Alfredo De La Fe

International Salsa act Alfredo De La Fe and Band where in Sydney last January for the Bacardi Latino festival. TheLatinVoice.com’s Ricky, managed to get an exclusive interview with this star of Salsa, who has played and worked with some of the best musicians in the world. This is what he had to say…

TLV: First of all, Welcome to Australia Alfredo…
ADLF: Thanks man, really it is a pleasure to be here. I want to say hello to all my Colombian brothers and Spanish people that are away from home. We come here and bring our music, it brings us together. It’s like going back to grandma’s house, to the smell of her food, you know, to the kitchen. It’s great.

TLV: Tell us a bit about your history, how long you have being playing for?
ADLF: Well, I started playing violin when I was 8 years old, in Cuba were I was born. Then at 12, I became a professional musician and started playing Salsa with Jose Faraldo. Then I went to all the schools, you know, Eddie Palmieri, I was his violinist, when I played with him, I became the first soloist violinist in the world. And I played with Hector Lavoe, Rueben Blades, Fario Lasto, I still remember, I played with everybody, so I’ve being playing for quite a few years.

TLV: How have you seen the Salsa scene change over the years, where do you think it is going now, worldwide?
ADLF: I think that Salsa at this moment is in CRISIS, you know, because nobody is daring to do anything new, you know, what we did in the 70s and 80s that we took the chance and did a different kind of music and it rocked the whole world. I think that needs to happen again, everybody is still sticking to the same old patterns, they are not doing anything new, and there are some of us that are trying to change it, I think we have to come up with new music, something that is totally different but can be still danced as Salsa, but is totally different.

TLV: Having lived in Colombia for many years, how has that influenced your music and style?
ADLF: In EVERY way, in not only my music, but my life, my spirit, it is my second country, I LOVE Colombia; I mean I really love Colombia. I think it is the most beautiful country in the world, man. I just got back from there before I came to Australia, I was playing the ‘Feria de Cali’, which was great, it‘s always great to go back.

TLV: What has been the most memorable moment in your career?
ADLF: Every day is memorable, you know, backing Celia Cruz for the last five years as her musical director was something that was amazing, you know, playing next to Maxis Pavarotti in France, but everything. Being here in Sydney is memorable, every moment, I can not say one moment because every day is a different moment.

TLV: Who has been your inspiration in your career?
ADLF: Many people have been my inspiration…Miles Davis has been my inspiration. But many, many of the old Cuban people, Eddy More, Lucho Medudes from Colombia…many inspirations.

TLV: If you had three wishes in the world, what would they be?
ADLF: Hmmm…if I had three wishes in the world, I don’t know, it would be to live in Cuba in the 40s and 50s when the music was the BEST. Also to live in the United States when the Jazz was really developing, that would be another one of my wishes and to make Salsa happen again!

TLV: What projects do you have for the future? Are you recording anything?
ADLF: Well, we just finished doing a record, a CD. It’s not even out yet, we finished it a couple of weeks ago. We are fusing a lot of things, for example, we are fusing la cumbia which is a rhythm from Colombia with Middle Eastern rhythms so it’s a world Jazz project.

TLV: Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
ADLF: Hmmm…i dunno it’s hard to say, ten years is a long time… I see myself playing good music.

TLV: Last of all, what message do you have to the Latin and Salsa community in Australia?
ADLF: Well, I say this man, we far away from home and we got to stick together, we got to stick together and keep our Latino heritage, sometimes people come here and they forget even how to talk Spanish. It’s our roots that are worthwhile, you know, we got to stick together.

These extra photos are thanks to Carmen Vella

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