Bio Ritmo ("Salsa Machine") is an American salsa band based in

Richmond, Virginia (Thus do we reach the stars) , image_map = , mapsize = 250 px , map_caption = Location within Virginia , pushpin_map = Virginia#USA , pushpin_label = Richmond , pushpin_m ...

formed in 1991. The name Bio Ritmo is a

Spanglish Spanglish (a portmanteau of the words "Spanish" and "English") is any language variety (such as a contact dialect, hybrid language, pidgin, or creole language) that results from conversationally combining Spanish and English. The term is mos ...

word play on the term Biorhythm, the hypothetical description for the rhythm of life.''Batanga'' - Issues 7-10, 2004 - Page 80 "Inside The Ellington is a different world as Bio Ritmo plays its sizzling salsa and the dance floor fills with cheerful dancers ... Formed in 1991, "just wanting to jam these rhythms," as lead singer and composer Rai Alvarez puts it, Bio Ritmo has ... The eight to ten member ensemble is known for a classic

Nuyorican Nuyorican is a portmanteau of the terms "New York" and "Puerto Rican" and refers to the members or culture of the Puerto Ricans located in or around New York City, or of their descendants (especially those raised or currently living in the N ...

salsa sound made famous by the

Fania All Stars The Fania All-Stars is a musical group formed in 1968 as a showcase for the musicians on Fania Records, the leading salsa music record label of the time. History Beginnings In 1964, Fania Records was founded in New York City by Jerry Masucci, a ...

in the 1970s, that combines

African Caribbean Afro-Caribbean people or African Caribbean are Caribbean people who trace their full or partial ancestry to Sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of the modern African-Caribbeans descend from Africans taken as slaves to colonial Caribbean via the t ...

rhythms from

son A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current c ...

, bomba,

plena Plena is a genre of music and dance native to Puerto Rico. Origins The plena genre originated in Barrio San Antón, Ponce, Puerto Rico, around 1900. It was influenced by the bomba style of music. Originally, sung texts were not associated wit ...

, and

samba Samba (), also known as samba urbano carioca (''urban Carioca samba'') or simply samba carioca (''Carioca samba''), is a Brazilian music genre that originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro in the early 20th century. Havin ...

with

electronica Electronica is both a broad group of electronic-based music styles intended for listening rather than strictly for dancing and a music scene that started in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the term is mostly used to r ...

and

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...

brass. Founded in the early 1990s, they started out as a part of the Virginia college band scene that included other, then

indie Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming *Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies *Indie game, any game (board ...

, acts such as

Dave Matthews Band Dave Matthews Band (also known by the initials DMB) is an American rock band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1991. The band's founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer and bac ...

and Fighting Gravity. In November 2004, the Salsa Machine won the Disc Makers Independent Music World Series (IMWS) Northeast finals held at The Lion's Den in New York City and earned the title of "Top Independent Act in the Northeast." They were finalists in the 2004 Independent Music Awards – Latin Category. Following their critically acclaimed 2003 self-titled release, Bio Ritmo released its EP, ''Salsa System'', produced by

Jon Fausty Jon Fausty (born February 20, 1949 ) is a multiple Grammy Award-winning sound and recording engineer best known for his work on some of the most successful Latin albums ever recorded. Fausty's career has spanned over six decades. He has desig ...

. In September 2008, Bio Ritmo released their LP ''Bionico'', recorded by Lance Koehler and mixed and mastered by Jon Fausty. In September 2011, Bio Ritmo released their latest LP, ''La Verdad'', celebrating 20 years of original salsa music.

Band

*Rei Alvarez: vocals, guiro (original member) *Giustino Riccio: timbal, coro, clave, drumset (original member) *Bob Miller: trumpet, coro, synth (original member) *Marlysse Simmons: piano, Farfisa organ, (leader) *Tobias Whitaker: trombone *Mark Ingraham: trumpet *Edward Prendergast: bass *Michael Montañez: bongó *Hector "Coco" Barez: conga *JC Kuhl: saxophone *John Lilley: saxophone *Gabo Tomasini: conga (original member)

Discography

*''Piraguero'', 7" single, Merge Records, 1995 *''Que Siga la Musica'', Album, Shameless Records, 1996 *''Salsa Galactica'', Album, Permanent Records, 1997 *'' Rumba Baby Rumba!'', Album, Mercury / Triloka records, 1998 *''Bio Ritmo'' (self-titled), Album, Independent Release, Locutor Records, 2004 *''Salsa System'', EP, Independent Release, Locutor Records, 2006 *''Bionico'', Album, Locutor Records, 2008 *''Lisandra'' / ''Shoe Shine'', 7" single, Locutor Records, 2009 *''Dina's Mambo'' / ''La Muralla'', 7" single, Electric Cowbell Records, 2011 *''La Verdad'', Album, Electric Cowbell Records, 2011 *''Carnaval'', Digital Single, Vampisoul Records, 2014 *''Puerta del Sur'', Album, Vampisoul Records, 2014 *''Oriza'', 7" Single, Peace and Rhythm Records, 2015 *''Señor Locutor'', Digital Single, 2016

Performances

Bio Ritmo has toured the United States and has also performed in Canada, Puerto Rico, France, and the Republic of Georgia. Bio Ritmo has shared the stage with Mambo King,

Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz c ...

, as well as

Poncho Sanchez Poncho Sánchez (born Filoberto Sanchez, October 30, 1951) is an American ''conguero'' (conga player), Latin jazz band leader, and salsa singer. In 2000, he and his ensemble won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album for their work on the C ...

Squirrel Nut Zippers Squirrel Nut Zippers is an American swing and jazz band formed in 1993 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by Jimbo Mathus, James "Jimbo" Mathus (vocals and guitar), Tom Maxwell (singer), Tom Maxwell (vocals and guitar), ...

, Timbalaye, Tambo,

Ozomatli Ozomatli is an American rock band, formed in 1995 in Los Angeles. They are known both for their vocal activist viewpoints and incorporating a wide array of musical styles – including salsa, jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, and others. The group ...

Steel Pulse Steel Pulse are a roots reggae band from the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds (lead vocals, guitar), Basil Gabbidon (lead guitar, vocals), and Ron ...

Burning Spear Winston Rodney OD (born 1 March 1945), better known by the stage name Burning Spear, is a Jamaican roots reggae singer-songwriter, vocalist and musician. Burning Spear is a Rastafarian and one of the most influential and long-standing roots ar ...

Morphine Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a analgesic, pain medication, and is also commonly used recreational drug, recreationally, or to make ...

, G Love and Special Sauce,

Wilco Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup changed frequently dur ...

Southern Culture on the Skids Southern Culture on the Skids, also sometimes known as SCOTS, is an American rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Originally a straightforward roots rock band, they became known as a tongue-in-cheek "party band" with an exaggerated "white ...

, Frankie Vazquez, La Familia Quintero,

La Sonora Ponceña La Sonora Ponceña is a Puerto Rican salsa band, founded in 1954 by Enrique "Quique" Lucca Caraballo. Today Quique's son, Papo Lucca, directs the band. The band has stayed active for a remarkable amount of time, recording dozens of albums, inclu ...

, Bloque 53, and Diabloson. On January 14, 2006, Bio Ritmo performed at the Inaugural Ball for

Commonwealth of Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, Southeastern regions of the United States, between the East Coast of the United Stat ...

Governor

Tim Kaine Timothy Michael Kaine (; born February 26, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Virginia since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 38th lieutenant governor of Virgini ...

Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 15,425. Located on the Virginia Peninsula ...

at the

College of William & Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III ...

. In August 2010, Bio Ritmo toured the Republic of Georgia and performed for President Saakashvili In September 2011, Bio Ritmo performed in Dax, France at the Toros y Salsa Festival. On September 23, 2011, Bio Ritmo celebrated its 20th anniversary.

References

External links

Bio Ritmo websiteBio Ritmo on myspaceIMWS Press ReleaseRock Paper Scissors Profile2006 Virginia Governor's Inauguration
{{Authority control Salsa music groups Musicians from Virginia Salsa musicians Musical groups established in the 1990s