Songs
lively authentic merengue written by Isidro Chavez in the 20s (note: his son plays sax on the album)
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- country:Canada
- region:Caribbean
- style(s):Merengue
- label:not signed
- type:Band, Solo, Composer/Songwriter
- gender:male
- instrumentation:instrumental, vocal
- artist posted by:Folquébec
Line up
- Jairo Gomez Giraldo (contrebasse, b voc)
- Joaquin Diaz (accordion, lead vocals)
- Luis Reyes Santana (congas, b voc)
- Peter Barzey (tambora, timbales, b voc)
- Tabare Filipini (guira, bongos, back vocals)
Links
Here is the most exciting traditional merengue music you will ever hear Joaquin Diaz's enthusiasm on stage is totally irresistible. His light-fingered accordion playing and his infectious vocals drenched in Latin soul make this Caribbean maestro the best of the new generation of traditional folk merengue artists. His repertoire is a mixture of traditional and original tunes characterized by exhilarating rhythms.
Diaz's musical career began on the streets of Santo Domingo when he was nine years old. At the age of twelve, this Dominican king of accordion was playing in the most prestigious Regencies of the capital. Still in his teens he performed at the Pan-American Games in Puerto Rico accompanying the Dominican Republic's Ballets Folkloricos.
In 1990 Joaquin brought Dominican magic and his accordion wizardry with him to Canada. Now residing in Montreal, he and his extremely talented musicians have thrilled Latino and non-Latino fans alike, throughout North America, and Europe.
Joaquin was awarded a grant by Canada Council for the Arts to study conjunto music in San Antonio Texas (the button accordion-based traditional music of the Chicano people in South Texas), after attending several editions of the prestigious Int'l Festival of Accordion in this city, and having met the greatest masters, such as Mingo Saldivar, Santiago Jimenez, Eva Ibarra...
Joaquin's musicians sustain his own sense of rhythm, with devilish percussions (congas, tambora, guira, bongos, bass drum) and electric bass, and provide the energy of their back-vocals to the invigorating bachatas...
Joaquin Diaz has travelled the world as an genuine ambassador of merengue music, and participated in prestigious festivals such as Rencontres Internationales de St-Chartier, Festival des Suds d'Arles, Festival International de l'Accordeon de Chartres (the 3 of them in France); International Music Festival (Huston, TX), Universal Forum of Cultures (Barcelona, Spain), Forde Music Festival (Norway), Festival Int'l de Louisiane, as well as the major Canadian folk festivals (Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Frosbite Fest. in Yukon,...), and of course the Carrefour Int'l de l'Accordeon de Montmagny (Quebec).
'Need a lift to your spirit, or just want to feel good all over, get this lively, delightful CD' Al Riess, Dirty Linen
'Diaz's merengue has a melodic sensibility... and is a master instrumentalist, expertly skittering through intricate accordion solos...' Ramiro Burr, Sing Out
His recordings have appeared on Arhoolie and Nuits d'Afrique labels.
Management: Merengue Productions, Montreal
Agent: FAMGroup.ca, Montreal Heidi Fleming