Bands
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 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.
Musicians
Puertorrican Percusionist Steve Guasch was influenced at a very early age by his father’s LPs and the local music scene in the towns of Santa Juanita, Magnolia and Campo Alegre, where he grew up.
Steve moved to Seattle in 1987 and it didn’t take long before he started making his presence felt in the Pacific Northwest salsa scene. He played with several local bands before he co-founded the band La Mayor Salsa with which he recorded his first album, ‘Canto Mi Corazon.’
In 1996, he co-founded Orquesta Nueva Era and, in 2006, the album, ‘Siguiendo La Tradicion‘ featuring the local talented musicians Eddie Quintero, Julio Jauregui, Thomas Marriot, Ted Dortch, Lee Bradford, and Bret White; with arrangements from Oscar Hernandez and Ray Santos made the third round of preselection for the Latin Grammys.
In the summer of 2009, Steve released his latest production, ‘Influencias,’ with his band, Guaschará. It garnered great reviews around the world and preselection round for the Latin Grammy thanks to great production values, arrangements and original compositions by Julio Jauregui.
While playing the music he loves, Steve is part of the community through his involvement in fund raising events, community service, and festivals. Additionally, Steve works with Spanish radio and television stations across the country as a mobile marketing consultant and is part of the Seattle Mariners Spanish broadcasting team at Fox Sports Net Northwest.
Steve also will appear as a guest bongo player on the upcoming CD's of Oscar y Joan "Para Ti" and Lisandro Torres y su Orquesta "Creencias" due out in January 2011.
Musicians
Julio Fernandez Antillano born in Caracas, known in the musical world as Julito Antillano, inspired by his uncle Fidel Antillano at the age of 13 to play Baby bass by ear with a neighborhood group called Los Frailes de Catia, fidel realizing julito's potential prepares him to become part of Grupo Fosforo who was a little more professional band. .
At age of 17 Julito became part of Naty and his Orchestra, then at 19 with the master Porfi Jimenez, he met the pianist Joel Uriola who recommend and introduced julito to venture into the world of the recordings.
Julito Antillano recorded as bassist with artists such as Erick Franchesky, Oscar D'Leon, Caribbean Magic, Andy Montañez, Willie Gonzalez, Argenis Carruyo Bill Caracas Boys, The Melodians, Great Coquivacoa, Combo Antillano, Mariana, Chinese and Nacho, A.5, Calle Ciega, Servando y Florentino, Soledad Bravo, Amilcar Boscan, Manuel Guerra, Joel Uriol, Cesar Monks, Dimension Latina, Naty and his Orchestra, Cano Estremera, Pedro Arroyo, Federico y su Combo, Jeremias and Adolescents Orquesta among others. Played live with greats such asr: Eddie Santiago, Wllie Gonzalez, Nino Segarra, Combo Antillano, Pedro Arroyo, Oscar D'Leon, Ismael Miranda, Cheo Feliciano, Junior Gonzalez, Van Lester, Roberto Blades, Jose Alberto El Canario and Porfi Baloa's Adolescents Orchestra who he has had the pleasure of being part of it since '96.
And now in 2009 he decided to carry out on of his goals and dream of every musician, as it is to have his own band. Here we present its first salsa production as a band leader, "Pa'l Bailador". Hope you like this album that was made with much love, ethics and especially with great swing and great respect for all the salseros of the world! Julito Fernandez Antillano "Pa'l Bailador."
Venezuelan orchestra that brings together musicians of the highest level recognized by their great trayectory in venezuelas salsa circles, which reflected it'stalent and experience in it's first production, which is titled "Pa 'los Rumberos Del Mundo", this super band was born with a sound and style inspired by the classic salsa era, the '70's. This collection of songs put together on this CD has original compositions and arrangements of two trumpets and a trombone.
Sabadonga is formed by Willie Melo (pianist and arranger), Luis Ruiz (trumpet), Rafael González (percussionist and arranger), Yomar Mendez (percussion), Angel "Angelito" De Jesus Berroteran (vocals), Gustavo Gerardo (singer), Nidio Figueroa (bass), José Ramoncini (trumpet), David Gonzalez (trombone) and Francisco Requena (Band leader, vocals). This musical collective after a long career recording and accompanying major artists nationally and internationally, decided to join efforts and create a group concept which creates a "Venezuelan All Stars" for the delight of the dancers and "rumberos" of the world.
This Venezuelan Orchestra was born a few years back, thanks to the inspiration of salsa fan, Musician and producer, Gonzalo Palacios, who started playing profesionaly with Oscar D’ Leon, Grupo Niche and Orquesta Guayacan all internationally known artists.
With the idea of creating a new concept within salsa and to create arrangements using the experience he has gained “Buscando Nuevos Caminos” is born. This production includes songs from great composer such as Pablo Milanes, Oscar D’ Leon, Ricardo Montaner among others. “Pa’ La Guaira Me Voy, “HueleA Quemao”, “Adorarte”, “Porque Me Gustas”, “Me Acordare De Ti”, “Tu Mi Desengano” y “Huele A Peligro”, are the songsthat are presnted to you, the dancer and the romantic salsero.
Gonzalo y Los Principes De La Salsa is formed with venezuelan musicians with a great trajectory, that want to offer their talent, inspiration and happiness to the world through this production and live performances.
With great sympathy and talent and with the support of their label Salsaneo Records this band hopes to reach the hearts of salseros all over the world.
La Negramenta is a Venezuelan orchestra formed in 2008 by Pedrito Linares and Williams Castillo with the purpose of showcasing the talent that Barlovento has, and to continue the work that started in the 60’s by Calaven, Leo Pacheco, Al Escobar, los hermanos Piñango (creators of the sound of La Renovación), Nico Monterola (Leader of la Renovación), Rumbon 10, La Monumental, La Magistral, La Solvencia and most recently Paquito Barón, Wilmer Cobos, Marcial Isturiz, Miguel Urbina, etc.
La Negramenta’s originates from Orquesta magistral funded by Pedro Saba Linares (Pedro Linares’s father). This band featured Williams Castillo, Paquito Baron, Roy Herrera, Juancho Ojeda and Cheo Palmar among others.
“Otra Cosa” is the 2nd production of La Negramenta, with compositions by pedrito Linares, arrangements by Williams Castillo and Willie Melo. The title of this CD gives continuity to the title of their first CD “Cosas de Negros Vol 2”, this time around they have changed singers and offer a different approach with Wiwi Buznego and Troy Purroy on vocals, while the romantic songs are handled again by Wilmer Cobos. Others that participated it this production are: Eliel Rivero, Benjamín Brea, Yomar Méndez, José Ramoncini, Luis Ruiz, Willie Melo, Eloy Ríos, Gustavo Gerardo, Frank Haslam, Noel Mijares, Alexis Sánchez, Luis Urbina, Eliecer Marrero and all the talent that Barlovento is giving to themusic we all love, “la salsa”.
Lisandro Torres grew up in Caracas and La Guaira, Lisandro goal with this new producction is to deliver traditional salsa like the one he used to listed when he was growing up, tunes with urban flavor, soneros and swing! The CD gathers an all star cast with the special particiption of Van Lester on vocals.
Musicians
Gilmar Gilberto has the opportunity to perform in varios Gaita groups at a very young age. His desire to sing salsa comes true when he has the oportunity to sing with Sexteto Salsa y Rumba de Guarenas, Alex y Los Consentidos, El Clan de la Salsa, Trombonson, Los Muchachos de Radames, Ritmo Mayor, Orquesta Rosa Latina, Los Caballeros Del Ritmo and El Gran Combo de Venezuela 2000, with this last band he has the oportunity to share the stage with Héctor Casanova, Johnny Pacheco, Cheo Feliciano, Paquito Barón, Cheo Valenzuela, Andy Montañez, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Tito Rojas, Erick Francheski, Hildemaro y su Orquesta, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Oscar de León, Los Melódicos, La Billo`s Caracas Boys, Salserin, La Dimensión Latina, Sexteto Juventud, Tabaco y sus Metales, Maelo Ruiz and Orquesta Yambeque.
Thanks to these opportunities and experiences Gilmar starts forging his dreams which come true in the realization of the CD release entitled Gilmar Gilberto “Revelaciones” on GR Records a subsidiary of Salsaneo Records