Carlos Peña and his Salsa Swing

Carlos  Peña and

his Salsa Swing

Professionally

Recordings

Salsa Bands

Tours

Film

Anecdote

Books

Reviews

MUSICIANS GALLERY

CD GALLERY

Carlos Peña At a very early age, his propensity for singing and music was evident. In primary school he began to take his first artistic steps, participating in all the cultural events, and demonstrating his versatility by combining his musical talents with performance and dance.

Because of this potential, he was invited to take part in the children's programme "La Hora Infantil" on Venezuelan television's Channel 5, based in his home town, Caracas.

During his secondary school years, he became the drummer in a rock ballad band, which performed in all the well-known concert halls in the country (Venezuela).  He also performed in two theatrical works, in one as musician, and in the other as actor.

This stage of his musical life lasted nine years. In the second half of this period, as an amateur, he formed a band, together with other talented musicians in the west of Caracas. This could be called his first incursion into the new musical movement, created in new York, called "SALSA". In this band, called "Los Melomanos" ("Los Inquietos del Ritmo"), he was both lead singer and percussionist.

Salsa Swing  This is the name of my  salsa band. The members have all been specially selected and are extremely gifted musicians. Our repertoire consists mainly of my own original compositions performed with live instruments.

Carlos Peña and his Salsa Swing is a strong and committed 11 piece, fully uniformed and choreographed professional band, which in a very short time, has captured the hearts of all Salsa followers and professionals in the arts all over the UK.

With the right guidance and support, this influential and high calibre band's direction and goals are unlimited.  Whilst performing with this band, Carlos also worked on writing, arranging and producing his own compositions.

He began his professional musical career after finishing his studies - Expertise and Technical Drawing in Industrial Machinery - which he never took on to employment.  Later in life Carlos would also go on to qualify in Web Design.

He began the third stage of his artistic life at a national and international level, singing with orchestras and groups of great renown. With them he has toured and recorded, participated in the most important salsa and Latin-jazz festivals, appeared on television, radio and in the cinema (Beavis N' Butthead, Paramount Pictures London). He currently performs in prestigious club and dance halls, private parties and at many concerts.

The Great Scottish Latin Adventure

Viva Cuba

Compilation

Carlos Peña has participated in many important salsa bands in Venezuela and the UK. They are:

 In Venezuela

 - Los Melomanos

 - Gruppetto Caribe

 - Explosion Latina

 - Orquesta Siguaraya

 - Sexteto Caribe

 - Primera Clase

 - Orquesta Saraguey (with one of Venezuela's great salsa singers Rodrigo Mendoza)

 - Oscar D'Leon (the great Venezuelan sonero) - with this band Carlos makes a name for himsel   

   internationally

 In the UK

 London

 - Orquesta Tumbaito

 - Orquesta La Clave

 - Grupo X

 - Orquesta Roberto Plas

 - Orquesta Balangandan

 - Sexteto Cafe

 - Carlos Peña and his Salsa Swing (his own band). This band was the first in the UK to play 100%

   original repertoire

 - Ska Cubano

 Edinburgh

 - Carlos Peña y sus Muchachos

 - Hot Charanga Sauce

 Scotland

 - Islay Jazz Festival (Islay, 2002, 2004)

 - International Book Festival (Edinburgh, 1999, 2000)

 - The West End Festival (Glasgow, 2000)

 - Glasgow Jazz Festival (Glasgow, 1999, 2001)

 - Edinburgh Jazz Festival (Edinburgh, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003)

 - Cork International Jazz Festival (Ireland, 1998, 1999)

 - Drogheda Salsa Festival (Ireland, 1999)

 - The Festival of World Cultures (Dublin Ireland 2006)

 - The 8th Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

 England

 - London Music Festival, Earth Energy (London, 1996)

 - Gran Fiesta 96 (London, 1996)

 Venezuela

 - Primer Encuentro Nacional de la Salsa (Maracay, 1992)

 - Segundo Encuentro Nacional de la Salsa (Maracay, 1993)

 Canada

 - Montreal Jazz Festival (2006)

 - Attowa Jazz Festival (2006)

 - Toronto Jazz Festival (2006)

 USA

 - Central Park Summer Stage (New York 2006)

 - Chicago Summerdance (Chicago IL 2006)

 - Grand Performances (los Angeles CA 2006)

 - Portland Zoo (Portland Oregon 2006)

 - Triple Door (Seattle WA 2006)

 - River Rhythm Festival (Windsor Oregon 2006)

 - San Diego Street Scene (San Diego CA 2006)

 - Stern Grove Festival (San Francisco CA 2006)

 - Womad Canary Islands 2006 (Las Palmas Gran Canaria)

 - Womad Caseres Armeria (Spain 2007)

 - Holland

 - Norway

 - Northern Ireland

 - Republic of Ireland

 - Spain

 - Scotland

 - England

 - Dominican Republic

 - Wales

 - Mexico

 - Peru

 - Canada

 - USA

 - Portugal

 - Belgium

 - Greece

 - Venezuela

 - Switzerland

 - Korea

Carlos appears on the soundtrack to Paramount Pictures' 1996 film Beavis N' Butthead.

-By virtue of his wonderful voice and his high degree of mastery as a Bolero singer (Bolero is a rhythm with a romantic feel), as well as his charisma and improvising skill, Carlos Peña was called by Oscar D'Leon himself to form part of his orchestra, which is one of the most well-known and admired in the world

-In his long artistic career Carlos Peña has had the good fortune to sing with the legendary Puerto Rican sonero "Ismael Rivera" (El Sonero Mayor), who was a guide to him at the beginning of his career as a salsa singer and who gave him timely advice and support to pursue his goal. Carlos sang with him in the dance hall of the Casa de los Andes, Maracay, Venezuela, during Ismael's last visit to the country.

-Carlos Peña achieved one of his greatest dreams, to sing with the Gran Combo of Puerto Rico, in London's Club Equinox in 1996. The band leader Rafael Ithier was full of praise and said that Carlos Peña possessed a great talent worthy of being admired.

"The performances of Carlos Peña will always have an abundance of feeling and taste, and his songs will be accompanied by the applause and voices of all the followers of rhythm in the world"

 Victor Salazar Pinto

President of the Musicians Federation in Venezuela

"Carlos Peña, artist of great direction and professionalism, singer and composer who brings you modern and original sound with a very personal touch"

Rosalia Rubio 

Cronica Latina (London)

"Music is the clearest way I have to communicate with the public, whom I greatly respect and love, and I am very grateful to them for the   support and affection which they show for me"

 Carlos Peña

"Carlos Peña y sus Muchachos were simply superb - Carlos was an irresistible and hugely talented force - wonderful voice and charismatic appeal - refusing to acknowledge that Glasgow is not a Spanish City - language proved not to be a barrier. The West End Festival was a winner. And when will Carlos Peña y sus Muchachos be back?"

Pat Byrne

Reviews Liveliest Night of the Year

"How Edinburgh has the luck to have as a permanent resident one of Venezuela's great salseros, the man who made his name working alongside the legendary Oscar D'Leon, may be a long story, but it's having a remarkable effect on the UK salsa scene. Not only does Carlos  Peña have the enticing, tangy, nasal tones of the preferred salsero, but he has the gift of witty improvisation that sets the truly good singer apart"

Jan Fairley

   The Scotsman

"I have to say that this Venezuelan salsa singer is destined to be one great sonero"

Eric Gonzalez

http://www.oasissalsero.com/

"A very special guest star, namely top Venezuela singer Carlos Peña, a salsa sonero star who has performed with the legendary bandleader Oscar D'Leon"

Sue Wilson

  The Scotsman

"Amazing ensemble playing and...an orgy of virtuoso soloing.  This included lead vocalist Carlos Peña, because in descarga (and authentic salsa for that matter) the voice is also an improvising instrument.  Carlos particularly shone during "Quimbombo", singing improvised phrases against a hand-clapped riff provided by the audience"

John Child

  Descarga website

"Leading the salsa orchestra is singer Carlos Peña, regarded as one of the great salseros to come out of Venezuela"

  Martin Claffey

The Biz

"The cherry on the cake was when the leading Venezuelan singer Carlos Peña joined them on the stage to wittily improvise decima style with Eduardo "Tiburon" Morales (Son14 Vocal leader) on the relative merits of their respective music"

 Jan Fairley

The Scotsman

Oscar D'Leon band, based in Caracas, Venezuela

ALBERTO RODRIGUEZ (Bass)

Currently resides in Galicia, Spain

Tel: + 34 - 647 873291

Currently resides in Galicia, Spain

Tel: + 34 - 685 637176

EDSON MARTINEZ (Piano)

Currently resides in Paris, France

JIM LEMESSURIER (Percussion)

Currently resides in London, England

Currently resides in London, England

MARIO CARIBE (Bass)

Currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland

Band resides in London, England

Phone (0208) 6720016

luzesabroso@aol.com

Resides in Maracay City, Venezuela

ludvingsalazar@hotmail.com

OMAR PLASENCIA (Percussion)

Currently resides in Germany

www.cumbancha.com