PROFILE OF DJ GUACHI GUARO

Ever since I got my first cd, "16 exitos de Oro" by Celia Cruz con La Sonora Matancera, I've been hooked on this music.

My nickname "Guachi Guaro" is taken from a song originally written by Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo, but made popular by Cal Tjader. The first album by Cal Tjader with this song is considered _one_ of the first times where the word "Salsa" was used as a label for this music as a whole.

My philosophy as a DJ is to give the dancers variety in the music they get to dance to. I want every song to carry a unique feeling and message to the dancers. The music must have a strong groove and natural drive to dance. I play varied tempo music from slower son montunos, guajiras, cha-chas to lots of medium tempo guarachas, son, mambo and guaguancos and some faster songs. The sound of small conjuntos to big orchestras, classic cuts to brand new releases. I spin both from vinyl and cd.

As a dj I feel it is very important to know about the roots and history of this music and not just the recent releases and hits. This is music from a culture from the streets of the neighbourhoods, from Cuba, NY, PR and all of Latin America. I want the music I play to reflect this "Sabor de la Calle" (street) feeling.  What I found so unique about this music is that here all the musicians get recognized, not just the pretty face that sings the music. After all it is the whole band that makes the dancer come alive, not just the voice of the singer.

I play salsa music from all kinds of places, especially New York, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Africa, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama. As I'm not a native of any of these places, I find it easy to give credit where credit is due.

When I discovered this music, what I have come to realize is that I found my music. This was the music I had been looking for all my life. I really hope for anyone that they also find their music some day.

Favorite artists include (but are definitely not limited to!): Louie Ramirez, Charlie Palmieri, Henry Fiol, Tito Rodriguez, Javier Vazquez, Monguito el Unico, Menique, Kako, Ray Perez, Conjunto Libre, Pucho, Tite Curet Alonso, Ismael Rivera, Orquesta Broadway.