In this new millennium in which salsa music hosts a vanguard of superior musical talents, Pepe y su Orquesta maintains its sole purpose of vibrating people's souls with its typical tropical rhythms, heartfelt lyrics, musical quality, and elegant performances.
Orquesta Tabaco y Ron (Los Angeles - Thursday)
Orquesta Tabaco Y Ron's is a 12 piece "Big-Band" orchestra, composed of musicians from all over
Latin America including Puerto Rico, Cuba, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Mexico.
OTR's high-energy, hard-edged brand of salsa music has appealed to devoted salsa dancers and Latin
music DJ's worldwide. OTR's contagious rhythms produce an energy that revives the almost extinct
salsa sound of generations past.
NG2 (Puerto Rico - Friday)
NG2 is a Puerto Rican Salsa duo formed by Norberto Velez and Gerardo Rivas. Rivas is the son of
Jerry Rivas, one of the singers of El Gran Combo. NG2 is recognized as one of the top names of
salsa's youthful movement. The Puertorican boys of NG2 (which stands for Nueva Generacion bring
a sparkling and joyful type of salsa they call salsa joven (young salsa). NG2's salsa is spiced
with deep brass sounds and percussion. Their music is highly magnetic, and you won't forget
their chorus.
Andy Montañez (Puerto Rico - Saturday)
Born on 7 May, 1942, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Montañez rich and powerful voice was an
essential part of El Gran Combo's trademark sound and salsa legend. In 1977 Dimensión Latina,
based Venezuela, made him a lucrative offer he could not refuse, and he joined them as a co-lead
singer until 1980, when he left to go solo. The 1985 chart-topper, Andy Montañez was one
of his best.
It contained the superb Catalino Curet Alonso composition "Genio y Figura". Ernesto Rivera wrote
all the arrangements and Montañez sons, Andy Jnr. and Harold, sang coro. The sons became members of
Andy's band, led by flamboyant timbales player Don Perignon, whom backed him on the hit Mejor Acompanar
Que Nunca ( Better Accompanied Than Ever ), 1986.
Montuno Swing (San Francisco - Sunday)
Montuno Swing is setting the bar even higher for live music in the SF Bay Area. They are a smaller band composed of world-class musicians, whom many are also band leaders as well." Finally, a small salsa band with a BIG sound!
