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By Edie, The Salsa FREAK
I can hear it...
…distant Drum beats
Now, the faint sound of soft Trumpets start, and then gently fade into silence. Suddenly Timbales chant a familiar beat over and over again. Out of nowhere, Bass Violins and Saxophones resonate a sexy, romantic rhythm. Congas and a sole Clave add the final elements to the beautiful sounds of tropical music….
The mystical sounds of Salsa!!
What would we do without the music? Stop and think for a moment. What would our lives be like? Those precious sounds have changed lives and prevented wars. They’ve fashioned history, simplified the present, and have shaped our future.
Albert Torres has done it again. He has single-handedly masterminded a Musician’s Seminar specifically for budding musicians who will be the future of Salsa music for years to come. The concept of a Musician’s Seminar is something entirely new and uniquely different from other congresses the world over. This history-making, unprecedented event will take place at the 6th Annual West Coast Congress, 2004.
Cultivating future musicians is a dream Albert Torres has always had. He is often quoted as saying, “Without the musicians, the music will die.” He’s right. Where would that leave us as dancers? Performing routines to the same old music we’re always hearing over and over again? Dancers are always on the hunt for new and exciting music for their performance routines. As Salsa lovers, we all need to take part in supporting budding musicians by providing a means of resources and ideas. Albert Torres Musician’s Seminar is just the beginning.
Open to all ages, the West Coast Congress’ Musician’s Seminar will be
conducted by some of the world’s leading Salsa/Mambo Musicians.
Musical Director Oscar Hernandez and Honorary Musical Director,
the living Legend, Johnny Pacheco were chosen to direct and coordinate
the seminar. Each class will cover specific instruments, ranging from
Piano, to Percussion, to Singing, and everything in between.
Upon completion of the class, each student will receive a
Certificate of Attendance signed by every legendary instructor involved
with the event.
After the seminars, the instructors will select one to two students
from their class to participate and be a part of the West Coast
Congress band. Rehearsals start Wednesday (May 26th) and
Thursday, (May 27th).
What is unprecedented is that on Thursday night, the 6th Annual
West Coast Salsa Congress will open up with the band of selected
student musicians and singers from the seminar! They will
perform a live performance that night and be joined during the
encore by their legendary instructors.
Below is a preliminary list of just some of the master instructors of
the Musician’s Seminar: Click on names below to get their profiles...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am very proud to introduce to you, Mr. Albert Torres. Edie: How did you come up with the idea of a Musicians Seminar? Albert: As a lover of live Salsa music, I am aware of the recent losses we have had with the passing of Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Compay Segundo, Tite Curet Alonzo and many other great latin musicians and arrangers. I also noticed we had no farm system to cultivate a new generation of singers and musicians. So the idea of the 1st Annual ATP Musicians Seminar came to me. Using the West Coast Salsa Congress as the back drop I felt it would be a great opportunity to launch this idea. Edie: What motivated you to create the idea? Albert: As I mentioned before, I think I was initially motivated out of fear that I was going to wake up in ten years and we would be listening to the same music over and over again because we had not taken the time to motivate and create an opportunity for some great singers, arrangers and musicians that are out there but don't have a place to be discovered. We need to create an atmosphere to help their talents be seen and heard and have their dreams come true. Edie: When you approached some of the legendary musicians with this idea, what was their reaction? Albert: The reaction was totally positive! Comments like "It was about time", "If anyone can do it, you're the guy". Edie: Albert, you are truly making history here. Why do you feel this is so important? Albert: Just like a garden needs to have seeds planted, then watered, trimed and taken cared for. I think this is so important to the history of our music, so that we have a way of finding the talent that is out there, educate them through the experience of the masters like the ones running these workshops, and then giving them the opportunity in front of a great crowd on the opening night of the congress to show their stuff. This is the future. It reminds me of the opportunity that Fania gave to some young musicians in the 70's and 80's when they selected some talent from different bands and created the Fania All Stars. The rest is history. This opportunity is similar but instead of just giving the opportunity to pre selected musicians, this opportunity is open to all aspiring or experienced musicians, singers and arrangers from all over the world. This has never been done. With the support of everyone involved this I feel can be the beginning of the future of this music with some great new talent being guided by the living legends that have believed in me and this project. Edie: Are there any age limitations? Albert: Open to all ages. We need to remember that our youth needs to be kept motivated through the dance and the music. They are our future! This is another opportunity for our youth. Edie: What should the students expect when they get there? Albert: They should expect to take advantage of an opportunity of a lifetime. To be in a room limited to only 15 students, with a living legend on their particular instrument or on the vocals teaching not only the group but getting individual attention from the instructor. An opportunity to be part of the 1st Annual ATP Musicians Seminar Salsa Band and perform under the direction of Oscar Hernandez and Johnny Pacheco. This is a musicians dream. In addition they will take home a certificate of attendance that that will cherish forever. Edie: Do the students have to provide their own instruments? Albert: They should be able to provide their own instrument. Edie: What if a "potential" budding musician doesn't know any musical instrument, but is eager to learn? Can they attend as well? Albert: For sure. This is open to all lovers of the music. They will benefit from what will be taught and will be able to take the info home and work on it all year and hopefully attend the seminar next year and particapate a little more. Edie:Do all the students need to be able to read sheet music? Albert: Horns, Piano & Bass Need to read sheet music. For all others it would be helpful but not necessary. Edie: Do the student soneros / singers also have to be able to read sheet music? Albert: No Edie: Is there a scholarship program in the midst for these budding musicians? Not that I know of. I just created a non profit company call El Baile De Los Ninos. One of the many goals and the mission statement of this non profit company is to put together a scholarship program that corporations as well as individuals can donate money to so through these funds we can then help aspiring musicians of all ages and to support events that will benefit childrens dance teams around the world. We just got our non profit status for that company last week. Edie: Is there a possibility of the student(s) being hired to join and tour with some of the bands afterward? Albert: This all depends on their talent. But the answer is Yes. As we have seen unknown dancers perform at the West Coast Congress and then become household names around the world, we hope to see the same thing happen with these musicians. Edie: Do you regret you didn't think of this sooner? Albert: I think everything happens for a reason. It also happens when it is suppose to happen. So on that point I don't regret not starting this sooner. On the other hand if I was to regret anything in regards to the timing of the seminar, I regret that Tito Puente is not alive to be a part of it. He was always supportive of my ideas as he was with Eddie Torres and his dancers. He gave us the treat of attending the 1st West Coast Salsa Congress and made it a point to tell me that he would continue attending and supporting the event annually in any way possible. So I am sure he is watching from above and is hopefully proud of what we are trying to accomplish by keeping the music alive. I say we because the idea may have been mine, but without the support of the musicians involved with this project, my wife, Maya, my hard working staff, and people like you that are informing the public of this great event, it would not have become a reality. I also want to thank all the musicians that came ahead of us that have left us a legacy of priceless music to work with.
Edie: Where do you think this could take Salsa music in the future? Albert: My desire and what I see for the future is Salsa music being played, performed and danced all over the world. At this time we have musicians and singers registered for the musicians semiar that are coming from Japan, Australia, all parts of Europe and all over the United States. We still have openings, and I really believe that musicians and lovers of this music should take advantage of being a part of history but also part of the future of this music. Edie: We miss Tito Puente dearly. Will the bands cater to dancers ever again in the future? Albert: I not only miss Tito Puente but miss Celia Cruz also. I am so happy that through the help of Luis Falcon we will be able to honor Celia and her husband Don Pedro Knight on Saturday night at the Congress. Don Pedro and Celia have always been supportive of the musicians and of creating new music for the dancers. I hope the bands will continue catering to the dancers. I will continue to do my part as the manager of Johnny Polanco, as many of you know his band caters to the dancers. Other bands that I feel are always thinking of the dancers are, Johnny Pacheco, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Jimmy Bosch, Frankie Morales, Soneros Del Barrio, El Canario, Oscar D Leon, Gran Combo, Roberto Roena, Sonora Poncena, Sonora Carruseles, Son Boricua, Willie Rosario, Fruko, Niche, & Los Van Van. These are the first that come to mind. There are many others but I need to keep this short. Edie: Can the general dancing public offer suggestions at this event? For example, type of music needed for performing and competing, non vocal salsa / mambo songs. More percussion based songs (with no vocals), short, 2 minute pieces tailored to competitions, short 3-4 minute songs tailored to dance nightclubs, understanding that dancers get exhausted and turned off by a 15 -20 minute jam? Albert: I hear what you are saying and have started talking to the musical directors about these concerns. I don't think I will have a chance this year during the musicians seminar for the audience to bring it up as in a format of a question and answer period, but I will look into it. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions on all topics to Johnny & Cookie Pacheco on Sat from 12-1PM and Manny Oquendo & Andy Gonzalez on Sun from 12-1PM. It is not every day we get to be a part of history and a part of the future of this great music. I strongly suggest musicians and dancers of all levels to not let this opportunity slip by. Of those attending the seminar, the instructors will hand select musicians that will practice on Wednesday and Thursday under the direction of Oscar Hernandez and Johnny Pacheco. They will then be part of the opening band of the congress on Thursday night and be joined on stage by all of the instructors involved with the seminar for a final Jam Session. A chance of a lifetime! Thank you for allowing me to see my dream of Salsa Music & Dancing grow worldwide. "Que Viva La Salsa" Albert Torres , Creating Unity Through Salsa For reprints of this Interview, please contact Albert at albert@atpevents.com
Albert and Maya can be reached at albert@atpevents.com or maya@atpevents.com or visit him on the web at www.alberttorresevents.com.
ATP, Inc.
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