Live at La Fonda Fluid, hot, danceable, and fun are terms people use to describe traditional Cuban street music, precursor to today’s salsa rhythms. Veteran player Victor Alvarez founded Savor about ten years ago to bring back the full repertoire of the son cubano, from Babalu and the Buena Vista Social Club to the lesser-known acoustic sounds that he grew up on.
Savor can be anything from a trio to an eight-piece band, depending on the venue. For La Fiesta Lounge, Alvarez (who plays mandolin and guitar) brings guitarist Alberto Gonzalez, percussionist Miguel Escuriola, drummer Diego Maestas, and Zar Kundi on the congas. “For dance, I add more percussion,” he explains, noting that the band is excited to be back at La Fonda after several years away—check them out Sept. 26 & 27. “People are close to you there, and the band gets to communicate better with them.”
Naturally, since Santa Fe has its own sound, the band likes to showcase its versatility with a bit of everything from Latin American Cumbias to all-American Johnny Cash. “We have friends from all over,” Alvarez says, “so I try to touch everybody.”
