La Excelencia

La Excelencia / Orquesta SCC

From Left to Right: Yuniel Jimenez, Edwin Perez, Ronald Prokopez, Charles Dilone, Jorge Bringas, Matt Hilgenberg, Rafi Makiel, Christopher Sanchez, Edgar Pantoja-Aleman, [Jose Vazquez-Cofresi], Jesse Alfonso
Background information
Origin New York City
Genres Salsa dura salsa music
Years active 2005–2012 reorganized in 2013 as Orquesta SCC
Labels HWC Productions INC / Salsa Dura Ent.(independent)
Associated acts Orquesta SCC
Website www.orqscc.com

La Excelencia ran from 2005-2012 and in 2013 reorganized under the name Orquesta SCC. Both La Excelencia and Orquesta SCC are salsa dura orchestras created by owner Jose Vazquez-Cofresi in New York City.[1] Orquesta SCC, whose acronym stands for Salsa Con Conciencia (salsa music with conscience) have made it their mission to make music that benefits society in more ways than sound alone can achieve. Orquesta (orchestra) SCC are made up of 11 pieces, making them a modern big band by contemporary standards. They are well known and respected for shunning the traditional suit-and-tie uniform of former-day salsa players, as well as for breaking from many unnecessary traditions in order to recreate the genuine Latin style and sound in a manner that befits the modern era of music. A key component to this new, cutting-edge mode is their attention to lyrical themes, which often deal with the issues and complexities of modern society.[2]

History

In 2000, Jose Vazquez-Cofresi moved to New York City with a promise to sign a salsa CD recording deal with ex-Fania Records and ex-RMM Records & Video employees, including Johnny Pacheco as a music consultant and Herman Rodriguez-Bajandas; the company preferred to invest in the reggaetón boom instead.[3] During this period, Jose Vazquez-Cofresi met lead vocalist-composer Edwin Perez, arranger-bassist Jorge Bringas, percussionist Charles Dilone, trombonist Ronald Prokopez, and pianist Willy Rodriguez, key musicians in the concept of what was to come. In 2005, Jose Vazquez-Cofresi formed La Excelencia, becoming its leader and owner and began to work on the band's first album.[4] Under the label Handle With Care Productions, La Excelencia had released three CDs: Salsa Con Conciencia (Salsa with Awareness/ Conscience), Mi Tumbao Social (My Social Drumbeat) and Ecos Del Barrio (Echoes of the Neighborhood). In addition the BBC did a special of a live performance of La Excelencia at the Barbican Centre in London, also part of Latin Music USA by PBS.[3] After the disappointing album Ecos Del Barrio, the band felt they had drifted away from their original sound and decided to end La Excelencia in 2012 with a final world tour.[5]

The Rebirth

In October 2012, composer lead vocalist Edwin Perez went to speak with composer and conguero Jose Vazquez-Cofresi about putting the band back together. Perez offered to pay for the new production out of pocket if Vazquez-Cofresi would pay the musicians to record; both agreed. Soon after Perez & Vazquez-Cofresi began to individually work on new songs and by December they met up with arranger and bassist Jorge Bringas to arrange their music. Around the same time former members of La Excelencia; Jose Vazquez-Cofresi, Edwin Perez, Jorge Bringas, Charles Dilone, Ronald Prokopez, Yuniel Jimenez, plus other musicians that toured as La Excelencia would reunite to become Orquesta SCC. The band immediately began to rehearse the new songs that would be recorded on the new album to come. Orquesta SCC signed with Salsa Dura Entertainment, a joint venture between Edwin Perez & Jose Vazquez-Cofresi to release their fourth album working together and first album under the new band name.[6]

First Album

In January 2013 Orquesta SCC began recording the album at Skylight Studios in New Jersey with engineer Guido Diaz.[6][6] With the help of Edwin Perez as Executive Producer, Orquesta SCC began to record with hopes to recapture their original sound that made them popular.[5] The new album would be named 'Renacimiento' a name meaning both 'rebirth' and 'Renaissance.[2] 'Renacimiento' was originally released in October 2013 and is composed of 11 original tracks for an approximate total listening time of 50 minutes.[2] The album includes arrangements by Jorge Bringas, compositions by Edwin Perez, and Jose Vazquez-Cofresi.[6]

Present

In 2014 Orquesta SCC started a world tour that helped land them on the cover of Vida Latina Magazine. The band also recorded a live DVD; Los Reyes De La Salsa Dura (The Kings of Salsa Dura) filmed in Milan, Italy at the Latino Americando Expo. The DVD was released for free on YouTube as a token of appreciation to Orquesta SCC's fans. The concept to give the DVD for free came from the a long awaited DVD that La Excelencia never released. As former members of La Excelencia, Orquesta SCC felt that a DVD was owed to their fans and that it should be given for free.[6] Highlights of the 2014 world tour include Orquesta SCC as one of the headliners at the Festival Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico, being one of the first salsa bands to perform in Moscow, Russia, headlining the Zurich Salsa Congress and the Afro-Latino Festial in Belgium. In 2015, Festival International of salsa in Boca del Rio, Veracruz, Mexico announced Orquesta SCC would headline the festival representing the salsa dura sounds of New York City. Sources also confirmed that Orquesta SCC will headline Lincon Center's Midsummer Night Swing in 2015.[7]

Discography

Salsa Con Conciencia (2006) as La Excelencia

  1. La Lucha - ( J.S.)
  2. Solo Sin Amor - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  3. Sentencia - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  4. El Tiempo en tus Manos - ( R. Leslie)
  5. La Salsa y el Guaguanco - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  6. Estoy - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  7. El Loco - ( J.S.)
  8. Cada Dia - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  9. Hijo de los Rumberos - ( J.S.)
  10. Boogalu Pa' Colombia ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  11. La Lucha Remix (Featuring Shanny) - ( J.S.)

Mi Tumbao Social (2009) as La Excelencia

  1. Salsa Dura - ( J.S.)
  2. Ahora Que Te Tengo Aquí - ( J.S.)
  3. Deja De Criticar ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  4. Por Tu Traición (Salsa Version) - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  5. Aña Pa' Mi Tambor - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  6. American Sueño - ( J.S.)
  7. Duelo De Bongo - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  8. Caminando - ( J.S.)
  9. Vendió Su Corazón - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  10. Unidad - ( J.S.)
  11. Por Tu Traición (Bolero Version) - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)

Ecos Del Barrio (2012) as La Excelencia

  1. Intro
  2. Pa'l Mundo Entero - ( J.S.)
  3. Dale Otra Opportunidad - ( E. Perez)
  4. Nueva York Sin Ti - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  5. Guerrero - ( J.S.)
  6. María - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  7. Entre Espinas - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  8. La Economía (Album Version) - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  9. Anoche Soñé Contigo - ( J.S.)
  10. Vagabundo - ( J.S.)
  11. Iyáñlá - ( J. Vazquez-Cofresi)
  12. Descarga La Excelencia (Tsumugi) - (T. Kajiwara)

Renacimiento (2013) as Orquesta SCC

  1. Yo Los Invito a Gozar - (Music & Lyrics by Edwin Perez, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  2. A Mi Estilo - (Music & Lyrics by Jose Vazquez-Cofresi, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  3. Original Y Sin Copia - (Music & Lyrics by Edwin Perez, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  4. Dejala Que Baile - (Music & Lyrics by Jose Vazquez-Cofresi, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  5. El Montuno De La Verdad - (Music & Lyrics by Edwin Perez, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  6. La Peleona - (Music & Lyrics by Edwin Perez, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  7. La Salsa Que Traigo - (Music & Lyrics by Jose Vazquez-Cofresi, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  8. Pancho Rumba - (Music & Lyrics by Edwin Perez, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  9. Son Son Son Sonero - (Music & Lyrics by Edwin Perez, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  10. Basta Ya - (Music & Lyrics by Jose Vazquez-Cofresi, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)
  11. Alboroto En El Barrio - (Music & Lyrics by Jose Vazquez-Cofresi, Arrangement by Jorge Bringas)

DVD

Los Reyes De La Salsa Dura (The Kings of Salsa Dura) 2014 as Orquesta SCC

  1. Interview
  2. Dejala Que Baile
  3. La Salsa y el Guaguanco
  4. La Peleona
  5. El Montuno De La Verdad
  6. Pancho Rumba
  7. Latin Percussion Solos
  8. Deja De Criticar
  9. Son Son Son Sonero
  10. Boogalu Pa' Colombia (Encore)

Orchestra Members

Former Orchestra Members

Awards and nominations as Orquesta SCC

Awards and nominations as La Excelencia

References

Bibliography

  1. ↑ Biography La Excelencia. 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 News
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 The New York Times: Rother, Larry, "La Excelencia", Rohter, Larry. "From New York, a Salsa Group With Street Cred", page C1 of the New York edition, (July 15, 2010)]
  4. ↑ Latin Beat Magazine Inc: Yglesias, "La Excelencia", page 28.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Review
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Biography
  7. ↑
  8. ↑

External links

Official website

Notes