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The Mercadonegro project was born when three Latin-American musicians met by chance in Europe. Ending up in the old Continent for love, they have kept their musical heart in Latin America, and they decided to spread throughout the world the sounds of their homelands, together with new beats and vibes.
Armando Miranda was born in 1974 in La Habana, Cuba, in the Buenavista neighbourhood made famous by the Wim Wenders film. Hes been a professional musician since he was 17 years old. He studied at the Felix Varela Professional Music School in La Habana, where he played - and sung - salsa and Afro-Cuban music with famous artists such as Manguaré, Niurka Espinola, Ire Arche.
Rodrigo Rodríguez was born in 1974 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombias most Caribbean town. He worked as a singer and percussionist for Colombias National Ballet as well as with Joseito Martinez from the Latin Brothers.
Cesar Correa was born in 1975 in Trujillo, Peru. Trujillo is well known for its long tradition in arts and music. He studied classical piano at the Carlos Valderrama Conservatory in Trujillo where he worked as a classical concert player. He also played with numerous salsa and Peruvian folk music groups. He also has a wide experience as an arranger and as conductor. In Switzerland, he studied at Fribourgs conservatory and at the Berns Jazz School.
The three musicians met through Alfredo de la Fé, one of the best violinists in Latin-American music.
With him the boys from Mercadonegro went on several different tours, and played in important venues such as Ronnie Scott in London, and New Morning in Paris. They participated in great events and festivals like Pavarotti and Friends (Modena, Italy), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Fiesta (Rome, Italy), Bal de la Rose (Monte Carlo, Monaco).
On different occasions Mercadonegro had the chance to play with heavyweights such as Carlos Santana, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, La India, who described their music as excellent and full of life and energy.
In the winter of 2000 Mercadonegro was part of the first Europe-New York Salsa all Stars with artists like Giovanni Hidalgo, Jimmy Bosch, José Alberto "El Canario", Jesús Allemany.
Moreover, Miranda, Rodrìguez and Correa featured on Alfredo de la Fés record "Latitudes".
While working on it, the three artists started their Mercadonegro project, writing new songs and rearranging well-known melodies.
The group plays with talented and technically strong Latin-American musicians such as the Brazilian bass player Eduardo Dudù Penz and the Argentinean percussionist Alejandro Paneta and the Cuban trés and guitar player Carlos Irarragorri.
Year 2001 was the most important year for the development of Mercadonegro. Together with the producers of Bibomusic Inc., publisher of the group, a new strategy was devised, with participations in great events and with the groups first CD.
Mercadonegro was invited to play in El Cubanito (Zurich, Switzerland), the most important Latin music venue in Europe, where it got a huge success and improved its already good reputation among the connoisseurs.
In January 2002, Mercadonegro started recording its first CD with the participation of international known musicians such as Tony Martínez and Alfredo de la Fé. The CD sound engineer is the expert and well known Venezuelan director José Mendoza.
Discography
2002: BAILALO! (Bibomusic)
2005: SALSA PA'L MUNDO ENTERO (Bibomusic)
The track "Mercadonegro llego" appears on The Rough Guide To Salsa Dance (World Music Network / 2005)
ARMANDO MIRANDA, lead vocal
EDUARDO CESPEDES, vocal
MARCELO BRITTO, vocal
RODRIGO RODRIGUEZ, timbal & vocal
CARLOS IRARRAGORRI, tres & vocal
CESAR CORREA, piano
EDUARDO 'DUDU' PENZ, bass
ALEJANDRO PANETTA, congas
WALTER REBATA, bongos
CARLOS MINOSO, trombon
LEONARDO GOVIN, trombon
AMIK GUERRA, trumpet
GIANCARLO CIMINELLI, trumpet
MASSIMO GUERRA, trumpet
JOSE MENDOZA, sound engineer
GUILLAUME DE REMUSAT, agent
