Famed Puerto Rican salsa vocalist Julio César Rojas López, better known as Tito Rojas and El Gallo Salsero, passed away on December 26, 2020 in…
Renowned Salsa Singer Tito Rojas, el Gallo Salsero, Dies at 65
Tag: Puerto Rican music
Papo Vázquez’s Celebratory Puerto Rican Traditions and Latin Jazz
Papo Vázquez with the Mighty Pirates Troubadours – Chapter 10: Breaking Cover (Pícaro Records, 2020) Trombonist, composer and arranger Papo Vázquez has released a superb…
Artist Profiles: Héctor Lavoe
Héctor Juan Pérez Martínez, better known as Héctor Lavoe, was born on September 30, 1946 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Pérez Martínez was nicknamed “Lavoe” by…
Beloved Jazz Standards Reconstructed with Elegant Puerto Rican Flavor
Calle Loíza Jazz Project – There Will Never Be Another You (Calle Loíza Jazz Project, 2020) There Will Never Be Another You is an album…
Puerto Rican Percussionist and Batacumbele Founder Ángel “Cachete” Maldonado Dies at 68
Ángel “Cachete” Maldonado, a renowned percussionist and co-founder of the celebrated Afro-Puerto Rican Batacumbele ensemble died on January 10, 2020. He was 68 years old.…
Artist Profiles: Hector “Tito” Matos
Hector “Tito” Matos is a Puerto Rican percussionist who specialized in the traditional Puerto Rican rhythms, bomba and plena. His extensive work took him to…
Artist Profiles: Gilberto Santa Rosa
Salsa star Gilberto Santa Rosa was born August 21, 1962 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He made his first recordings for Combo Records, the label of…
The Salsa Music of Ismael Rivera Reconstructed for Alto Saxophone
Miguel Zenón – Sonero: The Music of Ismael Rivera (Miel Music, 2019) Puerto Rican composer, arranger and virtuoso saxophonist Miguel Zenón continues his series of…
Songs Inspired by the Strong, Resilient Stories of Women
Taína Asili – Resiliencia (Taína Asili , 2019) Resiliencia is the new album from bilingual singer-songwriter and social justice activist Taína Asili (Taina Del Valle).…
Artist Profiles: Zaperoko
Zaperoko was formed in the early 1980s when a trombonist named Edwin Feliciano visited Cuba to perform with a leading salsa orchestra of the time.…