 How, why and when did you get into salsa?
Went to Venezuela to see the tepuis and was exposed to Salsa, Merengue and Cumbia via a Venezuelan called Harold. The music was everywhere we went. In clubs, bars, on the street and at the Friday night dances in village halls. You could buy compilations from guys wheeling supermarket trolleys full of cassettes and with two big speakers hanging off the sides pumping out the tunes.
I first heard Oscar d’Leon on one of these tapes. I brought some back to Birmingham. This was when Salsa clubs were just getting going here in the early 90s. Zuppa Inglese had a night and there were parties at Los Andes. My partner, Julia was in the Caramba! Salsa troupe along with Liz, Glyn, Maverick, Debby, Zak, Joanne, Chris and a certain Mauricio.
Mauricio was getting Latin Motion at Heroes under way so I ended up djing alongside him, Juan, Zara and Glyn using the tapes and a very small collection of CDs. The London shop, Mr Bongo was a big influence on local Salsa at the time with its regular shipments of imports.
Who first taught you to dance salsa?
Dora, Andrea, Joanne, Zara, Mauricio and Margaret all tried to!
Who/what first got you into the Djing?
I’ve always been involved in music in some form. Used to play in bands of the guitars and drums type. Joined Sound Ideas music collective. Moved into dance/electronic units with drum machines, samplers and synths with the emphasis on strong rhythms, chants and tunes.
As you can imagine, there were few local venues to play this at, so we did the Mass warehouse parties in Hockley where we would DJ early House, Detroit Techno, Belgian New Beat and Industrial dance. Juan Atkins, where are you now? In between we’d play live sets. Then I went to Venezuela followed soon after by Cuba. I haven’t been quite the same since!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I like to work for a few weeks with a selection of good tracks playing around with different sequences, searching for that perfect arc. Occasionally I find it and then it’s time to move on and give new finds an outing.
Who do you admire?
Tito Puente, Oscar d’Leon, Baaba Maal, Thomas Mapfumo, Franco, Joni Mitchell, Brian Eno, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Roger Federer, Justine Henin, Bill Hicks, Roseanne Barr, Mike Judge and on and on . . .
What’s your favourite track at the moment?
Tan Bella - Andy Montañez
What are your all time favourite tracks?
Way too many to list but here’s a flavour:-
Castellano, Que Bueno Baila Usted – Oscar D’Leon
Temba, Tumba y Timba – Los Van Van
Yamulemao – Laba Sosseh
Yay Boy – Africando
Mulata – Melcochita
Juliana – Tobaco y Ron
Agua – Bobby Valentin
Que Me Hiciste Tu - Tito Nieves
Pobre Diabla – Don Omar
Amarte es un problema – Charlie Cruz
As you can tell, I like a good song
What are your favourite albums?
El Gran Combo - Nuevo Milenio, El Mismo Sabor and 30 Aniversario – Bailando con el Mundo
Los Nemus del Pacifico – Son Montuno’s Groove
Bobby Valentin – Rey del Bajo
Wayne Gorbea’s Salsa Picante – Fiesta en el Bronx
. . . and many more.
What was the last CD you bought?
Smash - Jackson and his Computer Band
What music is in your car/cd player/tape player at the moment?
Salsa.IT Vol 1. Thanks again, Jo!
Who are your favourite artists?
El Gran Combo, Los Van Van, Tito Nieves, Africando, Bobby Valentin, Wayne Gorbea, Latin Brothers, Los Nemus, Diego Gale and on and on . . .
If you were not a successful Promoter/Teacher/DJ, what would you be doing instead?
Something else to do with music like playing it, recording it, remixing it.
Tell me something most people wouldn’t know about you?
I’m addicted to Tennis.
What’s your all time favourite salsa club/event that you have played/taught/danced?
It has to be Club Candela. It starts when you enter that room in all its mock colonial splendour. The people are like family and they have broad tastes so you don’t feel tied down with what you can play. Candela always re-charges my Salsa batteries. Thanks to Liz, the crew and the dancers.
What has been your most memorable moment?
Can I have three moments, Mel?
First, Janet and Rafael performing at Candela. Second would be Tito Puente and Celia Cruz in Birmingham – a revelation. Third is Oscar d’Leon at Hammersmith Palais.
Have you had any embarrassing/nightmare-ish moments in salsa?
There’s nothing quite like that collective groan/jeer from a room full of dancers when CDs jump or stick. I’d done a mashup of Playa No More and Get Ur Freak On which I played at Candela for the first time. Unfortunately, the bass lift I’d given it (which sounded great at home) made the track skitter and jump in a very non-clave way. Playing it since is always a brown trouser moment.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Something Zara (diva and singer with Como No) used to say to Mauricio and me: ‘You have a big responsibility as djs. What you play is what people here will think Latin music is’. OMG, boy you got to carry that weight!
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