Havana NRG: the New Rhythm Generation - music group

Latin Beat Magazine, March, 2004 by Nelson Rodríguez

Over a year ago, many of us in the United States were overwhelmed by the timba sounds of La Timba Loca, a group that we assumed (based on the sound) came from Cuba. To our surprise, that band was based in Boston, Massachusetts, and thus made us aware that, as a result of so many Cuban artists having defected during visits to the States, Cuban-style bands will begin to appear more often. We cannot forget our friends who have been recording in Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco for years, but I am speaking of the new timba sound that very few are recording here in the USA.

A timba band from Dallas, Texas, Havana NRG was born as a brainchild of pianist/violinist/vocalist Mariela Suárez, in conjunction with Ivan Martínez. Suárez had previously produced for Cuban band Cuestión Seria, recorded in Mexico, and unsuccessfully pitched the disc in the U.S.

This experience helped Mariela Suárez, Iván Martínez and the members of Havana NRG to visualize and form what many feel is one of the hottest new bands of 2004.

Iván Martínez was a trombonist with Cuestión Seria when this band won the 1995 Novel Orchestra award in Cuba. Two years later, he became musical arranger and trombonist for the production Amante Como Yo. As a founding member of Havana NRG; he plays timbal, handles vocals, and functions as the band director.

Lead vocalist/trumpeter Maiquel Romero is both talented as a musician and as an arranger, with a very bright future ahead of him.

The steady bass sounds are handled by Ramón "Congo" Rodríguez, while the horn section includes trombonist Ernesto "Chencho" Vélez and reedman Jeff Fort (from Florida).

Conguero Raúl Valdés, who recorded on the band's debut CD, Camino Al Cielo, opted to move on to fusion music and was replaced by Mauricio Barroso. Rounding out the group is Puerto Rican percussionist Willie Martínez, who also acts as the band's business manager.

The band needs to be experienced "live" to appreciate the energy and drive that these young talented musicians bring to the stage. They have spent the better part of the past two years perfecting their craft in Texas, where they have developed a huge following that follows them from club to club. At the end of last year, they began to tour successfully in New York and appeared at the Flamingo Club, and this past December they performed at Los Angeles' Conga Room and Montecristo's.

What makes the group unique is how these schooled musicians become interchangeable on stage and are equally adopt at serving up merengues, bachatas and a wide range of popular Cuban classics, old and new.

Their upcoming tours to Orlando and Tampa (Florida), the West Coast and New York are currently being prepared.

Without a doubt, no one could have imagined a timba band of this caliber coming from Dallas, but 2004 will be shining in Texas with the New Rhythm Generation ... Havana NRG!