Conjunto 23
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Music
Press
Back when Mokas was called Buffalo Bill's, there were great nights of Greek music. The crowd started out timid, but by the end of the evening everyone was up and on their feet. That sweaty revelry ended long ago, but the restaurant now tops itself with monthly evenings of Cuban music courtesy of Conjunto 23. The dancing is less frenzied, but it's more sophisticated--people actually seem to know the steps. The band plays a remarkably unadulterated mix of son oriental (Cuban dance music from the 1920s and '30s), son montuno (Cuban big-band music), guaracha, merengue, cumbia, cha-cha and more. (This concert features the amazing pianist/vocalist Orlando Fiol.) The band's authentic sound can be attributed to co-directors David Garlitz (who plays tres) and Temple University ethnomusicologist Robin Moore, who have mastered the rare feat of turning the dry teachings of the academy into a vibrant reality. - The Philadelphia Weekly, June 18 2003
Conjunto 23, "Candela" (self-released)
On this local group's debut CD, the quartet plays the well-known "Candela," which has been performed by everyone from Buena Vista to Celia Cruz. But this spare acoustic version makes you feel like you're sitting at an empty bar in Havana, listening to the strains of the song's famous chorus as the sun goes down.
- The Philadelphia Weekly
Discography
The band's first recording was released in the Spring of 2004. The album was funded, in part, by the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Compsers Forum. Check out more tracks at Conjunto23.com
Photos
Bio
Conjunto 23 performs the popular dance music of Cuba- music paved the way for Mambo and Salsa. This is a group for people who appreciate authentic Son Cubano and who love to dance. There is no other band in the area playing this stuff. We draw on the music of the great Soneros Lorenzo Hierrezuelo of the duo Los Compadres, Adela Martinez, Franciso Repilado and Arsenio Rodriguez. The instrumental sound is centered around the Cuban tres, a small folk guitar that plays the characteristic syncopated melodic lines which underly the tunes, rounded out by trumpet, upright bass, bongó, clave and maracas. On top of this, the tunes feature two and three part vocal harmonies and improvised soneos.
Conjunto 23 has received much acclaim since forming in 2001, expanding the son repertoire with creative new arrangements of the classics. They have performed at countless festivals and celebrations at venues up and down the east coast, and in 2003, brought the sound home to Cuba, on a trip that gave them a chance to share their music and learn from the masters.
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