Spanish Dogs

Description

El Combo Batanga is a musical explosion at the crossroads of Afro-Cuban rhythms and Latin funk. The band, made up of virtuoso musicians, blends Cuban son, timba, Latin soul, and boogaloo to the delight of audiences. The band's adventure began in Havana, where singer Ale Gutiérrez made his debut before moving to Madrid in the late 1990s. He was then part of Habana Abierta, a pioneering band of new Cuban music in Europe. In Madrid, several renowned musicians gathered at La Negra Tomasa for weekly jam sessions, which eventually led to the formation of Los Chocolatinos. After hearing Los Chocolatinos, Ale Gutiérrez joined the band, which then included Yago Salorio (double bass), Julián Olivares (guitar), Rodrigo 'El Niño' (drums and timbales), and Pepe Prat (congas). This collaboration gave birth to El Combo Batanga, which brings together this community of Cuban musicians in Madrid. In 2018, Rodrigo 'El Niño' formed a band to accompany Joe Bataan on tour, recruiting additional musicians to enrich the horn section and keyboards. Their combined talent led to a powerful live performance, which caught the attention of the Tucxone label. Their first album, *Who Cares*, is now part of the Lovemonk Discos Buenos catalog. Three new 45s are being released this year. The band has finally started performing live, beginning with the Transmusicales in Rennes.