Guapacha
Long Beach, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
NEW CD release:
“Something Different” - Live recording.
Our new CD entitled “Something Different”
was just recently released in September 2010 at the Latin American Parade & Festival in Long Beach, CA. Thirteen of our original members participated along with two special guests: Mike Briones and Nelly G. Zamora. It consists of 6 Salsa tracks and 3 instrumental Latin Jazz tracks.
"El Cafecito" by Gilberto Torres and Guapacha. CD released by Discos Dos Coronas (Two Crowns) in 1999
Photos
Bio
Guapacha (gwáa-pah-cháa) was formed in Köln, Germany by Gilberto Torres in 1990. Gilberto Torres is the musical director of Guapacha. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela where he performed with the Simón Bolívar Youth Symphony Orchestra. Later, he moved to Cologne, Germany to study music and that is where he formed Guapacha which toured all over Europe. In 1995, he moved to the United States where he continues to work as a flute player, vocalist, composer, arranger, producer, and teacher. He holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance and Music Education from the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University of Long Beach.
Gilberto gave this Latin Jazz/Salsa band the name of Guapacha in memory of Amado ‘Guapacha’ Borcela. Guapacha was regarded as a Cuban singer of tremendous potential before his death at the age of 32 in 1966. He was an extremely talented musician that didn’t have any difficulties when singing, dancing, laughing, and improvising. Guapacha was known to have a unique musical style in which he liked to mix jazz, guaracha, acting, and improvisation. The word ‘Guapacha’ can mean several different things like ‘happy’ and ‘different’. Gilberto noticed he had something in common with the person and the word ‘Guapacha’ and decided to name his group after them.
Guapacha started touring all over Germany (Berlin, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Köln, Krefeld, Künzelsauer, Leverkusen, Munich, Selm, Uhlhof ) performing Jazz and Latin music. They also worked closely with a German entertainment company called Alba Kultur Aktion. Guapacha had the opportunity to tour and perform internationally in places such as: Amsterdam-Holland, Turkey, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Cuba. They have also participated in the Latin American Festival in downtown Long Beach, California where they released their new CD in the USA called 'Something Different'.
When Gilberto moved to California, U.S.A. he decided to maintain Guapacha alive, with its unique style, by bringing together extraordinary musicians with tremendous talent to interpret Jazz and Latin music for all to enjoy and dance!!!
Guapacha....something different!!!
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