On the eve of its 60 foundation years, the legendary orchestra of El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico presented its most recent album, En Cuarentena, yesterday.
It consists of nine salsa songs dedicated to humor, the dancer and that eternal theme of love to which they sing, from all perspectives of romance. Among these, what she wants is Combo, a campaign number; You have to love yourself, that speaks of love for women; and those of resentment I will fall in love no more. This record production comes after five years without recording an album.
The orchestra, according to its members, has experienced the absence of the public in the pandemic as well as the journey of living alone and composing in isolation. As well as creating themes outside the studio, to discover new strategies for dragging your assistants around the internet, especially the youth.
Associated with the Rimas company, Los Mulatos del Sabor, during this time of covid-19 and all its failures, they reaffirm themselves as the undisputed representatives of salsa in Puerto Rico.
“We always record together. Now the system has been different because we did the work in a smaller studio and it took a long time. The current recordings have been sacrificed because we cannot all be together to comply with all protocols. This is El Combo del Mundo and the video we filmed on the networks is a different language, ”said Ithier. THE SPOKESMAN
In addition, he said they are very busy and will be taking a cruise tour to mark their 60th anniversary.
“Our thing is to play in Puerto Rico and if they ask us, we do it every day, and for good causes too,” he added.
With the sympathy that characterizes him, Ithier said, “I took this (the mask) off at the press conference because my voice is not nice. I feel quite healthy when I turn 95; and I eat well ”.
Since their musical job was to travel the world, like when they celebrated their 50th anniversary that took them to Japan and China, from now on they plan their trips to Central and South America, the United States and three other continents for 2022. This tour will be titled 60 years because of its people.
The veteran director did not stop referring to the Puerto Rican reggae players, as they have shared the stage in other countries.
“Salsa is the music we speak in Spanish. Reggaeton players have achieved universal success, but what they sing is their identity. The Gran Combo within the traditional is innovative, ”said Ithier.
In the middle of the press conference held yesterday at the Tourism Company, greetings were received from Hong Kong listening to Ithier. With his usual sense of humor, he replied, “I asked to be 125 years old and I am 95, so I miss …”.