jlLeon

    The most kept member of La Fantastica Orchestra is an individual who sits behind his master control section or as I call it the HUB. Mr. Joe Gentile the most creative musician in the group, his job is to provide the essential sounds of various instrument played. He’s an engineer producing instruments sounds in to our music. When you hear violins and sounds of the french horn, to included the spanish guitar you'll have to turn to Joe who's doing the do. Joe is stack up behind multiple piano, sync and master control interface and hardware. when Joe is not behind the HUB he’s strap up playing the accordion. When watching the actions of the band playing I usually turn to Joe to hear his additional instruments being played, at times I feel like a symphonic orchestra just entered the studio room. Joe brings a full compliment of instruments. He’s the captin of his airship controlling and maneuvering buttons to produce what is needed. Joe is a season musician who’s accoustom to jazz, latin salsa and rock to included the most pleasurable melody from Italia when played on the accordion. Joe is consider not only a musician but a type of musician you’ll want on stage.

Joe Gentile

DANY ON THE MOVE

Danny Pany the youngest band member  on the list of musicians with La Fantastica Orchestra.  Danny plays the alto saxophone, with perfection and understands his instrument. His ability to play latin jazz and salsa shows his talents, as latin jazz is difficult music to play and understand its rhythms. He knows his musical scales that comes from the structure of latin jazz and salsa.  As a young musician Danny finds the time to works hard at his craft. If he continues to play his saxophone Danny will find himself, as one of the best musician on his way with success. Danny is only seventeen years old and time is on his side with plenty of room to be the best in the industry. Danny has confidence in what he does, he’s an inspiring musician with talent and skills, continue with success.

PEDRO GUTIERREZ

Pedro Gutierrez the most active individual I’ve ever met, he hauls an eighteen wheeler from state to state with an enormous time schedule and still finds time to rehearse with La Fantastica at their studio and not to forget his dedication to his family. As a pianist Pedro has an impeccable rhythm that protects the band making sure it stay in sabor. He studies and reaches out to other pianist for different types of melody and rhythm to improve the flow of each particular song, as La Fantastica continues to record new music. He does not quit until he finds the perfect rhythm to the  music. The more we rehears at the studio, Pedro seems to enjoy redirecting the music, as written on CD. Pedro is the kind of musician one would like to work with. The more music you give him he allows himself to work at his best. His playing In combination with the bass player become’s and iron clad of salsa the way its meant to be played. Pedro has become a music expert within a short time, due to his ambition and drive, some may call it being hungry or having the fever to excel but, when you have the talent and skills all in combination creates the needed one. If Pedro continues to excel in his craft he’ll will walk in to greater success in the music industry. I continue to give Pedro credit for having an open mind and willing to add new content in his music. He’s very humble and with great character and in the music industry it's a plus. Pedro was raise in the City of New York in the Bronx where the Latin Salsa has a strong influence on the community, which has a large percentage of Latino’s and certainly, Pedro will manage to bring the music back home.     Tickle the keys and make music and prepare yourself for greater and better things on the way, continue your success and we’ll see you on stage, with La Fantastica Orchestra.

Pedro on the key board

MAELO SANTISTEBAN

Maelo Santisteban

In the industry of music you’ll find good musicians and some that are extraordinary talented, either by way of formal music education or just simply born with a natural talent. When using your vocals to express your emotions and quality of tone and pitch its just not an easy task. As I write about certain musicians theirs only a few I care to point out. I have listened and heard of all types of singers in the business stemming from Latin, Rock, Jazz and Country and its very competitive, with different styles and creativity from performers. In my last interview with Maelo Santisteban, I’ve come to know him as an interesting person who currently sings with La Fantastica Orchestra. Maelo was born in his native country of Puerto Rico in the home town of Guayama. He became interested in singing at very young age of eight years and was compelled to sing with his high school chorus as a lead singer, during a Christmas program. He progress in other venues through out his attendance at the University of Pontificial Catholic of Puerto Rico, where he directed La tuna Pionera. He then continue to sing with other groups as a Latin singer, managing the Puerto Rico symphony orquestra. Maelo portfolio and complete background of experience, skills adds to the formation of  La Fantastica Orchestra. He just recently recorded Maria Merce and as you listen to his voice theirs a hint of opera, as he separates his composition in a particular way setting up his voice to sing salsa. He has become an artistic vocalist, he knows how to sing in great pitch, tone and octaves and once he grabs the melody of a song it becomes a perfect landing on the charts.  Maelo has a perfect stage presents and in watching him at his best he is that of a great performer. I’m certainly waiting on the side lines to see what other songs he has for his listeners. The Latin music industry has awaited on a clever and talented singer for a while. I certainly can say that Maelo is arriving with great speed. We welcome him and hope to see him become the next singer on the charts, cultivating history and origins of his roots in to the industry. Maelo, we in the Latin salsa industry have been awaiting for a great singer and performer, providing due respect to all the great performers and singers that are not with us anymore, we embrace performer like Maelo Santisteban in the music industry, to keep us Latin musicians in a constant drive as once before.

RAY RAMIREZ (BASSES)

What ever happen to the ampeg (EUB) electric upright bass, as I understand the well known baby bass went belly up.   How ever they reinvented their amps and cabs. The ampeg baby bass at one time was the most used bass in jazz and latin salsa music because of its heavy bottom bass souud. I myself owned  two of their models and still have one today, these instruments are  a collector’s item.  If your ever in need of a baby bass with great sound and pick up, you need not look any further, let me  introduce you  to the only one person in the music industry that makes the baby basses to your specifications and design. His name is Ray Ramirez and his office and shop is located in Puerto Rico his website is www.RayRamirezBasses.com. In this site you’ll find several types and designs. If your in  need of a baby bass  just call him and get all your Q&A taken care of. I myself purchase his compact series baby bass and spent hours working the strings and board studying the geometrical structure, stress factors and found no faults. When playing and running my fingers on the board there was no stress on my fingers, little or no pressure needed to compress the notes, it’s as smooth as butter and you’ll never know until you have played one of his basses. Ray Ramirez has earned my respect,  he is an accomplished bass player and instrument designer engineer. I think that Ray Ramirez in the near future well become a sort out individual in the business.

LA FANTASTICA

A Tone of Excellence

His name is Erick Otero Jimenez, and all you need to do is watch this up and coming entertainer. His voice is as strong as any singer would like to have and yet soft as a poet. The future for this guy is already on it’s way.  Erick has been a lead singer for several latin groups his reputation in the industry comes highly recommended . He has talent, swag and when performing on stage not only does he entertains but, hold the audience captive with his stye. When Erick is on stage you’ll never know what to expect from him. He commands the stage and and his fans. When listening to the CD in progress you’ll hear his voice come alive. In the world of art and music they say that every ten years or so a great Voice, Artist and Athletic is born. In observing the cycle of life, I’ve seen it happen and the cycle of life just made it’s rotation of movement and gave Erick his moment in time, he is a raising star in the industry. For the performers and singers already out there stop, listen and look because he’s coming and he’s on his way. Erick has found his home with Sammy Leon and La Fantastica.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 QUITATE TU PA PONERME YO
As the famous song once  said  “quitate tu pa ponerme yo” Erick just mentioned it and he’s making it happen, for all the talented singers out there, make room cause he’s not leaving. A clear statement by a vocalist that can back it up. His improvisation comes natural. In his mind one should sing from the heart and when in front of an audience his words flows. Erick is very creative and talented and in my opinion he was born to sing.         

BRASS FROM HEAVEN

The brass from heaven just dropped in, when listening to their pitch and playing keeps my ears and eyes on them with full amazement. As in the past I've heard horns stemming from jazz, latin or from the center of pit in a Broadway show, and in my professional observation Fran and Jon certainly have the edge in the industry. In conversation with Sam Leon the (Musical Director) I said to him, “We need strong horns to come on board”, his reply was their coming. When they showed up for rehearsal after the first two songs, I had to say out loud these guys look and sound like the pillars of angels playing their horns. When interviewing them they had mentioned that music is what they plan to do after graduation. Fran and Jon are college students. Their major is in music and they plan to  enter into the masters degree program. Hoping that their journey leads them into greater success in the music industry.  At times when looking for the right musicians with a certain sound or flavor, usually takes time and effort and ultimately with positive results, and at times things just don’t mix well. In reference to Jon and Fran it all became a fact that the sound and flavor had been established.When Jon and Fran commence into playing the high notes, it puts me to wonder to whom can I compare these guys to and in my rolodex mind, I come up with all types of horn players and after a few minutes or so, I just have to admit to myself that Jon and Fran have what it takes to sound on their own, only to create a pathway for other horn players to follow. What I enjoy most in rehearsal is when Sam Leon (Musical Director) points and signals to Jon to part take into a solo we all watch to see where or how his high notes will take him to. Fran follows up with his solo with great pitch and jazzy type riffs notes kicking it, into his own improvisation of encore with a blend of salsa.These guys makes the band members more excited just to be in rehearsal, because of the values of hearing musical notes that make sense into ones mind and knowledge of music. It’s a bond that only profound musicians can only understand. When the music is right just enjoy it as you play it, making it a great day of accomplishment. At the end of the day when coming down from a stage performance, you’ll make sense as to why? Rehearsal and social networking is part of your musicians business. At times I seek information from the band members regarding their likes and dislikes about the music and or quality of sound.They all seemed to mentioned the horn players and how appreciative they are for coming on board. They express that the band has progress in a short time which evolved into a definite working machine. We all thank Jon and Fran for being here and continuing with La Fantastica.