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View Past ArticlesLlego La Bolá ! ** NYC Artist Report **April 25, 2007By Raquel Penzo
With a little over a year under their belts as a performing band, La Bolá is making a name for themselves among Cuban timba music fans in the New York City area. And for anyone that witnessed their live performance at Crash Mansion on April 12th, it is evident why.
Llego La Bolá !by Raquel Penzo - reporting from New York City Right out of the gate, the 13-piece band dives into their signature tune, "Llego La Bolá ," to an audience of Latin music enthusiasts who embrace the pulsing beats dealt out by bass player Ritchie Leyva, bandleader Aryam Vazquez on congas, Victor Garcia-Herreros on the drums and timbales and Alberto Rodriguez playing the guiro. Vocalists Eduardo �El Niño� Alvarez, Lid Ferrera and Anthony Rodriguez entice the crowd with their harmonies and playful choreography. The horn section- trumpet players Jonathan Powell and Alex Heitlinger and Raul Navarrete on trombones- scream out and demands attention. The band is rounded out by the sweet, siren sounds of violinist Rolando Satterwhite, pianist Ariacne Trujillo and flutist Itai Kriss. 
This powerhouse lineup kept the crowd sweating out their hairdos and drenching their shirts on the dance floor for the entire set; even those on the sidelines couldn�t help but sway along to the music. When they broke for an intermission, it was obvious that the audience was not ready to stop. They wanted more. La Bolá came together as a band when the trombone player from Dan Den dissolved his band and moved to Miami. With a common goal of creating traditional Cuban timba music that would appeal to a mass audience and be more "danceable," Vazquez, Leyva and the others came together as a group. They added a drum set, a violinist, flutist and multiple vocalists to give it that real, classic Cuban feel with a modern twist. Most of these seasoned musicians have already performed with the best- Celia Cruz, Manolito y Su Trabuco and Johnny Pacheco to name a few- and it�s only natural that they�ve now evolved into an electrified version of the older generation of Cuban artists. The band�s influences include a mix of classic and contemporary Cuban artists like Los Van Van, Chapotí n and Revé, as well as American funk bands like Earth, Wind & Fire and The Commodores. It translates to a pleasurable mix of two cultures: Cuba and the United States. Trujillo, who also lends her vocal and composition talents to the group, grew up in Cuba during the timba movement and is classically trained in piano. �Our piano player, she�s very talented. She�s a genius,� says Vazquez of Trujillo and her ability to, in conjunction with Leyva, El Niño and himself, put together arrangements that give La Bolá their original spin on timba music. Vazquez and Leyva work out the percussive movements and El Niño composes the lyrics in the tradition of Latin lyricists who�ve come before him, making heartache and melancholy danceable. 
La Bolá is definitely a labor of love for its members. On the sidelines after their set, Vazquez and El Niño allow a peek into their creative process as they discuss drum progression changes in a song. With performances scheduled once or twice a month, Vazquez was adamant about finding the right mix that wouldn�t solely be weekend warriors. �It takes a while to find committed musicians,� said Vazquez. �Especially for timba.� However, being a 13-piece band can sometimes be hard for La Bolá , making it tough to get or keep gigs. �We were invited for the Havana International Jazz Festival [as guests of Chucho Valdéz]�but that festival doesn�t pay, and with 13 musicians you need sponsorship, hotel, and food. Not a lot of people are willing to sponsor a 13 piece band.� Vazquez also find that many clubs expect bands to play the more popular reggaeton or bachata as opposed to their brand of timba. �If they want bachata music,� he says of those offers, �then hire a bachata band.� But La Bolá is staffed with devoted musicians who will no doubt make a name for themselves as stars of New York City�s Cuban music scene. To witness La Bolá 's musical stylings for yourself, visit their website and check the calendar for upcoming performances. Myspace users can link up with the timba band at www.myspace.com/timbonlabola. 04.23.07 - Raquel Penzo - Latin Pulse Music Reporter email: rpenzo75@gmail.com � 2007 Latin Pulse Music - All rights Reserved |
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