For Immediate Release s68

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS PAGE, audio streams: http://www.quimbombo.com/CEmedia.htm

CONTACT: Miles Pomper, Sabor PR (202) 249-8709 [email protected]

QUIMBOMBÓ Successfully Mixes Tradition and Innovation on Conga Eléctrica

New York: May 23, 2008. The second album from New York-based Quimbombó, a group led by percussionist Nick Herman, brings together musicians from Cuba, Brazil the U. S. and five other countries for a refreshing take on Cuban dance music. While strongly rooted in the traditional son style, this record incorporates non-traditional elements such as electric guitar and a Brazilian-style bateria (drum section) to create an energetic new sound.

Conga Eléctrica will be available July 1, 2008, distributed by HL Distributors in Miami and GB Records in New York. CDs and downloads will be available at descarga.com, cdbaby.com, Napster, iTunes and other major retailers. Updated purchasing information will be available on quimbombo.com.

ABOUT THE RECORD Quimbombó is a groove-oriented band with roots in Cuban són (the contagious dance music championed by Buena Vista Social Club that is the main ingredient in salsa); they always maintain strong elements of improvisation and spontaneity in their sound. Quimbombó (pronounced keem- bohm-BO) is the title of a classic Cuban són popularized by Conjunto Chappotín in the 1950's; a word of Congolese origin, it means “okra” or “gumbo” in Spanish.

Conga Electrica is a diverse album with five new songs and five songs chosen from Cuba’s rich musical history. Its textures range from that of an intimate trio playing a “sambafied” bolero (Añorado Encuentro) to a “transient” take on Cuban carnival music with guitar hero Octavio Kotan’s pulsating riffs and Brazilian-style call and response drum breaks (the title track). The key innovation on this album is the integration, on four tracks, of “Bloco Quimbombó,” a Brazilian- style bateria or drum section. What the bateria does here is to add a dense layer of street drumming to the Cuban groove—beats tailor-made for each song by musical director and producer Nick Herman.

The album features the powerful callejero (streetwise) voice of Grammy-nominated Havana native David Oquendo, full of spontaneity and humor. Oquendo was likewise deeply involved in the band’s debut release, Quimbombó. Making his debut recording here as a lead singer is Igor Arias Baró, a young Cuban well known in New York for his energetic imporovising in the hard hitting timba style. Quimbombó/ Conga Eléctrica P. 2

THE SONGS: In addition to the title track, the CD contains four previously unrecorded songs: Que Me Importa a Mi—the “hit single” of the album, a funky salsa-timba track featuring singer Igor AriasBaró. Con El Trapo Rojo--a descarga (salsa jam session) with heavy Brazilian drums playing street beats (including a bit of reggaeton) over the Cuban tumbao (groove). Llegaron Las Viandas--a mix of pregon (street vendor’s song) and Afro-Cuban rumba by Benigno Echemendia, writer of Camina y Prende El Fogón, Yolanda, and many other hits which have been recorded by the likes of Johnny Pacheco and La Sonora Ponceña El Comelón-- a relaxed homage to a glutton.

Also on the album: Todavía Me Queda Voz--once recorded by Buena Vista legend Ibrahim Ferrer, this soaring rumba- influenced son is the perfect vehicle for Oquendo’s inspired rumbero voice. It is interpreted here with an exciting modern four-horn arrangement by Cuban Oriente Lopez. ¡Ay! Cantando Mi Son-- a descarga that captures the spontaneous energy of the band’s live show with a battle between the guitar and tres (a mandolin-like type of Cuban guitar). (videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADSFjgd2Uoo and http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rmY5uzMpJCw) Cuando Tú Vayas a Oriente-- a traditional son from Oriente (eastern Cuba) given a four horn treatment by the band’s trumpeter, salsa veteran Steven Gluzband. Interludio-- a love song by César Portillo De La Luz, one of the pioneers of the filin movement. Filin (Cuban/Spanglish for “feeling”) incorporates lush harmonies to yield a “cool” style; it was created in the intimate Bohemian atmosphere of Havana's after-hours nightclubs of the 1940s and 1950s.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS Nick Herman (producer, musical director, percussion) has been involved with Cuban music for nearly two decades. He began performing as a rock drummer in the 1980s at venues like CBGBs and Pyramid. In the 1990s he began to immerse himself in Cuban and Brazilian music, studying with masters such as Changuito, Jorge Alabê, and Roberto Vizcaino. Nick paraded as a ritmista (drummer) in Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval in 2005 and 2008.

David Oquendo (lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitar), a native of Havana, is a highly accomplished and respected interpreter of many diverse styles of Cuban music. In Cuba, he rose to fame performing with the late Compay Segundo, one of the vocalists featured in Buena Vista Social Club. Since moving to the United States, he founded the Latin Grammy-nominated folkloric group Raices Habaneras and has worked with many top artists including Paquito D’Rivera, Cachao, Willie Chirino, and Marc Anthony.

Igor Arias Baró (lead and background vocals, percussion) was born in Havana. The son of musicians, he began performing at the age of eight. Known for his energetic style of improvising in Cuba’s hard hitting “timba” style, he has worked with artists such as Juan Carlos Formell, Raices Habaneras, Paquito D’Rivera, Los Caribeños and Ibboru. Quimbombó/ Conga Eléctrica P. 3

Steve Gluzband (trumpet, cornet, alto horn), a veteran of the New York Jazz and Latin scenes, is in great demand for his mastery of the tipico trumpet style. He has worked with artists such as Celia Cruz, Ray Barretto, The Talking Heads, Tito Puente, and The Chicago Symphony.

Octavio Kotan (electric guitar), the son of one of Cuba’s most legendary guitarists, is known for his inimitable sound. “Kotan” has played and arranged for many influential bands, including Los Van Van and Irakere. He was also an original member of one of Cuba’s groundbreaking "Timba" style bands led by singer Isaac Delgado.

Alex Fernandez Fox (background vocals, tres) was born in New York City to Cuban parents, and began his musical training at age four. He has directed the band Kfekonleche and performed and recorded with artists such as SonSublime, YeraSon, and Frank Bambara.

Ricky Salas (background vocals, percussion) a native of Panama, has performed with many major figures in Salsa and Latin jazz, including Ruben Blades, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Jimmy Bosch, Juan Carlos Formell, Albita, Danilo Perez, and Gilberto Santarosa.

Arun Luthra (tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet) has shared the stage and recorded with many prominent jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and pop artists including Bobby Sanabria, Bobby Porcelli, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Bobby Short, and Ray Vega.

Jorge Bringas (bass), a native of Havana, began his professional career at the age of 16, playing with Buena Vista Social Club star Omara Portuondo. Since relocating to Miami in 1997, he has worked with artists such as Albita, Manolin, and Juan Carlos Formell.

Chacho Schartz (bass) has performed and taught guitar in Argentina, Brazil, and Israel for over 20 years. He currently works with many New York artists including Son de Madre, Retumba, Junior Vega, Nu Guajiro, Yosvanny Terry and Nicky Marrero.

Special guest “ritmistas” (drummers) from Bloco Quimbombó :

Zé Maurício is a native of Rio de Janeiro. He is an original member of Cyro Baptista's Beat the Donkey and has worked with artists such as Naná Vasconcelos, Paquito D’ Rivera, Yo-Yo Ma And Wynton Marsalis.

André Flores and Boca, both residents of Rio, are veteran members of the bateria of Unidos de Viradouro, one of Rio’s top Samba Schools. They have also worked with other respected schools such as União da Ilha and Grande Rio.

Alex Garcia was born in Santiago, Chile and raised in Havana. He is the principal composer for AfroMantra, and written music for the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and Ballet del Teatro Municipal de Santiago. Quimbombó/ Conga Eléctrica P. 4

Other guest a rtists:

Carlos Almeida (7 string acoustic guitar) is a native of Rio. He has played with many of the biggest names in Brazilian Popular Music such as Beth Carvalho, Jorge Aragão. In New York, Carlos co- founded Grupo Saveiro and The Choro Ensemble.

Itai Kriss (flute) is originally from Israel. He currently resides in New York where he works with artists such as La Bolá, and Cachimba Inolvidable! Quimbombó/ Conga Eléctrica P. 5

TRACK LIST: 6. ¡Ay! Cantando Mi Son (5:54) 1. Cuando Tú Vayas a Oriente (3:57) 7. El Comelón (5:47) 2. Conga Eléctrica (5:54 ) 8. Interludio (4:46) 3. Qué Me Importa a Mí (5:24) 9. Con El Trapo Rojo (6:30) 4. Todavía Me Queda Voz (4:44) 10. Llegaron las Viandas (6:38) 5. Añorado Encuentro (4:43)

Album Cover Art: “Maracatu da Zona da Mata” by Marcio Melo www.marciomelo.com

Recorded and mixed by Kamilo Kratc for Soundworks Recording Studio; mastered by Luis Damian Güell; additional recording at Omega Studios, Niterói, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and Oasys Studios, New Jersey.

Streaming audio, downloads and additional info at: http://www.quimbombo.com/CEmedia.htm

PRESS CONTACT: Miles Pomper, Sabor PR (202) 249-8709 [email protected]

SALES CONTACT: Nick Herman (212) 865-0896 [email protected]

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