By:
Kellen Shiles
MURFREESBORO,
Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee State University Salsa Band performed for the
local community on Nov. 20 in Hinton Music Hall to culminate the group’s
semester-long work.
Every semester,
the MTSU Salsa Band holds a performance on campus to showcase its talent. The
band consists of 12 students taking a class under Lalo Davila, who says the
primary goal is to teach students how to understand and compose salsa music.
The band performs cover tunes but also arranges some on its own. The current
line-up consists of alto, tenor and baritone saxophones; two trumpets; one
trombone; a piano; one bass guitar; a drum set; timbales; bongos; and congas.
The group also has a sound engineer to aid in live performances.
“I have learned to
play in a style of music that I’ve never experienced before,” said current
trombone player Justin Martin. “It has made me a better player and I appreciate
other kinds of music I’m not used to performing.”
MTSU Salsa Band Performing at Hinton Hall
The concert was
full of energy and positivity. The rhythm to the music was very easy to dance
to, but it was far from simple. Each instrument was as important as the next,
blending it into one lively performance. A team of salsa dancers whirled about
on stage, prompting others to get out of their seats and into the aisle to join
in the fun. Director Lalo Davila’s banter with the audience was humorous and
lighthearted, making the concert casual in the best way possible.
Davila
was inspired to start the group in 1986 after having played in the first
Nashville-based salsa band called Orkestra Eme Pe. Every semester, Davila
teaches new students the unique musical style that he describes as a blending
of music from all different cultures around the Caribbean and Latin America. Many
consider the primary roots of the music to come from Cuba and Puerto Rico, but
it would be foolish to restrict the genre to only these regions.
Davila
also sings with the group on numerous songs. He claims it is hard to find
another Hispanic singer in the Murfreesboro area. Aside from being the director
of percussion studies at MTSU, Davila has quite the musical history. To list a
few accomplishments, Davila was awarded Nashville’s “Top Five 1998
Percussionist of the Year Award” and The Nashville
Scene’s “2012 Best Latin Jazz Musician.” His performances can be heard in
the movies “People Like Us” and “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”. Davila has
also composed music for the television shows “Drop Dead Diva” and “Burn
Notice”.
Davila
says his favorite part about directing the salsa band is “watching their
expressions having their own pieces performed by the group.”
Playing
with the Salsa Band comes with many benefits. In years past, members have been
privileged enough to perform with honorable musicians such as Jeff Coffin, the
saxophonist for the Dave Matthews Band, and Roy Agee, who played trombone for
Prince. All members of the salsa band demonstrate extraordinary talent and
continue to perform after graduation. Former member Reggie Grisham toured with
The Who on its Quadrophenia and More Tour.
The
salsa band’s music can be heard ringing throughout the halls of Wright Music
Building from 5 – 6:50 p.m. every Wednesday. The group occasionally has the
opportunity to play around Murfreesboro like The Social down on the square and
even some Nashville venues. Any chance to see this group perform is not an
event to be missed.
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