Alma Moyo has got to be one of my favorite bomba groups. I love a great bomba just like the next man, but Alma definitely takes me to another place and time. One glance at their roster and you will no doubt notice many a familiar face, such as Jorge "Georgie" Vazquez (playing buleador), who plays with Hot Peas N' Butter, Yerbabuena, and is a big part of the Rincon Criollo family. Dr. Raquel Z Rivera (vocals), is already establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with not only in the realm of song, but literature. Fidel Tavarez (cua), who always plays with so much flavor, has played steadily with Alma Moyo since it's inception along with another notable group by the name of Ilu Aye. Obanilu Allende (primo), at a young age has established himself as one of the best bomberos and pleneros in the city, he can sing, dance, play, truly a triple threat. Manuela Arciniegas (buleador), drummer, cultural worker, and ex-Director of Education for the CCCADI, has played with Yaya and Bambula. Alex LaSalle (maraca), musical director and lead singer, drummer, dancer, historian is another young talent with deep roots in not only the bomba and plena side of things, but is also a heavy in the Palo traditions of Cuba. Julia Gutierrez (coro), has also been brought into the fold, another great dancer and proponent of Bomba and Plena in New York. Of course my ignorance never fails in that I can't identify the other two performers in the video. In anyone knows please leave a comment.
Dennis Flores has been filming much of what's been happening in New York for a couple of years now. If you haven't checked out his YouTube page, you are in for a treat. Not only is the filming quality top notch, the sound quality is great too, which is rare especially among youtube videos. Of course Dennis ain't exactly filming these clips with his camera phone and I am sure he has the best equipment possible at his disposal. Hopefully we will be hearing, or in this case seeing, more from him soon. In the meantime...
6 comments:
They are one of my favorite bomba groups as well...and the video "Mi Madama"....fantastic!
Veronica Valentin (coro y bailarina)
I have seen Veronica dance in other videos I believe, thanks for the help. I think the only person I didn't identify was the gentlemen on the left hand side who for some reason I believe his name is Luis, but I could be wrong...
Yes. Luis Pérez from New Jersey. And to his left is María Luisa Solana.
BTW Manuela is back at the Caribbean Cultural Center.
Thanks so much for the love!
thanks for letting us know Raquel. Hope all is well. More to come...
Veronica Valentin Cantadora, Bailadora and minor percussion (Maraca) She was also part of Yayas, Yerbabuena and other Bomba groups. She has taught different Bomba Workshops.
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