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The Big Three Palladium Orchestra live at the Blue Note (2004)
The Palladium legacy lives on
The idea of bringing together the three great Palladium orchestras in an innovative concept was the brainchild of Mario Grillo, better known in the music world as Machito, Jr. whom I had promised to address on the subject of the Big Three at the Palladium.
Here I share one of my dreams come true. To be able to write about what I am passionate about is a great luxury, but to have these greats of music welcome me with so much affection to fulfill it is simply magic, fantasy and illusion.
Mario Grillo was born and grew up in a home that supported and sponsored his decision to become a musician. However, his mother -Doña Hilda Torres (EPD)- forced him to practice one hour a day “the hard way” while she told him that being a musician was as serious as being a doctor or a “shyster”. Mario Bauzá was his solfeggio teacher, since reading music was mandatory in his professional path.
At the age of ten he was already playing with his father’s orchestra. When he was still in high school and only 15 years old, Mario Grillo was already the regular timbalero in Machito’s orchestra. However, Machito, Jr.’s career skyrocketed when he did not yet dream of being ready to become a bandleader.
In 1975, his uncles Mario Bauzá and Graciela Grillo Pérez left their Machito’s orchestra, forcing Machito to take action and rescue his orchestra. Machito did not seem to be affected by the fact that Mario Bauzá’s replacement had not yet reached the age of majority. At only 19 years old, Mario Grillo became a bandleader “a la cañona” as we say in Borinquen bella.
The new orchestra was affectionately called “Machito and his Kindergarten” since the musicians were youngsters hungry for musical experience. Although Mario Grillo did not know it, the virtuoso timbalero had been preparing for this moment since he was only five years old when he had performed a timbal solo with none other than the “King of the Timbal”.
In 1982, at the age of 25, Mario Grillo directed and produced the recording of the 1983 Grammy winning album in the category of Best Latin Recording. With great pride Mario adds that the recording was done in Holland and that the entire process was completed in four hours. It is worth mentioning that Machito and His Salsa Big Band won against Julio Iglesias, José Feliciano, Willie Colón & Rubén Blades and Ray Barretto.
Here is a sample of the album in reference (Arrangement by Isidro Infante):
I ask you: How did the idea of establishing The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra come about?
Mario Grillo Torres, whose name honors the great Cuban jazzman -Mario Bauzá (EPD)- and whose nephew he is, tells us that the idea came out of desperation. The booking agency of Mario Grillo’s orchestra found that its strongest market was rather in Europe and Scandinavia. However, one bad day Mario Grillo had to face the possibility of modifying his orchestra. His promoter suggested that he reduce the 16-piece orchestra to form a quintet or sextet to make the project more profitable.
Machito, Jr. laughingly recalls that he only knows about big orchestras, so he got down to work and started making phone calls. He called Tito Puente’s widow: Margie, Tito Rodriguez, Jr. and Tito Puente, Jr. Once Margie, Rodriguez, Jr. and Puente, Jr. agreed to ally with Machito, Jr. the latter returned to the booking agency in London to offer him three orchestras for the price of one. Three calls were enough for Mario Grillo to return to counter negotiate with that promoter, offering him an irresistible orchestra.
The idea entailed a large orchestra with three timbaleros. Each timbalero would play one third of the repertoire, corresponding to the repertoire of the Patriarch of the timbalero on duty. That is to say, Mario would lead the orchestra during the performance of Machito’s orchestra repertoire; Tito Rodriguez, Jr. would lead the orchestra during the performance of El Inolvidable Tito Rodriguez’s orchestra repertoire prior to the closing in which Tito Puente, Jr. would lead the orchestra during the performance of the King of Timbal’s orchestra repertoire. The booking agency representative had no choice but to give up the promoter’s original idea of reducing the large orchestra concept to form a smaller, more economical group, because no one offers three orchestras for the price of one. And Mario is not a salesman. As an important detail, the tour began after 15 concerts were confirmed, without the orchestra having posters, much less CDs to promote. And “in a crazy way”, as Mario Grillo describes it, they began to fulfill the “stews”. The first places to host that non-promotional musical tour concert were Columbia University and the Verizon Center. From there they went on to England, France, Germany, Italy, Bulgaria and Latvia.
A year into the tour, Mario Grillo was asked by the booking agency to promote a tangible during the next tour. The Big Three Palladium Orchestra, Performing the Music of Tito Rodríguez, Machito and Tito Puente was born.
This CD was recorded live at the Blue Note during two concerts that were “packed”, as Mario Grillo told me with emotion. The recording of this masterful production was coordinated from a rolling recording studio that monitored 48 microphones. The long awaited compact disc became the promotional item for the ten years that were added to that historic tour, which initially consisted of only fifteen concerts. The first concert of this historic reunion was in 2000. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the establishment of the Palladium’s Big Three Orchestra. Having come of age, this orchestra has the repertoire of the owners of the mambo. This results in more than three hundred record productions, which adds up to more than three thousand songs and no room for exaggeration; so as Mario Grillo declares: “Anything can happen”.
During the eleven years of touring Europe -Finland, Germany, Spain and France-, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco -to mention a few places- Mario Grillo repeated what he did with Machito’s orchestra; this time the legacy sounds through The Big Three Palladium Orchestra. For Machito, Jr. one of the most emotional moments was when they came to Puerto Rico for the Jazz Festival. For the first time, the heirs to the mambo era – Tito Rodriguez, Jr., Machito, Jr. and Tito Puente, Jr. – teamed up again in their three-orchestras-in-one concept to bring the Palladium legacy to Puerto Rico. In fact, between laughter and mischief Mario states that his father always insisted that: “the best interpreters of Cuban music are the Puerto Ricans” adding that this assertion guaranteed him tremendous fire within the Cuban community.
When I asked Mario about his favorite instrument, he commented with a loud laugh: “women, I’m malamañoso”. Once we returned to the line of conversation, he added that he has been a TOCA artist for ten years. With a serious tone he added that he is very proud of his colleagues, fellow artistic staff members within TOCA Percussion. Among that list, he mentioned Tito Rodriguez, Jr. and the late Jimmie Morales, who, according to Mario Grillo, used to make a fire out of two coffee cans no matter what brand of instrument it was.
As you can see, each of the “Palladium’s Big Three” left behind a timbalero son, coincidentally. These three timbaleros have made it their mission to keep the Palladium legacy alive and well.
With deep pride, Mario Grillo told me that in 2019, the 80th anniversary of the first Machito orchestra, established in 1939, was commemorated. The average seniority of the musicians who remain in the orchestra since its establishment is forty years. In fact, there are anecdotes that show Luis “Perico” Ortiz as an alumnus of Machito’s orchestra. It is said that when “Perico” was part of Mongo Santamaría’s orchestra, he would go to play with Machito’s orchestra during his days off. Another alumnus of Machito’s orchestra is the bongos player of the Gran Combo de Puerto Rico: Richie Bastar, who as a teenager became the substitute bongos player of that school orchestra. With the privileged memory that characterizes him, Mario Grillo states with admiration that in 1979 Machito identified excellence in Isidro Infante -also a former student of Machito- when they played in Finland.
Although Machito, Jr. has not insisted on being Machito’s son, it is not possible to forget that he is the son of one of the greats of mambo, creator of Cubop and salsa, so it is not surprising that his father is still a topic of conversation in musical circles.
Here is one of my favorites (Arrangement by René Hernández)
Website: Tito Rodríguez, Jr. “The Palladium legacy lives on”
WebsiteBy: Bella Martinez “The Irreverent Salsa Writer” Puerto Rico
WebSite: Bella Martinez
Lore Pereira is one of the young interpreters with the greatest International projection
Lorena Pereira Méndez
In this delivery, graces our salsa column, one of the young interpreters of greater international projection and who currently places very high the name of Venezuela on the world stages and record level, we refer to Edgliz Lorena Pereira Mendez, known in the artistic environment as “Lore Pereira”, born in Barquisimeto, Lara state in 1985, daughter of outstanding musicians in the national territory, as they are: Édgar Pereira and Virginia Méndez, former members of the Sonero Clásico del Caribe and other recognized orchestras.
Lore, since she was a child, showed her musical abilities and began her studies at the Vicente Emilio Sojo Conservatory in 1998.
In this institution she was part of the Youth Choir of Children Singers of the Lara State Symphony Orchestra. In the following years he participated in several musical activities in the city, such as: Voz Javeriana (1999), Member of the Choir of the Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado where he served as head of contraltos string (2001).
In 2002 he was part of the Lara State Lyrical Singing Chair “Aquiles Machado” under the direction of the renowned singer Angelo D’addona, where he made great and significant presentations such as: cycles of Lyrical Galas with a repertoire of sacred music and great works of Latin American music for the prelude to the first season of opera in the San Miguel Chapel of the Museum of Barquisimeto, Magdalena Seijas Auditorium, Santa Rosa Chapel, Auditorium of the Italian-Venezuelan Club, among others.
Subsequently, in 2003, she became part of the stable cast of the Compañía de Ópera de Occidente (Opera Company of the West), thanks to the chair of Lyric Singing and the Symphonic Choir of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Lara (Symphonic Orchestra of Lara).
This year, she is preparing for the staging of the trilogy “Love, Passion and Death” as part of the cast of singers for the acts of 3 plays “Rusticana, Madame Butterfly and La Boheme” and the play “Los Martirios de Colón” by Venezuelan composer Federico Ruiz, These works were presented in various stages of the city as the dance and ballet academy Taormina Guevara, Teatro Juares, Teatro Alirio Diaz de Carora, Auditorium of the Italo-Venezuelan Club and the Ateneo de Boconó.
At the end of this year, he lined up to pay homage to Maestro José Antonio Abreu in a concert with the Lara State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Tarsicio Barreto at the José Félix Ribas Hall of the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex.
He participated in Santus Group concerts and in Boleros Nights and something else at the Sala Alternativa Juan Carmona of the newspaper El Impulso.
In 2005 she worked hand in hand with music teacher Behomar Rojas, who played an important role in her training and incorporated her in various musical activities in her hometown and the Venezuelan national territory, such as festivals, concerts of sacred music and stylized Venezuelan music.
In the following years, he participates in record productions of Venezuelan folk and alternative music, as well as in regional and national festivals.
It is worth mentioning the most important one held in 2008, La Voz de Oro y de la Canción Inédita de Venezuela, where he had the opportunity to share workshops and rehearsals with great singers of the Venezuelan national territory.
In the same way, he is part of several popular Venezuelan groups as a vocalist and backing vocalist, as well as participating in productions with renowned artists at present.
In 2010 he joins his performance with Venezuelan singer-songwriter Ignacio Izcaray, making several recordings, live concerts in Venezuela, such as: May 2011 (Teatro Juares) Barquisimeto, Ateneo de Caracas and Sala Corpbanca), October 2011 (Ambrosio Oropeza auditorium of the Ucla), January 2013 (concert at the Country Club of Barquisimeto, Teatro Alirio Diaz de Carora), also participated in recordings of important recordings as vocal support of the singer-songwriter.
The recognition of her vocal and artistic talent has been overwhelming, both by her colleagues, spectators and institutions.
In 2015, Lore Pereira received the Mara de Oro de Venezuela award as “Best New Artist of the Year”.
Then in 2016 she received the award as “Best Tropical Artist of the Year”, recognizing her extraordinary talent and acceptance by the media.
Lore, for Salsa Escrita, the Salsera Column of Barquisimeto, International Salsa Magazine / www.SalsaGoogle.com we are proud to have you as a special guest and we would like you to tell us about your incursions into Latin music.
Well, Professor Carlos, I can tell you that I have lent my voice to important musical projects, being the only voice of the experimental group “Primigenio” and of several songs of “La Charangoza All Star”.
I am frequently called as a soloist of the Big Band “Raíces Orchestra”, led by the famous musician, saxophonist and arranger Pablo Gil.
And as for other musical genres, what can you tell us about them? As a vocalist, I have sung with important exponents of Venezuelan and Latin American music.
During these last years my voice has joined the show of great artists such as Marc Anthony, Natalia Jimenez, Marco Antonio Solis and Alejandro Fernandez on the stage of the Billboard Awards. Likewise, I repeated this experience in 2016 and 2017 with singers Luis Enrique, Farruco and Miguel Bosé, in Premios Tu Mundo.
As for recent productions, what do you have for us, Lore? I have been promoting my album “Inténtalo” where I share my talent alongside figures such as Luis Fernando Borjas, Irving Manuel, Marcial Istúriz, Chipi Chacón, Christian Delgado, Franco Lemus; all under the musical production of Jhosir Córdova.
Excellent Lore, recently the new version of the song “Callejón”, which was recorded some time ago by Arabella, was launched on the digital platforms, but we have been able to appreciate that your voice and that of Virginia Méndez, your mother, shows a lot of versatility with export quality.
Thank you Carlos for your appreciation, indeed this is a work that we are promoting, entitled “Callejón” with authorship of Catalino “Tite” Curet Alonso, arrangements by Jhosir Córdova, chorus by Andrés Brito, Gerardo “Pachanga” Araujo and my father, Édgar Pereira, on piano Johánn Morales, bass Daniel Barón, trumpets Luis “Papo” Márquez, trombones Jhosir Córdova, timbales Juan Pablo Romero, tumbadoras, bongo and bell Yomar “Caballo” Méndez, mix Daniel Barón, master Maikol Lugo, musical production and videography Jhosir Córdova and I hope everyone likes it, being able to appreciate it in my social networks or on youtube.
Lore, what are those digital platforms? My social networks are: fans page:Lore Pereira Facebook: Lorena Pereira Méndez ,; Instagram: @loresinger.
From our salsa column, we wish you continued success and continue to exalt the Barquisimetano talent and of course Venezuelan, worldwide.
Thank you Professor Carlos Colmenárez, for the support given to me and all the artists of my country, keep it up. Blessings.
Year 2021
Good morning dear ones!
I share with you the link to the premiere of my song “VUELVES” scheduled for 1pm Miami-Venezuela time.
take the opportunity and subscribe so you get the notification and you can see the video that is made with love.
Thanks.
Website de Interes: Alfredo Villamizar Alfredo Villamizar one of the most spectacular and sensational Venezuelan percussionists
Remember not to leave your house…! See you next time and let’s keep saucing!
By: Carlos Colmenárez Venezuela Correspondent
Daniel Peña Grammy Winner 2012 and his new album entitled “Traigo Melao”.
“Traigo Melao” his third and most recent production
The 2012 Grammy® winner and Dominican Percussionist based in Miami, Daniel Peña brings back a dream team for his new album titled “Traigo Melao” in a remastered and limited edition production available today on all digital platforms.
It is an album that contains 9 songs, it is very special for me, not only because of the musicians and singers that accompany me, but also because it includes important songs in my life such as ‘Lirio de los Lirios’ where there is a version played by my dad on acoustic accordion, remembering my childhood when he played it for me and my brothers, but there is also another version of this same song played by Bobby Cruz as a tribute to my father” expressed emotionally Daniel Peña who presents his third studio production.
This album was masterfully interpreted by artists Ismael Miranda, Meñique, Raulin Rosendo, Hector “Pichie” Perez, Odilio Gonzalez, Paquito Guzman, Bobby Cruz, José Alberto El Canario.
Among the top musicians that “Traigo Melao” includes along with its producer and percussionist Daniel Peña, Charlie “Bongo” Santiago, Charlie Sierra, Eddie Montalvo, Sammy García, Tito de Gracia, William “Kachiro” Thompson, Gamalier Reyes, José Madera, John “Dandy” Rodriguez Jr. and Juan Pablo Romero on percussion, while David Irrizary, Diego Giraldo, José Manuel Gutierrez, Johnny Silva, Gamalier Reyes, Jesús “Gumby” Navedo, León Cheva, José Arroyo, Paquito Gúzman and Cheito Quiñonez on backing vocals.
On piano were Gilberto “El Pulpo” Colón, Ricky González, Luis Marin, Óscar Hernández, Richie Ray, Andy Guzman, Carlos Infante and Antulio Mora, while on trumpets were Julián Cifuentes, Carlos De León, Dante Vargas, Ivan Alejandro Odio, Luis “Papo” Marquez and on trombones were Reynaldo Jorge, Daniel López, Alexander Zapata and José Berrios.
Also playing bass on the songs were the talented Salvador Cuevas, Maximo Rodriguez, Luis Rodriguez, Ramses Colon, Pedrito Pérez, Sergio Munera, José R. Santiago and José Velázquez.
The album featured mixing and mastering by Victor “Sonny” Hernandez, acoustic guitar by Rigo Irizarry, violins and string arrangement by Gerardo Aguillon, tres by Nelson Gonzalez, accordion by Maricarmen Vazquez and saxophones by Jose Heredia, Luis Disla and Ismael Vergara.
Daniel Peña is a Dominican producer and percussionist who began his musical career at an early age. During the course of his career he has had the opportunity to record with countless renowned singers and musicians such as: Ismael Miranda, Richie Ray and Bobby Cruz, Jose Alberto “El Canario”, Paquito Guzman, Tito Allen, Larry Harlow, Nicky Marrero, Oscar Hernandez, Willy Rosario among others.
In 2014 he presented his first album titled “Eleven” and in 2017 his second musical project titled “Sancocho” with which he obtained great reviews from the music industry for its quality and high care…
He was a 2012 Grammy® winner and is part of the Remo family featuring his custom congas courtesy of Remo. He is also endorsed by Vic Firth, Soultone Cymbals and Jorg Gray.
Source:
WebSite: Daniel Peña
Official Release https://www.notaoficial.com/s/2021/06/08/daniel-pena-presenta-traigo-melao/
By: Diana Marie Miami Correspondent for International Salsa Magazine.
Article of Interest: Roniel Alfonso Mella Music Producer, Orchestrator, Composer and Instrumentalist
Diana Marie
Lady of Salsa 2021
David Lucca “My music is guaranteed to please dancers”
“David Lucca and his Salsa Classics”
He was born on September 16, 1957 to Puerto Rican parents in New York City.
At the age of 13 he moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico where he graduated from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). He began his musical career at the age of 18.
He leads the “Panchanga Band” at the Miami Marlins Baseball Park and is widely known for his orchestra “David Lucca & Los Clásicos de la Salsa”.
The famed percussionist is followed by thousands of people in South Florida.
With an extensive and successful musical career, percussionist David Lucca has accompanied the greats of salsa for 45 years and finally founded his own orchestra “David Lucca & Los Clásicos de la Salsa”, which since 2013 has been recognized as one of the most followed in South Florida, United States.
This excellent Puerto Rican musician, after touring the world and being part of various orchestras, making recordings, and many activities of his art, decided to settle in Miami to retire, considering that his goals were already fulfilled, but his musical essence did not leave him, perhaps motivated by his Puerto Rican origin. As a good lover of salsa, he returned to his adventures with his orchestra “David Lucca & Los Clásicos de la Salsa”, which has stood out as one of the best in South Florida.
Lucca has more than 45 years in music. Throughout his career, he has accompanied many artists such as:
Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Ray de la Paz, Michael Stuart, El Cano Estremera, Luisito Carrion, Moncho Rivera, Tommy Olivencia Jr, Hector Tricoche, Frankie Negron, Tito Allen, Adalberto Santiago, Ismael Rivera Jr, Elvis Crespo, Victor Manuel and Many more.
David Lucca Achievements: During the 80’s he traveled the world with artists such as Ray Barreto, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, El Budda All Star, El Flamingo All Star, among others.
David Lucca Productions: for 2010 I did the production “David’s Dream” which is a production of 10 songs and a mix of Salsa and Latin Jazz. For 2020 I just came out with the production “Ponle Corazón” which has 10 original songs. It is composed of Salsa, Son Montuno, Bolero, Plena.
He is currently the director of the Bomba and Plena group “PLENA ES”. He has also worked around the world doing Folkloric rhythms.
Right now I am one of the most requested Bands in South Florida under the name of David Lucca y Los Clásicos.
My new single “PONLE” video was considered as Short Video of the Year by Latin Grammy’s but was not nominated. The same with my production of David’s Dream was also considered by the Latin Grammy’s but was not nominated.
Lucca also mentioned that in 2020, he came out with a production called “Ponle Corazón”. We really put heart into this. The production is all original, but if you look at the arrangements, if you listen to the music, it has the feeling of the seventies, the little flavor for the dancer. We put heart into it to always please the dancer. This production is being heard all over the world, sales are going very well and I am very happy.
God willing, next year we will start with another production”, he said after pointing out that those interested in buying the album can find it on Spotify, Itunes, Amazon, among other platforms, as well as in the Casa Latina and Casa del Barrio stores in New York.
Those interested in acquiring the album of master percussionist David Lucca can contact him through his Facebook page “David Lucca & Los Clásicos de la Salsa“, or by sending an email to [email protected].
Source: https://latinopinionbaltimore.com/maestro-david-lucca/
Article of Interest: Alexandra Albán Manitas de Piedra baptized by Bobby Cruz
By: Diana Marie International Salsa Magazine Miami Correspondent
Diana Marie
Lady of Salsa 2021