Salsafuerte

Salsafuerte is pulsating rhythms, fiery Latino sounds and ingenious jazz improvisations. Salsafuerte is all about powerful high-energy music with intelligent jazz arrangements which will stir every listener's soul. The idea for this explosive mixture was born in that famous melting pot New York, where Afro-Cuban sounds and jazz merge organically to form a unique style producing hot mambos and groovy sons. Musicians of international acclaim came together to form this group in atmospheric jam sessions in the New York Latin club Nuorican. Salsafuerte has been enthralling European audiences twice a year ever since on extensive tours.

Their first album, No Limits, mainly consists of pieces the musicians have composed themselves. The legendary musician and composer Oscar Hernandez wrote the pieces "Fort Apache" and "One for J" exclusively for Salsafuerte.

The saxophonist Klaus Graf, professor of jazz saxophone in Nuremberg and Augsburg, has accompanied artists such as Al Jarreau, Chaka Khan and Phil Collins in concert. Claus Reichstaller, a lecturer in jazz trumpet at the Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich, has played with Connexion Latina and the Paris Reunion Band. Both are members of the SWR Big Band.

The jazz pianist and violinist Gregor Hübner, resident in New York, composes contemporary classic and jazz and is a member of the international jazz trio Beirach, Mraz, Hübner as well as of the world music formation Tango Five.

Bass player Veit Hübner plays in the same group as well as leading his own jazz trio: Hübner has won numerous jazz prizes over the last few years. Joachim Leyh studied percussion in Boston, played with some of the international jazz greats in his time in New York, works with his own trio in Germany and teaches at various renowned institutes.

The percussionist Jerome Goldschmidt teaches at Harbor Conservatory for the performing arts and has already worked with legendary Latin musicians such as Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria and Oscar Hernandez. Percussionist Eric Dürrer currently lives in Amsterdam, studied music for a few years in Havana/Cuba, has played with many famous Latin American artists and leads his own salsa formation. —Courtesy Calabash Music