INTERVIEW: Spanglish Fly revive Latin boogaloo sound
When Jonathan Goldman, aka DJ Jonny Semi-Colon, has an idea, the world better watch out. It’s likely that his dreams will come to fruition.
Case in point: the founding and continued success of the Latin boogaloo band Spanglish Fly. The group, featuring more than 10 members, is gearing up for a busy February that includes a headlining gig Thursday, Feb. 8 with the legendary Joe Bataan at New York City’s Highline Ballroom and the release of a new album, Ay Que Boogaloo!
The idea for Spanglish Fly began in 2009 when Goldman realized that dance floors around the world needed an infusion of the infectious boogaloo beats that first originated in the 1960s. He wanted to bring the classic tunes of Joe Cuba, Bataan and Mongo Santamaria to a wider populace.
After they conquered the New York boogaloo scene, Spanglish Fly started experimenting with their rhthymic output. The result is Ay Que Boogaloo!, which draws on such genres as New Orleans funk, bolero, swing, jazz and Arabic chant.
Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Goldman, who plays trumpet in the band, and other members of Spanglish Fly. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What can fans expect from your new album, Ay Que Boogaloo!?
Jonathan Goldman: They can expect Spanglish Fly’s trademark big, raucous, upbeat, danceable sound, the sound of a Latin soul party, but one with a real sense of story to it. We really set out to make a great album, rather than just a collection of songs. The percussion pops, the horns blaze, the two women singers groove, the bass and piano lock it all down, and tunes take us through highs and lows, ebbs and flows.
Chaco (Manuel Garcia Orozco): Not difficult! And not really that long either. We worked hard in the studio, of course, but worked as a team, which made it a pleasure. We spread the tracking out over a few months, and Jonathan and I had spent long hot afternoons the summer before working on composing/arranging. So, yes, the process overall took over a year, but it was all inspiring, collaborative, creative work.
What Latin boogaloo inspired you in your career?
Goldman: Sometimes, when writing, I stop and ask myself: WWRBD? Meaning, what would Ray Barretto do? Of course Joe Bataan, which is why he’s a guest on the LP — a dream come true. You can hear us name-drop some influences in ‘Bugalu Pa’Mi Abuela’: Mongo Santamaria, Johnny Colón.
What’s your live show like for audience members?
Mariella Gonzalez: There’s a lot of power on stage when a band is 12 pieces. [The] fans get that energy and return it by dancing, whooping, cheering, singing along, and we feed off that response and take it even higher.
Paloma Muñoz: Everyone in the band adds something different, and extra, like Machuco (Boricua from New Jersey) and his improvised soneos, or Rafael (Gomez, bass player from Venezuela) contributing a cuatro to ‘You Know I’m No Good’ or Vera (Kemper, trombone, from Germany) and her very jazzy solos.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Spanglish Fly will play Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Highline Ballroom in New York City, and they will release their new album, Ay Que Boogaloo!, Feb. 16. Click here for more information and tickets.
