Leonel "Papo" Ortega - Leader, Pianist, Lead Vocalist & Chorus
Roberto Rodriguez-1st Trumpet -Musical Director
Willie Cintron - Bass
Junior Rivera - Tres Guitar
Ronnie Baro - Vocals, Percussion
Larry Figueredo- Percussion
Jaime Figueroa - Percussion
Oscar Oñoz - 2nd Trumpet
Barry Olsen- Trombone
Orlando "El Niño" Espinosa - Chorus
Arrangers
Leonel "Papo" Ortega
Manolo Albo
Silvio Cebrian
Omar A. Castaños
Louie Cruz
Rey Roig
Music Copyist
Omar A. Castaños
Leonel "Papo" Ortega - Leader, Pianist, Lead Vocalist
Born in New Jersey to Cuban parents and raised in the very Cuban cities
of Union City and West New York, at the age of 3, I began to play
a guitar along my father and uncle, who on a monthly basis performed
in what was known as "El Guateque Campesino." This
monthly event brought together numerous poets, guitarrists, laudists
and tres players who would get together at different clubs and
lodges and offer their inspirational music before predominantly
Cuban audiences. The music that was performed is called Punto
Guajiro, Cuba's country music.
At age 4 I began studying classical
European music for eleven years. Growing up amidst a musical family
that was steeped in traditional Cuban music, and altogether became
the inspirational foundation to learn and enjoy our traditional
music "Son Montuno", among other rhythms, lyrics and
orchestrations.
My mother and father, Juana Torres & Leonel
Ortega Sr., both play guitar and sing (songs and improvisational),
my grandmother Maria Torres would compose poetry and lyrics, my
uncle Sergio Sori, a singer who plays laud, tres, and guitar is
an exceptional writer. My aunt Maria Sori is also a poet and inspirational
singer, known throughout Cuban radio as "La Londra de San
Jose" (50s and early 60s). When I came up with the idea
to record, I called upon my uncle Sergio's geniosity resulting
in the creation of exceptional lyrics for 2 selections on the
CD, Guajiro soy and the title track "Recordando A Cuba."
Still today I continue to call upon my uncle Sergio and my father
Leonel to help me out with lyrics. Their ingenuity is incredible.
Finally, my brother Raul was also a musician - a talented trumpeter
who from age 16 - 21 performed with high school and local
Cuban Dance bands. Cubanoson's CD - Recordando A Cuba, is dedicated
in his memory.
At age 15, I played my first official gig on a 12-string guitar
with Omar DeJunco's band called Havana Brass then later named
Casino International at St. Augustine's Church hall in Union
City. A few months later I became the pianist for the band; the
first gig being a New Year's Eve party in Connecticut alongside
bassist Leopoldo Fleming, continuing with this band for about
3 years. I then began playing with Jose "Voltaire" Gutierrez'
merengue band "Conjunto Quisqueyano" alongside bassist
Jose "Pepe" Franca for several years.
In 1983 I met Chico Alvarez in another band called Zafra, and he invited me
to record on an album he was recording titled Orquesta Riverside.
This was great, I played piano on a couple of songs, recorded
violins on a synthesizer and sang background vocals. Coincidentally,
the bassist for the Riverside recording was bassist Willie Cintron,
who after so many years, is now the bassist for Cubanoson. Since
then I continued public performances with several groups: Palomonte,
Mafimba, Fajardo y Sus Estrellas (with the legendary Jose Fajardo),
Charanga Kreacion, Los Hermanos Morenos, Raul Azpiazu, Angelo
y el Conjunto Modelo, Orquesta Metropolitana, and the Kenny Gross
Orchestras.
Throughout the years, I have had the privelege of
performing alongside or accompanying several great singers /musicians
throughout my career performing in bands and as a soloist in local
Clubs; such as Roberto Rodriguez, Candido Camero, La India de
Oriente, Chivirico Davila, Chihuahua Martinez, Junior Rivera,
Ray Vega, Lionel Sanchez, and the greatest privelege of all of
having Jose Fajardo play with me several times with a sextet called
Papo y el Grupo Siboney, that existed in the mid to late 90s that
I had put together.
Other notable experiences include having Johhny
Pacheco sit in with Siboney to play Cachita a few years ago.
In the latter part of 2005, I decided to put together this orchestra
to feature Cuban music, and Cubanoson was born. I have been blessed
to have great musicians who backed me on my endeavors like Roberto
Rodriguez, Junior Rivera. Willie Cintron and Oscar Onoz. Already
great things have happened, Cubanoson's debut CD - Recordando
A Cuba has been released, received great reviews, airplay and
sales.
In June of 2006 at
one of Cubanoson's performances I had the honor and privelege
of having my orchestra accompany two living legends - Joseito
Mateo and Israel "Cachao" Lopez the father of all bassists.
2007 brings great things.
Our debut CD was ranked # 1 in England,
Italy, Germany and Salsa Picante Radio. Other notable rankings
include top 15 in Toronto and # 3 for the New York Area by Latin
Beat Magazine's Vicki Sola.
We hope you enjoy our music and look forward to making your next
event an even better one.
Recordando a Cuba.
This compilation consists of 10 selections of old style traditional Cuban music.
It includes 3 compositions by composer and friend Silvio Cebrian, (Monsieur Jose, En la Campiña and No Te Preocupes.) (Side note) Monsieur Jose is a great tune with a new arrangement in which I added some French lyrics and coros, for our European and Canadian friends, and as a special treat, singer Ronnie Baro added his unmistakable voice and French verbiage to introduce this song.
The compilation additionally includes new arrangements of Lagrimas Negras, composed by Miguel Matamoros, Que Mala Suerte, by Arsenio Rodriguez, and Mujeres de Mayari composed by Francisco Repilado known as Compay Segundo to the music world.
The last 4 songs are all original compositions.
Son Bailadores, composed by singer and friend, Mario J. Ortiz, music by Papo, resulted in the creation of an old-style guaguanco.
Two other songs, Guajiro Soy, a guajira, and the title track Recordando a Cuba, that tribute the 6 original Cuban provinces, were co-written by me and my uncle Sergio Sori.
Lastly, Son Cubanoson is a son montuno written by me to introduce the Cubanoson orchestra to the world.
Thank you and enjoy Recordando a Cuba.
Papo Ortega
Rumba Nueva Cubanoson, Released 2010;
13 high energy songs, all Cuban salsa bar 2 Cha Cha. Including 7 originals featuring danceable music in three languages, Spanish, English and French while maintaining traditional Son Montunos and Cha-Chas.
Song titles:
1 A Bailar Con Cubanoson Salsa
2 Voulez Vous Danser Salsa
3 Rumba Nueva Salsa
4 Cantamos A Puerto Rico Salsa
5 Cubanizate Cha Cha
6 Tributo A Rodriguez Salsa
7 La Fiesta Salsa
8 Quien Sera Cha Cha
9 Preguntame Como Estoy Salsa
10 La Gallinita Salsa
11 Loco Loco Loco Salsa
12 Histoire D'un Amour Salsa
13 On Y Va Tous A Danser Salsa
Musicians:
Leonel "Papo" Ortega Leader, piano, lead singer, coro
Roberto Rodriguez Jr. Lead trumpet, musical director
Jose "Junior" Rivera Tres guitar
Willie Cintron Bass
Jorge "Papito" Sanchez Vocal harmony, coro
Orlando "Niño" Espinosa Coro
Luisito Quintero Percussion
Jaime Figueroa Coro, bongo
Rosa Ortega Vocal
