Keyboardist and composer Juan Carlos Alfonso was born on March 30th, 1963, in Bejucal in the province of Havana, Cuba. He began to study music from the age of 8 and as child was taken by his father to numerous concerts performed by local bands. Alfonso’s father was a key member of an established campesino band and was at the heart of the local music scene, influencing his son by introducing him to the music of Arsenio Rodríguez, Beny Moré, Orquesta Aragón, as well as encouraging him to listen to and learn from some of the most admired piano arrangers in the world.
Juan Carlos Alfonso continued studying piano at the Conservatorio de Música Alejandro García Caturia and from the age of 13 he was already playing in several locally formed groups.
At the age of 17 Juan Carlos began his life as a professional musician with Conjunto Colonial de Neto Sosa. It was about this time when he also studied under the great master Armando Romeu and subsequently began to develop his individual talent as a composer and arranger. In the next few years he worked with Conjunto Alborada, Miguel Chávez, and ultimately with Rolando Valdés (Orquesta Sensación) who introduced him in 1984 to the late Elio Revé.
The gifted Juan Carlos joined Orquesta Revé and it was with them that his first hits were born: “Yo Sé Que Tú Sabes Que Yo Sé,””La Boda En Bicicleta,””No Me Cojan Para Eso,” and “Más Joven Que Mañana.” These various hits caused a sensation throughout the music scene in Cuba where Juan Carlos became immensely popular. He recorded 4 albums with Reve as pianist and arranger.
In December 1988, at Bejucal’s annual charanga festival, Juan Carlos formed his own group: Dan Den. The word was out that Juan Carlos Alfonso had formed his own band and there was a great air of excitement surrounding his debut performance as a bandleader. The concert was witnessed by over 10,000 people and catapulted him instantly to the upper echelons of Cuba’s music scene. He rapidly achieved high levels of popularity as a taped live recording of the concert changed hands across the country. Within three months the whole island was swept by the infectious rhythms of Dan Den. Soon thereafter he recorded his first album with the state label, Egrem.
In 1992, after traveling and recording in Mexico, Dan Den recorded the album Amame Con Tu Experiencia. It was a hit across Latin America and the following year they were invited to participate in the prestigious Feria De Cali music contest in Colombia. There, Juan Carlos’s outstanding piano solos and arrangements won over the judges. He beat legendary artists such as Celia Cruz and earned him the top prize of Best Tropical Band.
Juan Carlos Alfonso and Dan Den have toured throughout the Americas and Europe. Audiences come by the thousands to hear favorites such as “Ojos Que Te Ven,””Ritmo Dan Den,””Viejo » Lazaro,” and “Mi Cuerpo,” as well as tracks from this, their new album, already a hit in Cuba.
Dan Den’s style incorporates elements of son, guaracha, rumba, bolero, salsa, songo and, of course, their very own swinging rhythm el dan den (a name which is inspired by the sound of the campana or cowbell, a driving force in Cuban music). Dan Den’s experimentation and ability to advance the quality and sound of their music while increasing in popularity is a testament to their talent.
Ataré is not just any other neighborhood in Havana. It is an exciting but extreme place, where passion, impulse and instinct rule the day, yet all sentiments and feelings are vigilantly kept on a positive edge. This vibrant area is witness to some of Cuba’s wildest parties, music events, street entertainment, all in all, as they say, “this is where it’s at!”
Discography:
Si Dan… Den (Areito, 1990)
Siempre Hay Un Ojo Que Te Ve (Areito, 1990)
Mas Rollo Que Pelicula (Areito, 1992)
Dale El Que No Te Dio (Egrem, 1993)
Aprovechando La Cobertura (Egrem, 1994)
Salsa en Atare (Egrem, 1998)
Dale Campana (2003)
Pasión (Egrem, 2004)
..Ni De Metal Ni De Madera..
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
