Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Publication:Hola Berks; Date:Dec 13, 2004; Section:Front page; Page:3
Además de música estos músicos ofrecen humor
Por Charito Calvachi Wakefield
Hola, Berks
En el desfile de talento musical de Reading que Hola Berks se ha propuesto exponer, consta hasta aquí una de las más grandes bandas, compuesta por 13 músicos.
Su director y pianista, Luis Colón Jr., expresó, "Todo músico en Swing Natural lo somos porque amamos la música. Nos dedicamos a traer lo mejor de nosotros para la gente, por encima del trabajo, más las familias que tenemos".
Al tiempo de nuestra entrevista, Colón tenía un pequeño descanso con su banda por un fin de semana, pues habían tenido presentaciones sin cesar en el verano.
"La música para nosotros es una medicina. Aunque estemos enfermos toda la semana, una vez que subimos a la tarima se nos va. Y todos tenemos los mismos sueños", aseguró Colón.
Los trece integrantes y sus instrumentos son, Luis Colón Sr, su director musical, quien toca el saxofón alto; Erick Otero, el primer cantante; Charlie Acosta, segundo cantante; José Morales, tercer cantante; Marcos Rivera, bajista; Jesús López, tamborero; Javier Torres, güira; Frankie Torres, conguero; Féliz Moreno, saxofón tenor; Kyle Kettenburg, primera trompeta; Agustín Soler, segunda trompeta; Asmín Peralta, corista; y Danny Milán, sonidista con Escopeta Producctions.
"Tratamos de dar lo que pide el público", informó Colón Jr., y eso les hace "merengueros", como califica él a la banda, tocando salsa, bachata, boleros, baladas, y cumbias.
Sin embargo, aparte de la música, su entrega al público es en una presentación de humor y conexión con su público. Ellos bailan, y cantan. "Los cantantes son tremendos bailarines y animadores. Saben entretener a la gente no sólo con cantar, sino con sus chistes", contó Colón. Fue hace seis años que la banda empezó con siete músicos. A medida que se daban a conocer en Pennsylvania, Nueva York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachussetts, Ohio y Nueva Jersy, con el tiempo y la demanda de la gente, los músicos que conforman el grupo llegó a trece.
Swing Natural se presenta en festivales, cumpleaños, matrimonios, eventos al aire libre, "y hasta divorcios", comentó con un poco de chispa Colón.
El Club Puertorriqueño de Reading y también el Hotel La Cigueña Stork, son los lugares donde se presentan en Reading. El último incluso les ha permitido hacer sus ensayos en su local.
Cintura Con Swing es uno de los cinco temas con el que están empeñados a grabar un disco compacto y cada aspecto es trabajado originalmente por todo el grupo.
"Me gustaría ver que la gente latina de Reading apoye lo que es de ellos, los grupos locales, porque estamos tratando de que ellos puedan disfrutar", concluyó Colón.
La información de contacto es el 610-507-4057 y el correo electrónico osnaguantate@yahoo.com.
Cortesía de Orq. Swing Natural Band De izq., a der., Erick Otero, José Torres y Charlie Acosta, quienes son los cantantes de Swing Natural Band.
- Reading Eagle, Hola Berks
Discography
Llego Tu Swing
Te Fuistes
No Existes El Amor
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Grupo Swing Natural has been together for about 5 years, led by Director/Owner/Pianist Luis Colon Jr., the group first started out as a six piece band then known as Grupo Sabroso, the members of the original group consisted of Luis Colon Sr. (Musical Director/Alto Sax), Mike Rivera (Bass), Frank Torres (Congas), Javier Torres (Guira), Jesus Lopez (Tambora) and of course leader Luis Colon Jr. (Pianist/Lead Singer). Playing all over the Reading, Allentown, Bethlehem areas the group slowly started gaining recognition at all of the small latin bars and clubs. With just a six piece band the fans, owners and promoters who contracted them were amazed out how full there music sounded as mostly they played cover songs in which were recorded by twelve to fourteen piece bands.
As time went bye and the group started getting more and more recognition, and more gigs (a total of just about 120 gigs in total for the first year), the fans started asking for more from them as far, as being a show band, seeing that we had the core of the band and the talent. That is when the group met Erick Otero (Singer) just arriving from Puerto Rico and very eager to show his talent to the group in hopes of being made a member. After a few auditions and practices the band realized that they found themselves not only the lead singer they needed but somebody who can control the crowd and mesmerize them with the use of his microphone. The band saw that in just his first gig. Lead singer at the time Luis Colon Jr. came down with a severe flu and lost his voice and was not able to sing, and basically forced a still not ready Erick with our whole repetoire into action that weekend for a three gig tour. After the first song Erick had the people’s total attention and his liveliness was bringing the fans to there feet dancing and cheering us on like never before. Being satisfied and knowing that it was a major upgrade, the group stood that way for another year. But this time surpassing the total amount of gigs for the year and having an astounding 154 shows.
About another six months went by when Director/Owner Luis Colon Jr. decided that maybe it was time to upgrade it’s band and go for that show stopping look that he always wanted. He hired two backup singers/dancers to join Erick in the front and put on a show both vocally and with there dancing skills. He went with that look for the rest of the year when he saw the determination of his fellow members and decided it was time to start looking for bigger and better things, completely filling out his band to a total of thirteen members, changing their name to OSN (Orq. Swing Natural) and started working on their first compact disc in hopes of making it big and landing a contract deal. The CD is currently in the works and should be ready by Summer of ’05.
The new members now consist of Asmin Peralta (chorus), Charlie Acosta (third vocalist, lead dancer), Jose Torres (second vocalist, dancer) Javier Torres (Guira), Felix Moreno (Tenor Sax), Augustin Soler (Trumpet), Tony Penn (Trumpet), Kyle Kettenburg (Trumpet). Mostly all of the members come with some sort of experience, the director/owner has been playing professional for 14 years, born and raised out of the Brooklyn, NY, he has played at all the major scenes in New York and has played with many major acts out of the NY area, he also performed in Puerto Rico and got a chance to direct a major group in PR for 2 yrs while living out there. Musical Director/Alto Sax Luis Colon Sr. has been playing for over 35 years, born and raised out of Puerto Rico, he too has played in all the major scenes and with a lot of major bands. He is the dad of Director and the “Dad” of this group, everybody respects and loves him and looks to his experience and knowledge of the music for guidance. Then comes bass player Mike Rivera, although a home grown Pennsylvanian, Mike has played for many local groups and has accompanied many major salsa acts while touring in PA. Lead Vocalist Erick Otero has been singing now for a little over 10 years and is a natural entertainer when on the stage and with the mic, this guy is electric, and knows how to get the crowd’s attention. Second Lead Vocalist Jose Torres is the “singer” of the group, this guy could really sing with the best of them and brings a dimension to this band that was lacking with his passionate voice, born in Puerto Rico, he moved to NY and quickly became lead singer of a very popular group and was even able to record with them. Third Lead Vocalist Charlie Acosta, born in Puerto Rico and although this is only his second group, Charlie known to the group as “Chaleco” has quickly become our lead dancer and coreographer, he shakes it with the best of them and brings the energy up to another level. Conga player Frank Torres, born in the Domincan Republic, has many years experience and has played and recorded with many top bands while in Santo Domingo. Guira player Javier Torres, and a
Links
