[Curiosities] Pacific Salsa: Believe in your own

[Noticias ALEJANDRO]

 

 

For many years, decades, in Colombia the topic of salsa has been properly discussed. They also do it with a lot of social criteria and a great desire both to delve deeper into the concepts and to make contributions to the sound universe that distinguishes us in the Caribbean. In fact, it is no coincidence that the Cali researcher Alejandro Ulloa had coined the term Pacific Salsa with a super interesting approach that should be taken into account. But also, in the salsa groups, mainly those close to the Colombian Pacific, questions have been raised that many of us also ask.

Is it understood that there is a salsa cultural process? Are there public policies for salsa? Is salsa approached as a mere spectacle or as part of an urban cultural process? Is its development part of a productive chain? Do regional salsa groups have access to public resources? They are high-flying questions that show the levels of seriousness that exist when addressing this topic. It is good to bring them to the fore and for this we turned to three emblematic orchestras of that movement called Salsa Pacífico, and who, against the odds, bet on what is theirs, their sounds and their realities.

Niche
Although it is true that as a collective seed they met in 1979 to take formal steps in salsa, the group assumed the name Niche in 1982, 42 years ago. There is a lot of water that has flowed in the Colombian and Caribbean salsa scene before and after the birth of the orchestra of which Jairo Varela, born on December 9, 1949 in Quibdó, capital of the department of Chocó, took the helm. There, on the banks of the Atrato River, he spent his childhood and adolescence until the late 70s when his family moved to Bogotá. It was in a garage in the country's capital where in 1979 the first steps were taken to form the group, which in its songs has all the flavor of the Pacific, the sonic impact of that area. But Jairus followed his hunch. He knew that Cali was the destination of his work, of what he wanted to do and it was in 1982 and in Cali when, with the definitive name of Grupo Niche, which is related to its Afro-descendant origin, the group achieved its projection with the song “ Buenaventura and Caney”. Niche's empathy with Cali, with Buenaventura, with the native area of Chocó determined that support that never ceased because in addition to a novel and very danceable proposal, Jairo Valera showed himself as a solid and creative author. Almost all the songs that Niche released were his own.
By 1984, Ya Niche was a continental reference and “Cali Pachanguero” was an anthem, not only for Cali, projected 100%, but for salsa.
By 1986 they had already conquered Madison Square Garden in New York and the rhythm and joy of their songs reached Holland, Japan, Germany, Spain, among other countries in the world.
They were always clear that they represented a sound, and a country.
1987 is a year of greatness for Jairo Varela, because having seen his group disintegrate before his eyes, he was able to put it back together, relying on his convictions and on three great musicians who did not abandon him and supported him: Álvaro Cabarcas, César Monges and Tito Gomez. Three nationalities: Colombian, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican respectively, and it seems that this supportive combination generated a cosmic energy: For history remains the phenomenal production “Covering the gap”, already with the group in a new stage. Then will come cycles of happiness and misfortune, of captivity and great creation.
Varela highlighted his sense of smell and hearing to discover a good voice that would give identity to the group. To sing with Niche we can sing: Buenaventura and Caney, Cali Pachanguero, Ana Milé, Our Dream, My Son and I, Heaven of Drums, An Adventure, Without Feeling, Let's Do What the Heart Says, My Hometown, Fireproof and many more.

 

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