Ola Fresca

Weaving the musical bridges connecting salsa, Cuban son, timba, and funk, Ola Fresca, in it’s first 10 years and two world acclaimed, award winning, original albums under the direction and creative energy of Jose Conde, has evolved a swinging, fearless tropical Latin sound directly from Brooklyn, New York. From their rustic Cuban roots tinged 2004 debut Ay! Que Rico, to the funky, eclectic Best Latin Album in the 2008 Independent Music Awards, (R)Evolucion, the band meandered through a spectrum of Latin roots styles and instrumental formats and fused liberally, all while making music that was praised by many such as the NY TIMES for having an “emphasis on songs with characters, wordplay and mild social ideas…good for dancing and thinking!” The format of the band morphed from large “conjunto” ensemble to small combos featuring percussion, brass, saxes and flutes and sometimes Cuban tres, and then mixing in electric guitar, B-3 organ and even the funky drums of the Meters’ legend Ziggy Modeliste. In 2014 Ola Fresca settled as a trombone driven, power salsa octet. Featuring the sharp Latin dance focused new sound of the band on poignant, new songs about immigration, identity, drumming, and more by Conde and other NY based Latin music writers and collaborators, their new album “ELIXIR” has been funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign, and is in production and set for release in the Spring of 2015, with a limited edition vinyl press by Peace & Rhythm that followed to release Sept 2015. Since 2004 Ola Fresca has performed throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and parts of Latin America. Songs from the first two Ola Fresca albums have been featured in numerous widely released albums, films and TV programs including features on Putumayo and Rough Guide world music compilations to sync licenses on HBO and British Television programs. The band has been featured on NPR and BBC, Marco Werman’s the World and more. Notable venues that have featured Ola Fresca include Chicago World Music Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, NY Central Park Summerstage, Bocafest in Veracruz Mexico, Green Apple Festival Miami, Santa Monica Twilight Dance Series, Kennedy Center DC, NY Global Rhythm Festival, New Orleans Voodoo Festival etc.