Future Events: We will be announcing further events featuring live bands, cabaret shows, first class Cuban acts, and master-class dance workshops delivered by the most highly regarded and in demand world class Cuban teachers. Keep checking back for updates and subscribe to our mailing list for the latest information and offers. Email Subscribe to info@claveyson.co.uk Join us on Facebook.
Since 1986 they have presented the who's who of the what’s what of Latin music.
Como No have covered every Buena Vista angle from Omara to Compay, Ibrahim to Eliades, many times over, rolled out Nu Yorica’s finest from Celia Cruz and Wilie Colon to Spanish Harlem Orchestra and they’ve sharpened the cutting edge with the UK debut’s for the likes of Gotan Project, Kinky and Orishas.
Como No have worked with the traditional from Veracruz’s Mono Blanco to Colombia’s Toto La Momposina and Peru’s Susan Baca and still there’s more to do.
They habitually promotes in a number of major London venues: Royal Festival Hall, Barbican Centre, Royal Albert Hall, Shepherds Bush Empire and most recently the slendour of The Round House in Camden.
But they also work in clubs, theatres, outdoors and indeed they’ll put anything on anywhere if it seems like a good idea at the time.
In the past year Como No's definitions of Latin music have extended to shows or tours by Jane Birkin’s Arabesque and Blind Boys of Alabama
NEW EVENTS
BAMBOLEO CONCERT @ HMV FORUM
LAZARITO VALDEZ Y BAMBOLEO IN CONCERT
+ Dj Jim + Dj Javier & Dj Rich
14 Piece Cuban Band Saturday 18th July 2009 8.30PM HMV Forum | London
The Band are ready, the visa’s ready, the venue’s ready…… are you ready!!!!
After years of anticipation, Bamboleo are finally coming to the UK for their London debut at the HMV Forum - an unmissable opportunity for London audiences to witness the raw and unfiltered real sound of modern Cuban music.
Led by virtuoso funky pianist and composer Lazaro Valdez, and fronted by one of the most charismatic female singers to emerge on the island - Tanya Pantoja - Bamboleo will perform a set of their hit material that has maintained their popularity with Cuban audiences and salsa dancers all around the world.
Winners of a Grammy Award in 2001 and Latin Grammy Nominee in 2005, Bamboleo were founded in Havana in 1995, when Lazaro Valdez decided to incorporate musicians graduating from some of the most prestigious music schools and conservatories into a group with a radical new look, style and musical language. The explosive results propelled Bamboleo to the epicentre of the timba revolution with its extravagant musical themes, it's sensuality and it's appeal to the Cuban dancer.
Over the course of four albums and the inevitable personnel changes, Lazaro Valdez has kept Bamboleo's connection with the Cuban audience while embarking on countless tours in major US cities, as well as Europe, Japan and China. Bamboleo have shared the stage with the most important Cuban artists as well as with the late James Brown, African star Femi Kuti and salsa icon Gilberto Santa Rosa.
THE VENUE
HMV FORUM
Formerly known as The Forum, HMV Forum hosts regular live music nights featuring new talent across musical genres. This historic London venue was originally a cinema in the art deco style and has a capacity of 2110.
Public Transport
Nearest British Rail: Kentish Town Thameslink.
Nearest tube: Kentish Town.
Buses - C2, 134, 135. Night buses - N20, N134.
HMV FORUM
9-17 Highgate Road
London NW5 1JY Nearest tube: Kentish Town Box Office : 0844 847 2405 Website: www.kentishtownforum.com
LAZARITO VALDEZ Y BAMBOLEO
BIOGRAPHY
Lazaro Valdes leads the band, and he also plays the piano, arranges, composes, and writes songs. A Havana native, he was enrolled in the Alejandro Garcia Caturla Academy during the 1970s.
His father, who played with the immortal Benny More and the Cuban jazz band Irakere, is a noted percussionist and singer from a legendary family of musicians. His famous uncle is the pioneer mambo/bolero singer Vicentico Valdes. Another uncle, Alfredito Valdes, singer with the pivotal '30s "son" group -- Septeto Nacional, is considered one of Cuba's first "soneros" (popular singers).
Lazaro began as a violinist but switched early to piano and went on to become an accomplished classical soloist. He launched his professional carcer in 1972 as an accompanist, before landing in the orchestra of Pachito Alonso y su Kini-Kini. Playing keyboards, he toured and recorded with the celebrated bandleader whose father innovated a beat known as pilon. But it was the stint that followed with Cuban jazz vocalist Bobby Carcasses that would mature and round out his musical education.
After spending time performing with Bobby and such artists as Pachito Alonso and Hector Tellez, he established Bamboleo. He culled musicians from the cream of the crop, incorporating into his new troupe many who had trained at Havana's National School of the Arts. He added some spark with vocalist Haila Mompie, who in turn recruited vocalist Vannia Borges. Another Havana native, Borges became a music student when she was five years old, and first sang professionally with an all-woman outfit known as D'capo in the early '90s. Four years later, she moved on to Pachito Alonso y su Kini Kini, leaving in 1997 to add her talents to Bamboleo.
Guantanamo native Yordamis Megret came to the group in 1998, a year after Mompie left. She started her musical training when she was 10 years old and took up the guitar. Like Borges, she, too, is an alumna of the National School of Arts. Upon graduation, she started singing professionally with Ricacha. Before joining Bamboleo, Megret sang for Jose Luis Cortes' salsa ensemble, PG. Bamboleo first started touring outside of Cuba in 1996, the same year the group debuted with Te Gusto o Te Caigo Bien.
Lazarito Valdes and his band “Bamboleo” have maintained themselves as one of Cuba’s most popular bands since both singers Alain Daniel and Tania Pantoja joined them. Alain Daniel brought his unique style and also his writing and composing skills to Bamboleo and was able to mix American popular hip hop songs and reggaeton with Bamboleo’s sound and this placed them as one of the top preferred band for the younger crowds.
Alain Daniel later decided to make his own band and leave Bamboleo, Tania Pantoja stayed as the lead singer with Ronnys Lopez by her side. From that moment on Tania took control and has proven to be the no.1 Diva of Havana. She is very talented and she has recently released her own album produced by the master German Velazco and has participated in about 7 other productions including a song in Giraldo Piloto’s last album.
Every concert Bamboleo gives is a new show, a new experience and lots of fun. They always pack both La Casa de la Musica de Galiano and La Casa de la Musica de Miramar, both top places for Cuban bands to play in Habana, Cuba. The latest song from Bamboleo is called “La Domadora” and it’s a hilarious female response to Cuba’s no.1 Cubaton song “Los Animales” sang by Gente D’ Zona.
Recently Bamboleo released a live album titled “Bamboleo Live Galiano” under the label Latin Pulse Music. This album was recorded in the summer of 2007 and includes new tracks such as “Me Gustan los feos”, “Se te estan cayendo los pantalones” and “Tu eres callejera mami”.
VIDEOS
-
-
PICTURES
. ...
LAZARITO VALDEZ CONCERT DETAILS & BOOKING
PRICES
Ticket prices start at £20 then increase closer to the date
Tickets: £ 20 Saturday 18th July 2009 8.30PM HMV Forum | London
