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21st CENTURY CHARANGA
from the UK's finest Charanga band

Please note that this site is no longer maintained.... For current dates please see charangasue.com

CHARANGA DEL NORTE are a spirited, energetic UK-based Charanga band. The group is led by the flute and violins with the line-up completed with vocals, electric bass, piano, cello, timbales, congas and güiro.

"Charanga Del Norte have the knack of turning the graceless lurching of flabby Englishmen into snake-hipped Latino dance heroes - through the remorseless seductiveness of their music"
Anthony Roberts, Colchester Arts Centre 2005
 

Charanga del Norte are featured on three UK Salsa Compilations, "The Essential Guide to Salsa", "Everybody Salsa" and "Everybody Salsa 2", released worldwide on the Avid Record Label and distributed by B.M.G.

Latest News:

CHARANGA DEL NORTE PLAY FOR THE BARBICAN CUBA FESTIVAL JUNE 2009:
21 June Paradise Gardens, Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3 Tube: Mile End (Central Line). The Event starts at 1pm and Charanga del Norte are on at 15.30pm followed by Changui de Guantanamo + Orquesta Aragón (part of the Barbican Cuba Festival and Cuba50 events) . More info www.paradisegardens.org.uk and www.cuba50.org/

Charanga del Norte Live 28 June Barbican Freestage, The Barbican, Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. Charanga del Norte are on at 3.15pm before the evening Los Van Van Concert www.barbican.org.uk

Richard Egues and Sue Miller 2001

THE ORQUESTA ARAGON LINK
Sue studied with the legendary flute player, arranger and composer from Orquesta Aragón, Richard Egües and will be sharing the stage with his successor Eduardo Rubio from the modern day Orquesta Aragón at Paradise Gardens Victoria Park London on Sunday June 21 - more info www.barbican.org.uk

Guillermo dances Danzón with Charanga del Norte

THE CHANGUI LINK
Following on from a successful collaboration between Charanga del Norte and Cuban professional dancer Guillermo Davis 'el Iyawo' at York's Buena Fiesta in 2008 Guillermo is now part of the group as the band's official dancer. Charanga del Norte are therefore following the Orquesta Aragón tradition of repartee between flute improvisations and dancing (the 1950s Aragón always featured a spot of choreographed flute solos by Richard Egües and singer/dancer Rafael Bacallao). Guillermo dances the Danzón, Mambo, Pachanga, Chachachá and Son styles played by the band and also gets down into the audience to lead the dancing fun…Guillermo is from Guantanamo, the birthplace of the infectious style of Changui….and Changui de Guantanamo will also be sharing the bill with Charanga del Norte on June 21 in Victoria Park.

RECORDINGS
Charanga del Norte received a four star review from Rock 'n Reel magazine for their new album 'Our Mam in Havana' and are currently working on the sequel 'Look Back in Charanga' due for release in December 2009

THE CUBA-UK LINK

Joaquin Sue and Ernesto + Jesus Cos, Sue and Ernesto Oviedo pre gig + Pancho Terry, Sue,Guillermo Rubalcaba & Polo Tamayo

Just back from Havana this April the bandleader of Charanga del Norte, Sue Miller, was featured on National Cuban Television, performing at the Cabaret Nacional with Orquesta Sublime and also interviewed about her Cuban playing style. She also performed with veteran Cuban Charanga bands from the Buena Vista scene such as Orquesta Estrellas Cubanas and Charanga de Oro at Havana's top venues (Teatro America, Teatro Amadeo Roldan and Cabaret Nacional). She has now been invited to collaborate with the cream of traditional Cuban musicians such as BVSC's Amadito Valdes, Jesus Cos 'el gigante de timbal', singer Ernesto Oviedo from Estrellas Cubanas and flute player Polo Tamayo from the original Afro-Cuban All Stars. Charanga del Norte have subsequently been invited to perform in Havana at the 2010 International Danzón Festival and are currently looking for sponsors….

Workshops - Dance, Big Band and Percussion
3 New workshops announced »

OUT NOW The 10th Anniversary Album:
‘Our Mam in Havana’
"4 stars" - rock'n'reel - read the review

Livedraw animated cartoon by patrick blower of livedraw.co.uk

Charanga del Norte's music has been played worldwide by

• Al Angeloro on New York's Radio Soleil
• Cuba's Radio Cadena and Radio Metropolitana by Cuban DJ Toni Basanta
• GLR Sadie Nine radio show
• Verity Sharp on radio 3's Late Junction.
• Gondwana Sound Sheffield Live!
• The Latin Train Ontario Canada

Charanga del Norte have performed at many venues across the UK, including:

• The Barbican London
• The Lakes Alive Festival
• Hull Jazz Festival
• Darlington Arts Centre
• Brampton Live Festival, Carlisle
• Bridgewater Hall, Manchester
• Sidmouth Festival
• Sunderland Kite Festival (organised by SAGE Gateshead)
• Adam Smith Theatre, Fife
• Harrogate Festival
• Cheltenham Festival
• Trowbridge Festival
• The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
• The Castle Arts Centre, Wellingborough
• Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
• Colchester Arts Centre
• Tower Arts Centre, Winchester
• Whitby Musicport Festival
• York Fiesta
• The New Picket Liverpool

"The evocative sounds of Charanga Del Norte infused the stunning Cornish moorland setting with warmth and rhythm - even the Mosquitoes were dancing!"

Sue Richardson, Development Director, North Cornwall Arts

"Charanga make the grade. I would recommend them to anyone interested in programming well made music with afro-cuban origins."

Howard Raynor
Chief Executive of Bridgewater Hall

"superb UK-based salsa and charanga band"

Songlines magazine

"Red-hot Cubano-Yorkshire fusion - real Salsa wi' nowt tekken out!"

Brampton Live Festival 2003

"Close your eyes and you might have supposed you were in a ramshackle cantina in downtown Havana"

DAVID BRIERS, HUDDERSFIELD DAILY EXAMINER

"Latin music, but not as you may know it, this band are deliciously different and incredibly danceable"

The Lemon Tree Aberdeen 2003