Hola Salseros,
on August, 11th, I travelled together with other fans to Cologne (Germany)
to see, hear and dance the annual open air Salsa festival,
the "Fiesta Caribe 96". It is the biggest Salsa festival in Germany.
Last year it took place behind a beautiful castle, this year it was a
small island on a lake. And the bands changed it to a tropical island
of the caribbean see.
What a great party it was! There was a wonderful
atmosphere among the "aficionados" from Latin America and Germany
as well as from the rest of Europe. 3000 people came, and that is a
big number for a Caribbean festival in Germany.
We had so much fun and celebrated our "Musica Mas Sabrosa"!
Even one hour of a summer rain could not calm
us down. Everyone was dancing in the rain together with your girl, boy
or your umbrella... Then, in a pause between the
bands, we danced the wet version of "Macarena" in the mud :-) .
Congratulations to the organizers of Fiesta Caribe: they presented fireworks of four of the world's most famous Salsa and Merengue groups.
The first band was the all-women-orchestra "Anacaona" from Cuba. The legendary Orquesta Anacaona was founded in 1932 and made history. Today 12 young professional musicians carry on the tradition. What an attraction for your eyes and ears!
Then came the singer, arranger, producer and composer Kinito Mendez from the Dominican Republic. He already founded 3 success groups: "La Coco Band", "Rokabanda" and "Rikarena"! Imagine the power and rhythm of his merengue which was played by 15 (!) musicians! Kinito Mendez' voice was supported by three good looking male singers who also knew how dance the way today's boy groups of the pop world do. Once again it was clear that Merengue is pure s.. :-) (the word with 3 characters which I don't write out because this article might get censored in the American part of the Internet :-) ).
The 3rd group was "Charanga Habanera", one of Cuba's most famous bands. David Calzado founded it 1988. Although they carry it in their name they did not play Charanga style but a powerful further development of Son and Salsa. The two Cuban bands presented the present and future time of Salsa music. While Anacaona played the state of the art in Salsa and Son music Charanga Habanera showed the musical future where Salsa migth move towards. I think the Cubans are most innovative in Caribbean music. This band I liked most of the four. I was electrified and listened with open mouth, while my heart was jumping... Dressed like wizards with long overcoats they also were the magicians of sound. 13 men fired a musical explosion. Their horn section was cutting and permanently playing only the highest tones. USA's Soul and Funk bands once had such impressing horn sections. Now you find these horns in the Salsa music! I need not explain that the Cubans also play the most varying and complex rhythms (as a conguero I dedicate some part of my life to learning these rhythms...). Furthermore Charanga Habanera gave a perfect show and the best uptempo artistic dancing performances. Break dance met Rumba!
Perhaps the most famous band of the festival was "Grupo Niche". They are Colombia's kings of Salsa, founded 1988 in Bogota'. All the time during their concert the fans were hunting for autographs... Again with a big orchestra of 15 musicians they played perfect Salsa and other styles like Cumbia. In the finale members of "Anacaona" joined Grupo Niche and played some brilliant Solos.
Don't miss the Fiesta Caribe in Cologne next summer!