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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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Dina Y Los Rumberos(PDX)
This is a band mainly composed by a family of Cuban musicians who have studied in the best musical schools in the city of Havana, Cuba. This family moved to Mexico DF from Cuba several years ago and established itself there for several years to perform in the most well know venues in this city such as “Mama Rumba”, “Mambo Café”, etcetera!.After accomplishing their purposes in there, the family moved to Portland, Oregon, USA to establish here and pursue on their artistic carrier. Several band‘s musicians have also played in many cities in the United States such as New York, Miami and Seattle and throughout Washington and Oregon states. |
The band performance is very diverse in which they present all types of Cuban music such as Son, Cha Cha Cha, Guaracha, Rumba, Guaguanco, Timba, Salsa. Also the band has within its repertoire Caribbean and tropical rhythms such as: Cumbia, Merengue and Bachata.
The Band has one of the best singers in the region, “Dina” who lead the band with her melodic and beautiful voice and improvisations that keep everyone dancing and interacting with the Band in the tradition of Cuban Salsa bands.
Two new musicians, Milko and Tony joined the band recently to complete the entire Cuban flavor that makes dancers stay always on the dancing floor. This band is one of the greatest projects in Live Salsa Band genre in Portland composed by all Cuban musicians.
Band’s members:
Dina Martinez (Lead Singer, Vocal, Percussion), Milko Escalera (Timbales, percussion), Nelson Morales (Piano, Vocal), Raul Martinez (Guitar, Vocal), Handy Martinez (Conga, Percussion), Tony Gonzalez (Bongo, Tambora, Vocal).
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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. |
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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GUASCHARA(Puerto Rico-Seattle)
Guaschará is a group comprised of 2 trombones and tenor sax/flute, bass, conga, timbales and bongo. This group is the creation of percussionist Steve Guasch and talented pianist and arranger Julio Jáuregui. The group showcases the talent of young puertorican sonero Joe De Jesus. Guaschará presents a musical style that recalls the 70's sound of the classical era of salsa, while staying current with modern and interesting arrangements that are influenced by elements of Salsa and Jazz.Our first CD "Influencias", features the participation of Puerto Rican singer Joe De Jesus, percussionist Paoli Mejias and flautist Jeremy De Jesus of Puerto Rico. |
| As well as the talents of Venezuelan musicians Marcial Isturiz, Eliel Rivero and Jose Soto "Mortadelo, and local artist Will Martin, Eli Clark, Ted Dortch, Junior Medina, Guillermo Padilla and Jeff Norwood. |
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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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FOR MORE DETAILS CALL 503-314-2639
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