Michael spiro
latest:
Spirology
I have a new band called "Spirology" that I would very much encourage you to check out if you're anywhere near these venues:
April 26th at La Peña in Berkeley 8:00p.m
May 17th at the Pacifica Performances Series in Pacifica, Ca. 7:30p.m.
August 7th at the Community Music Center in San Francisco 7:00p.m.
August 12th at the Sonoma Jazz Festival, downtown Sonoma 7:00p.m
Spirology's repertoire is rather "experimental" in that it fuses the music of the Cuban bata drums with the music of the Cuban charanga genre-- I suppose you could say we play the "Batanzon"--Lukumi rhythms and songs mixed with strings, flute and piano---and traditional danzones played over the bata drums instead of the normal Latin percussion battery. The blending of these styles creates a unique musical adventure, and we encourage both dancers and listeners alike to check out this original musical format.
The band features some of the best charangueros in the Bay Area (John Calloway, Tregar Otton, Miguel Martinez, Steve Senft-Herrera, Remi Spiro, Osvaldo Carvajal, Pablo Caro and Chance Utter) along with some very special guests. You can of course dance all night to our music, or you can listen and appreciate the textures and timbres of this new and creative ensemble.
“EnCantado” Orquesta La Moderna Tradición
“EnCantado”
Orquesta
La Moderna Tradición
Michael is very proud to announce that his charanga band “Orquesta La Moderna Tradicion” has just released a brand new CD entitled “EnCantado”. It was co-produced by Michael and co-band leader Tregar Otton, and features great arrangements, two fabulous singers and stellar musical performances all around. It runs the gamut stylistically from danzon to timba, from rumba and Lukumi music to chachacha, and was mixed beautifully by Michael’s friend and colleague Phil Hawkins who created a lush and elegant sonic palate!
“Los bandos” rumba documentary release and cubadisco nomination
Los bandos: rumba en cazuela - nominated for 2021 cuban grammy!
“Los Bandos”, released in 2021, is a film about the origins of Cuban rumba from the city of Matanzas, featuring the very best rumberos from "Las Atenas de Cuba " (the Athens of Cuba)! "Los Bandos" is half concert/half documentary, and explores the first rumbas sung on the streets of Matanzas from as far back as 1910. These were the songs that eventually gave rise to the rumbas now performed by such world-renowned groups as Los Muñequitos de Matanzas and Afro-Cuba de Matanzas. After many years of discussion and planning with his own music teachers in Matanzas, Michael is thrilled to have finally been able to produce this film with co-producer Joe Galvin.
For more information and to watch the documentary, visit the production website www.ritmostunidosproductions.com/los-bandos.
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