((( Buscando el Monte ))) profile picture

((( Buscando el Monte )))

About Me

---------Buscando el Monte creates a fusion of traditional Cuban songs, Afro-Cuban rhythms and American jazz melodies. In a club cut the rug with rumba and cha-cha-cha, then ready yourself for a conga-line driven by music that originally inspired the step. On the street, we transform into a contemporary comparsa inspired by Tropazancos Cubensi who serenade the people of 21st century Havana, Cuba. Imagine a menagerie of colorful, costumed stilt walkers moving in time to pounding drums and powerful horns. Buscando el Monte was founded by Cuban-born percussionist, stilt-walker, and puppeteer Leonel Rojas Esteves. His dream, born through his work on the streets of Havana, is to be a musical and theatrical bridge from La Havana Vieja to Austin, Texas. Notably, B.E.M. was Co-founded by Martin Perna (Antibalas, Ocote Soul Sounds, TV on the Radio, Dapkings) The soaring melody, driving polyrhythm and resounding chorus of the comparsa has inspired ecstatic trance for over 400 years. Come dance with us and experience this wonderful energy live and in person.Sevylla del Mazo at Victory Grill w/ Buscando el Monte
-----------B.E.M. fue fundado por el cubano, percusionista, sanquero, titeretero Leonel Rojas Esteves. El ha llegado a Tejas con un sueño poderoso--ser un puente desde La Habana Vieja al Este de Austin. Junto con Martín Perna (fundador de Antibalas) como co-director musical, el grupo crea una fusión de canciones Cubanos populares, ritmos Afrocubanos y melodias del Jazz estadounidense que comunican con el corazón del mundo. Cada presentación de Buscando el Monte es un viaje espiritual. Al publico bailarin, le hacemos sudar y entrar en una tranza de melodia y ritmo. Buscando el Monte les invita ser una parte de nuestra energía encantadora, experimentar el fenómeno en vivo y en persona. Nuestras tocadas le da al publico una oportunidad para que la musica le conmueva el alma. Contáctenos para que te enteres de talleres, clases y oportunidades para colaborar con nosotros--oportunidades para que tu alma influye la musica.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 23/01/2008
Band Website: You're lookin' at it
Band Members: Leonel Rojas Estevez (lead vocalist, congas, bombo, clave, director, founder), Roy Coon (alto, tenor saxophone, clave, chorus, horn maestro), Joshua Collier (bombo, guiro, chorus, conga), David Gilden (trumpet), Fernando Flores (bells, clave), Malika (saxophone)*GUEST APPEARANCES BY* Martin Perna (co-founder, vocals, shekere, congas, clave), Matt Turner (congas), Joe Woullard (baritone sax), Sevylla del Mazo (congas), Andres Lopera (trombone), Derek Hansen (snare, conga), Adam Rosario (congas), Robin Moore (campanas, vocals, congas), Sidra Lawrence (sartenes, bata)
Influences: Las comparsas cubanas de los siglos, Tropazancos Cubensi (a contemporary comparsa working in downtown Habana), Resistencia Cubana, Innovation, Tradition, Carnival, Street Music, Dizzy Gillespie, La Havana Vieja, ATX, Yoruba ancestors, Yoruba religious song, Duke Ellington, Bebo Valdez, Perez Prado, Mongo Santamaría, Chico O'Farrill, Frank "Machito" Grillo, Busking, Nicolás Guillen, El Monte, Barton Springs, Booty Shaking, Los Santos, Africa, Muñequitos de Matanzas, El Tule, Wino Vino, Ocote Soul Sounds, Antibalas, Pancho Sanchez, CUBA, Latin Jazz, Sun Ra, The Orishas, John Colrtane, the East Side and more
Sounds Like: CONGA! Afro-Cuban clave, GETTING DOWN, Comparsa (the original Conga music), Latin Jazz, Rumba, Yoruba Cantos, the sound of many voices praying at once, Son, Cha-cha-cha, Sabrosura, Horns blowing sweet jazz and traditional comparsa melodies over complex polyrhythms led by the all important clave. Extra points for clapping along with the CLAVE.
Record Label: N/A
Type of Label: Unsigned

My Blog

SUMMER SUNDAYS ON THE STREET

SUNDAYS ON THE STREETSo everybody, we've done a few of these @ 12th & Chicon, Barton Springs, Vargas St. in Montopolis.We set up and play for 2 hours with the intention of sharing music with different...
Posted by on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:07:00 GMT

OPENING FOR OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS AT THE COMPOUND

Saludos Buscando Family-- It was an amazing show!  If you missed it, we expect to see you gettin' down early with KRUDAS CUBENSI a week from Sat., OCTOBER 11th at the VICTORY GRILL!!! I'll drop m...
Posted by on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:02:00 GMT

BRING YOUR OWN BOTTLE BACK TO THE VICTORY GRILL

EXTRA! EXTRA!The Historic Victory Grill will host Buscando el Monte and friends monthly starting September 20th with SEU JACINTO!!! Later dates include October 11th, November 8th and december 13th. ...
Posted by on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 01:29:00 GMT

Buscando el Monte Back on the Scene like a Mean Green Afro-Cuban Machine

Greetings Buscando el Monte fans! We have enjoyed public rehearsals at the main entrance to Barton Springs Pool! Sharing music is a joy. We consider it the most enjoyable community service around (exc...
Posted by on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:17:00 GMT

February 16th--Victory Grill

Buscando el Monte Fans: Hey! Saludos!  Lo pasamos de maravilla el 16 de febrero y se va a prender la mecha otra vez el 11 de marzo.  No falten! Ya'll, the Victory was standing-room-only on...
Posted by on Sun, 02 Mar 2008 15:41:00 GMT

Austin Chronicle Review--VICTORY GRILL SHOW

Our sisters Krudas stole the show!  Find them on myspace, check them out.  Thomas Fawcett does a great job of describing the Victory Grill at its best!  Look for us their soon! http://...
Posted by on Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:42:00 GMT

Noche Cubana Feb. 16th

NOCHE CUBANAFiesta & Dancing Cuban Style Sat. Feb. 16th 9 pm@ the Historic Victory Grill1104 E. 11th St. East AustinBuscando el Monte:Afro-Cuban Conga JazzLas Krudas:Cuban Feminist Hip-HopOcote Soul ...
Posted by on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:32:00 GMT