Artists - Performers - Special Guests - Special Events

Here is a list of Artists, Performers, Special Guests & Special Events already confirmed at the Festival:

                    

Ricardo Murillo & Viviana Vargas - 'Stilo y Sabor'
2005 twice World Salsa Dance Champions from Cali Colombia / Current 2009-2010 Team World        Salsa Dance Runners Up

Ricardo & Viviana's story reads like a fairy tale. in 2005 Ricardo & Viviana surprised everyone in the world Salsa dance scene by winning first, in the World Salsa Federation and then the 1st Annual World Salsa Dance Championships title in the Cabaret Divison, event where they entered at the last moment invited by the organiser Albert Torres, who was very impressed by these realtively unknown Colombian dancers.

Ricardo & Viviana's achievement meant that the world Salsa dance scene were now taking notice, of the distinctive Salsa style of dancers from their native city Cali. Since then they have become true ambassadors for their country, travelling widely around the world, promoting Cali Salsa style and the warmth, exhuberance and happiness of their country Colombia.

Their reputation in Colombia has been enhanced by their involvement as lead dancers with international Salsa and circus show 'Delirio', Cali's Salsa answer to Cirque du Soleil. Their Salsa school 'Stilo y Sabor' has become one of the best Salsa schools in Cali, no small achievement in a city boasting over a hundred Salsa dance schools and some of the best Salsa dancers in the world; 'Stilo y Sabor' Salsa dance school led by Ricardo & Viviana finished Team Runners Up in the last Annual World Salsa Dance Championships in the US last December. Unable to attend, please see programme for notice.


Alejandro Ulloa

Anthropologist, linguist and Salsa specialist from Cali - Colombia, will be presenting his new book
'La Salsa en Discusion', as well as chairing lectures about the history of Salsa music.  Ulloa's new book constitutes a debate of the various academic theoretical studies of Salsa, written by authors of different countries: Leonardo Acosta in Cuba, Cesar Miguel Rondon in Venezuela, Angel Quintero Rivera in Puerto Rico, Vernon Boggs in New York, amongst others, as well as his own personal theoretical views about the subject. 

Ulloa's  first book 'La Salsa en Cali' 1992, was a breakthrough study on popular culture's uses and practices, an almost unexplored topic in the country before the 1990's. In this book Alejandro Ulloa traces back the origins and development of Cali's obsession with Salsa music and dance.

Alejandro Ulloa is Professor of Social Communications at Universidad del Valle in Cali, he is member and director of the research group 'Palo de Mango - Culturas Musicales Urbanas de la diáspora afrolatina', the other members of the group are Agustín Laó sociologist and Professor from the University of Massachussets and    Ángel Quintero Rivera Puerto Rican sociologist and professor from the Universidad de Puerto Rico. 'Palo de Mango' research group created in 2008, by combined efforts aims to further develop cultural research and study of the black musics of Latin America and the Caribbean.


'Celia the Queen' - Film documentary
2008 Joe Cardona & Mario de Varona US
Legendary Afro Cuban diva Celia Cruz was a woman whose voice symbolized the soul of a nation. Her reign as the queen of salsa, surrounded her with some of the most important 1970s-era figures of the genre. Her trademark cry ¡Azúcar! became known across Latin America. When she arrived in the United States, she started a second, even more successful career fueled by her partnerships with salsa greats Tito Puente, Willie Colon and Johnny Pacheco.

Directors Joe Cardona and Mario de Varona use archival footage of both Celia and her loving husband, Pedro Knight, to tell the inspiring story of a little girl from Havana who became an international diva. Interviews with David Byrne, Gloria Estefan, Andy Garcia, Wyclef Jean, Quincy Jones, and others who knew her, loved her and have been influenced by her, paint an intimate portrait of the life, times and music of salsa’s indisputable queen.

Erupting onto the Cuban music scene as the frontwoman for La Sonosa Mantancera, Celia Cruz broke down all the barriers of racism and sexism. With the powerful weapon of her voice and the warm tolerance of her heart, Celia soon became all things to all people. This film will show the diversity of the people whose lives she touched, from the big stars of music, literature and film like Quincy Jones, Andy Garcia and Wyclef Jean to ordinary people all over the world. Even in death, Celia Cruz represents life.



'Beats of the Heart: Salsa' Film documentary 
1979 Jeremy Marre - Producer of Latin Music USA
Salsa is the vibrant dance music and musical lingua franca of the Latin communities in New York and other cities in the US as well as the islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia to a great extent – and this film exposes the roots and meaning of Salsa through the voices of its greatest exponents. Over the past 25 years, Salsa has profoundly influenced jazz and pop music and provided a style of walking, talking and dancing for the Latin community.

From the barrios of New York City to the Caribbean, Salsa with fantastic footage captures Latin music in all its joy and improvisational brilliance. Celia Cruz shown in rehearsal with her elegant choreography, elliptical phrasing and piercing vocals set the standard for all Salsa singers; Tito Puente performs with his band in the barrio; Ray Barreto plays bongos at a barrio wedding, while Ruben Blades demonstrates how politics and music can work together, he is matched by ex-young Lord member Felipe Luciano who puts the music at the centre of the urban Latino experience in New York . The drumming of the secretive Santeria cult shows the influence of African culture that underpins all Salsa and that gives spiritual power to its message.

Artists featured include: Ray Baretto, Willie Colon and band, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Ruben Blades, Charlie Palmieri.

 Special Event: 'Voices of Latin Rock'

* Presentation of the book 'Voices of Latin Rock' by its author Jim MacCarthy, a chronicle of the development of this style in San Francisco, a style combining a fusion of Latin music, Salsa and Rock developed mainly by youn Latino musicians in the late 60's and 70's and epitomised by Carlos Santana
   

Directly from the Mission District in San Francisco, the explosive fusion of Latin, salsa and rock is chronicled from a writer who has followed the music and the musicians for over 30 years. The book covers the stories of prominent Latin rock bands including Santana and Malo, examining in detail the pioneering records and the ways in which both reflect a wide spectrum of Latin influences.

It highlights the cast of characters and emerging period in the US during the late '60s, with all the cultural background events including the Summer of Love, Woodstock, political activism, and the record label expansion. Legendary figures such as Bill Graham, Clive Davis and the Escovedos family play crucial roles in the development of this sound.

As Latin music continues to become more mainstream, the interest in its musical roots grows. This book sheds light on these musical pioneers, and is gorgeously illustrated with over 800 B&W photos by Jim Marshall, Rudy Rodgriguez, Joan Chase and others, plus artwork of dozens of rare album covers. Include color photo section and foreword by Carlos Santana.
 

Clave Latina Fest also promotes the local talent, thus the Festival will feature an array of some of the best Latin music, dance and DJ talent from the UK, they are important agents that help to keep Latin culture healthy and vibrant.