Exceptional Release
Orquesta Sensación
Una Sola
“What a pristine charanga release, replete with groove, drive, sabor and funk. The venerable Cuban charanga orchestra returns. These great Cuban orchestras never die...”
Now available at Amazon.com & iTunes
Orquesta Sensación has more than 50 years of existence and is considered one of the most important orchestras in Cuban musical history. The Orquesta with its charanga format, and currently with a new generation of musicians who come from various schools of music in Cuba, has not lost the sonority, the repertoire and the authenticity of its founders.
The beginning of the Orquesta Sensación a goes back to August 23, 1953, when three musicians, Miguel Santacruz, Juan Esquijarroza and Eloy Martínez approached Rolando Valdés to present him with the idea of organizing a charanga orchestra. Although at the beginning Rolando Valdés did not agree with this idea since he considered that "Arcaño y sus Maravillas", Arsenio Rodríguez and the "Melodías del 40" orchestras were in fashion at that time on the popular dance music scene. Three months later, when he realized these orchestras were giving way to the "cha-cha-chá" genre created by Enrique Jorrín and popularized by the America Orchestra, he finally decided to establish and direct the Orquesta Sensación based on a new concept: the musicians would play standing and the singers would perform as soloists, unlike the Aragón orchestra which used three voices at the same time. With this new format, Orquesta Sensación made its debut with ten musicians eager to succeed.
Orquesta Sensación’s first recordings were made with Celio González, but the orchestra achieved its first resounding hit with Cheo Junco, Rolando and Alfonsín Quintana, and with the piece "Sevent Boy." The second hit was "Arráncame la vida," with Luis Donald, Gerardo Pedroso and Rolando Valdés. In 1955, the popularity of the group was enhanced by the addition of the famous singer Abelardo Barroso (1905-1972) and the performance of "En Guantánamo." Then came a long series of recordings: "El guajiro de Cunagua", "El brujo de Guanabacoa", "El panquelero", "El huerfanito", "La hija de Juan Simón", "Ta tá cansá", "Bruca Manigua", "La milonga" and many others.
In 1958 Orquesta Sensación daringly introduced something completely unusual in a charanga orchestra, the incorporation of three elements in its brass section: Generoso Jiménez (trombone), Enemelio Jiménez (saxo) and El negro Vivar (trumpet). However, 1957 constitutes the most important year for this Orchestra, in which they were considered the most broadcast orchestra on radio. They also performed at four daily dance events, made presentations on regular television programs and performed on international tours, which included the United States, Venezuela, Canada and Africa; aside from obtaining innumerable awards, recording and receiving several golden records.
Orquesta Sensación is currently directed by Víctor Rodríguez Herrera Fernández, a young talent who preserves its original identity closely following Rolando Valdés' suggestions, and who is always acclaimed in each of its presentations. Its sonority, still the same, is nevertheless renewed with contemporary concepts, always having its origins in mind. Likewise, to follow its tradition, Orquesta Sensación has Israel Núñez Barroso as a singer who interprets the songs the same way the beloved Abelardo Barroso did… Its presentations in renowned night centers in Havana, as well as in national and international events and festivals endorse the current work of the Orquesta Sensación as an appealing proposal that has lasted for more than 50 years with its same original authenticity, once more proving that good music never gets old.
To listen to and/or purchase Orquesta Sensación's CD
‘Una Sola: The Great Orquesta Sensación’ go to:
Amazon.com
iTunes
CubaMusic.com
MallCubano.com
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