His first album "Esencia", released November 2001, is a tribute to his journey back to his roots and to the essence of Cuba's musical heritage; son, guajira, and bolero.It laid the seed for his current record, the all original master production " Ay!Que Rico" (avail May 04) Conde's smoothe honey voice taps into the vast heritage of Cuban music and layers it with a new, original subtlety. "Esencia" was produced and recorded in home studios during the time period that Conde was returning to his roots, a span of five years.
"......this is fantastic. For a good time, it's thoroughly Cuban, and that says it all."
by Ben Ohmart - LA Ritmo review of Jose Conde's debut record - Esencia
"Esencia probes the folklore and music of Cuban culture, with son montunos, and guajiras,Cuban dance standards and a dreamlike and seuctive interpretation of Amorosa Guajira, simply and beautifully sung"
- Fiesta NY.Com review of Esencia
"......Perhaps the weekend's best surprise was Jose Conde Y Su Ola Fresca, who wove Cuban jazz,
salsa, son, guarjira, bolero, and changui with colorful metaphors and swaying story lines. "
by Dan Wilging - Dirty Linen Magazine, issue #104, review of performance at JAS Aspen Festival
which included performances by Bob Dylan, Anjelique Kidjo, Macy Gray, Willie Nelson
Along with his group "Ola Fresca" ( "fresh wave"), singer, songwriter bandleader, and arranger, Jose Conde is taking the Cuban sound beyond traditional son, salsa or timba to a new place on the map of Latin world music. One of the busiest Latin groups out of New York , Jose Conde y Ola Fresca opened at the 2002 Aspen Snowmass Festival for Bob Dylan, Anjelique Kidjo, and Willie Nelson. And they are regulars on the NY scene playing noted venues such as ZINC BAR, JOE'S PUB, SOB's, IRIDIUM, NELL"S, BROOKLYN MUSEUM, GONZALEZ Y GONZALEZ, LE CIRQUE, and constant private and public engagements. Jose Conde y Ola Fresca performed in the first Miami Latin Funk Festival in April 2003 and where the featured act at the 2003 East Hampton Music Festival in May. Currently they are a featured group in lower Manhattan's River to River Summer Series at the Regent Wall Street Hotel.
On stage Jose Conde's spreads a soothing rhythmic energy which captivates an audience entirely. He sings his poetry clothed in original arrangements which blend Cuban rhythms with other Latin elements and Funk and Jazz to make the Ola Fresca groove simmer with a truly unique sound. In full force Jose
Conde y Su OLA FRESCA arrive with up to 10 members including percussion, horns, Bass,piano. With a more subtle rhythmic intensity, smaller versions of the group play the more intimate venues.
Also active in in film and theatre music making, Jose Conde composed, and produced the soundtrack of the feature length documentary 90 MILES, directed by Juan Carlos Zaldivar, which premiered at the LA Film Festival and also the Havana Film Festival 2001 and was aired nationally by PBS in spring 03. Jose Conde is also the composer for the current Off Broadway Intar theatre production "The Cook" by Eduardo Machado.
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