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Esteemed media friends,
Luther's and the Marquette Neighborhood Assoc. are teaming up to bring a great Latin dance band to Madison on Thurs. Aug 12th. Ralph Irizarry and Son Cafe are off on their first tour after leaving the recording studio and have honored us with a show at Luther's. El Clan Destino A local Latin-infused Jazz Band will be the first act at 9pm. We are calling this "the Orton Park Opener" preceding the 38th version of the Orton Park Festival (Aug. 27-29) by a couple of weeks. This will be the summer's hottest Latin dance show and I have included extensive background information below.
Fondest regards,
Bob Queen- 267-0842
Remembering Celia Cruz: Son Café fills the Void!!!
The first anniversary of the passing of Celia Cruz, the Queen of Latin
Music, occurred on July 16, 2004. Her absence leaves a void that can
never be fully erased. Fortunately, bandleader and Master Timbalero
Ralph Irizarry presents to the world "Son Café", a powerful new ensemble
which celebrates and glorifies the genres that Celia Cruz made famous
throughout the globe.
On the cusp of releasing their first (as of yet untitled album) Son Café
unites veteran musicians with an amazing new vocalist who is considered
to be the "revelation of the decade": Elsa Osuna. The veteran
musicians, many of whom performed with Celia Cruz, are led by Ralph
Irizarry, a world-class bandleader, musician and recording artist.
Although he continues to lead his internationally distinguished Latin
Jazz ensemble known as "Timbalaye", Ralph decided to form Son Café with
the purpose of introducing the great vocalist Elsa Ozuna, whose style is
reminiscent of La Lupe and Celia Cruz.
Son Café accomplishes an incredible feat by reviving and infusing the
music with a rare combination of original and classic compositions with
arrangements that recall the best of groups such as La Sonora Ponceña,
La Sonora Matancera, and Johnny Pacheco with Celia Cruz.
The single "El Vacio" (the void) addresses the impact of Celia's
profound absence and clearly demonstrates that Elsa Ozuna is no clone,
but rather a potent, distinctly individual, and dynamic artist who will
impact the music for years to come. Although a newcomer on the New
York scene, Elsa's voice sounds like it has been seasoned with a tone
that comes from years of experience. In Son Café, Elsa teams with
Jorge Maldonado, current lead vocalist of Oquendo's Libre, formerly with
La Sonora Matancera and Orquesta America.
The new album is scheduled to be released in September 2004 and
promises to be a must have for any serious collector, discriminating
dancer and all lovers of great Latin music. Those who have already
listened to the premixed material say the album has the, full potential
to go down as a classic.
This coming week, Son Café embarks on a tour that takes them to the
heart of the Midwest for performances at the Marcus Center for the
Performing Arts on August 10, and the Gaucho Grill Nuevo Latino
Restaurant and Club on August 11 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Thursday,
August 12, 2004 the group will perform at the renowned Luther's Blues
Music Club in Madison, Wisconsin. On Friday August 13, 2004 they
perform at Chicago Summerdance in Grant Park and on August 14, 2004 the
group headlines at Chicago's Hothouse Center for International
Performance and Exhibition with special guest Jimmy Bosch.
Personnel for Midwest Tour:
Ralph Irizarry, leader, timbales, percussion, musical director
Ray Martinez, bass, arrangements
Edwin Sanchez, piano
Roberto Rosario, congas, percussion
Richie Viruet, trumpet
Kevin Bryant, trumpet
Jimmy Bosch, trombone (Special Guest: August 14, 2004 only)
Jorge Maldonado, Lead vocals, chorus
Elsa Ozuna, Lead vocals, chorus
Guests on Recording: Marc Quiñones, congas, Benjamin Lapidus, tres
Background:
Ralph Irizarry's pedigree in the Latin music genre is of the highest
grade. A virtuoso on the timbal drums, Ralph came to international
prominence in the 1970's playing, recording and touring with Ray
Barretto's Salsa Organization. Ralph's participation on the landmark
recording "Rican/Struction" is a critical element in establishing that
record as one of the classic records of the modern era. This record is
collector's item among hardcore fans of salsa music.
Ralph's international stature was cemented in 1983 as a charter member
of Ruben Blades' Seis del Solar. During several world tours and albums
with Ruben Blades lasting 14 years, Ralph Irizarry was asked to tour and
record with Israel Lopez 'Cachao', the legendary bassist, composer, and
creator of the Mambo. Ralph Irizarry is an international ambassador
of music collaborating on diverse projects such as Isaac Delgado's
Versos en El Cielo (recorded in Cuba) and Juan Luis Guerra's Areito and
Fogarate (produced in Dominican Republic). He has toured extensively in
Europe and the U.S. with likes of Harry Belafonte, David Byrne, Celia
Cruz, Paquito D'Rivera, Juan Luis Guerra, Paul Simon and has appeared on
Johny Carson and David Letterman shows.
Ralph was immortalized in the films "Cachao: Como Su Ritmo No Hay Dos"
(produced by actor Andy Garcia) , "Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love" and
"The Life of Ruben Blades" and "Roots of Rhythm" with Harry Belafonte.
In 1996, Ralph Irizarry created Timbalaye, his own Latin jazz project, a
septet with an innovative sound and all- original repertoire. Timbalaye
combines modern jazz harmonic schemes with avant-garde rhythmic elements
from all over Latin America and Africa. The remarkably inventive and
multi-layered arrangements are enhanced by the group's brilliant big
band soloists. The music of Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye has been
featured in compilations such as Shanachie (1998), Live at Birdland
(1998), Latin
Beat (1999)and the 1999 Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest.
Motivated by his desire to interact with the dancing public, Ralph
created the ensemble Son Criollo to perform salsa classics exclusively
for the New York dancing community. In 2004, Ralph exponentially
raises the bar to an unprecedented level with the anticipated debut of
Son Café.
The rhythm section of Son Café features some of New York's best
musicians: Ray Martinez, peerless bassist from the Dominican Republic
has performed and recorded with Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, Los Pleneros
de la 21, Conjunto Classico and his own ensembles. He is a
distinguished arranger. Edwin Sanchez is an incredible pianist. He
has just completed a successful tenure with Jimmy Bosch's Salsa Dura
ensemble. He hails from the Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago and
'cut his teeth' with Chicago institutions such as Cayito y La
Distinguida, Jesus Enriquez and Ensemble Kalinda. Trumpeters Alex
Norris and Richie Viruet are among the "A" list of artists in New York's
salsa and latin jazz communities. Educators and artists, Richie and
Alex Norris have performed with groups ranging from Los Soneros del
Barrio, Oquendo's Libre, and Rumba Club. Alex performed with Orlando
Maraca Valle Y Otra Vision during a US Tour in October 2003.
Conguero/Percussionist Marc Quiñones is a superstar among world-class
percussionists. A high profile endorser of LP Inc. (Latin Percussion
Instruments), he has performed with Ruben Blades' Seis del Solar and is
currently a member of the Allman Brothers Band.
In sum, Son Café promises to be the revelation of 2004. The national
debut of the ensemble will occur in August of 2004 at Milwaukee-Madison,
Wisconsin and Chicago, Illinois during a highly anticipated promotional
tour. Don't miss this phenomenal group!
Tour Contact information:
1. Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Mimi Scwhermbach, 414-273-7121
x219 (August 10)
2. El Gaucho Grill: Johnny Jacquez, 414-383-4044 (August 11)
3. Luther's Blues: Bob Queen 608-241-7143 August 12 Madison,WI
http://www.marquette-neighborhood.org/timbalero.html
4. Chicago Summerdance, Mike Orlove 312-744-8945, [log in to unmask]
(August 13, 2004)
5. Hothouse, Tim Bisig, 312-362-9707, Aug. 14, www.hothouse.net
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