In Oct. 2000, Cuban musicians Bobby Aleman & Armando Pilona met @ the "Cardinal Bar" (One of Madison's Premier Latino Clubs back in those days). They discussed the FLAVOR & richness of Cuban Music, and how fantastic and interesting would be to provide Mad-Town with a taste of its very own homegrown Afro-Cuban Music. At that time Bobby was living in Austin, Texas; where he was the bass-player, singer/songwriter and arranger for "KARISON" (Austin Premier Afro-Cuban Jazz and Worldbeat band). "KARISON" toured with the "Bob Marley Festival National Tour" as headliners, from 1997-2000; while also sharing the stage with musical luminaries & grammy award winners such as "Brave Combo" and "Cubanismo" among others.In 2002 , Bobby moved back to Mad-Town to be near his daughter Raquel (now a vocalist with !Que-Flavor!) and once again, he hooked up with Armando Pilona and by Feb. These (2) rumberos had convinced "Sabi" the owner of the "Casbah Restaurant" to give them a friday night weekly residency. And that was the beginning of what it used to be "RUMBA ON THE SQUARE" . Local Rumba aficionados and percussionist used to drop by, to showcase their skills and jam with the Cuban RUMBEROS. After the second week , Bobby decided to add a third element to this duet of bass and congas, and talked Sergio Rico Vacilon into joining them. Because "Rumba needs good vocals , Bobby decided to invite Ruben Marquez (former Olmeca co-founder) into lending his vocals abilities to this already HOT trio. Ruben was the fourth element and very helpful and influential. One night @ A "Los Munequitos De Matanzas " concert @ Luther's Blues" Bobby met Roberto Rengel and talked him into joining the quartet at the "Casbah".The RUMBA got so HOT and Popular that, people were practically DANCING ON THE STREETS'. So eventually "THE CASBAH" got too small for !QUE-FLAVOR! and the band relocated to the "KING CLUB". !QUE-FLAVOR! residency on Wed Nights @ "KING CLUB" was one of the hottest Latino Nights in Mad -Town. After (18) months of Wed nights residency @ KING CLUB. !QF! decided to spread the FLAVOR statewide getting monthly residencies @ "The Great Dane " (Downtown Madison") Speakeasy (Janesville) & Babalu" (Milwaukee) among others. Today's !QUE-FLAVOR! line -up has changed and improved a lot, and the band is HOTTER and tighter than at the beginning, of course ; all through years of giving Mad-City authentic RUMBA FLAV. Today with a NEW N' IMPROVED Repertorie, Riddims N' Styles which defies Music Confines , Boundaries N' Genres QF! is so ready to make you DANCE. When QUE-FLAVOR! is IN THE HOUSE; "THE RTYTHM IS GONNA GETCHA"http://www.songcastmusic.com/affiliate/sc.php?id=1887 For !QUE-FLAVOR! Music is not only the Universal language, but it should also be unbound. That 's why when it comes to being categorize, they prefer to be known as a WORLDBEAT BAND' that way they can get lost into galaxies of RIDDIMS N" STYLES. Because Bobby Aleman was born en EL BARRIO and Grew up in a SOLAR , not only he boast of saying as they say in CUBA that "EL YAMBU NO SE VACUNA" but he also argues that when it comes to Rumba"QUE_FLAVOR! TIENE LA LLAVE & LA CLAVE". !QUE-FLAVOR! has always features some of the top LATINO MUSICIANS in Mad-City, but because the RUMBA is crucial, its percussionists has always been the finest/top natch, creme de la creme. from Armando Pilona, Neraj Metha, Miguel Delgado, Roberto Rengel, Alex Cuba, Alex Ballestero, Manuel "Manny" Vellon, and Alfredo Rodriguez just to name a few. RUMBA 101 Baby.Keeping it KOOL N" FRESH today's !QUE-FLAVOR! line-up boast the up n' coming new talent of chanteuse Raquel Aleman , which not only add FLAVOR on top of FLAVOR but also brings the R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul ,Top40 & Reggae element into the band. Last but not least "LOS METALES DEL SABOR" ( THE HORNS OF THE FLAVOR) will put the ICING ON THE CAKE. So from : Guarachas, Rumbas, Son-Montunos, Salsa,Timba, Merengues, Cumbias, Cha-cha-chas & Reggaes to R&B, Hip-Hop, and Top40 it is most likely that !QUE-FLAVOR! is gonna have your FLAVOR. Not to mention that this eclectic & versatile ensemble always travels with a great DJ. Whether @ a Nightclub, Festival, Private event or Corporate Party, if !QUE-FLAVOR! is in the house you know "THE RIDDIM IS GONNA GETCHA"So next time your are in Mad-Town ; "COME N" GET YOUR FLAVOR ON" Because you already know that when QUE-FLAVOR! is in the house "D' PARTY IS GONNA BE OFF THE HOOK"Members of !Que-Flavor! come from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Colombia , and the United States. Collectively, they bring rich and varied musical backgrounds to the mix. These backgrounds blend to create something both familiar and new--and, above all, delicious. You can hear this special quality in the melodies. You can feel it in the FLAVOR. And you can taste it in the festive air at any !Que-Flavor performance.After Winning the 2003 MAMA (Madison Area Music Award)for BEST LATIN ALBUM OF THE YEAR. !Que-Flavor! took the show on the road, to spread the FLAVOR and the Irie-Vibes across the MidWest. Having the previlege of playing some of the most prestigious stages n' Festivals around the Midwest such as: Milwaukee SummerFest, n' Fiesta Hispana,(Milwaukee, WI) Fiesta Hispana (Rockford, Ill)n' Fiesta Hispana (Madison, WI) Cinco De Mayo Celebrations (The Twin Cities, MN)Dane Dances, Taste of Madison, Willy Street Fair, Orton Park Fest, among others, just to mention a few; !Que-Flavor is ready to do it again this summer. So bring your party friends and your fine -self to our next !Que-Flavor! Party and let us show you how to get your boogie down, and how to cha-cha and Rumba, cause when The Flavor is in the house, there is no doubt that "THE RIDDIM IS GONNA GETCHA" We may even have dance instructors available. So get some FLAVOR and Footloose. It is Party time. Kool Runnings and ChevereFor Booking information, please contact:Bobby Aleman
[email protected] [email protected] or KARISON RECORDS: (715) 630-4730
