between Willie Rosario and Tito Rodríguez since they were neighbors in the Bronx, NY until they became colleagues and developed a friendship based on companionship and mutual admiration. In a nostalgic way, he highlights the golden years of El Palladium. As if all this were not enough, Tito candidly offers his opinion on Willie’s contribution to the salsa sound, which he reinvented by adding the baritone saxophone to his orchestral format, which at the time was thought to be an experiment, and on the permanence of that contribution within Latin music.

The publication of this second edition of Willie Rosario, El Rey del Ritmo comes just in time to add to the centennial celebration of the musical leader, who has managed to keep his orchestra active and alive for more than six decades. The book is now available in physical format and can be purchased through Amazon.

Book cover Willie Rosario Second Edition

About the author:

The author, Robert Téllez M, is a music journalist, broadcaster and audiovisual media producer. He is a member of the Círculo de Periodistas de Bogotá (CPB) and since 1998 he has worked as a programmer for different music radio stations. For nine years he directed and hosted the program Conversando La Salsa on Radio Nacional de Colombia. He was also founder and general director of Revista Sonfonía. Robert Téllez M stands out as a researcher dedicated to Afro-Antillean music. His in-depth research has led him to serve as a consultant and lecturer, specializing in the appreciation of salsa music.

Published books:

* Ray Barretto, Fuerza Gigante (2016).

* Willie Rosario, el Rey del ritmo [Authorized Biography] (2019, 2024).

* Ray Barretto, Giant Force (2021), the translation by Ronald Vazquez of Ray Barretto, Fuerza Gigante, is the silver medal winning literary work for best Spanish to English translation at the International Latino Book Awards, 2021 edition.

Also Read: Metamorphosis: from music to photojournalism, a reinvention without limits

Virginia Ramirez is the artist of the XXI century, the Princess of Piano and Voice, the hope that will save the new generations of anti-music

Virginia Ramirez, the talented concert pianist, pianist and singer-songwriter, has been making an impact for her contributions to the music of her country and the world. She was born in the city of San Cristobal, Venezuela and grew up in a family where art, poetry and music were the language of every day.

Virginia Ramírez es la artista del siglo XXI

His mother was a poet (Etha, the Lady of Love), Dr. Enriqueta Martinez, his father Asdrubal Ramirez, a self-taught harpist, guitarist and singer of Venezuelan popular music.

Since she was 7 years old she plays the piano and from a very young age she began to develop her musical skills, she started her training at the Miguel Angel Espinel School with the well-known teachers Edgar Vasquez (Piano) and Heliodoro Contreras (Theory and Solfeo).

She graduated as a pianist, concert pianist and piano teacher at the National School of Music in Havana (Cuba) where she graduated with the highest qualifications and studied at the José Lorenzo Llamozas School and the Simon Bolivar Conservatory of Music.

He has taken courses in harmony and improvisation with professors Gerry Weil, Andres Alen Rodriguez and Mike Orta at the “FIU of Miami” in the jazz department.

Ramirez studied classical piano with Professor Igor Lavrov, recorded her jazz projects with drummer Willy Díaz and bassist José Velázquez in the “Jazz” program of the Venezuelan TV channel “Venezolana de Televisión” in Venezuela on several occasions, and her first album “Espiral de Fuego”.

She participated as a special guest of other groups such as Alberto Borregales and Fredy Roldán and El grupo la Calle.

She participated with a new proposal as a composer and pianist in important Jazz festivals in Venezuela as the “Latin Festival” of the Teatro de la Opera de Maracay (June 2003) and the “Prehot” of the 5th.

Festival de Jazz del Hatillo (October 2003), where he alternated and shared the stage with the American bands of Aaron Thurston (drummer) and Jaime Baum (flutist), receiving excellent reviews from the radio and television press.

She alternates her activity as a jazz concert performer with teaching, as a piano and singing teacher.

In her music school Vicky’s harpsichord.

Her formidable work in music and composition is very beautiful and colorful, because in her proposal she has fused jazz and Afro-Venezuelan elements highlighting the values of Venezuelan and Latin American music and using a variety of drums such as the Culo’e Puya, Quitiplas, Clarines, Cumaco and Chimbangles combining them with the songs of the peoples of the coast of Venezuela making excellent personal harmonic contributions.

He has achieved a high musical concept that has been recognized in the continent and the world, for that incredible capacity to unite the idea of the concert with the characteristics of the Show and for that reason he contributes much more of the pure musical element in each one of his performances.

With a rich repertoire and an unparalleled originality in the world of Venezuelan Female Jazz, this excellent artist is a source of joy and an excellent contribution to the new generations of Jazz.

She has won countless national and international awards and recognitions, among which stand out: World Prize “César Vallejo” for Artistic Excellence, World Prize “El Águila de Oro” for Artistic Excellence 2022, 2023, almo Chispeante prize 2024, awarded by the UHE, world Hispanic writers union, thousand minds for Mexico, and world academy of literature, history, art and culture First Mention in the Juan Sebastián Bach Competition in Havana Cuba.

1993 as a teacher, pianist, concert pianist has participated in various festivals and concerts such as the Fitztrovia Festival in London, in Mexico, Madrid, the south of France, in Colombia with his salsa group tabaco latino, where he performed in different cities, Cali, Bogota and Medellin.

Within the salsa accompanied artists such as: Cheo Feliciano, Hernán Olivera, Meñique Lena Burke the singer Alfredy Bogado of the Venezuelan group “La Calle” and precisely with this group La Calle in the Juan Sebastian Bar when she worked there in 2000 was where they began their activities with salsa in several cycles of pianists, composers and arrangers.

In the Keyboard Museum of Caracas, in a jazz trio with Nene Quintero and William Velázquez on bass, in the Festival a toda Música Caracas, in the opera theater of Maracay and the Simón Bolívar University, among others.

Excellent comments in the national and international critics, have generated the presentation of his CD “Espiral de Fuego” presented by Otmaro Ruiz Jaquest Braunstein and Gerry Weil in his album “Manos y Alma” recorded, outstanding musicians such as: Nene Quintero, Aquiles Baez, Roberto Koch, Gonzalo Teppa.

Special guests: Vasallos del Sol, Aquiles Baez and C4 trio. This album “Manos y Alma” was presented by Aquiles Baez, Luis Perdomo and Pablo Aguirre from the BBC in London, received excellent reviews from the press in the south of France.

Her performance in the church La Canourgue in the south of France accompanied by the musicians Didier Hennot and Tonny Margalejo and her tour of successive concerts, carried out in France in different cities Mende, Saint Privat Des Vieux, Lozere, Ispagnac presenting her albums mentioned above.

She participated in the assembly and production of the play Cabaret with important theater artists such as Francis Rueda, Cayito Aponte, Natalia Martinez, Adrian Delgado, Karl Hoffman, Luis Fernandez performing in the Rios Reyna hall of the Teresa Carreño in different cities of Venezuela.

Virginia had the luxury of playing keyboards in the Kit Kat Club Band directed by Armando Lovera.

Great impact had her album “jazzguinaldos” produced as a trio with musicians Gonzalo Teppa and Nene Quintero, including as special guests Enio Escuariza, composer of all the lyrics of the album.

Her project “Acro Jazz” opens the horizon towards the world of circus arts, performing in different cultural centers of Venezuela musicalizing with the piano circus works and participating herself as a circus artist with the artist Jesús Piña in a pulsating work in the museum of the keyboard, Trujillo, Valencia among other cities with a new band integrated by Rubén Rebolledo Guitar, Willy Díaz Drums, David Rubio Bass and as special guests Jesús Piña and Kerlly Garcia.

He performed in the city of Morelia and Mexico, founded in 2015 a trio with musicians Fernando Mendoza Drums and Flavio Meneses bass, presenting the music of his albums in different nightclubs like Amati, Café de las Rosas, Casa de la cultura de Uruapan, and other cities of Morelia.

Virginia Ramírez, la talentosa concertista, pianista y cantautora

She accompanied drummer Antonio Sanchez in the house of music in Morelia.

Virginia Ramirez has collaborated with different artists of the Venezuelan music scene such as the group Facundo Project a Venezuelan Rock group, the singer Cheo Linares in his album “llegó la Navidad”, the singer Amarilis Bolaño in her album singing Henry Martinez, the singer Alejandra Gonzales in her album “Joyas de mi País” in the album “Tierra Liberada” and in the project “Venezuela demo”.

Ramirez has made music a matter of life and in her habitat of pianist and concert pianist, prepares for this year a vast plan to musicalize the poetry of the greatest poets of the world and a program entitled “La Totalidad de Virginia Ramirez”, by Cabina 11, Canal Global de Queretaro, Mexico, a country that has already known of her beauty and great talent.

I see in Virginia Ramirez, the complete artist with infinite talents as a pianist, singer, composer, songwriter and circus artist, who intentionally projects herself, illuminating the artistic firmament of the world with daring and magical projects that will always surprise the audience and make them feel the desire to ask for more.

Undoubtedly Virginia Ramirez is the artist of the XXI century, the princess of the piano and voice, the hope that will save the new generations of anti-music.

Dr. Carlos Hugo Garrido Chalem president of mil mentes por México and of the UHE Hispanic World Writers Union. President of the world academy of literature, history, art and culture.

Alterna su actividad de concertista de Jazz con la docencia, como profesora de piano y canto en su escuela de música la clave de Vicky.

Also Read: Wilmer Lozano from a very young age his mother saw in him the desire to be a musician

Rey Ruiz’s ‘Contigo’ concert at the Coca Cola Music Hall in Puerto Rico was Phenomenal.

As part of his Contigo tour, Rey Ruiz returned to what he considers his musical homeland: Puerto Rico. Since August 1992, when his first album (Rey Ruiz) was released, he has not stopped singing. He affirms that from the beginning he longed for a concert on Puerto Rican soil like the one he finally achieved on March 23, 2024 at the Coca Cola Music Hall.

Rey Ruiz's 'Contigo' concert at Coca Cola Music Hall in Puerto Rico phenomenal — Rey Ruiz’s ‘Contigo’ concert at Coca Cola Music Hall in Puerto Rico phenomenal

Before the concert, we were counting on hearing the songs that the salsero’s fans turned into hits. Certainly, the Coca Cola Music Hall witnessed how the euphoria with which Rey Ruiz catapulted in the early 90’s was revived. We knew we would hear the usual hits, such as ‘No me acostumbro’, ‘Si me das un beso’, ‘Amiga’, ‘Si te preguntan’, ‘Mi media mitad’, ‘Luna negra’ and ‘Creo en el amor’. To these were added ‘El Rey del mundo’, ‘Mal momento’, ‘El hombre de tu vida’, ‘Así se compone un son’, ‘Es difícil de explicar’ and a medley that included ‘Miénteme’, ‘Estamos solos’ and ‘Eso digo yo’.

An emotional Rey Ruiz sang ‘Cuba y Puerto Rico’, a song of his own authorship, arranged by Papo Lucca, which was included in his 4th album (Destino, 1996). For this special performance he was accompanied by the Puerto Rican cuatro player Prodigio Claudio. The concert was brought to a close with a tasty rendition of ‘Mañana por la mañana’.

Rey Ruiz, whose battle cry also gave the title to one of his musical productions: Fenomenal (2000), clarifies that he is a composer by muse, and that he does not consider himself a composer by trade. However, he is a singer-songwriter by definition, and the composition that best defines him is ‘Si me das un beso’, a song that highlights the Caribbean spark that characterizes his lyrics and interpretations.

Rey Ruiz was one of the soloists who firmly established himself in the salsa scene when salsa romántica was taking over the changing spaces of Latin music. Salsa dura was evolving to give way to the new trend we know today as salsa romántica. With the repertoire with which Tommy Villariny’s production and Jorge Luis Piloto’s pen were shaping the salsa artist’s career, the success was epic. That great takeoff in the career of the icon of salsa romántica was given with the impulse of the person Rey Ruiz calls “the daddy of the chicks”, his promoter: Edgardo Barreras. During the concert, Rey Ruiz made a stop to thank Edgardo and the late Tommy Villariny, who was represented by his son Oscar, for the success of his career.

The performance at the Coca Cola Music Hall of the production by Rosalis Torres exceeded all expectations. It had been anticipated that there would be “a unique experience, a magical night with Rey Ruiz as part of his Contigo tour. The promise of an evening with the incomparable energy of Rey Ruiz on stage was fulfilled. Indeed, Rey Ruiz is a legend. His voice is unique, soft and romantic. However, that “softness” does not detract from his vocal strength, which he managed to show off accompanied by a large orchestra and symphonic sound.

The super orchestra that accompanied Rey Ruiz included Erick Castañeda on congas and musical direction, Elías Lopés, Jr. on timbales, Idelfonso Correa on bongo, Sergio Munera on bass, Héctor Ortiz on piano; Iván Odio, Mario Ortiz and Alfredo Pérez on trumpets; Alexander Zapata and Ramón Benítez on trombones; as well as Alain García, Laura Ruiz and Juan Carlos Gonzales on backing vocals. For the symphonic sound, the chamber orchestra featured Sarli Delgado on double bass and conducting the string ensemble; Leticia Medina, Olga Juliá, Stephanie Berríos Carla Berríos, Mariel Pagán and Emily Reyes on violins; Chrystal Villalongo and Gina Flaz on violas; and Keren Torres and Ruth Brin on cellos.

Rey Ruiz’s more than 30-year musical career confirms that Cuba and Puerto Rico are one bird with two wings. Rey Ruiz is the pride of Cuba and is also the pride of Puerto Rico, his home of always.

Also Read: Jerry Ferrao says in salsa key: “My life is a drum”.

Cajiao, says he always had a taste for good music: the tangos and ballads of the 50s and 60s

Danilo Cajiao was born on February 9, 1969 in Cali Colombia son of Marina Munevar and Antonio Cajiao family with three siblings Walter, Patricia and Raul.

From my father I inherited the musical taste for Afro Antillean rhythms, we listened at home to the Sonora Matancera, Benny More, Arsenio, Daniel Santos and many more.

There was always a taste for good music: the tangos and ballads of the 50s and 60s.

When I was a student I participated in several music festivals at school and I was part of several dance and Andean music groups.

I always liked salsa and my favorite artist of the genre will always be Angel Canales.

After the appearance of the program “YO ME LLAMO” in Colombia I was motivated to start the process to achieve the perfect imitation of Angel Canales.

I began my presentations in small salsa bars with a dance floor and I did about 4 songs of Diferente, as I went along the character was being perfected and the public and the owners of the bars were asking for something more.

I then created “the Orchestra SON DE LA 8″ in 2013 with the purpose of making the accompaniment and mount all the music of the different Angel Canales.

The market was opening and the support of the salseros was very large, We have had much acceptance in the salsero environment in Colombia.

Participating in major events locally, nationally and internationally:

Leyendas Vivas De la Salsa in Medellin Colombia,

Salsa al Parque Cali, Salsa al Parque Bogotá, Homenaje a la Salsa, Tributo a los salseros and Noche Blanca.

I have alternated and shared stages with several national and international artists and orchestras.

Orquesta Brodway, Orquesta Colon, Nelson y sus Estrellas, Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Henry Fiol, Adalberto Santiago, Luisito Carrión, Papo Cocote, Cano Estremera, Moncho Santana, Orquesta Zodiac, Luigui Texidor, Frankie Vásquez, Tony Molina, Orlando Marín, Orquesta la Inmensidad and Orquesta la 33.

Danilo Cajiao, says there has always been a taste for good music, the tangos and ballads of the 50s and 60s.

International presentations:

Guayaquil Ecuador and Caracas Venezuela.

Endorsed and supported by the family of ANGEL CANALES and by him I have taken my tribute to the most recognized places and salsa clubs in Colombia.

Apart from accompanying the Diferente Angel Canales with the orchestra Son de la 8 we have made our own music always keeping the line of heavy salsa and with good taste.

Angel Luis Canales “El Diferente”.

There were nine record productions by Angel Canales between 1975 and 1987, twelve productive years.

By 1970 Angel Luis Canales had put his voice on an album by African-American pianist Mark Dimond, and five years later Dimond’s orchestra was renamed “Angel Canales y Sabor”.

The immense musical freedom of Ángel Luis Canales Canales has much to do with the determining influence exerted on him by Rafael Cortijo, Ismael Rivera and the irreverence of the Combo de Cortijo as a whole.

The difference was that those two masons did not have enough money to support their ideas economically (discographically speaking) while Canales had enough because of the money he earned from his profession as a jeweler and diamond cutter.

That’s why he didn’t lower his head to anyone, that’s why he didn’t give in to any advantageous record contracts and made his own record label, that’s why he never paid or bribed radio producers, and he dressed the way he wanted.

That’s why the conservative salseros kept a CIA-like eye on him. And Canales revolutionized everything in his path: from his clothing to his vocal and orchestral arrangements, his presentations and his choice of repertoire.

By 1970 Angel Luis Canales had put his voice on a record by the Afro-American pianist Mark Dimond, and five years later Dimond’s orchestra was renamed “Angel Canales y Sabor”, and with it he would make a mark like few others in the world of salsa, from his total independence, to the freedom for the musicians, his revolutionary shaved head, and a wardrobe that had nothing to do with the salseros, in addition to his voice, repertoire and arrangements. Ángel Canales recorded in 1979 the album “El sentimiento del latino en Nueva York”, and an exquisite version of “Dos Gardenias”, by Cuban composer Isolina Carrillo.

“El sentimiento del latino en Nueva York” was a clarinada similar to “Imágenes Latinas”, the song by Argentine Bernardo Palombo presented a year earlier by Conjunto Libre, in terms of its contents of denunciation and clamor for justice. “Es el sonido que el americano oye/ y no entiende” (It’s the sound that the American hears/ and doesn’t understand).

Musical childhood

Ángel Luis Canales was born on June 29, 1950 in Santurce, Puerto Rico, son of Ángel Luis Canales and Ana Ilda Canales.

At the age of 8 he was already in New York with his parents, who liked to listen to romantic music and also to Cortijo y su Combo.

The Puerto Rican country song was also among his favorites; it was the jíbara song of his people. In time Canales would indicate that Cortijo and Ismael were determining influences in his musical and social journey.

Much has been said that his current retirement is due to Parkinson’s disease, but Ángel Luis Canales is there, he attends private invitations of his friends and remains in the battle line of salsa and life. He is currently 73 years old.

In those years and in school he was more inclined to practical workshops than books and that is why he went to work, recommended by one of his teachers in a jewelry store where from being a messenger he would learn all the secrets of the art of cutting, polishing and mounting diamonds. He became a professional, solvent, and with an extraordinary clinical eye that would serve him a lot later.

Vista larga, his new friends did not speak Spanish, his native language, but fortunately Angel Luis had peers of his generation, and Latinos like the Lebron brothers and Willie Colon himself.

He also took a long view of his internship in the U.S. Army and later assimilated the new trends that emerged in the music being made in New York.

He started out firmly, as we have already mentioned, with pianist Mark Dimond (Markolino), who had been linked to Willie Colón. With Mark he added his voice to some of the songs on the album “Brujería” and later, with the departure of the pianist, the orchestra was renamed “Ángel Canales y Sabor”.

With this band he would record “Sabor” in 1975 and other albums until “El Sentimiento del latino en Nueva York” in 1979.

Two years before the recording of this album, in 1977 Angel Canales made his first visit to a Latin American country, Panama, and the reception he received was such that he would later write a song dedicated to that country.

The same happened during his visit to Venezuela on November 13 and 14, 1981, which became a musical commotion of great proportions at the Poliedro de Caracas.

Likewise in Colombia and Peru he felt the devotion of the public of those nations. Perhaps he did not know the scope of his work and the projection he already had.

Angel Canales "El Diferente" receiving Danilo Cajiao's production "Mi Perdicion" year 2020. — Angel Canales “El Diferente” receiving Danilo Cajiao’s production “Mi Perdicion” year 2020.

Much has been said that his current retirement is due to Parkinson’s disease, but Angel Luis Canales is there, he attends private invitations of his friends and remains in the battle line of salsa and life. He is currently 73 years old.

Source: TeleSurTv

Also Read: Orquesta la Identidad is one of the most nationally and internationally recognized groups in the salsa genre

Oskar Cartaya “My Music, My Friends, My Time” He counted with the collaboration of illustrious friends such as Eddie Palmieri, Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Valentín and Justo Almario.

Friendship and personal relationships seem to have always played a key role in Oskar Cartaya‘s recording career.

This was demonstrated Cartaya in his first recording, “My Music, My Friends, My Time” (2004) in which he had the collaboration of illustrious friends such as Eddie Palmieri, Giovanni Hidalgo, Dave Valentín and Justo Almario.

Bajista, arreglista, compositor y productor neoyorquino de nacimiento y bayamonés

This is also demonstrated by the second one, “Lifetime Friends”, which he co-led with trumpeter Humberto Ramírez and which was chosen as one of the best Puerto Rican productions of 2015.

For the bassist, arranger, composer and producer – born in New York and raised in Bayamon – connections with other people are a vital element for the development of any musician.

Those connections coupled with the tenacity Cartaya has always shown to continually improve himself as a musician allowed him to be part of the legendary progressive jazz-rock group Spyro Gyra for five years, produce albums for Willie Colón or Herb Alpert, and play with a long list of stars including Jennifer López, Christina Aguilera, Rubén Blades, Héctor Lavoe, Tito Nieves, Tania María, Arturo Sandoval, Steve Winwood and Randy Brecker, among others.

To all of them he has lent the sound of his electric bass, able to insert itself with total naturalness in modern jazz, Cuban rumba, Spanish flamenco or Brazilian cadences, but without ever losing its funky essence, which gives rhythmic impulse to the musical genre before him. For Cartaya, music is not a profession, but a passion of life.

That passion manifested itself at a very early age, when he told his Cuban-born father that he wanted to be a musician when he was just 10 years old. He completed his initial studies at the Escuela Libre de Música de San Juan, which he remembers with pride and affection.

However, he has affirmed that his first real musical school were the records of Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe, which he listened to at full volume in his room.

At the Escuela Libre de Música he was able to meet teachers and classmates who today are great masters of Latin music and colleagues of his, such as Humberto Ramírez himself. He also studied at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico.

Cartaya recalls that, although he studied chamber music in school, his real passion was Latin music…until he discovered jazz, thanks to an album by the great bassist Stanley Clarke. A new world opened up to his ears.

“I found a freedom in jazz that I didn’t find in Latin styles,” the musician said in an interview. “In salsa, for example, the maximum is when you are playing as part of a unit. Unlike jazz, whose pinnacle is when all the musicians improvise and go crazy playing, but everyone knows what they are doing.”

At 18, Cartaya moved to Los Angeles, where he began studying at the Musicians Institute of Technology. There he practiced for 15 hours a day, a devotion that brought him his first recognition: being accepted as a professor at the prestigious institution, two years after graduating from it.

However, his restless spirit and continuous desire to improve led him to make what he has described as the best decision of his life, moving to New York City. In the Big Apple – the place many consider the jazz capital of the world – he had the privilege of playing and recording with the late Argentine pianist Jorge Dalto; with Willie Colón and Rubén Blades; Celia Cruz, Tito Puente and Dave Valentín.

“I learned a lot, matured and saw firsthand what it was like to be on my own,” the bassist said in an interview about this period of his life. “If the opportunity was going to be given to me, it wasn’t going to come to my house. I would have to look for it.” And so he did.

At that time he also had the opportunity to meet the late rock icon Prince, at his Paisley Park, Minneapolis studios, and to become a member of Spyro Gyra. By being accepted into that group over 10 other bass players auditioning for the position, Cartaya realized that success belongs to those who work hard and have faith in themselves.

“I was able to show a lot of people that there’s nothing worse than feeling bad about yourself if you don’t try,” he said in an interview. “All the nights I played for free or for five bucks to earn a chance were well worth it.”

In 1997, the bassist produced the “Passion Dance” recording project for veteran trumpeter Herb Alpert, an experience he has described as a new learning experience in his career, as well as a chance to expose himself to a wider audience.

“My Music, My Friends, My Time,” released in 2004, is a fusion of Latin, Brazilian, American and Flamenco rhythms that was very well received by critics.

“I wanted to do a project that would fill that gap that exists between Latin music and the world. I truly believe that the world needs to know that Latin musicians can do countless things within music, without throwing away their roots,” Cartaya said of the recording.

“Lifetime Friends,” produced alongside Ramirez, was described upon its release in 2015 as “an album of a cohesive and jubilant band,” in which all participating musicians – representatives of the new jazz generation in Puerto Rico – have a chance to stand out. “It’s the album we always wanted to make… to describe almost 40 years of friendship,” Cartaya and Ramírez indicated.

In 2017, Oskar presented the production “Bajo mundo” in tribute to the great Cuban bassist Israel “Cachao” López. This intense, exuberant album, with a multiplicity of rhythms, colors and guest musicians was distinguished as one of the most outstanding productions of the year by the National Foundation for Popular Culture.

It also won a Latin Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Latin Jazz Album.

Source: Rafae Vega Curry

National Foundation for Popular Culture

“This biography is part of the archives of the National Foundation for Popular Culture. In our interest to disseminate knowledge about our great figures, it may be cited as a basis for research studies or as an assignment for pedagogical purposes, as long as credit is given to the Foundation and its author, if indicated. All rights reserved. The reproduction of the same in any printed, technical or mass media, with or without commercial purposes, is not authorized without prior written request to the Foundation and its consequent approval”.

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