Music
Press
Latin music like Victor Hugo's is sure to get your body moving. Extraordinary performance by Victor and his band left the crowd calling for more and more. - Singapore International Festival
Victor Hugo the salsa master strikes again with his new album 'El Niche Soy Yo' and then like a lightening bolt releases a diamond of an album, don't miss it. If you only buy one salsa album this year make it Victor Hugo's 'Salsa Pa'America. - Descarga com
Victor Hugo is the real thing, Salsa as you will never have heard it before. The dark and sweet dulcet tones of Victor Hugo will woo you to the dance floor. - Time Out
'Victor Hugo is Mr Salsa Supremo' - Hello Magazine London
Terrific hard salsa by Venezuelan born Victor Hugo recorded in Cali, Colombia. Victor Hugo is backed by members of Grupo Niche, and the band is tight and revved up on high octane with superb Colombia styled coros. This Salsa gem has been available in the UK and now in the USA. Most of the tracks are Hugo originals. Vente Carinito is like dancers gold, and 'El Niche soy yo' is pure white fire. Blam! A killer folks. Highly recommended. - Descarga
Hong Kong had its taste of Salsa and was hooked by Salsero Victor Hugo. Thousands of Salsa aficionados 'to be' spilled onto the streets of Hong Kong to enjoy their first taste of Salsa au plein air. A myriad of red balloons were held aloft in the cool December air to announce the arrival of Salsa to the city as Victor Hugo and his band performed their best dance tunes to the delight of the Hong Kong audience. - Canton Festival Magazine
Discography
Victor Hugo has had a prolific recording career, and has released six salsa albums under his own name, as well as including his music on numerous compilation albums.
The albums
Salsa Perfecta
Que Pasa
Salsa Pa'America
El Niche Soy Yo
Tropicalisimo
Latinoamerica
Oye LAtino
'Victor Hugo keeps churning out the goods. With Que Pasa he proves that he's no fluke embracing the entirety of salsa, a perfect dance club album.
Highly Recommended.' (Descarga.com)
Latinoamerica
Recorded in Germany in collaboration with of piano virtuoso, Armin Keil, this is a Salsa Jazz classic and a Salsa masterpiece.
Salsa Pa'America
This album won two awards in the USA (best Salsa Single and best Salsa Album 2006) and is full of fast-paced percussion rhythms with lots of swing. It's the sound of Caracas and Cali street life fused with the attitude and metropolitan sophistication of the international stage. A collaboration with Grammy Award winners Son de Cali.
El Niche soy yo
'Terrific hard salsa, Hugo is backed here by members of Grupo Niche, the band is tight and revved up on high octane with superb Colombian coro…a must-have.' (Descarga.com)
Tropicalisimo
Salsa Salsa salsa! This is a ground breaking Salsa album by Victor Hugo. Do not miss this Salsa dance floor jewel. Featured in the motion picture Janice Beard and the international Bacardi advert Available behind bars, also featuring the late master percussionist Alex Sarria.
Oye Latino - Salsa de Oro
Recorded live with a strong Cuban influence, well ahead of its time, this is an anthem for the Latino diaspora. The lyrics are a cry for the beloved LatinoAmerica, longed for in self-imposed exile. (destierro).
Salsa con Samba
An early recording that includes a couple of self-penned compositions. Victor performs with pianist Chucho Valdez from Cuba and legendary trumpeter Chocolate Armenteros from Puerto Rico
Photos
Bio
Victor Hugo salsa - A recipe for success
Take one very hot Venezuelan
Add a pinch of Afro-Cuban salsa rhythms
Stir in a hint of Mambo, a squeeze of Merengue, a touch of Jazz
and bring to the boil with some steaming Salsa.
Blend in some sensuous, ethnic Cumbia, modern Reggaeton and
then simmer slowly to a sweet Bolero.
Pour vigorously over the audience, garnish with some spicy salsa dancing
and serve with an abundance of sex appeal - a tu gusto!
The result is hot, and penetrates the senses
with its full tempting flavour.
Take our advice... follow the recipe and taste the experience for yourself..
The Salsa revolutionary, Victor Hugo was born in Caracas, Venezuela, over 150 years after his French namesake. With such a famous name, how could he fail to succeed? This Latino Renaissance man grew up to became a singer, songwriter, producer and director, inspired by his love of Venezuelan, Puerto Rican and Cuban music.
After graduating in the Performing Arts, Victor moved to London to study filmmaking and to continue his musical career. In London, he co-founded King Salsa with percussionist Robin Jones. He then went on to form Victor Hugo & La Clave, one of the original Salsa bands in the UK, with Jim Lemessurier, another London percussionist who collaborated on the new Salsa project.
Victor's big break came when he performed with piano virtuoso Charlie Palmieri in London. Palmieri asked Victor to replace Hector Lavoe on a short European tour. This kick-started Victor's Salsa performing career in Europe. Sadly, Charlie passed away soon after the tour, but not before inspiring and encouraging Victor to pursue a career in Salsa.
Following this, Victor formed his own Latin pop band No Way Jose and released Tequila on Island Records. A huge hit across Europe it went top 40 in over twenty European and American countries. The Latin Thing released later on Faze Records also hit the top of the UK dance charts.
Despite Victor's commercial success with Latin related pop music, he retained his love of Salsa and formed the band, Victor Hugo con Picante. This huge Salsa extravaganza went on the road with over 25 people, musicians and dancers, joining Victor on stage.
Victor recorded his first solo album Oye Latino with Picante. Another album entitled Tropicalisimo, featured master percussionist Alex Sarria from Cali Colombia.
Then, a chance encounter with Grupo Niche resulted in an exciting collaboration with Julio Cortes, pianist with Colombian band Grupo Niche, the album El Niche soy yo followed shortly, recorded with Julio and the band in 2002. This was the first of several albums recorded with 2005 Latin Grammy award winners Son de Cali from Colombia.
Concerts across Europe have seen Victor performing with chart-topping artists The Corrs, Ricky Martin, Ronan Keating and Beverley Knight. He has also shared stages with a who's who of Salsa legends: Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Oscar D'Leon, El Canario, Palmieri, Grupo Niche, Gabino Pampini, Son de Cali, David Pabone, Pedro Conga and Tito Nieves.
Even international royalty have not escaped Victor's South American pizzazz! Royal Brits such as HRH Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince Andrew have all been entertained by Victor's music. These 'by appointment' performances have taken Victor into the Royal Palace of Amman in Jordan, Westminster Cathedral and London landmark St. Paul's Cathedral.
In April 2005 the album Salsa Pa'America, featuring Kike Harvey on the track Viva la Salsa, won Best Salsa Album at the 2006 JPF music awards in the USA, while the song Havanera from the same album, won Best Salsa Song. Victor was also nominated for Best Latin Artist in the UK in 2005.
Few artists are as prolific as Victor Hugo. In 2006 he released a re-mastered version of his most loved album, Latinoamerica, now recognised as a masterful piece of Salsa music arrangement. Armin Keil who collaborated with Victor in this unique, once in a lifetime, musical project, arranged all the songs on Latinoamerica.
His brand new album is entitled Que Pasa and it promises to be yet another commercial success, and today, Victor performs his songs all around the world, or as he says 'wherever the music takes me'.
Victor Hugo is a charismatic performer of international acclaim and is probably one of the best Salsa performers you will ever see and very much in demand.
Victor Hugo la banda is a combination of Latin and Afro rhythms with the traditional Cuban style, modern Salsa, Merengue and Raggaeton; the resulting Super Salsa is an explosion of pleasure for the ears and feet with all the best ingredients of Latin-American dance music. This big sound salsa band is a favourite for Jazz Festivals and World Music events.
Some of the venues where Victor Hugo has performed:
* Africa Oye- Liverpool World music festival (UK)
* ALAF Latin-American Music Festival London (UK)
* An Graining Theatre Lettermen
Links
