Genres & Artist
GENRES
Jorge Luis Pacheco
ARTIST
Jorge Luis Pacheco... A virtuoso pianist that defies genre.
SONGS
Jonathan Sauzo... An Afro Caribbean experience.
RICANO is the very 1st original Afro-Caribbean experience that combines
Puerto Rican and Dominican rhythms within a potent new Jazz Sound.
On RICANO, saxophonist / composer / culturist Jonathan Suazo offers us a captivating Afro-Caribbean experience that presents themes of exploration, integration, and self-acceptance. The title RICANO combines the words Puertorriqueño & Dominicano, highlighting the artists’ creative concept and his two heritages in a unique fusion that carves a new sound within the world of Latin Jazz.
The journey in this 1st album takes us back and forth from the potent sounds of Puerto Rican plena with “Somos más que tú” to the exhilarating hits of Dominican Salve with “Heroes”. Strong vocals, chants and soaring solos add depth and emotion to tracks like “Don’t take kindly”, “Seguimos Luchando”, “AFRO DOMI” and the uplifting “Dharma”; RICANO showcases the Afro-Caribbean experience by bringing the past, present, and future of this cultural heritage to the listener.
Jonathan Suazo is an award-winning saxophonist / composer / cultural advocate and educator who also leads his own project entitled RICANO, a unique afro Caribbean Jazz concept that blends the sounds of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. Jonathan was named one of the top ten emerging jazz artists of 2023 by the GRAMMYS and his debut album “Ricano” (Ropeadope Records) was listed at #6 in the best Jazz albums of 2023 by The New York Times.
A Berklee Global Jazz Institute graduate, he’s received many honors including the South Arts Jazz Road Tours Grant, the New Music USA Creator Fund Grant, A full tuition Scholarship to attend the Berklee Global Jazz Institute Masters Program, The Project Support Grant for Program Alumnis by the Fundacion Banco Popular for his Ricano album and the Berklee Urban Service Award for using the arts to support humanitarianism. In connection with his Ricano project, Jonathan has become an ally of several organizations like Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Escuela Libre de Música San Juan, Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, El Institute de Cultura, Fundación Banco Popular, IBA and Boston Music Project to impact more that 600 student since 2023.
Catalina Maria Johnson of Downbeat Jazz Mag describes his music as “a soundscape propelled by lyrical sax playing” and Giovanni Rusonnello from the New York Times describes his music as “richly built, written from the heart and packed with complexity, always seeking the next level of altitude.”
Suazo’s resume includes collaborations / performances with Miguel Zenón, Terri Lyne Carrington, David Sánchez, Charlie Sepúlveda, Gonzalo Grau, Alex Alvear, Ricky Rodriguez, Ileana Cabra (iLÉ), Calma Carmona, Rakalam Bob Moses, Joe Lovano, Paoli Mejias, Humberto Ramirez, David Rivera, Tito Matos, Ricardo Pons, William Cepeda, Jon Secada, Pedro Capó, Obie Bermudez, Hans Glawischnig, Humberto Ramirez, Silverio Perez, Tony Escapa; and he’s led his and at the Santo Domingo Jazz Festival, Martinique Jazz Fest, Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, Teatro Francisco Arriví (Puerto Rico), Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest (Anfiteatro Tito Puente), Springfield Jazz Fest, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Elephant Room Austin TX, SXSW 2023, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The MFA Boston, and many more.
Carlos Averhoff, Jr.... A new hybrid sound of Cuban jazz.
Carlos Averhoff Jr is a Latin Grammy nominated artist with the album Buena Vista Presents Omara Portuondo, a Cuban tenor saxophonist, contemporary Afro-Cuban Jazz composer and educator. All About Jazz names Carlos “a dynamic fresh new voice on the saxophone” and Latin Jazz Network portrays his playing as “quite extraordinarily expressive and beautiful,” further adding, “Carlos Averhoff Jr is a musician who is renowned as a virtuoso soloist.”
His debut album iRESI (Inner Circle Music label) brings Cuban-influenced and avant-garde jazz and was released in April 2015 at Boston’s most acclaimed jazz venue, Scullers Jazz Club. The album has been applauded by acclaimed artists such as Dave Liebman, Jerry Bergonzi, Terri Lyne Carrington, Chucho Valdez among others. Also by international critics and major jazz blogs.
All About Jazz awarded iRESI Four (4) Stars. Further acclamations include descriptions such as “remarkable recording;” “striking music;” “bewitching;” and as portrayed by Latin Jazz Network, “one of the most visceral and heartfelt that Carlos may have made” […] “this recording is still masterful and driven by such genius that it can only have come from worshiping at the altar of originality, creativity and the impulse to adorn even the most complex melodies.”
His second album, iQba (Inner Circle Music Label) was recorded in Havana, Cuba. The album was very well received in the Jazz and Latin Jazz comunity worldwide. The album iQba proposes a new sound described as ‘Contemporary AfroCuban Jazz’ were Averhoff Jr. melts the sound of a classic Jazz quintet (Sax, Trumpet, Piano, Bass and Drums) with music elements of Cuban dance genre, Timba, as well as Afro Cuban Jazz and elements of today’s contemporary Jazz
As a composer, Averhoff creates unique contexts that show connections to Cuban culture and contemporary jazz without being overly obvious. His performance resonates with equal parts fire and smart intellect, ready to explore new musical territories.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Carlos first encounter with music was through his mother’s womb by the hands of his father, legendary saxophonist and member of Chucho Valdes’s Irakere, Carlos Averhoff, Sr. Classically trained in Cuba’s top music schools – Manuel Saumel Conservatory of Music, Amadeo Roldan School of Music and Havana’s Superior Institue of Art – Carlos continued his education in the United States earning Suma cum Laude Honors at Berklee College of Music and a Master’s Degree with Honors from the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music.
During his continuous academic pursuits, Carlos received numerous scholarly awards from the aforementioned institutions, among them the Charlie Parker Scholarship Award, the Woodwind Faculty Achievement Award, the North American Scholarship, and NEC’s meritorious awards. He took instruction from Jazz luminaries Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Ed Tomassi, Frank Tiberi, Greg Osby, Bill Pierce, Terri Lyne Carrington, Joe Lovano, Jason Moran, Cecil McBee, Ran Blake, John McNeil and Donny McCaslin. Soon upon the completion of his studies, Carlos took a faculty position at Berklee’s City Music Program and the Concord Conservatory of Music,
Carlos has also collaborated in many aspects with respected drummers: Louis Hayes, Jimmy Cobb, Bob Moses; Cuban drummers Horacio El Negro Hernandez and Calixto Oviedo, pianists Jason Moran, Chucho Valdes, Roberto Fonseca and Alexis Boch; saxophonists Dave Liebman, Greg Osby, Bill Pierce, Paquito de Rivera; Cuban singers Isaac Delgado and Augusto Enriquez. In addition to Latin Grammy nominated recordings with Omara Portuondo and Buena Vista Social Club, Manuel Guajiro Mirabal, Roberto Fonseca and Temperamento, Pablo Milanes, Cuban Rumba group Los Papines, among others.
Carlos Averhoff, Jr currently resides in Dallas, Texas.
Eme Alfonso.... Jazz, pop and latin jazz.
Eme Alfonso, cantante y compositora cubana, toma sus raíces para combinarlas con sonidos electrónicos, percusiones del mundo y leyendas afrocubanas.
La NPR americana y la BBC británica la señalaron como “Una promesa de la música latina”.
Ha ganado el Premio Cubadisco (Premios de la Música Cubana) con sus dos trabajos discográficos “Señales” y “Eme”.
Su tercer álbum está producido por el productor brasileño Alê Siqueira y ha sido grabado en Cuba y en Brasil. El álbum se lanzará en 2018.
Ha sido parte de importantes proyectos que promueven la diversidad cultural de Cuba como el proyecto “Para Mestizar” auspiciado por la UNESCO. Es Directora Artística del festival internacional Havana World Music, con apoyo del Ministerio de Cultura de Cuba.
Eme proviene de una familia de importantes músicos cubanos, quienes fueron pioneros en fusionar la música afro-cubana con el rock y el jazz. Formó parte de esta banda emblemática “Síntesis” dirigida por sus padres, nominada a los Grammy Latinos en 2001.
Cuando comenzó su carrera como solista en 2008, Eme heredó la habilidad de fundir los sonidos de su isla con otros géneros extendidos y logró un sonido único con su música. Tiene una voz cálida y vibrante al mismo tiempo, lleva con firmeza su herencia musical y su energía sacude todos los escenarios en los que actúa.
La banda que la acompaña está formada por músicos cubanos extraordinarios, quienes son cómplices de los arreglos bipolares de esta artista.
Eme obtuvo el Premio Cubadisco en 2010 y 2013 a “Mejor Álbum Fusión”. En su segundo álbum comparte autoría con X Alfonso y Pedro Luis Ferrer, y cuenta con “El Ruzzo” (integrante de Orishas), Harold López-nussa y Diana Fuentes como artistas invitados.
Su tercer álbum “Voy” ha sido grabado entre Cuba y Brasil durante 2017. Está producido por Alê Siqueira, reconocido productor brasileño. El disco es la búsqueda de la artista y el productor para darle otra sonoridad a las raíces africanas de la música cubana. Para ello enriquecen los arreglos con sonidos electrónicos novedosos, armonías contrastantes y ritmos de todas partes del mundo. “Voy” ha sido nominado al Premios Cubadisco en la categoría de Fusión y ha obtenido excelentes críticas al punto de ser calificado por la revista cubana AMPM como el “disco maravilla de Eme Alfonso”.
Ronny Mercedes.... A ricing Bachata/POP star.
WITH HIS UNIQUE NEW YORK, R&B/TROPICAL STYLE, HIS BLIND AUDITION SINGING THE SONG “LAGRIMAS” BYJOSE JOSE (BACHATA VERSION BY AVENTURA) RONNY CAUSED THE MEGA STARS LUIS FONSI, CARLOS VIVES AND WISIN TO FIGHT OVER HIS VOICE AND JOIN THEIR TEAMS. HIS PERFORMANCE WENT VIRAL ON YOUTUBE GENERATING OVER6.4 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE IN A SHORT MATTER OF TIME, GRANTING HIM EXTREME POPULARITY WITHIN LATIN-X AUDIENCES ALL OVER THE WORLD.
PREVIOUSLY, RONNY WAS THE LEAD VOCALIST OF THE 2X LATIN BILLBOARD AND LATIN GRAMMY NOMINEE, BACHATA SENSATION GROUP VOZ A VOZ FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS. HE PERFORMED IN MASSIVE CONCERTS AND TOURED ALL OVER EUROPE, CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA, MEXICO, ASIA AND USA (INCLUDING ALASKA AND HAWAII) MULTIPLE TIMES. DURING HIS TIME INTHE BAND, RONNY WAS ABLE TO RECORD 3 ALBUMS, WHICH PLACED IN THE TOP LATIN BILLBOARD CHARTS AND MONITOR LATINO #1 IN MEXICO & #3 USA WITH THE SONG “EL MEJOR PERFUME” FT. LORENZO MENDEZ FROM THE TOP SELLING REGIONAL MEXICAN BAND LA ORIGINAL BANDA EL LIMON.
ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT IN RONNY’S CAREER WAS HEADLINING FOR IHEART RADIO’S 1ST LATIN CONCERT ALONGSIDE RICKY MARTIN, DADDY YANKEE, BECKY G, J BALVIN, PRINCE ROYCE, PITBULL, ALEJANDRA GUZMAN, ORIGINAL BANDA EL LIMON AND ROBERTO TAPIA, HOSTED BY RYAN SEACREST AND MARIO LOPEZ.
IN OCTOBER 2018, RONNY DECIDED TO LEAVE THE SUCCESSFUL GROUP VOZ A VOZ TO PURSUE A MUSIC CAREER AS A SOLO ARTIST. HE HAS BEEN RECORDING AND RELEASING NEW MUSIC IN THE GENRES OF POP, AFRO-POP, URBAN AND BACHATA.
HIS SINGLE “BRINDEMOS POR ELLAS” FT. HENRY SANTOS FROM THE SUPERSTAR BACHATA GROUP AVENTURA HAS RECENTLY RECIEVED OVER 1.5 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE IN LESS THAN A MONTH OF IT’S RELEASE AND STILL GROWING, CURRENTLY GAINING GREAT PLACEMENT IN THE TOP LATIN PLAYLIST SON ALL DIGITAL PLATFORMS INCLUDING SPOTIFY AND TIDAL. THE MAJOR HIT HAS ALSO BEEN EMBRACED BY BACHATA CONGRESSES AND DANCE SCHOOLS WORLDWIDE! TODAY IT HAS OVER 2 MILLION STREAMS ON SPOTIFY!
HIS FOLLOWING SINGLE, “QUE TAL”, WAS ALSO IN THE FAVORITES OF HIS AUDIENCE DUE TO ITS UNIQUE SEASONINGS OF NEW YORK/R&B/BACHATA STYLES. THE MUSIC VIDEO WAS RECORDED IN NEW YORK CITY HONORING THE TRUE ESSENCE OF THE LATIN X COMMUNITY OF UPTOWN NEW YORK CITY.
IN JANUARY 2022, RONNY WAS HONORED TO RECORD THE SPANGLISH-BACHATA VERSION OF THE BRUNO MARS GRAMMY HIT“ LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN”AS A DUET WITH YET AGAIN GRAMMY AWARD WINNER, LORENZO MENDEZ WHICH PREMIERED AS A LIVE PERFORMANCE AT THE SPANISH TELECAST OF THE2022 SUPER BOWL PRE PARTY THROUGH TELEMUNDO, FOLLOWED BY A VERY WELCOMING PROMOTOUR IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.THE MUSIC VIDEO WAS RECORDED IN THE HISTORICAL
THEATRE ANGELA PERALTA IN THE CITY OF MAZATLAN, SINALOA MEXICO.
THE SINGLE THAT FOLLOWED ENTITLED “TE ESPERABA (VERSION BACHATA)” HAS ALSO BECOME VERY POPULAR WITH THE TOP DANCERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS AND DJs WITHIN THE BACHATA COMMUNITIES WORLDWIDE, AS IT SPEAKS OF THE PERFECT LOVE, ENTICING HIS ROMANTIC MUSIC FOLLOWERS AND FANS.
RONNY MERCEDES IS ALSO ASAG/AFTRA/ACTOR’S EQUITY – ACTOR INTV, FILM AND MUSICAL THEATRE. SOME CREDITS INCLUDE LAW & ORDER, BLUE BLOODS, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, GWB, BROADWAY MUSICAL SAND MUCH MORE. HE WAS ALSO A RECURRING CHARACTER ON NBC-UNIVERSO ’SREALITY TV SHOW “THE RIVERAS”. RONNY WAS RECENTLY FEATURED ON THE SHOW ASI SE BAILA AS A SINGER AND MUSIC CO-PRODUCER.
IN SEPTEMBER 2022, ONE OF RONNY’S DREAMS CAME TRUE WHEN HE WAS ASKED TO PERFORM AT THE LATIN BILLBOARDS A LONG SIDE POP ICON CHRISTINA AGUILERA. HE CONTINUES TO RECORD NEW MUSIC FOR HIS AUDIENCE IN BETWEEN CONCERTS AND PROMO TOURS! “BE LIGHT WHERE THIS IS DARKNESS” (RM).
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Hermes Croatto.... Puerto Rican folk/pop.
Hermes Croatto is a Puerto Rican folk music artist passionate about nature, and Puerto Rican culture. It was his father, Tony Croatto, a well-known folk music artist in Puerto Rico, who after his death inspired him to join the musical world. From that moment on, his mission was to bet on the evolution of Puerto Rican folklore and expose it to new markets outside of the island. This mission drives him to create songs with a modern approach collaborating with producers and artists such as Eduardo Cabra, Rec808 and Sie7e. Good music with beautiful lyrics about Puerto Rican folk and land with modern musical arrangements.
Don Perignon y La Puertoriqueña.... High-Octane Powerhouse Salsa.
As the tireless bandleader and timbalero of La Orquesta Puertorriquena, Don Perignon is one of the foremost exponents of big-band salsa in his native Puerto Rico. His band is a high-octane powerhouse and one of the most popular ones on the island. He comes from a family with a long musical tradition, which includes his cousin, Rafael Cortijo. After having stood out as musical director for singers Andy Montañez and Lalo Rodríguez, in1989. “Don Perignon” released his first production La Buena Vida, which featured the participation of Victor Manuelle. This album was followed by Festival de Soneros (1990) and Subiendo (1992).
In his career Don Perignon” and La Puertorriqueña, has released thirteen recordings, in which figures such as Gilberto Santa Rosa, Víctor Manuelle, Luisito Carrión, Oswaldo Román, Pedro Brull, Josué Rosado, Rico Walker, José Alberto “El Canario” and Hermán Olivera, among others, have collaborated.
Septeto Santiaguero....
Desde su fundación el 2 de febrero de 1995, el Septeto Santiaguero se ha mantenido profundamente ligado a la trova santiaguera y la música tradicional cubana.
Surgido de Melodías del Ayer, grupo legendario de la Casa de la Trova, su director, el Maestro Fernando Dewar, decidió cambiar su nombre con vista a posicionar su trabajo en escenarios internacionales y cubanos con una mayor visión comercial
“Hacemos música tradicional para los bailadores y para los jóvenes, es la única manera de hacer que trascienda, que guste entre las nuevas generaciones”, ha dicho en varias oportunidades Dewar, y así lo corrobora su grupo con la energía que desbordan en el escenario, donde no hay edad para el disfrute.
Desde sus inicios el Septeto Santiaguero se ha presentado en importantes escenarios internacionales de España, Alemania, Francia, Austria, Bélgica, Croacia, Holanda, Hungría, Inglaterra, Italia, México, Portugal, Suiza y otros. Ha tenido la oportunidad además de compartir con importantes figuras del arte dentro y fuera del país, como Rubén Blades; Gilberto Santa Rosa; José Alberto, El Canario; Oscar D’ León; Alexander Abreu; Pancho Céspedes; Omara Portuondo, entre otros.
En Cuba, se les ha visto en numerosos escenarios, desde plazas y teatros hasta en comunidades muy apartadas de la ciudad. Se les reconoce además por su elegancia, su buen humor y el carisma con el que siempre intercambian con el público.
Su repertorio es un recorrido por diferentes vertientes de la música popular cubana, con énfasis en lo tradicional. Trabajan desde un sentido bien personal obras de autores legendarios de la música cubana como Miguel Matamoros y Ñico Saquito, en armonía con la obra de autores más contemporáneos, algunos de ellos miembros de la propia agrupación. Su base musical se sustenta en el Son, la Guaracha, el Bolero, el Changui, el Bolero-Son y otros géneros.
Es arrolladora la sonoridad del Santiaguero, un paseo que va de lo clásico a lo contemporáneo con suma elegancia y ritmicidad. En cada presentación, se disfruta junto al público. Las canciones van apareciendo unas tras otras según sus gustos, sus peticiones, nadie se queda con ganas. Del Changüí al Bolero, del Son al Merengue, la alegría distingue
cada presentación.
Acreedor de Dos Premios Grammy Latinos, en 2015 por el CD “No quiero llanto. Tributo a Los Compadres” y en 2018 por la producción discográfica “A mi qué. Tributo a los clásicos cubanos”, el Septeto Santiaguero es en la actualidad uno de los exponentes más importantes de la música tradicional cubana.
Este 2019 emprendieron su primera gira nacional “Guarapachanga por Cuba” con la cual han recorrido diversos escenarios del país, siempre acompañados por un público fiel, conocedor de sus canciones y defensor del género en el panorama de la música cubana contemporánea.
Sí, son profetas en su tierra, y es habitual encontrarlos los martes en la Casa de la Trova y los viernes en la Casa de la Música La Pachanga, sitios a donde los bailadores cubanos y de otras latitudes siempre asisten para disfrutar de la excelencia de la música tradicional cubana.
Próximos a cumplir 25 años de vida artística, el Septeto Santiaguero anuncia la presentación en los meses venideros de un nuevo CD, donde compilarán sus grandes éxitos, y muy pronto estará en las librerías un texto sumamente ameno y fiel a su historia.
Fundado en 1995 en Santiago de Cuba el Septeto Santiaguero es una agrupación considerada entre los principales exponentes de la música tradicional cubana.
http://suenacubano.com/septeto-santiaguero/
“El trabajo que está haciendo el Septeto Santiaguero desde hace mucho tiempo nos hacía falta. No hay grupo que lo haga mejor, por su originalidad y por el corazón que ponen
en ello”.
César Pupi Pedroso
https://www.arteporexcelencias.com/es/ellos-que-nuevo-disco-del-septeto-santiaguero-y-el-canario
Ni muy joven ni demasiado antigua, esta formación es el mejor ejemplo de son cubano para el nuevo milenio.
https://www.cancioneros.com/
El Septeto Santiaguero es uno de los más claros referentes de la música cubana en el plano internacional.
Revista World Music.