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undefined !QUE-FLAVOR! @ JOLLY BOBs
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Add to My Profile | More VideosI was born in Guanabacoa un barrio southeast of La Habana, Cuba. But grew up in Luyano, around el "Parque Fabrica". La Rumba es mi vida, Yambu, Columbia, Guaguanco, Bembe, and many other types of Afro-Cuban Music, were my early musical training. Because in the "Solares" around mi
"Habana" every "Rumba" you go to; you have to participate" needless to say that Afro-Cuban Music is my passion and my forte.
I can garantee that I have a clave ticking in my heart. I consider myself "Rumbero de pura cepa" I also have a very strong passion for Reggae Music, and that must be my Jamaican blood claiming its side of me. I'm what some people called a Jamaican pigeon (half Cuban-Jamaican). I started to play rumba, guaguanco, and yambu, when I was (12). so la Rumba and I, go way back.I came to the USA, in 1980 with the infamous "Mariel boatlift" and from Key West, I was flown to "Fort McCoy" in La Crosse, WI. I went to College @ MATC. Madison, WI. and took music theory under Mr. Peronto, in 1981-82. I also took one semester of voice, music composition, preparatory keyboard, and piano. Strings such as bass & guitar, I taught myself (from Jamey Abersold books. Highly recommended: Carlos Del Puerto? Sergio Vergara "The True Cuban Bass" , and of course from, my idol and mentor "El maestro Juan Formell" Needless to say that Van, Van is my favorite band of all time. When it comes to Songo/Salsa/Latin Music. And when it comes to Reggae, Bob Marley, Steel Pulse, and Luciano.By 1990 I had managed to put together my first Worldbeat project: a power-house quartet called Polyrhythms with Mike Gober on bass, Sergio Rico Vacilon on guitar, Willie (Dread I) Wilson on drums and myself on keyboards.
"Polyrhythms" played every major venue in Mad-City back in those days, such as "Club de Wash" "In-cahoots" "Crystal Corner" "Latin Club" among many other premier Mad-City venues of those days. After touring the Midwest headlining venues such as the "Cubby Bear" & "the Wild Hare" in Chicago Polyrhythms"disbanded on 1993. Then I begun to freelance my services. My first job as a bassist was with Madison very own "Black Starrs Reggae Band" then "Chicasongo" (out of Chicago) "Dub Rockers", "I & I, "Arawak Jah" & International Connection among others, Mad-City Reggae Bands.In 1996 Ras Juan, "Arawak Jah" bandleader and keyboardist, hired me to play guitar, then the bass -player of that time; Mike baggaof-rhythms got fire, and I picked up the bass. On the same year "Arawak Jah" got selected to tour with the "Bob Marley National Tour". The tour started in Houston, TX, on March 14th 1997, touring 32 cities in the USA, untill Oct. In June while playing in Sunken Garden, San Antonio, TX; I was approached by "Crystal Clear Productions" and offered a deal. By Aug. I had moved to Austin, TX while still touring with "Arawak Jah". By Sept. I was singing with TA-Mere, and doing a solo singer-songwriter act. with residences @ Gunther Restaurant & The Spaguetti Warehouse. Bobby Aleman Solo singer -SongWriter's Austin's residencies imcluded: El Sol y la Luna " Ninfas's On 6th" Central Market" Manuel's North" Mozart on Lake Travis" Empanada Parlor" among others , just to mention a few.In Oct. of 1997, I put together a (7) pieces Afro-Cuban Jazz & WorldBeat ensemble and named "KARISON" . Taking advantage of "Buena Vista Social Club success" "KARISON" did covers of BVSC and Van Van among others. Also "Bob Marley's & Originals. KARISON play as headliners with the "Bob Marley Festival National Tour " until 2000, in addition to playing every primer live Venue in Austin, including residencies @ "Miguel La Bodega" "Spyros" Empanada Parlor, Flamingo Cantina, and Fat Tuesdays among others. Also opened for acts such as: Cubanismo, Rebirth Brass Band, The Killer Bees & Brave Combo among others. I also did freelance work for Root1, Ras Inginga, Roots and Wisdoms & Chocava.In 2001 I moved to back Madison, WI to stay near my daughter. I met Armando Pilona @ The Cardinal Bar" the premier Latin Club in Mad-City at least until 2001. We met on "Latin Night", and that night we decided to start a rumba in Mad-City. So with bass and congas we went and asked Sabih, the owner of the "Casbah Restaurant", to give us a residency on friday nights, and after playing for him "Chan Chan and "El Cuarto de Tula, we got the job. The first gig was billed as "Rumba on the Square". I met Roberto Rangel @ Luther's Blues @ a "Los Munequitos de Matanzas" concert, and after talking it over he decided to give it a try on timbales, and then later I talked to Sergio Rico Vacilon, about joining in, on guitar and vocals. We thought about a name for the quartet and we decided "Que Sabor", however, I thought that it was not a very smart business move, nor it was appropiate to seek the appeal only of the Latino audience, vs a Mass Appeal. So we went with the Crossover Appeal of !Que-Flavor!."Rumba on the Square quickly became the favorite hang out for many local percussionists or aficionados in Mad-City. The "Casbah" became too small for "Rumba on the Square. People used to literately dance on the sidewalk on Main St. So !QF! had to move the residency to Wed, nights @ King Club.
By this time I had asked Ruben Marquez to come on board, to help out with vocals and guitar and later on Armando brought on board Julio Araujo on bongos, and Alex Ballestero on piano. King Club residence lasted (18) months until !QF! decided to go regionally. !Que-Flavor! had played every major venue in Mad-City, including festivals such as: Dane Dances, Milwaukee SummerFest, Milwaukee Fiesta Hispana, Rockford Fiesta Hispana, Twin Cities "Cinco de Mayo Celebrations" Oshkosh WaterFest, Willy Street Fair, Feast with the Beast, Orton Park Fest, Madison Fiesta Hispana, and Taste of Madison, just to mention a few. In 2004 !Que-Flavor! CD "De Nuevo en La Escena" won the MAMA for (Best Latin Album of 2003).At the present time I'm working also on y solo project, and want to get a CD out by the summer. I'm also part of the "Afro-Latin Project", an Afro-Latin ensemble out of Iowa City directed by Ed West & Karin White, from "Calle Sur & "Alto Maiz". I also have a solo monthly residency @ "CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE " and "THE MERCURY LOUNGE" in Mad-Town. My Solo Singer SongWriter Repertoire , is a (2-3) hours set, of WorldBeat Music Repertoire designed for : Coffeehouses, Restaurants, Hotel Lounges e.t.c. More like ambience music. And includes " Boleros, Latin Classics, Hipanish Ballads, Cha-cha-cha, Originals, Americanas, R&Bs, Blues, Soul music, Jazz, Reggae Classics, and Buena vista social club Classics among others. My rate is normally $45.00 per hours for local shows, but I can be flexible. Privatee parties, Festivals and out of town gigs , will very according to the distance.Please stop by "one of my residencies and say hello or enjoy, a beautiful night of "WORLDBEAT MUSIC " and AMBIENCE MUSIC.Cojelo Suave and Chevere. Bobby Aleman.
ONE LOVE,
JAH LOVE,
BLESSINGS,
KOOL RUNNINGS,
COJELO SUAVE & CHEVERE.BOBBY ALEMAN
