Charanga del Norte profile picture

Charanga del Norte

Charanga del Norte: Cuban Dance Music from the UK

About Me

CHARANGA DEL NORTE:“Charanga del Norte” (Charanga from the North) was set up in 1998 by the bandleader Sue Miller who studied in Havana with Richard Egues from the legendary Orquesta Aragon. The band consists of flute, violins, viola, cello, electric bass, piano, coro singers, timbales, congas and güiro. In Charanga the flute improvises over pulsating rhythms from the string section, mesmeric montunos from the piano, synchronised coros, tripping bass and driving percussion.“Latin music, but not as you may know it, this band are deliciously different and incredibly danceable”. The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen. “Superb UK-based Salsa and Charanga band” Songlines magazine.“you’ll dance to this with two left feet and a bag on your head!” “Red-hot Cubano-Yorkshire fusion – real Salsa w’ nowt tekken out!” Brampton Live festival. "Inviting supporting acts to perform with legendary Cuban artists involved in the Buena Vista Social Club project is no easy matter, finding an outfit in the UK that can hold its own with a well informed audience makes the task all the more difficult, its lucky we have Charanga Del Norte not only in the UK but within 60 miles of the venue. Bridgewater Hall has a reputation for authentic, first class music and Charanga make the grade." Howard Raynor, Chief Executive, The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester .

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 6/29/2007
Band Website: charangadelnorte.com
Band Members: Sue Miller - bandleader, composer, arranger and flute player, Nick Williams - viola, Jon Lindh and Rod Taylor - violins, Andy Wardale - cello, Mark Donlon - piano, Roberto Pla - timbales, Adriana Martyr - vocals and bass, Marta Acosta-Nino and Ana Luisa Munoz - vocals, Ruth Bitelli/Jo Philpotts - bass, Yudnara de Ridder - guiro, Ravin Jayasuriya (Raz) - congas,Guest Havana musicians for 2009 UK Touring Project 'Charanga del Norte Social Club': Ernesto Oviedo La Portilla - vocals, special VIP guest Amadito Valdes - timbales, Zenen Arrascaeta Ruiz - congas, Jesus Perez Cos - timbales, Antonio Luis Morales - vocals and guiro
Influences: Richard Egues, Orquesta Aragon, Orquesta Sublime, Orquesta Broadway, Cachao, Fajardo, Orquesta Sensacion
Sounds Like: Charanga tipica from the 50s and 60s with a UK flavour - Cuban dance music with hypnotic rhythmic violin riffs, punchy flute solos, romantic piano solos and driving percussion.
Record Label: unsigned
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Interview with Amadito Valdes

Interview with Buena Vista Social Club Star Amadito ValdesBetty's Tea Rooms in Harrogate 9 May 2008 Interview by Sue Miller Sue Miller: Hola Amadito! Amadito Valdes: Hola Sue! Encantado! SM: Como...
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Tue, 13 May 2008 11:56:00 PST

Buena Vista Social Club concert review

Buena Vista Social ClubHarrogate 10 May 2008 Review by Sue MillerBuena Vista Social Club concerts are always a treat and this performance was no exception. Every BVSC concert becomes more and more poi...
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Sun, 11 May 2008 01:11:00 PST

music and dancing

We've just finished rehearsing ready for our Northern gigs and are looking forward to getting our shiny new Cds of Our Mam in Havana at the end of the week.
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:52:00 PST

New CD out end of April

The new CD Our Mam in Havana will be ready for the end of April and we'll be performing some of the new tracks at York's World music Fiesta on May 5th - check it out!
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:16:00 PST

Our Mam in Havana design

Check out the new album designs by Ana Luisa Munoz - they’re fab!
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:04:00 PST

Cachao

Sad to hear Cachao has died - he inspired me to set up my own Charanga and his Mambo has been the backdrop to my life for the last 11 years - his Master Sessions and his Descargas are fantastic Mil Gr...
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 05:33:00 PST

York Fiesta

Still mixing and mastering but hope to have the new Cd ’Our Mam in Havana’ released for the beginning of May ready for our headline gig at Buena Fiesta Social gig in York on Bank holiday M...
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:50:00 PST

Gigs for 2008

Charanga del Norte are gearing up for an eventful year of gigs to celebrate their 10th anniversary - for bookings contact them via the bookings page of www.charangadelnorte.com ...
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 05:20:00 PST

Ritmo Alegre - new track

Check out the new track Mi Ritmo Alegre just hot off the mixing desk. Havana-based bass player and record producer Jorge Machado gave Sue Miller the arrangement of his composition Ritmo Alegre in Marc...
Posted by Charanga del Norte on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:16:00 PST