La Maquinaria Cubana

It is always good news when a new timba band is born. First we had an explosion of timba bands in Stockholm and now my homestate Colorado has it's first timba band, "La Maquinaria". I have blogged about their upcoming concert February 10 at Fox Theater in Boulder, but like you I didn't know much about the band. So I got in touch with Calixto Oviedo and Armando Santoyo to get a little music sample and to find out about what inspired Armando to put together a timba band in the middle of cowboy country. 

**Update - La Maquinaria on the Fox Theater website + ticket link here...
http://www.foxtheatre.com/2013/02/10/0730PM/La-Maquinaria-Cubana
Call (303) 443-3399

The video above is a sample song that Calixto sent me, although Armando says the band has not yet recorded any demos. Instead they will make a professional quality DVD of the Boulder concert.  After hearing the demo and  interviewing Armando I am very excited about this new group! Below is a short interview I did with Armando to familiarize myself, and all timberos out there, with the newest Timba band in the USA.

What brought you to form a timba band in Colorado?

The main idea and purpose of this band is to make a statement: around the globe there is a great deal of talent capable of treating the listener to our rhythms made by Cubans living outside the island for many years now. Proof of this is all over Europe. We want to show here in the U.S.A. that the essence of our roots and the flavor of our culture are here with us as well. With this in mind we have been constructing this show piece by piece, day by day, down to the last detail. Our goal for Feb. 10th is make the patrons smell the salty breeze of the malecón in Havana, let them feel the mist on the forest of our land and taste the sabor of the rumba from the solares all over our country.  We carry all of this as our heritage from Cuba. For us it is as if we haven't left. We are working on a fresh series of original tunes with the mastery of a group of musicians that will put their hearts and souls into every note to the point that every one attending will walk out with a little piece of Cuba in their life...forever.

When was the band formed and who are the members?

"La Maquinaria Cubana" is a band that has been working for almost 2 years now behind closed doors, preparing this show of original Cuban music with the rich variety of rhythms that characterize the Caribbean island. We also do a few Cuban classics arranged for this format.

It is made up of three Americans, two Mexican-Americans, one Venezuelan, one Puerto Rican and seven Cubans.  Bringing seven Cuban musicians together in Colorado is not an easy task. Among those seven we have the honor of having a master, world-renowned Cuban drummer Calixto Oviedo and Lily D Oviedo (singer) here from Sweden and staying as permanent members. We also have José "Pepito" Gomez, former lead singer with the Cuban band "Pupy y los que son son",  and Solange Guenier (also Cuban) who worked as a background vocalist and dancer for over 10 years with Tina Turner. On top, we have Gustavo Ramirez on piano; well know in the Latin jazz world, Carlos Martin on vocals, and myself on bass.  

Joining us as well are Andy Crisman, who has a master’s degree in trombone and is a school teacher, Dave McLoughlin and Ivan Nava on trumpets, David Maynez on tenor sax, Johnny Jeymo on general percussion and backing vocals and Juan Moreno from Puerto Rico on congas.  All of them are known locally for their great musicianship. 

How did you begin your collboration with Calixto and Pepito?

Calixto and I established a friendship back in Cuba playing rock and when ran into each other at the Denver airport after almost 40 years, it was like only a week had passed. I have spent a good deal of time playing the music of other cultures, but there was the day I heard the call of the roots…”timba” is just a name that in English we can translate into “fusion”…and as a Cuban musician you recall almost everything, from street comparsas in Santiago de Cuba to Weather Report and everything before and after that carries a good message.

Jackson Ruiz Mujica is the composer and arranger of our original songs. He lives in Cuba and is working on a new batch of songs as we speak. Calixto also sent some songs by Richard Ortega that we will include for now and a couple of Cuban classics will be played as well but with new arrangements. Looking for a singer capable to deliver, Calixto recommend José “Pepito” Gomez, who has been working in Puerto Rico with José Lugo. After listening to the songs, Pepito joined the project.

Does the band have any recordings or demos that fans can listen to?

We haven’t done any recordings or demos until now.  At the Fox show there will be a video company filming the complete show (pro quality) from there we will cut a promo demo to send out to booking agencies, and start filling the calendar for summer. Agents in California, Florida, Seattle Washington and New York have already expressed interest without us having playing a single note in public yet. Our expectations are high, just like the quality of our product, and Japan and surrounding areas are on the radar as well.

Booking for La Maquinaria Cubana
lamaquinariacubana@aol.com
Contact: Mandy Sant
1-303-475-7894

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I will tell you Bill that there is also a pocket of timba and casino fans in the Denver/Boulder area so as you say, why not? I know they are watching developments with this concert closely.

Posted by: Michelle White on Wednesday, 30 January 2013, 08:21 AM

Rocky Mountain Despelote....

Why NOT Boulder? Cities like Boulder and Louisville may very well be the future of live Timba in the United States; the largest cities here have been successful at starting bands but less so at maintaining them over time. Too many other options and distractions for the musicians (and the audiences) perhaps. Best wishes for this new group -- it sounds promising.

Posted by: Bill Tilford on Wednesday, 30 January 2013, 08:16 AM