The Band 

BAND BIOGRAPHY

Inspired by the flute playing of Richard Egües from the legendary Orquesta Aragon, Sue Miller set up "Charanga del Norte" (Charanga from the North) in November 1998 and went to study Charanga in Cuba with Richard Egües in 2000 and 2001 and has been back to Cuba on research in 2006 and 2007, playing with top Charanga bands Estrellas Cubanas, La Sublime, Orquesta Barbarito Diez and Charanga de Oro alongside Buena Vista flute player Polo Tamayo.

Sue & Joaquin Oliveros

Sue & Amadito Valdes

Sue & Orquesta Sublime

Sue & Melquiades Fundora

Assisted from the start by violinists Jonathan Lindh, Rod Taylor and viola player Nick Williams, Charanga del Norte consists of flute, violins, viola, cello, electric bass, piano, vocals, timbales, congas and güiro. Their UK 2003 Tour covered venues from Aberdeen to Sidmouth and included a concert at The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester supporting Buena Vista virtuoso Eliades Ochoa. Their UK 2005 tour covered venues from Fife to Cornwall and culminated in a live recording (Sapo Guapo) at Trowbridge Festival and the band are touring in 2009.

Sue Miller - flute, coros, composer, arranger, musical director Adriana Martyr - coros/bass Marta Acosta-Nino – vocals Ana Luisa Muñoz – vocals Roberto Pla - timbales Mark Donlon - piano Nick Williams - viola Rod Taylor - violin Jon Lindh - violin Ruth Bitelli/Jo Phillpotts: bass Matt Owens: double bass Andy Wardale: cello Ravin Jayasuriya/Rick Weedon: congas Katherine Brown - violin Leonel Duany - güiro

Other members of the Charanga Del Norte Team

• Helen Curtis - piano
• Lamin Jassey - guest vocals
• Frankie & Pete - guest vocals
• Nickolai Rodriguez Cavanzo - percussion
• Armando Iglesias - percussion
• Juan Carlos Arenas - tres
• Harriet Walsh - tour administrator
• Rob Bowden - graphic designer
• Dave Pattman - percussion
• Simon Siddol - piano

Sue also has a Havana-based Charanga Orquesta with veteran Cuban musicians.

Promoters and agencies wishing to organise any international tours of this band should contact the band director Sue Miller via the contact page to discuss possibilities.

Dance Show

Sue Miller has written and recorded the music to Tanya Cusan's dance show which toured 2004/2005, with compositions recorded by members of Charanga Del Norte.
The première of 'Valentino' and 'La Carmela' (music by Sue Miller, choreography by Tanya Cusan) was performed on February 27th in Leeds.
The CD-soundtrack was released in February 2004 - You can listen to the music from this Cd on this site