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Search Results for: rhythm

Xiomara Laugart, nicknamed “La Negra” was born in Guantanamo, Cuba

For Xiomara Laugart, the past never goes away; she likes to hide in music. “My faith, I believe in you, you won’t go away,” Alberto Tosca wrote to her in that song and Xiomara seems to have decided to live by those lyrics, to this day.

Her loud laughter filled my kitchen this afternoon, while Omar brewed coffee, many times, and my mother cooked pumpkin flan. She evokes her mother in the sweet, comes back to life and tells.

She tells with astonishing naturalness that she never studied music and goes on and on. She goes on to freedom, and overflows with passion, because for her freedom is music.

Technically she could do whatever she wants, but if she does not feel it, if it does not make her vibrate, Xiomara, “The voice of Cuba”, could not sing.

On September 8, 1960 in Guantanamo, Cuba, XIOMARA LAUGART, nicknamed “La Negra”, was born. Excellent singer, established in Massachusetts.

Before emigrating to the United States, Laugart had an extensive career within the Cuban Nueva Trova movement. He has recorded more than 17 albums.

Representative of Cuban music in various parts of the world. He worked with the group Pisos Nuevos in Nicaragua. Also with Descemer Bueno. He led the group Yerba Buena. She represented Celia Cruz on Broadway.

Xiomara Laugart was born in Guantánamo. She attended university and graduated in Economics, then began her musical career through the nueva trova, a movement of political musical protest, very popular between the sixties and nineties.

He studied music at the Escuela de Superación Profesional Ignacio Cervantes. He began his artistic career professionally in 1985.

His beginnings were quite intense, participating quickly in international stages.

In 1979 he participated in the Festival of Political Song in Berlin. In 1980 he traveled to Nicaragua with the Pinos Nuevos Group, from the Isle of Youth.

The following year she participated again as a guest at the Berlin Political Song Festival and that same year she won third prize at the Political Song Interpretation Contest in Sochi, Soviet Union.

In 1980 she won third place in interpretation at the Adolfo Guzmán Cuban Music Contest; she participated in the V Festival y Activo de la Nueva Trova, the VI Cumbre and Carifesta. He belonged to the Guiñol Theater group of Isla de la Juventud. He was a member of the group Aconcagua and Talla Extra (X-L), and, for a time, worked with Alberto Tosca.

In 1982 he performed at the Café Concert in Mexico, participated in the Festival for Non-Intervention in Central America and Disarmament, held in Holland, Belgium, and the same year, he traveled to France. He became a regular in Mexico and returned to the Aztec country in 1984.

That same year she participated in the Political Song Festival held in Sopot, Poland, and later toured Honduras and Costa Rica.

His voice has a very wide register, although he stands out for his high tones.

She shows a vivid and exceptional sense of rhythm that allows her to interpret from bolero to salsa, from danzón to guaracha to the most sophisticated jazz and funk.

Atrapando espacios, Qué manera de quererte, Hoy mi Habana, Se fue, Ni un ya no estás and Oh melancolía! are some of the songs that are part of her repertoire and that continue to receive a standing ovation every time she performs on the stages of South Florida.

“The first person who introduced me to Miami was the maestro Meme Solis.

Meme has been my mentor in this city and was responsible for opening the doors to a new audience that followed him for years and now goes to my concerts, she says when referring to her close relationship with the legendary Cuban composer.

Source: Hyper Media

Xiomara Laugart

You can read: Israel Kantor was an excellent bassist, arranger and composer who achieved great popularity in Cuba for his vocal technique and original “Sonear” style.

Michel “El Buenon” is a singer, composer and considered the most sought-after salsa singer in the Dominican Republic

On September 7th in the province of Baharona in Batey 7, Dominican Republic, Michel Batista or better known as Michel “El Buenon” was born, he is a singer and composer.

Considered the most sought after salsa singer, he is a man with a big heart and a story worth admiring, because despite all the vicissitudes he went through during his childhood and youth, he became great, as his grandmother Dona Crisiana instilled in him.

From a very young age he attended Sunday school at the Baptist church with his mother Crisiana Abraham, with whom he attended the evangelical church shepherded by herself, where he also sang in the church choir on Sundays.

In elementary school she participated in a music festival where she won first place at only 8 years of age.

Later she competed in a regional festival in the town of Barahona in the radio station Radio Barahona, winning first place at the age of 12.

He then migrated from the south to the city of Santo Domingo, where he began singing in bars, nightclubs and hotels like the Sheratton, Napolitano, El Embajador.

In addition to the resorts Talanquera, Casa de Campo Sosua, Puerto Plata, among others.

At the beginning he was part of the Tabú Combo, a group from Puerto Príncipe based in New York City, recording hits such as “Inflaciones General”, “La Llave”, “Relimen” and composing the song “Apipi”, known in French and in Spanish as “El Jardinero”, which he recorded with his friend Wilfrido Vargas.

He would later be part of Johnny Ventura’s orchestra for 5 years, from 1982 to 1987.

He recorded the song “Tuyo Más Que Tuyo” by Bienvenido Fabián, then he joined again the Tabú Combo Superstar orchestra with Adolfo Chanci, its director.

In 1995 he went solo and recorded his first salsa CD titled “Amigo De Qué”, which was played all over Latin America, occupying for 12 weeks the first place of the radio station La Mega in the city of New York.

Later he released his second album “Brujería”, and seven others: “De Ahí Nadie Como Él” (2001), “100% Sabroso” (2002), “Llego Michel El Buenon” (2005), “Víveme” (2005) and “Extrañándote” (2005), which contained ballads interpreted in the rhythm of salsa in the style of “El Buenon”, this production has unpublished songs of Michel himself such as “Que Te Vaya Bonito” and “Yo Que Me Lo Creo”.

Throughout his career he has been winner of the Casandra Awards 2005-2006-2007 and nominated in 2008 and 2011.

Among his languages interpreting songs are English, Portuguese, Italian, Papiamiento, Creole, Spanish and French as he did in the song “Se Finit” by Charles Asnabul and the song Wonderful World in tribute to Mr. Luis Armstrong.

In his repertoire of the most outstanding songs in 2008 are “La Primavera”, “Cuando Los Sapos Bailan Flamenco”, “La Playa”, “Víveme”, “Tú Ni Te Lo Imaginas”, “Hoy Daría Yo La Vida”, “Me Has Echado Al Olvido”, “A La Primer Persona” and “Wonderful World”, all with hits and diffusion in all the radios and discotheques of his country.

Among his most outstanding albums in the last ten years are “Extrañándote”, “Todo Terreno”, “Estilo Y Conciencia”, “Arriba Siempre De Pura Sangre”, “Reserva Especial Impecable”, “El Insuperable De La Salsa” and “Claro, Fino, Nítido, Control Total”.

Throughout his career he has traveled to all of Europe, the United States, the Lesser Antilles, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Mexico, Curacao, La Reunion, Tahiti, Africa, Japan, Dubai and Colombia, the latter was where he recorded the video clip of his song “Maldito El Tiempo” written by Alexander Pires.

Michel “El Buenon”

You can read: Génesis de la Salsa, su esencia, características, ritmo, historia y expansión

Sundays Are Salseros In London

5 Clubs to not stop dancing Salsa even on the last day of the week

Salsa parties don’t stop in London, its fusion of Caribbean rhythms with a subtle swing and a few drops of Latin folklore make this genre one of the most contagious and fun to dance as a couple or with friends.

For that, here we make a list of the best places to dance Salsa on the last day of the week and if you do it regularly you will obtain health benefits such as muscle toning, improvement of cognitive functions (memory and coordination), the release of stress, increased self-esteem through a positive and confident attitude, in addition to improving circulation and the physical appearance of the legs. Let’s start now!

Room 1 alternates Salsa & Bachata, while in Room 2, they present Kizomba starting at 8 PM
Room 1 alternates Salsa & Bachata, while in Room 2, they present Kizomba starting at 8 PM

We started with Medbar in Southampton. It’s the perfect place to drink, dine, and dance, as well as being one of the hottest hotspots in the heart of Oxford Street (50 Oxford St, Southampton SO14 3DP). Every Sunday from 6 PM is about Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba. Beginner classes start at 6 PM, and advanced level lessons start at 6:45 PM. The value of each lesson is £8.

End the week with Medbar’s famous Latin nights and take advantage of the S.B.K social parties on Sundays from 7:30 PM until 2 AM.

Government-issued photo identification is required to access the bar.
Government-issued photo identification is required to access the bar.

A totally Latin atmosphere in London is the Salsa Soho Bar, Restaurant, and Nightclub, cataloged by many as one of the most authentic Latin music venues in the United Kingdom. Here you can enjoy the free Latin warm-up with Crossbody (LA) style Salsa classes for 45 minutes from 7:15 PM and continue with Salsa and Reggaeton lessons at all levels starting at 8 PM, you can also enjoy excellent South American dishes and 50 types of cocktails in this bar open seven days a week and located at 96 Charing Cross Rd since 1997. So live the experience of visiting Salsa Soho every Sunday and enjoy the Sundays X–perience until 2 AM with DJ José Luis. Admission is £5 after 8 PM. For more information visit their website. https://www.bar-salsa.com/soho

You can get there by train within 8 minutes of travel from Victoria
You can get there by train within 8 minutes of travel from Victoria

We continue with the Off The Cuff Live Music Bar located in the heart of Herne Hill (Arch 645, 301-303 Railton Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 0JN, UK). Voted by Mr. Hide magazine as one of the top five independent music venues in London, this bar offers one-hour Salsa Sessions every Sunday of the month from 6:15 PM to 7:15 PM, and the cost of admission is £10. Get fun the Sunday afternoon in the excellent company of Salsa.

During the weekly events there is a rotation with the best DJs in East London
During the weekly events there is a rotation with the best DJs in East London

We now walk through Juju’s Bar and Stage open six days a week. This place with a wide variety of events brings Latin parties every Sunday night for seven hours with DJ Javier “La Maquina De Cuba” and the Sambroso Sambroso dance academy.

Admission is free and starts from 4 PM to 11:30 PM. Juju’s Bar and Stage  is located at Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, London, E1 6QR.

And in November! This prestigious space will play host to the EFG London Jazz Festival, London’s largest annual event, acclaimed for showcasing talent from around the world. This year the constellation of established and emerging stars will be intoxicating starting on Sunday, November 13th with the presentation of Cuban artist Yuri Hernández, who organically entered Latin Jazz in 2020 with the single Loco Soñador. DJ Flecha (Joel Verdecia) will also perform in this presentation. The ticket costs £8.50 and the sets will be distributed as follows 6 PM – 8 PM and 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM. Get your tickets and don’t miss out on the EFG London Jazz Festival from November 11th to November 20th.

Bar Salsa Temple is located on Victoria Embankment, Temple, London WC2R 2PH, United Kingdom
Bar Salsa Temple is located on Victoria Embankment, Temple, London WC2R 2PH, United Kingdom

We end this tour at Bar Salsa Temple. Every Sunday is Cuban hits night. Relive the Havana of Puros by the River Thames! DJs Jorge Andre & DJ JJ Latin mixes the most recognized songs of yesterday and today from Timba, Salsa Cubana, Cubatón, and Bachata. Free Beginner Salsa Classes start at 6 PM, one-hour Sensual Bachata lessons start at 7 PM (£7), and Intermediate Cuban Salsa (Salsa Rueda) instruction is at 8 PM (£7).

Bar Salsa Temple is one of the largest Latin clubs in the country and is located on the Embankment, London. Join and experience the flavor of Cuban Sundays until 2 AM.

AQUILES BÁEZ

Swing And Tradition Of A Distinguished Venezuelan Artist

Chapter I: Aquiles’ Farewell

Aquiles Báez
Aquiles Báez began to flow within the Jazz and Latin American rhythm during his stay in New York (USA).

“With all the pain in my soul, I must publicly communicate that my friend, my brother, my accomplice Aquiles Báez passed away this morning at 5 in the morning in the city of Aachen, Germany. Aquiles was in the middle of a concert tour here in Europe. He flies high gordito.” Ramón Arturo Aular (Báez’s friend, musician, and professor at the Aachen Conservatory of Music) informed the community through his Twitter account the Monday, September 12th.

The virtuoso musician, noble guitarist, arranger, and excellent composer died of a sudden heart attack at the residence of his friend Ramón Aular. His last concert was held in the city of Cologne located in western Germany as part of his 2022 European tour, the first he did after the cessation of activities due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The noble 58-year-old artist had already performed in Spain and was preparing to present his music in some German cities such as Berlin, Tubingen, and Hamburg, before finishing his tour in France and Portugal.

“I think it is important to project the work that one has been developing in other latitudes. This is very interesting because I realize that the music I make is universal, it is not limited only to playing for the Venezuelan diaspora, which of course also provides an audience”. Báez expressed this to an international media.

During his artistic career, he recorded 17 albums and collaborated on more than 150 recordings with other artists. Báez was a professor at the Berklee College of Music (Boston, Massachusetts) and was recognized for his mastery of the guitar with “elements of mixed Caribbean and Afro-Venezuelan cultures with classical music and Jazz.” Fragment extracted from his biography.

In life, he shared stages with artists such as Paquito D´ Rivera, John Patitucci, Romero Lubambo, C4 Trío, Ilan Chester, Simón Díaz, Huáscar Barradas, Worlds of Guitars, Aquiles Machado, Serenata Guayanesa, Iván Pérez Rossi, Fareed Haque, Dawn Upshaw, Richard Bona, Luisito Quintero, Solo Razaf, Marco Pereira, Oscar Stagnaro, and Ensamble Gurrufío.

Before passed away, Aquiles Báez was preparing the publication of two studio albums and the creation of five more. He was also in charge of making the music for the Venezuelan play Mi último delirio, which premiered on September 2nd with the lead role of his friend Héctor Manrique and with great reception from the public and specialized critics.

Chapter II: Getting to know the musicians’ Master to the rhythm of the compass

Julio, was the one who instilled in him a love for music by giving him his first instrument, the Cuatro.
His older brother, Julio, was the one who instilled in him a love for music by giving him his first instrument, the Cuatro.

Aquiles Báez was always an irreverent musician who made the type of music that he felt. “It is important to make music from what one feels it is, from that forceful energy that is the act of creating…Lately, I have been respected. It was hard to get that position. They have not always respected me, perhaps because of my way of being, irreverent. The people who manage cultural spaces have always taken me as an anarchist… I consider myself someone accessible, the teacher thing hasn’t gotten to me, seeing everyone below me, that seems pathetic to me…” Aquiles expressed this to a Venezuelan media.

“Throughout his career, Aquiles has received various awards and recognitions. These include Pepsi music awards and the William Leavitt award given by the Berklee College of Music; In addition, he has stood out with more than a dozen awards as a composer of music for film, theater, and dance. Extracted from his biography.

In 1996, at the age of 32, Aquiles decided to move to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After two semesters he dropped out, considering that he was “learning the same thing but in another language.” And that was not only his thinking, but also what he demonstrated during his stay as a student at the academic campus, so shortly after he entered the Berklee College of Music again, but this time as a professor.

On this academic campus, he gave “clinics, workshops, and seminars at different universities and musical institutions such as Indiana University, Temple University, Queen College, Krems Summer camp, Curitiba Music Office, The Jazz School in San Francisco, among others, in Europe and the United States”, according to his biography.

Shortly after, he participated as a guest musician on the albums of Panamanian artist Danilo Pérez: Central Avenue (1998) and Motherland (2000), both albums nominated for Grammys.

Aquiles Báez was a founder and member of the board of directors of Guataca productions. In this space, they continue to support emerging Venezuelan artists. Báez’s methodology for finding new talent was to research, listen to them live and contact them. “Why not support those guys who come after you? Why not make life more pleasant for them? Or a lighter path than one had. This road is not easy at all, it has been very hard, and it continues to be hard. And one continues and believes that he has acquired a certain reputation…” Báez expressed this in an interview conducted by a Venezuelan media outlet.

Chapter III: Anecdotes of a famous life

Last night sharing with the beloved Maestro Carlos Cruz Diez (Panama. October 29, 2016)
Last night sharing with the beloved Maestro Carlos Cruz Diez (Panama. October 29, 2016)

Countless artists expressed their affection and grief for Aquiles’ departure, expressing testimonies of a life full of joy, love, and passion for musical colors.

“One of the artists who has inspired me the most and a great human being. He made it possible for us to make our first album, the tour of the United States and opened the doors of his home for us. We made a lot of beautiful friends with Aquiles. D.E.P, Maestro,  compaíto Aquiles Báez”. Jorge Glem (Cuatrista and member of the group C4 Trio).

“The wonderful Aquiles Báez was a musician capable of playing all Venezuelan music of all genres“. Alfredo Naranjo (Vibraphonist)

“Dismayed by the sudden death of my dear friend Aquiles Báez, one of the great musicians of our country, guitar teacher, and eternal officiant of humor and simplicity”. Leonardo Padron (Writer)

“Today we are less. I have just been informed that our admired and beloved musician and my dear friend, Aquiles Baez, has passed away. This news is heartbreaking and unfair. Aquiles is one of the most creative and generous people I have ever met”. Héctor Manrique (Director and theater actor)

“Thank you for being an inspiration in music and a big brother in life. Without your unconditional support, I would not have even reached the corner”. Álvaro Paiva Bimbo (Guitarist and 2022 Oscar nominee for the soundtrack of the Disney movie “Encanto”)

“How can we forget this great friend and fellow adventurer”. Claudio Nazoa (Comedian)

“I was left with the desire to carry out the project we had to record an album together. What profound sadness!” Miguel Delgado Estévez (Musician, arranger, and producer)

Finally, the Venezuelan percussionist Omar Ledezma Jr. expressed his sorrow for the death of Báez.

LENTEJAS. That’s what the gordo called me. 7 years of my life I played and toured the world with Aquiles Báez. We met at one of his concerts at the Bellas Artes thanks to my dear Carlos Reyes, another great guitarist from our country, at the time I worked at the MACCSI. Years later, arriving in Boston, he called me to be in his group and I couldn’t believe it. The gordo was my musical hero thanks to his Platabanda and the number of times I saw him accompanying great singers. He was the one who told me to grab El Cajón and start putting in the merengue and the gaitas. I knew his bad jokes by heart: “Vamos a tocar la canción de DC: Di si encontraste…”, with him, I learned to be a person first, then a musician, I learned not to make ugly faces if I made a mistake, with him, I had to press on reading, to be punctual, to put my batteries.

Anyway… with the gordo I learned to be a professional musician, because with his virtues and defects, for me, he was the best.

I love you my gordo, wherever you are. Thanks. #aquilesbaez”.

You can continue reading the article about Omar Ledezma Jr. From The Venezuelan Melody To The Caribbean Rhythm.

Here is a small excerpt from this interview of 2021:

Years later, and with experience acquired in presentations, and groups, Omar Jr. met his first mentor, Aquiles Baez, a famous Venezuelan artist, guitar virtuoso. Together with Aquiles, he made his first international tour of the United States. “With Aquiles, I had the pleasure of playing Venezuelan music. We play with many artists in the United States… Thanks to him I developed percussion (Non-autochthonous element) in Venezuelan music”. Ledezma Jr. commented.

“Fall in NY. How beautiful are the colors of Autumn in NYC. Enjoying that watercolor of nature”. Aquiles Baez (November 8, 2018)
“Fall in NY. How beautiful are the colors of Autumn in NYC. Enjoying that watercolor of nature”. Aquiles Baez (November 8, 2018)

The interesting story of French percussionist Dominique Patrick Noel

How his career started

All right, so we are here with French percussionist, composer and musician Dominique Patrick Noel. How are you doing, Mr. Noel? A pleasure to have you here.

Well, thank you. First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to interview me and to greet all those who is going to read it. Thank goodness, I am in good health and it is all good.

Dominique Patrick Noel tells us about his story and beginnings
Dominique Patrick Noel tells us about his story and beginnings

You are a self-taught musician who started playing by age seven. Did you learn everything by yourself or did you receive some kind of training?

Since I come from a family of musicians such as my father and my two grandfathers, I can say that music has always been a part of my life. I started playing the drums by listening to a lot of jazz and fell in love with this genre. That’s how I started to develop the movements and patterns of jazz and the drums.

In school, I started playing and learned solfège, percussion, drumming, among other things. When I turned 15 years old, I started playing music at a pro level because I have always had the pleasure of learning by watching musicians, who had much more experience. Thank goodness, I had my mind fresh to grasp and remember what I had seen, which helped me a lot to continue developing in percussion, different instruments, rhythms, among other things.

When I started playing Latin music, my first instrument was the bongo. I had a mentor named Alfredo Mujica Jr.,m who knew my dad and learned by playing with him. When it was my turn, he was giving the task of helping me understand the patterns and other things. He told me that the best instrument I could choose to start with was the bongo because it would help me understand a little more about how salsa works and that helped me a lot. He showed me the basic pattern and how to imitate the sounds I heard until they were similar.

After that, I also learned to play the conga, the Dominican tambora, the güira, the batá, the cajon and the timbales.

His career started at the age of 15 and his first instrument was the bongo
His career started at the age of 15 and his first instrument was the bongo

When you played the bongo for the first time, did you know you wanted to dedicate yourself to the Latin genres permanently?

When I was nine years old, I moved to Martinique and lived there for about four years. There I was fortunate to learn its folklore, its rhythms, its typical instruments and its dances. I also learned to perform all those genres with the drums and tried to absorb all I saw. Concurrently, the zouk era was beginning and I fell in love with the genre since I heard it for the first time.

Sometime later, my dad and I went to the United States to be with my dad, who was living in Washington at the time. It was there where I started to accompany him in several of his activities and shows with his orchestras. Then, I began listening more to salsa, cumbia and merengue, something I liked very much. Then, I told him that I would like to learn what he knew and play with him, to which he replied that it looked good, but that it was a profession that I had to take very seriously. Therefore, he advised me to listen to everything, even if it wasn’t Latin music because all genres nurture the musician in one way or another.

With whom he has worked?

You have worked with Tito Puente Jr, Tito Rojas, Izis La Enfermera de La Salsa, Frankie Vasquez, Lalo Rodriguez, among others. What have you learned from them?

I have had the opportunity to play with maestro Tito Rojas and his musical director, Celso Clemente, gave me some advice. When rehearsing, I approached him to thank him for allowing me to play the bongo with them and ask him for advice for my career, to which he replied that he liked my work very much and that I was very good for someone who was not born in this Latin music environment.

He also advised me that I had to move forward, never play down my goals, accept constructive criticism and always stay humble. I will never forget his words.

Dominique Patrick Noel next to Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan
Dominique Patrick Noel next to Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan

We know that you are a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which is well known for giving the Grammy Awards. What do you base to vote for a nominated candidate for an award?

There are several processes for artists to be nominated. For us the voters, it is a long process because we have the task of listening to much music and analyzing many details such as recording quality, lyrics, musicality and much more. There are many important elements to consider when choosing the person. I want to get to the point of saying that someone really deserves my vote for this or that category.

Voting takes time. It’s not something that you do in an hour or two, it takes a long time. The day of the awards ceremony, we already know who will the winners. At that point, we can say that all of them have managed to win via an arduous selection process.

Tell us about your song Mi Secreto with D’ William.

The skeleton of the song was my idea and I got together D’ William, to whom I offered to join the song. He wanted to collaborate with me in a merengue song for some time and I sent him the skeleton, which he liked and told me that something could be done with it. When he asked me if I already had the lyrics, I said no, but I wanted to base the song on an experience of mine, so I told him what it was about and the lyrics were written about that fact. Later, we made some additional arrangements and that’s how Mi Secreto was born.

Dominique Patrick Noel next to Bobby Cruz
Dominique Patrick Noel next to Bobby Cruz

Read also: Earl Miranda and Ric Feliciano talk about the Latin Rhythm Boys and its history

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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.