Cubanisimo is a band directed by Ricardo Álvarez and formed by Cuban musicians as well as from other countries such as Colombia or the Dominican Republic. I would like to thank them for asking for my colaboration during the Bielsko salsa festival in Poland.
During the festival, I was reunited with old friends and artists like the dancer Yoannis Tamayo and had the chance to share emotions, laughs, companionship, a lot of dance and a beautiful salsa energy. On top of everything, the band had an amazing good sound. Thanks againg for counting with my colaborations.
Cubanísimo es una orquesta dirigida por Ricardo Álvarez formada por músicos cubanos y de otras nacionalidades como Colombia o la República Dominicana. Me gustaría agradecerles que solicitasen mi colaboración para el festival de salsa de Bielsko en Polonia.
Durante el festival me reencontré con viejos amigos artistas como el bailarín Yoannis Tamayo y tuve la oportunidad de compartir emociones, risas, compañerismo, mucho baile y una bonita energía salsera. Además de que la banda sonara espectacularmente bien. Muchas gracias nuevamente por contar con mi colaboración.
Towards the end of March, the quintet Timbasa played two concerts in the city of Prague, both with great acceptance and surprise. We performed a repertoire rich in Cuban music with some touches of Afro-Cuban folklore. This new project has the objective of playing music for the people who dance and also reach the public in a way that they keep claiming our presence.
A finales de marzo el quinteto Timbasa tuvimos dos conciertos en la ciudad de Praga con gran aceptación y sorpresa. Tocamos un repertorio rico en música cubana y con algunos toques de folclore afro-cubano. Este nuevo proyecto tiene como fin hacer música para los bailadores y llegar al publico de tal manera que sigan reclamando nuestra presencia.
En esta segunda parte, cuento como fueron mis comienzos en la Habana y todas las anécdotas que incluyen personajes de la cultura cubana, personas que me aportaron sus conocimientos y gran sabiduría nunca se acaba el momento de aprendizaje, todos nos pueden enseñar, solo hay que tener la mente abierta y las ganas, la constancia es sinónimo de éxito.
Esta entrevista me fue hecha en Bratislava en el año 2012 por Leon el Rumbero, un gran defensor del folkore afro-cubano y las raíces de la música popular cubana. Aqui desvelo muchos de los pasos que tuve que seguir para llegar a ser el musico que soy hoy en dia.
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I was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. I started in music at a very early age attracted by percussion and dance, which led to my dedication to the study and practice of percussion. I played several musical formats in my province of origin. They were important experiences that helped me once I arrived to the capital, Havana, to work as accompanying percussionist at the Escuela de Danza Nacional. At the time I was also part of the quartet of the great pianist Emiliano Salvador, already deceased. I had the chance to learn from great masters of such as Tata, Guines, Jose Luis Quintana (Changuito) and Justo Pelladito. Years later, I was part of the group Mezcla, directed by Pablo Menendez, and also covered substitutions in the group Sintesis.
In 1998, I was asked to take part in a great cast that accompanied the late Compay Segundo as director of the Pia Pa percussion and dance quartet representing the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA). Since then, I live in Europe where I have shared the stage with artists the stature of Herbie Hancock, Elian Elias, Chano Dominguez or Joaquin Sabina, taking part in many jazz festivals and creating in Paris what’s been called “Sabado de la Rumba”.
Lately I have accompanied Luis Chacon “Aspirina”, one of Cuba’s legends, as percussionist.
