TITO PUENTE JR (TIMBALES)

The comparison is inevitable. How could it be otherwise? Tito Puente Jr. carries his father with him - imprinted on his physical being and locked in his soul. It's in his looks, his joy, his music. No doubt, every time Tito Jr. walks on stage - he walks in his father's footsteps. He dances in celebration, throws his head back in pure joy and lights up the room with that oh-so-familiar smile. Tito Jr. is on a passionate mission. The younger Puente is determined to nurture the musical legacy left by his father. He refuses to let it become a distant memory; "He was just too vibrant, too exciting. There was magic in the music my father made. It made people happy, all over the world. My goal is to keep it alive, and in doing so, expose it to a whole new generation." Over the past two years, Tito Jr. has found captive audiences who echo his passion. Crowds once lured to a venue by the father's magic have returned to enjoy the son -- participating once again in the high voltage celebration that takes place on stage. Tito Puente, Jr. has become a favorite entertainer in casinos, performing arts centers and jazz festivals nationwide. He was the premiere act opening The Latin Quarter of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, and the demand for tickets kept him there for ten weeks. He's played to sell out audiences at numerous Harrah's Resort Casinos, including Rincon in San Diego, Ak-Chin in Phoenix and the Rio in Las Vegas. While not totally jazz in his delivery, Tito Jr. has wowed the jazz festivals faithful across the country, among them the New Haven Jazz Festival, Houston Jazz Festival, Harlem Jazz Festival, and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. Tito, Jr. has appeared as a guest of the Dallas Symphony Pops, and will join the San Antonio Symphony for 3 concerts in their upcoming season. In performing arts venues from the Kravis Center in Florida to Popejoy Hall in New Mexico, as well as outdoor concert events such as El Paso's "Music Under the Stars" or Los Angeles' Ford Amphitheater, rhythms ignite and Afro-Cuban beats fire up audiences, crossing cultures and generations. A favorite performer of many corporations, Tito, Jr. has headlined events for clients such as Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Southern Wine & Spirits and Cook Pharmaceuticals. His role as spokesperson for the Perry Ellis/JC Penny "Havanera" clothing line has taken him on promotional appearances all across the country. In the spirit of giving back, Tito, Jr. has participated in 2 USO Tours during the past 18 months, visiting and performing for troops in Japan, Korea, Spain, and Italy. His appearances at fundraising events for causes including the Jerry Lewis MD Telethon and Toys for Tots help generate thousands of dollars annually. It was only fitting that Tito's tribute to his father's music was seen on NBC's two hour special -- "The Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem," One of the most prominent photos inside the venerable Apollo Theatre is that of "Tito Puente - El Rey de Timbales," where Tito played frequently. Tito Jr. was also seen recently on the highly rated ABC-TV daytime drama "One Life to Live" in performance with his big band. His latest CD, "In My Father's Shoes," featuring the classic Puente favorites, was spun off into a television special tribute by BET Jazz. Tito Jr. reveres the magnificent, lasting impact his father had on our musical lives. Audiences the world over agree there is nothing so perfect, pure or passionate than a tribute to a father from his son. "People who don't know anything about Latin music know my father and people always, always smile when they say his name," he confides. That is a very special gift, and it inspires and motivates me to bring his music to the world." September 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ciertas veces, las comparaciones son inevitables. Cómo podría ser de otra manera cuando Tito Puente Jr. continúa viva la tradición de su célebre padre. Por su alegría constante y su manera de gozar la música, no caben dudas que cada vez que el joven músico pisa un escenario, sigue los pasos del gran Tito Puente. Cuando baila, Tito Puente, Jr. celebra su música. Con cada nota sus movimientos encienden cualquier teatro donde se presente, contagiando ese gozo desde su famosa sonrisa. Tito, Jr. se apasiona en cada empeño de su vida y en su clara misión de nutrir el legado musical que ha recibido. "El era demasiado vibrante, muy excitante, había magia en todo lo que hacía. Él hacía a la gente feliz, en cualquier lugar del mundo donde se encontraba", dice el joven intérprete reconociendo que su meta es mantener vivo ese espíritu y llevarlo a una nueva generación. En los dos últimos años, Tito, Jr. encontró que su pasión tuvo eco en grandes audiencias. Públicos de múltiples latitudes que habían descubierto el arte de su padre, hoy reencuentran esa experiencia otra vez cuando el alto voltaje sigue vivo en los escenarios. Tito Puente, Jr. se ha convertido en un artista favorito tanto en casinos, teatros y festivales de jazz, como en cualquier celebración donde se escuche buena múesica, no importa en el lugar del mundo que se convoque. Recientemente participó de la apertura del Latin Quarter del Tropicana Hotel and Casino en Atlantic City, manteniéndose en cartelera por diez semanas por la demanda de su audiencia. Además, ha llevado su música por los escenarios de los Harrah's Resort Casinos, incluyendo a Rincon en San Diego, Ak-Chin en Phoenix y Rio en Las Vegas. Y, aunque su música no esté relacionada puramente con el género del jazz propiamente, Tito, Jr. ha sido invitado a prestigiosos festivales de jazz en Estados Unidos, como el New Haven Jazz Festival, Houston Jazz Festival, Harlem Jazz Festival y el Atlanta Jazz Festival, entre otros. Entre sus participaciones con otras agrupaciones se destaca su labor junto a la Dallas Symphony Pops y con la San Antonio Symphony, donde el artista de ascendencia boricua lleva su ritmo latino a gran escala. En sus presentaciones, desde el Kravis Center de Florida hasta el Popejoy Hall de New Mexico, así como en eventos al aire libre como el ciclo "Music Under the Stars" en El Paso o el Ford Amphitheater de Los Angeles, el ritmo latino con su herencia musical afro-cubana, cruza cualquier cultura. Los shows de Tito Puente, Jr. también se han transformado en los favoritos de corporaciones como Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Southern Wine & Spirits y Cook Pharmaceuticals. Además, su rol como vocero de para la línea de ropa "Habanera", para Perry Ellis/JC Penney, unió su imagen al mercado de la moda. En su espíritu de devolver al público tanto afecto recibido, Tito, Jr. participó recientemente en dos tours de visita a las tropas americanas en Japón, Korea, España e Italia, además de su constante ayuda en recaudar fondos a instituciones como la fundación Jerry Lewis MD Telethon y Toys for Tots, en Estados Unidos. En televisión, la audiencia del canal americano NBC pudo gozar recientemente con las dos horas del especial titulado "The Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem", donde el tributo de Tito, Jr. a su padre fue majestuoso. Asimismo, la exitosa serie televisiva "One life to live" de la cadena ABC, recibió su música en una presentación con una big band. En su nuevo álbum titulado "In My Father's Shoes", Tito, Jr. interpreta los grandes éxitos de su padre. El trabajo discográfico contó con un especial en televisión en la programación de BET Jazz. La música de Tito, Jr. venera la música que nos dejó su padre, haciendo que su ritmo viva para siempre. "Gente que no conocía mucho de música latina, de todas maneras, habían conocido a mi padre. Ahora, cuando ellos dicen mi nombre tienen una sonrisa", confiesa el artista, asegurando que "ése regalo es lo que me inspira y me motiva a seguir llevando la música por el mundo". Agosto del 2006

many thanks to BRIDGE MANAGEMENT, inc - Miami Florida

VIDEOS

TITO PUENTE JR  - EN LOS PASOS DE MI PADRE / IN MY FATHER'S SHOES (2004)

Mambo dance music from the timeless palladium era of the 1950s

Sparks fly, rhythms ignite and hail to the king is played in afro-Cuban rhythms. Into this world of fiery music crossing both cultures and generations dances the young prince--Tito Puente, Jr. Natural heir to the throne of El Rey, he is unmistakably the son, physically, spiritually and musically of Tito Puente, seminal bandleader, percussionist and legendary good will ambassador of Latin music. Young Tito’s heart is rooted deep in the musical soul of his father. But he is staking out a future in the affectionate response of those who want a modern edge added to the sensuous music that runs through all Latin lives. Puente, Jr. is taking his own eclectic sound and like his father before him --is making history and moving generations. Certainly his father is there in the wide grin, the wild timbales and the charisma that rushes past the footlights and tells the world that this is the music that moves your feet, your soul and your spirit. Puente, Jr. has had two Spanish-language albums, several Billboard dance hits and a Latin Music Award for Best Salsa Video of the Year for his cover of his father's signature, "Oye Como Va." His second album contained the single “Caliente” with the arrangement by El Rey himself. Now carrying his father’s torch, Puente, Jr. brings the music to a whole new generation with an album entitled "En Los Pasos De Mi Padre," (In My Father's Shoes); planned for a Spring 2004 release. “I am now performing the music of Tito Puente. I think it's very important that the youth of today understand the music of my father, la música de ayer, la música del Palladium. It's timeless music – music that makes you dance.” Puente, Jr. was born June 2, 1971 and raised in New York City, feeling the rhythms of the music before he could walk or talk. Naturally, his first instrument was percussion; “I had no choice; there were 50 sets of timbales in the garage.” Later he added piano, songwriting and producing. He learned his craft and honed his talents playing the New York City club scene with other well-known Latin artists including the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz. Recently, he joined forces with two other sons of legends in the Latin jazz world, Mario Grillo (“Machito”) and Tito Rodriguez. These three men are co-leaders of “The Big 3 Palladium Orchestra,” a lush and fiery rebirth of the music made famous by their fathers. The global importance of Latin music adds other dimensions in the life of Puente, Jr. He continues his role as the Havanera Co. (TM) brand spokesperson for Perry Ellis through December 2004. “I enjoy the Havanera style,” Puente, Jr. said. “It defines one of the two worlds I live in—the casual style of Latinos all over the world.” The other world is lived out on stage, where dressed in elegance, the soft-spoken Puente, Jr. turns on the supersonic smile and explodes with all the passion that is rightfully his—by birthright and by virtue of his own talent. He remembers a special performance night – at the Skydome in Toronto, Canada, in front of 80,000 people with his father, Celia Cruz, and others. “So they announce me as the Prince and my father as the King! They called it ‘Latin Royalty Night’ – I’ll never forget it!” Back in the 50s, the geographical seat of power, the mecca for Latin music, was New York. It was there that a handful of incendiary talents reigned as royalty—Puente, Jr’s. father among them. But this is a larger world—and the epicenter of power in Latin music now is the beat, and the heat is global. Management: Frank Fiore Frank Fiore Enterprises, LLC 305 758 8681 frankfiore@bellsouth.net

recensione di Roberto Rabbi: TITO PUENTE JR  - EN LOS PASOS DE MI PADRE / IN MY FATHER'S SHOES (2004)

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