|
--When and how did you meet salsa?
As a little boy I used to dance with my mother in the living room
to all her old records of traditional Cuban music. (My mother is
Cuban). For example, the records were of Celia Cruz, Olga Guillot,
Ernesto Lecuona, Orquesta Aragon, Tito Rodriquez. I still love that
old music and have great memories related to it. As I grew up I
continued to listen to Cuban music, latin jazz and some salsa. But
when I was in Korea, a friend of mine opened a salsa club called
Macondo, and I volunteered to help him as the deejay. It was then
that I became an addict.
--What kind of music were you listening to before
you met salsa?
Since I was born in Jamaica, I have always listened to reggae. I
especially like Yellowman, Toots and The Maytals and Peter Tosh.
Since my mother was a pianist, I also like classical music and I
was especially fond of Beethoven, Bach and Mozart. As a teenager
I liked British music, like The Cure, New Order, and Depeche Mode.
--Tell us your recent activity as a salsa deejay.
I am trying to improve my knowledge of mambo and salsa that especially
suits on2, New York style. I have been trying to keep Junktion fresh,
exciting, and a good place for dancers of all levels and styles
to enjoy salsa. Recently I was in Tokyo to deejay at Macomo-san's
anniversary party. That makes two years that I have been fortunate
enough to deejay regularly in Tokyo for Macomo (every 2nd Saturday).
I am also happy to be deejaying regularly for Murata-san in Kobe
every 4th Saturday since February. And of course, Junktion just
had its second anniversary party. I will also try to make Sam &
Dave 5 on Thursdays another good salsa venue. And I am trying to
discover music I have never heard of before; at the moment I interested
in the old stuff, especially songs by Tito Curet or Casanova .
--Tell us your party's concept.( song selection
or else)
I like the idea of European house deejays, who work in waves of
music. I would like to play a set of songs that have a similar theme
or motif, that vary the tempo and "feeling" of the music,
and do this all night so that people can get a "dancer's high"
and explore a wide range of emotions. I want to deejay in a way
that people can really "hear" the individual instruments
and feel how they match or contrast the instruments in the next
song. As for my party's concept, I have always tried to make a balance
between "rare" music that only iI play, as well as more
familiar music that people can recognize and enjoy at Junktion or
anywhere else. I want to cultivate my own original style, and continue
modifying and improving it. I think it is an important responsibility
of a deejay to give the dancers what they want AND teach them some
new songs too. If people can come to my event (especially Junktion)
every time and say that each party is different and never the same
but always exciting with new and familiar music, then I will be
satisfied.
--Which event remains the most impressive to
you until now?
Wow, there are many. I was really happy to be the closing deejay
at last year's West Coast Salsa Congress, where I did a 30 minute
mix for over 1000 dancers, and in that mix I played a song by the
Japanese band Swingoza as an homage to my living/working in this
country (I was impressed that so many Americans asked me about Swingoza's
son). Just recently I had a birthday at Junktion and I was very
happy to share it with so many kind people. Of course, the second
anniversary event on 29 March was amazing but the event that gave
me the most impression was the first Junktion anniversary party,
where Yoshi Yamada and U.B. did an incredible job and I was so "high"
that night. I think Osaka is incredibly lucky to have such a fantastic
band as UB.
--Tell us your top 3 songs that you play at any
party.
I am always refreshing my playlist but these are the best three
songs I am playing recently (which are all on the latest SHINE CD,
volume 5):
|
1
|
"Ven pa la Loma" by Casanova.
This is a steady slow-tempo song that begins
with a tres (small guitar-like instrument) which I think everyone
instantly recognizes now. It is a trademark Junktion song. The
tres is beautiful and the strong down beat (cowbell) makes it
a good song for beginners. The title means "Come to the
hill". |
|
2
|
"Nina y Senora" by Jose
Alberto.
This is a remake of the Tito Puente hit. It is
from the album "Diferente" that came out three years
ago but for some reason I only just discovered this fantastic
song. It starts out with the interesting combo of a trumpet
playing over a rumba, then it breaks into a blazing mambo. The
title means "Girl and Woman" and it is about a coquettish
woman being chastised by the singer for breaking his heart. |
|
3
|
"La Musica Es Mi Vida"
by Spanish Harlem Orchestra.
This is a fabulous up-tempo with one of my favourite
vocalists, Hernan Olivera. It is great for listening to the
individual instruments and see how they all come together. For
dancers, I think it is a great song to express oneself using
the individual sounds. The title means "Music is my life"
and the singer is proclaiming how grateful he is to God for
having the talent to sing latin music. It is something that
Hernan Olivera often says in real life, and he truly is one
of the most talented singers of all time. |
--Tell us your three most favourite songs.
That's a tough question. I have had favourite songs come and go
and there are many that are my "favourite" for one reason
or other. But if I think carefully these are my three:
|
1
|
"Lo Bonito Y lo Feo"
by Grupo Niche.
This was my first signature song as a DJ (I used
to play it all the time in Korea). It isn't a very good song
for dancing, but I love the lyrics and. I hardly play it now
but when I do it always really touches me. |
|
2
|
"Tu Me Perteneces" by
Orquesta Libre.
Everyone knows this song because it one of the
main songs played by UB when they do their performances. In
the original, Hernan Olivera's silky voice puts a magical touch
to this captivating mid-tempo song. It is a love song that melts
your heart; the song means "You belong to me." |
|
3
|
"Muneca" by Charlie Palmieri.
I love the piano and both Charlie and Eddie Plamieri
(brothers) drive me crazy with their incredible talent. "Muneca"
means doll, and there are many versions to this song, with this
one by Charlie an amazing example of his piano genius. I can't
keep still if I am listening to it. |
--How many CD’s do you have in your stock?
As a deejay, I think I have very few now, only about 600. I had
a lot stolen a couple months ago and I haven't been able to rebuy
even half of them.
--Please let us know your future plans.
When I get some time I'd like to make a homepage and post information
on salsa artists and songs, to help people learn more about the
music and buy CD's. I am also intersted in making remixes with some
new computer software I just bought. I would also like to work with
some of my colleagues in Osaka and Tokyo in bringing a certain famous
musician (it is a secret) from New York to do a Japan tour.
--Free message please!
I'd like to say that I feel fortunate to be working with salsa in
Osaka. I am grateful to know so many friendly people and I hope
I can contribute, along with other DJs, instructors, and musicians
in developing Osaka as an international salsa city. Perhaps we feel
intimidated by Tokyo but I don't think we are "behind"
Tokyo at all. Osaka has many good-- if not better-- points but we
are just a little short of dancers, especially men. It is a shame.
If we can get more people, especially men into salsa, things would
be even better.
I would also like to encourage people to learn something
about the musicians they are dancing and listening to. Although
there is a language barrier, if you can learn what your favourite
song is about, you will grow more as a salsa dancer and lover. To
start, I recommend that people look at the CD jackets and learn
who the musicians are, starting with the vocalists. Can you tell
the difference between Mark Anthony and Hernan Olivera? How about
the difference between bands such as Son by Four, Grupo Gale and
Orquesta Libre? Exploring the differences will allow you to express
yourself in many ways, and grow with this great music. And there
is no end to learning about salsa.
I would like to thank Amigo Ken for providing his
HP for salsa information in Kansai. Here in Osaka we are lucky to
have it.
|
