LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html Home |Features | Columns |Hit Parades | Rev iews | Calendar |News |LB Style |Contacts | Shopping | E-Back Issues JUNE/JULY 2012 ISSUE FROM THE EDITOR You are entering the musical world of Latin Beat Magazine Online. This is our Volume 21, Number 5, June/July 2012, issue featuring the New York City-based salsa singer/bandleader and producer Gilberto Velazquez, aka "Don Sonero," who is currently enjoying the release of his debut CD as a solo artist. Also in this issue you can read about the west coast Latin jazz of Joe Torres, get a taste of the "2012 New Orleans Jazz Festival", and enjoy a "Tribute to Club Havana San Juan" featuring Louis Bauzo’s Havana San Juan Orchestra. Also enjoy a pictorial on this year’s 14th Annual Los Angeles Salsa Congress. And as always, stay up to date with our monthly columns, national and international hit parades, CD reviews, calendar of events, and music news. Check out our video corner and streaming music tracks. We dedicate this summer issue to the memory of salsa singer Junior Gonzalez, who recently Bloque 53 departed this world bound to that big stage in the sky. Cogelo Ahi Windows Media Musically yours, Rudy & Yvette Mangual Quicktime Chico Álvarez El Indio Caonabo GILBERTO VELAZQUEZ "DON SONERO": A YOUNG SALSA Windows Media Quicktime SINGER WITH AN OLD SOUL By Rudy Mangual Bio Ritmo La Muralla Club and Performance Photos by Ramon Cabrera 1 of 71 7/14/2005 9:01 PM LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html Streaming Music Louie Cruz Beltran Paint the Rhythm Windows Media Quicktime Cintron Band Live Human Nature Windows Media Quicktime Vanelis Como Lo Extraño Windows Media Quicktime Nayibe Borinquen Windows Media Quicktime Don Sonero is one of the top young lead singers/soneros (capable of instant improvisation) in Luis González the current salsa music environment. His original scores are a throwback to the past with a fresh Spain modern feel that adds innovative hooks and colors to the already explosive rhythms that Windows Media characterize salsa. As head of his record and film company "Ainaff Inc." and his publishing Quicktime company "Don Sonero Music and Entertainment", he is ready to take on the world with his endeavors. The following is an interview with the young music entrepreneur from his home in the Bronx, New York. Rolando Sanchez Vamonos De Fiesta Rudy Mangual: Where are you originally from? Windows Media Gilberto Velazquez: I was born in Barrio Buenaventura in Carolina, Puerto Rico and raised from Quicktime an early age in the Bronx, New York. Steve Pouchie RM: How did music come into your life? Watch Ur Wallet GV: My father Gilberto Velazquez Sr. is a singer. As long as I can remember, he always had a Windows Media band. "Gilberto Velazquez y Revelación 78" was one of his bands from the 1970 and ’80s.There Quicktime were always people in my house rehearsing, jamming and singing. Music has always been a big part of my life and that of my family. As a kid, I met many musicians that worked with my father, such as percussionist Papo Pepin and singer Pete "El Conde" Rodriguez, among many others. Somos Son My parents were always playing all the LPs of Tito Puente, Tito Rodriguez, and Machito, as well Bilongo as all the Fania artists and bands of the 1970s. Indirectly and by coincidence this early 2 of 71 7/14/2005 9:01 PM LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html Windows Media mega-exposure to tropical music gave me a profound love, and passion for salsa. Quicktime The Estrada Brothers Mr. Ray Windows Media Quicktime Manny Silvera Bassed in America Windows Media Quicktime RM: While growing up in the Bronx as a teen, were you interested in salsa? GV: I was into salsa music at home and with the family but in the streets none of my friends listened to salsa. Everyone was mainly into hip-hop. They considered salsa as the music of the elders and many times tried to make me feel ashamed of it. But I didn't care what they thought. Some of them didn't even what to speak Spanish. But I always loved the music and felt proud of my Puerto Rican heritage. I dressed and followed the hip-hop culture of my generation but continued to listen and stay in touch with my culture. RM: At what point in your life did you start singing salsa? GV: At age 14, I did my first gig as a background vocalist for Pete "El Conde". I did the gig without worrying about getting paid. The rush of being onstage with Pete "El Conde" was more 3 of 71 7/14/2005 9:01 PM LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html than enough pay for me. After the gig I went to my hood and told all my friends "I just sang with a salsa legend, Pete "El Conde" and they all asked, "who the hell is this Pete?" I told them they didn't know anything and headed home and celebrated with my family. Soon thereafter I started singing with a high school band called "La Rosa" which led to recording and writing some songs for a band called "Grupo Magia" produced by Isidro Infante. I was 15 years old and really getting into the music and the scene. I started working with other musicians in the city such as Charlie Garcia and Ray Colon. They helped me get gigs backing up iconic salsa singers such as Cano Estremera, Tito Allen, and Adalberto Santiago, among many others. Just about every weekend I was onstage performing with some of the best artists and bands from the salsa world. It was an amazing learning experience and it gave me lots of confidence and ideas that I use with my own band and has helped shape and better mold me as a salsa singer. RM: Were you a member of the salsa band "La Excelencia"? GV: Yes I was. I was their lead vocalist for a couple of years. I came into the band right after they released their first album "Mi Tumbao Social." I toured abroad with them throughout Europe and here in the U.S. They are an energetic and hardworking bunch of guys. I really enjoyed the time I spent with them. 4 of 71 7/14/2005 9:01 PM LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html 5 of 71 7/14/2005 9:01 PM LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html RM: Tell our readers about your debut production as a solo artist. GV: The production is titled "La Verdadera Escena," which I started writing and composing material for about three years ago. It was produced by Carlos Velasquez and Adan Perez and myself, with arrangements by Perez, Efrain Davila, Willy Torres, Ivan Heredia, and Humberto Ibarra. Along with pianist Adan Perez, we worked very hard in our studio whenever we could, making the best possible production. Inspired mainly by the negativity of all those people that told me that salsa music was dead or that it was the music of old folks and not happening at all, we created a production composed of hardcore salsa dura scores along with selections that exhibit an urban-tinged sound to appeal to a younger generation of music lovers. RM: How did you get the nickname "Don Sonero"? GV: I created an image that is somewhat in sync with the classic salsa scene but at the same time appeals to the younger salseros. I’m not trying to be gangster or disrespect my peers. I’m simply trying to connect the old salseros with the younger generation of Latinos and Latin music aficionados from all walks of life. The CD opens with the selection "Don Sonero Llegó" (a hard-core salsa) featuring the popular salsa trombonist Jimmy Bosch as my special guest. I follow with my composition "Todas Las Mujeres" (featuring timbalero Daniel "Deecoy" Antonetti) rapping over a more contemporary salsa score. This balance of two worlds is what Don Sonero brings to the stage without 6 of 71 7/14/2005 9:01 PM LBMO.com - Latin Beat Magazine - Latin Music Magazine - Features http://www.latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html compromising one style or the other. In the end, I"m just trying to keep this music that I love and deeply respect alive, while exposing it to younger audiences. Having had the opportunity of working with the great Paul Simon in his stage production of "Capeman" as an actor and singer under the musical direction of Simon and Oscar Hernandez, I learned so much, especially about vocal harmonies and stage presence, which I was able to bring into my new production. RM: Do you have any formal music education? GV: I took some vocal training classes from Thelma Ithier (El Gran Combo’s Rafael Ithier’s daughter). She trained me in proper breathing and vocal techniques, but after a few lessons she told me to go out there and gain experience performing. And that’s what I have been doing for the past decade. I have performed with over 50 artists and bands as a background vocalist and sang lead with a couple dozen bands. My writing and compositional skills I initially learned from the New York City-based composer Marin "Lefty" Medina, who took me under his wing in my teens and taught me a bit about writing and composing Latin music.