Cambalache comparte ritmo y sabor

By VICTORIA HERNANDEZ
El Hispanic News

     While many still still discuss the issue of the true origin of salsa music, others are conquering remote places in the United States that the mix tropical beats and tunes has not yet reached.
     Certainly, salsa music has deep roots that reach back to countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia without

forgetting its influences in New York and Miami. It seems salsa may be on its way to conquering our entire hemisphere, and moving beyond it as well.
     A decade ago, it was difficult to find a good quality salsa band in the Pacific Northwest. Not many people were familiar with the words salsa, rico, azucar and sabor. Now one hears these terms set to music and automatically starts dancing.
    Going far beyond the fun terms used to describe this type of music, the goal of many salsa bands is to accentuate genre's deeper musical meaning. That belief is the significance of this music has led some groups to become pioneers in distant places, reaching various communities in this area of the country.
    For Cambalache, the recent growing popularity for salsa has only become a challenge to overcome. The band seeks to create the best salsa possible , knowing that they might be the first to disperse this music in some of the areas they reach.
    Cambalache was born in 1999 in Seattle Wash. The band emerged from a formation of a friendship between Pancho Chavez and Camilo Suarez.
    The two knew they wanted to start a band, but came across some problems when they tried to decided a name. Looking closely at the infamous keywords of the genre -- salsa, sabor, and azucar -- they infused these three together and created Cambalache. but there was more than to the name that merely the significance of those three words. "Cambalache means to share," says Chavez who leads the band and serves as a vocalist.
    According to Chavez "In Latin America we use the word Cambalache to describe the actions of partying.. In other words," he says "it describes some type of social disarray where the main goal is to have fun."
    But having fun is only a fraction of what Cambalache tries to inject into its audiences with each performance. Chavez considers Cambalache's  main goal to be sharing our culture with other cultures in the United States."
    "We have committed ourselves to continuing and preserving the salsa tradition," he says.
    Since its debut, Cambalache has challenged and redefined the characteristic sounds of salsa in this part of the United States.
    But what really sets this band apart from the others? "The musical concept is what makes us different from the other bands," says Chavez. "We play classical salsa with 'mucho sabor' with class and with a lot of energy."
    It is a blend of great classical salsa and contemporary tunes that seduces their audiences. Chavez says the band is "never afraid to incorporate new ideas, or to drop others that have been exploited.
    The group's philosophy is to offer latest and freshest salsa music and movements. "Cambalache eclectic style is an embodiment of the richness and diversity of Latin America," says Chavez.
    While the band obviously finds a lot of joy in their
music, setting themselves apart has not been without its challenges.
    "It has taken a lot of work and dedication," says Chavez, "but with a good musical concept and great business management, we have achieve something that no other orchestra has acquire in the Northwest."
    As a matter of fact, in 2001 Cambalache was one of the bands chosen to perform at the baseball All Star game in Seattle before a massive audience of 55,000 people. In the year 2002 , the band had performed 100 concerts, including shows at the most famous festivals in the Northwest.
    And just a few weeks ago Cambalache was selected to appear on Seattle's FOX affiliate as one of the five best orchestras in the Northwest.
    According to Chavez, the best part of of being is this field is having the opportunity to take their music to remote places were people don't hear much salsa, such as Coos bay , Ore.; Juneau, Alaska; or Port Townsend , Wash.
    Cambalache shares a unique blend of music and culture, to which all the band members through their various musical styles. When they first coming together, the band's first members brought their friends in to play. There was a time when the band had 13 musicians. Selections were made and the band decided to remain as a nine-member orchestra.
    Cambalache is made up of two Peruvians  -- Chavez, and Gonzalo Cerna (bongos) -- as well as a member from Mexico, Mario Barrera (Timbales), one Pilipino American, Ernesto Pediangco (congas), and five members from the United States, Nathan Better (trombone), Todd Mahaffey (trumpet), Mike Dorr (trumpet), Nelda Swiggett (piano) and Ben Verdier (bass).
    Currently, Cambalache is finishing its first album, titled "Clasiqueando," which will be on sale in various Latin stores or at their website www.cambalachesalsa.com. "The CD is a compilation of classic salsa with a touch of the modernity of some of our own songs," says Chavez.   
  


    Cambalache will perform at the upcoming St Helens Riverfest, schedule for June 27th from 9:00pm to 11:00pm at the St Helens City Docks.  People can expect expect to see an orchestra full of energy that infects people with its energy and beats.