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HERE'S
WHAT THEY'RE UP TO ...
By GERRY
GALIPAULT
BIO RITMO: (June 2,
2002):
As
predicted, the jump-and-jive craze of 1998 didn't last long. Cherry
Poppin' Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, what have you done for us
lately?
_files/bioritmo.gif) One survivor from that period is Bio Ritmo, the
Richmond, Va.-based salsa-timba orchestra. Led by Giustino
"Justin" Ricco and Gabriel "Gabo" Tomasini, they're
back on the road this summer and are looking to start work on their
long-overdue follow-up to their critically acclaimed 1998 debut Mercury
LP, "Rumba Baby Rumba."
Pause &
Play recently caught up with member Rei Alvarez for a full Bio Ritmo
update:
P&P -
What have you been up to the past four years?
Alvarez -
"Since '95, Bio Ritmo's musical leader was Rene Herrera. Writing
all the material, he led the group in a modern, jazzier direction, with
complex arrangements, a female singer (Lilian), and more of a Cuban
influence rather than the '70s New York salsa style the band dealt with
the prior five years. Of the CDs recorded, and the band's repertoire
during this time (from '95 to '01), the only arrangement we still play
of Rene's is that of the Cuban classic 'Bilongo.' We're also still
playing songs from the first CD, 'Que Siga La Musica,' released on
Shameless Records in '93. Other than that, we have one new original, 'La
Hamaca,' and our own arrangements of various classic songs, most of
which are picked for their lack of popular recognition, but are, in our
opinion, great and evocative of the style and general aesthetic the NEW
Bio Ritmo has adopted. We have returned to the '70s classic salsa style
that first brought us together, with a better understanding of where we
want to take it. A more solid, simpler arrangement style, with more
concern for a danceable groove."
P&P -
Did you fall victim to the corporate shakeup at Universal?
Alvarez -
"Yes. But also at fault was the deviation from the original style
of the band, which resulted in a loss of a lot of the original fan
base."
P&P -
Tell us about your new album, what fans can expect.
Alvarez -
"There is one last CD the band recorded under Rene, for which we do
not have any plans. Rather, we are preparing to record a new demo CD to
be released soon; we shall keep you posted."
P&P - In
the four years since your last album, what have you learned about the
music biz?
Alvarez -
"That it sucks. But it won't derail us again, nor will it stop us
from doing what we love."
P&P -
What other plans do you have for Bio Ritmo?
Alvarez -
"To function as a creative, musical machine again, with a clear
view of our style and purpose."
BWF (before
we forget): Upcoming Bio Ritmo tour dates - June 8, Norfolk, Va.,
Norfolk Harborfest @ Town Point Park; June 13, Atlanta, Star Community
Bar; June 14, Augusta, Ga., Marbury Center; June 15, Cullowhee, N.C.,
Cullowhee Jazz Fest; June 22, Bridgeton, Va., Green Valley Farm; June
28, Charlottesville, Va., Outback Lodge; June 29, The Plains, Va.,
Estate of Robert Duvall; July 14 (day), Savannah, Ga., Telfair Museum of
Art; July 14 (evening), Hilton Head, S.C., Monkey Business; July 21,
Nags Head, N.C., Don Gatos; Aug. 17, Charlottesville, Va., Starr Music
Hall; Aug. 31-Sept. 1, Johnstown, Pa., Johnstown Folk Festival; Sept.
14, Chesterfield, Va., Heritage AMP @ Pocahontas State Park.
website
www.bioritmo.com
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