Today on Mambo, we begin a short series about Orquesta Novel from New York City.
The orchestra was originally founded as Orquesta Tipica Novel. Tipica is another term for ‘Charanga’, the Cuban style of dance music characterised by flute and violin. From the mid-1970s, however, Tipica was dropped from the name.
Read more below the playlist
Playlist
- Orquesta Tipica Novel – Tiene Sabor – 3:38
- Orquesta Tipica Novel – Descarga A Cachita – 2:57
- Orquesta Tipica Novel – Te Amo En Silencio – 2:50
- Orquesta Novel – Moňoňo – 4:56
- Orquesta Novel – Tarareando Un Son – 4:29
- Orquesta Novel – Ritmo Sinocha – 4:38
- Orquesta Novel – Salud, Dinero Y Amor – 5:20
- Orquesta Novel – Si Pudiera Volver – 4:35
- Orquesta Novel – De Colores – 4:21
- Orquesta Novel – Para Ti Juventud – 5:59
- Orquesta Novel – Seis Lindas Cubanas – 5:17
- Orquesta Novel – Fefita – 6:01
The word ‘Salsa’ was still relatively new at the time. It was used for the swinging, popular Cuban dance music of the period, and Orquesta Novel was considered a genuine salsa orchestra.
Meanwhile, Charanga music enjoyed a real revival in 1978. Some dance clubs featured several orchestras on the same bill, including Orquesta Novel. Its founder, Afro-Cuban Willie Ellis, was not only the band’s pianist but also its composer and vocalist.
