Afro-Cuban All Stars and Típica 73 put everyone on the dance floor at The Bronx party

New York, March 4 (EFE) Cuban music and salsa that got everyone dancing.

The first turn was for the popular Cuban group on their debut in this predominantly Latino province, who came to this room as part of a US and European tour, which they haven’t done since 2020 due to the pandemic.

The sympathy for the group was immediate with applause echoing loudly at the center of the performance and cheers from the crowd who surrendered to the rhythm and flavor of the music.

The Afro Cuban All Stars toured the diverse music of their country, which included bolero, son and timba, among others, which began with “Addimú”, a tribute to Ochún (the deity of the Yoruba religion), who represents the Virgo de la Caridad del Cobre, the patron saint of Cuba.

The orchestra, under the direction of its founder Juan de Marcos, engineer of the Buena Vista Social Club, had sound problems at first.

DeMarcos apologized and pointed out that the flight that took them to New York had been delayed and they had barely had time to make the offer.

But the problem was quickly resolved and the band continued their journey through the music of their country, but not before the Latin audience demanded that the artist speak Spanish.

“Spanish and Spanish” were heard in unison, and then, having welcomed the request, de Marcos continued in Cervantes’ language.

After two bolero pieces, the group pays homage to Cuban musician and composer Arsenio Rodríguez (1911-1970), who lived and died in the United States, after which he heard “Mambo Cabana,” “because gringos don’t pronounce eñe” from the animated movie “Alive” where he gave Life of a character led this song.

The Afro Kuna All Stars ended their night with a mix of belina, an authentic Puerto Rican beat. As soon as they heard “What a beautiful Puerto Rican flag…” the Puerto Ricans, who were the majority, got up from their seats to dance and sing.

The one who undoubtedly enjoyed the band’s performance the most was a Cuban in her 70s who wouldn’t stop dancing the night away waving her country’s flag to the beat of the music.

And the party continued with the long-awaited New York band Típica 73, which thus celebrated its 50th anniversary with its original members, singer Adalberto Santiago and Cuban violinist Alfredo de la Fe.

Santiago, who has maintained his powerful voice despite his 85 years, has performed several of his hits with La Típica starting with “Mañoño” to make way for Alfredo de la Fe, who was also part of Fania Stars.

The violinist, again giving a virtuoso performance, caused a sensation when he got off the stage and walked through the audience while continuing to play.

La Típica, under the direction of Johnny “Dandy” Rodriguez, paid homage to one of its singers, the Panamanian Camilo “Azuqueta”, who died the previous December, for whom he brought Cuban Maito Rivera, former Van Van singer, to perform some of their songs.

Rivera recalled that La Típica performed in Cuba in 1979 bringing “this musical joy” and expressed his “respect and admiration for the great singers” who went through this band, later continuing with “Tumba tumbador”.

The group ended their presentation with “La candela” but the audience didn’t want to let them go, so they went back to hear their hit “Amalia Batista”. EFE

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