What started as 4 Salford University students jamming together trying to figure out how to play Latin music has turned into a monstrous 22 piece Latin big band! Fronted by lead vocalist Kirsty Almeida and including 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trumpets, 3 percussionists, bass, piano and 2 backing vocals.
La Gran Descarga is a celebration of Manchester based band Almeida Girl & Descarga. Started by bass player Matt Owens (the only remaining member of the original four) the band quickly grew in both size and reputation from those University days. When Gibraltarian singer Kirsty Almeida joined the band things really took off. The band built their sound around her mesmerizing voice, deft melodies and lyrics that skilfully intertwine Spanish and English language
The band have been blazing a trail of relentless touring which has seen them become one most exciting and dynamic bands on the UK scene. Their roving carnival has taken them on adventures far and wide and has ignited festival crowds their Latin meltdown.
Between 2002 and 2004, Descarga wrote, produced and toured the UK with their sell out show Cubanite. Their debut album “Llanita” was released in 2005 establishing them as talented songwriters and a creative force to be reckoned with. The album’s title track made it to the semi finals of the International Songwriting Competition and their storming reworking of “I Heard It Though The Grapevine” is featured on the Nascente release “The Beginners Guide to Latin Music”. Descarga took their roving carnival far and wide, playing storming sets at festivals, clubs and theatres all over the UK and beyond. La Gran Descarga brings together many of the musicians who played with the band over the years, to make several special appearance over the summer. This mighty ensemble is guaranteed to raise the roof with their awesome performance, inspired songwriting, tight arranging and incredible musicianship. Make sure you check them out.
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“Latin music with the freshness of a new century."La Banda Elastica, Latin Alternative Music Magazine, Los Angeles
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"Miss Almeida has matured into a true class A diva - pure soul with a latin heartbeat."Lubi Jovanovic (of Straight No Chaser/Nascente Records)
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"Almeida Girl & Descarga...the most original live salsa band on the UK scene"The Big Issue in the North
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"Kirsty's own songs are unmediated expressions of her own vivacious character. The mood is spirited and playful, with an undertone of seduction."Mike Butler, City Life MagazineDecember 2004
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"A band at the cutting edge of the British salsa scene".Mike Chadwick, JazzFM
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"Almeida Girl and Descarga bring their roving carnival for a night of hot Afro-Cuban grooves topped by the vocals of Kirsty Almeida, a vivacious Spanish-speaking songbird. Their CD, Llanita, is a high watermark in home-grown Latin."Manchester Onlinewww.manchesteronline.co.uk
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"...an amazing album...which includes fantastically original renditions of Nature Boy and I Heard It Through The Grapevine."Gibraltar Chronical April 2005
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"Grapevine is a 21st century gem".Lubi Javonovic (Straight No Chaser/Nascente Records)
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Gracias por la Amistad y el apoyo - Bendiciones. Thanks for your Myspace friendship and the support. Viele Grüsse aus Deutschland - Saludos y Muchos Frutos. ***No a la Violencia - Por Colombia ni un paso Atras*** .......Frutos Tropicales.......
Well done everybody! I hope to see the show soon. Any plans to play North of the Border? I thoroughly recommend the Skye festival..or any Northern midge-ridden Festival for that matter. Where might I buy said CD?
