PapoSwing

Upcoming conga player from New York City, Norberto (PapoSwing) Alicea was born in Brooklyn in 1961. As part of a family with salsa musicians and music lovers, he has been amazed with rhythms. Music was a part of their daily family life and he has been playing the congas on and off since he was a child.Papo Swing, inspired by the then famous “Fun House”, opened their basement to friends under the same name as a club. DJs like David Morales used to play at these parties when they were in high school. During the late ‘70s, Papo Swing also DJ’ed at house parties and played congas at certain neighborhood events.After some soul searching, 7 years ago, he formed "House of Rhumba", the three piece Latin percussion ensemble, with Nicholas Laboy and Obanilu Ire whom he met at the beach. House of Rhumba was featured on “Steel Congo” and “Summer Night in Spanish Harlem” tracks with Grammy winning DJ Louie Vega released in Louie Vega’s solo album “Elements of Life” and “Irinajo” with Soul Channel Music (Mr. V and Alix Alvarez), "Confession" with Malena Perez, in addition to new upcoming releases from this collaboration. Their trio tells a story in their fusion of street rhumba style all spoken thru the conga, with compliments of Carribean soul as heard thru the steel drum unfolding the story.In addition to House of Rhumba, Papo Swing also plays congas for many famous house DJs and groups, such as Cirque de Soleil, Louie Vega, MAW, John Cutler, Soul Channel Music (Mr. V), Soul Creation, Alix Alvarez, Dennis Ferrer, Funk La Planet, Alain Vinet, and many more all around the world. Some of the popular nightclubs he performed are Club Cielo, Club Deep, Club Shelter,Ageha (Japan) and Club Show in NYC and other big clubs around the world.Inspired by famous conga players like Giovanni Hidalgo, Mongo Santa Maria, Carlos Patato Valdez, Kevin Jones, Pedro Martinez from Yerbabuena, ,and Luisito Quintero who also teaches him, PapoSwing loves putting improvised conga beats in house music with a great tempo and keeps improving his style and innovative technique in the Afro Carribean, Afro-Cuban, Rumba and ‘bomba and plena’ styles, aiming to be one of the rhythmic conga players in this lifetime..Peace...
For inquiries or bookings, please contact [email protected]...
Paposwing with Louie Vega, Luisito Quintero, Albert "Sterling" Menendez and Mauricio Arcas at Surfcomber Hotel - South Beach, Miami WMC "05"....