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THE
SALSA BANDS
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LATIN GROOVE YOUTH ENSEMBLE (PDX)
The Latin Groove Workshop Band is a new project by veteran music educators Ben & Michelle Medler. Bridging the gap between upcoming young artists and professionals. The Workshop band is made up of some of Portland’s most talented young musicians with guest singer Julana Torres & other local professionals. Students participate in a week-long workshop working with musicians from the Portland Salsa scene, studying the intricate rhythms and the rich culture of the music while preparing to perform. The future of Salsa! As educators, Michelle & Ben have worked with all ages from 4th grade band –college in schools, as clinicians, private instructors, etc. In 2001 they started the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra, which they co-direct.
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Currently, they run four bands during the school year and a week-long summer workshop partnered with the Mt Hood Jazz Festival. Ben is also the Jazz Trombone instructor at Portland State University.As musicians, they both keep very busy. They are active the in Latin, Jazz, rock, and classical music communities of the Pacific NW. Ben plays trombone, trumpet, and bass while Michelle plays saxophones, flute, and clarinet. In the Salsa scene one or both of them can be found in the horn section with Cubaneo, Afincando, Latin Expression, Cambalache, Groupo Ache, Melao de Cuba, Mambo Queens, Havana City, and others.
The Medlers also have several bands of their own, The Medler Sepetet a Latin-Jazz group, the Michelle Medler
Quartet –Jazz/funk, Trombone encounters and others. Michelle is also a member of the saxophone quartet the Quadraphonnes. More can be found at medlerstudios.com.
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CONJUNTO ALEGRE (PDX)
Conjunto Alegre Latin Band was created by Aquiles Montas with vocalist Manuela Figueroa, Roberto Cruz and percussionist Amador Marcano in September of 1987 after playing with Ritmo Tropical band for 3 years.Since then, Alegre has been performing at festivals such as Portland’s Cinco de Mayo, Rose Festival, Mayor’s Ball, Mt Hood Jazz Festival, Eugene Celebration, Salem Art Festival, Seattle’s Folk life Festival and Art Quake, Portland’s Salsa en la Calle and many more. Universities such as: Portland State University, Oregon State University, Portland Community College, University of Portland, University of Portland, Reed College and many others over Oregon, Washington and Canada.
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Alegre has won many awards such as the Best Latin Song at Portland’s Mayors ball (1998) song writing contest with Bella Bella; selected to play for the US Army in the Pacific Island Bases; also in Hong Kong, China from a NW talent search in 1994.
Conjunto Alegre was also selected to represent the NW Latin Bands to share the stage as opening band with many international artist such as: Cirque de Sole (2002-2000); Tito Puente (1992-1990); Sonora Carruseles and Fruko (2003); Maraca and El Canario (2001); Andy Montañez and Maelo Ruiz (2000); Oscar D’Leon (1997); Grupo Niche (1994-1996); Eddie Santiago and Wilfrido Vargas (1995-1994); Marvin Santiago, Roberto Torres, Francisco Aguabella (1992).
What makes Conjunto Alegre different from other latin bands in the NW is the Variety of Latin music styles they play, such as Salsa from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela; Merengue – Bachata from the Dominican Republic, Cumbia, Cha-Cha-Cha-, Latin Jazz and traditional Boleros from all of Latin America.
Montas love for the music shows on stage with his energy playing his instruments, directing the band, dancing, communicating with his singers and audience involment, giving an atmosphere of being in the Caribbean.
One of Mr. Montas satisfaction is how he has help with the growth of Latin Music in the NW by seeing some of his musicians and singers start their own groups, the number of Latin clubs, dance studios, dance instructors and general public dances of all nationalities.
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AFINCANDO (PDX)
The name of Portland’s hottest Salsa band literally translates to what the band does every time they play – Groove! Playing in the best dance venues all over Portland, Afincando started in the basement of band leader and percussionist Giovanni Cruz he explains, “We spent over a year in my basement, just playing around with our sound…working to get our rhythm section tight ~ just former bassist Bryan Hopkins, my wife Christine on keyboards and myself on congas. Slowly we developed the sound I was looking for - New York style Salsa modeled on the flavor of some of my favorite bands like Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the Ray Barreto Orchestra and the LA based New Yorican sounds of Johnny Polanco y Su Conjunto Amistad." |
| Many of Portland’s best musicians have been added to our roster. The vocal talents of local favorite Oscar Herrera, Christine Cruz, Edgardo Perez and Zapoura Calvert combine with a hot horn section featuring local Jazz artist such as Ben Medler, Farnell Newton, Michelle Medler, Sam Lett and Justin Smith to complete the recipe for flavorful Salsa you can't get enough of. Afincando has earned
a reputation for the kind of tight rhythm and beautiful melody that gets dancers out on the floor, and has been a featured attraction at Salsa en la Calle, the Salem World Beat Festival and the Spicy Foods Festival in Pasco, WA. Wether headlining, opening for such visiting bands as Monchi y Alexandra or playing at local hot spots, Afincando is the band of choice for Portland's Salsa dancers. If you like to dance and you love Salsa, Afincando is the band for you. |
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CAMBALACHE(Peru-Seattle)
In September 1999, a pamphlet circulating in Seattle featured “The fresh sounds of Cambalache,” referring to the philosophy of the nine-piece Seattle salsa band that made its debut that year.
Ever since, Cambalache has challenged and redefined the characteristic sound of Northwest Salsa scene. Never afraid to incorporate new ideas, or to drop others that have been exploited. Cambalache’s eclectic style is an embodiment of the richness and diversity of Latin America. Deeply rooted in the latest music movements developing in Cuba and Puerto Rico, Cambalache’s performances are a blend of great salsa classics and contemporary tunes. |
At each performance, audiences are seduced by the energetic atmosphere of Rumba and Nueva Salsa. Now, after six years of hard work and continuous learning, Cambalache has placed itself at the top of the Northwest Salsa scene. They have broken attendance records of virtually every salsa club in the Northwest of the USA, Southwest of Canada and Alaska.Their show is considered to be one of the most entertaining and fun in the NW for salsa dancers as well as for those who just love the music. Testament to this is that Cambalache was selected to play at the 2001 Major League All-Star Game to a crowd of more than 55,000 people at Safeco Field in Seattle. In addition, Cambalache has opened for some of the biggest names in Latin music including Grupo Niche de Colombia and El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico.
“Clasiqueando”, Cambalache’s first CD was officially released on April 23rd, 2004. Descarga from New York describes the CD as “Killer dance club Salsa... highly combustible, get-on-the-dance floor tracks with zero filler material. DJ alert and highly recommended”. The CD has now gotten reviews from all over the world and it is being sold at the most important Latin music stores in England, Holland, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Japan, Canada, Argentina, Chile and Peru. |
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LATIN EXPRESSION(Puerto Rico)
Latin Expression, a.k.a. Expresión Latina, is not new in the salsa circuit -- this
awesome orchestra has paid its dues. Created in Seattle in May of 1986 by composer/vocalist Francisco “Papo” Medina Sr., combined with his son, Jr. Medina,
Ted Bowden, and Dennis Haldane -- all still active members in the group – along
with several other local talented musicians, Papo’s dream orchestra was born.
Today this 13-piece ensemble is comprised of 4 vocalists, 4 horns, plus a 5 piece
rhythm and percussion section, making Latin Expression a powerhouse orchestra of
Latin music that has performed from Canada to Los Angeles, packing clubs and filling
dance floors as well as delighting festival crowds. |
Their repertoire includes rhythms
from around the Caribbean including, salsa, cumbia, Afro-Cuban, as well as what
they call “power-salsa”.
In 1997, Papo Medina and the rest of the band released their debut CD titled Realidad
on the Tocolo Música label. The CD which was nominated for a NAMA award,
featured eight original compositions including fan favorites Realidad and Alejate. 2005 brought the release of the highly anticipated production entitled 9 Días de
Rumba, which was recorded in Medellín, Colombia. Produced by Papo Medina, music
arranged and directed by Orlando Libreros and featuring special guest performances
by Diego and Jaimé Galé who inject the perfect amount of Columbian flavor into this
majestic force of Puerto Rican salsa. This album which includes 11 tunes was
designed for both the dancers and salsa lovers alike.
Latin Expression was once described as “the Northwest’s best kept salsa secret”…
a secret no more. With the international release of 9 Días de Rumba the secret is out.
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EDDIE SANTIAGO (Puerto Rico)
Eddie Santiago, natural of the town of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, belonged for two years to "El Conjunto Chaney", where interpreted the hit "Detalles", among others. This successful hit stimulated the young singer and he soon became a soloist in 1986,where he continued his success with the hits "Lluvia", "Tu me quemas", "Antídoto y veneno", "Que locura enamorarme de tí", "Quiero amarte en la yerba", "Insaciable" among others, which opened the international markets where at present he continues being one of the public's favorite "Salsero's".
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His popularity as a soloist has carried him to travel through North America, Central America, and the majority of countries in South America, several cities in Canada and various countries of Europe.
His incredible success is based on the romantic content of its songs, in which the feeling he projects overflows in his interpretation of the lyrics. His melodious voice combines perfectly with the romantic salsa that in that decade he helped initiate. Its phrasings in sensual form, where his interpretation qualified with above average voices, different
to what happens with traditional salsa, implied his own style that was accepted by all the latin american youth.
With the song "Lluvia", this baseball fanatic, hit a home run and reached sales that not one traditional salsa artists at the time had been able to sell in its history. The fact is that the songs of Eddie Santiago arrived at all the social spheres, the records popularity carrying it to the top of the charts, which began the Tropical music sub genre of what today is known as Romantic salsa. His first musical work for Musical Productions, titled "Despues del silencio" was nominated for a Grammy in the category "Tropical Music". Was comprised of 8 songs, 5 of which were promoted & programmed by all Tropical radio stations:
"Loco por tu amor", "No me hables mal de ella", "Falsa", "Todavía hay swing", ”Llover sobre mojado". Now, his second production for M.P., titled "Eddie Santiago, en su estilo.
Romantico y Sensual",where he maintains his romantic style with more Swing and musical flavor, adding top notch musicians and choruses. Eight sensual and romantic recordings: "Pienso en ella", "Como tú", "Fuego", "Que loco fui", "No he podido olvidarla", "Si volviera a nacer", "Hagámoslo" & "Márchate". The first song in rotation everywhere is "No he podido olvidarla". Compositions by: Luis Angel, Pedro Jesus, Santiago Consuegra, Yoel
Henriquez and Eddie Santiago with the song "Hagámoslo".
All this, with the added arrangements of Ramón Sánchez, Cutto Soto, Carlos Vélez, Tommy Villarini and Julio "Gunda" Merced,make this production a musical jewel.
This Fantastic production was recorded in the studios of Musical Productions, Puerto Rico and in Florida Dreams Music in Miami, Florida."Eddie Santiago, en su estilo. Romantico y Sensual", is a musical masterpiece that should not be lacking in any salsa music collection.
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FOR MORE DETAILS CALL 503-314-2639
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