(headline image: Roberto Fonseca and his orchestra live at Festival MED in Loulé – Photo courtesy of Festival MED)
With their dynamic performance, Roberto Fonseca and His Orchestra captivated the audience at the Festival Med 24 in Loulé, Portugal. Despite not having a leading vocalist, Fonseca, a Cuban pianist, and his exceptional band demonstrated remarkable musical virtuosity and a great ability to make people dance.
Following Delfina Cheb’s excellent performance on the Hamman’s stage, I hurried to the Matriz’s stage, arriving fifteen minutes into Fonseca’s set at 10:30 pm. As I approached, the track “Mambo Mani” was playing, and it was difficult to get to the front of the stage to capture the performance a little bit closer..
Shortly after, Fonseca introduced “Baila Mulata”, a few mesmerizing organ chords started filling the air with Cuban musical magic. The performance featured standout solos, including Sergio “El Niño” Contreras on trumpet, whose sharp notes electrified the crowd. Another solo came from Fonseca’s playful organ, whose touch further energized the audience, evoking the spirit of the late Jimmy Smith.
The rapport between Fonseca and his band was evident as they engaged in spontaneous yet meticulously crafted musical dialogues. Memorable tracks like “Cuando tu bailas pa mi” resonated with contagious piano vamps, while “Oscar please stop” highlighted an intimate interplay between Fonseca’s piano and Andrés Coayo’s bongos.
In summary, Roberto Fonseca’s performance left the audience engaged and exhilarated. It was an unforgettable night.
Author: Rafael Mieses
