Luis BOFILL ( band leader, singer & minor percussionist)
He started his career at the end of the 70’s with the “Movimiento de la Nueva Trova” at the University of Havana as a member of the group “Cuba Nueva” which played traditional Cuban music.
In 1981 he participated on a national TV competition and won as a soloist. This was the birth of his successful career, with performances in theaters, TV programs, nightclubs and several tours across the island. Luis earned awards in festivals and competitions, and was invited to perform with important musicians such as, Arturo Sandoval, Albita Rodriguez, Tata Güines, Omara Portuondo, Orquesta Aragón and Francisco Céspedes. This made him one of the most important figures of Cuban music at the time.
After leaving the island, Luis settled in Europe. There he performed with several bands such
as “Color Latino”, “Salsamania” and created his own band “Nueva Visión” in Berlin, participating in festivals and clubs in Germany, Italy and Austria. Some of the clubs and festivals in which he performed are Quasimodo, Haus der Kulturen der Welt and Flöz in Berlin, the Fabrik in Hamburg, the folk music festival FOLKEST in Northern Italy, the Jazzmeile in Berlin and others.
In 1994, he came to Miami, to perform at one of the hottest nightclubs of the city in the 90’s, Cafe Nostaglia. Recording two productions; “Café Nostalgia live!” and “Te dí la vida entera”. In 2000 Luis formed his own band. He has performed on stages in South America and the United States. In 2005 he recorded the album “Costumbres” with SONY-BMG latin with the songs of Juan Gabriel. His latest album “Made in Habana” (2012) was produced by Descemer Bueno ( producer of Enrique Iglesias, Yerbabuena, Cubiche and others) and Roberto Carcasses (leader of “Interactivo”, a fusion Cuban band) with guest singers; Alkebulan from NY and Kelvis Ochoa from Cuba.
About the latest record production:
In 2017, Luis Bofill, has completed a new project: “Arsenio Essential”. A CD honoring one of the most important composers of Cuban music, Arsenio Rodriguez. Musical arrangements and produced by multiple Grammy nominations and Winner, Orlando “Landy” Mosqueda.
“The keys of son and guaguancó, as well as the structure of the ensemble that Arsenio consolidated in the 1940s in Cuba, spread throughout America in an explosive trail of flavor through the salsa orchestras of the seventies that relaunched His unique Montunos by means of an unprecedented rise of sandunga in the history of Latin music, turning the “Brujo de Macurijes” into the central figure of the birth of salsa as the most vivid and tangible expression of the new Latin American baroque.
The essential compositions of the “Wonderful Blind” are now reappearing in the United States with the new production of the renowned Havana singer Luis Bofill entitled “Arsenio Essential”, an extraordinary record work done in Miami with total respect for the original work of the legendary Cuban”
Jairo Grijalba Ruiz, March 2, 2017.
Historian, musical essayist
LUIS BOFILL (Director, vocalista y percusión menor)
Comenzó su carrera a finales de los años 70 con el “Movimiento de la Nueva Trova” en la Universidad de La Habana como miembro del grupo “Cuba Nueva” que tocaba música tradicional cubana.
En 1981 participó en el concurso nacional de televisión y ganó mencion como solista. Este fue el nacimiento de su exitosa carrera, con presentaciones en teatros, programas de televisión y tours por toda la isla. Luis ganó premios en festivales y concursos, y fue invitado para actuar con importantes músicos como Arturo Sandoval, Albita Rodríguez, Tata Güines, Opus 13, Pancho Céspedes, entre otros. Esto lo convirtió en uno de los más importantes figuras de la música cubana de la época.
Después de salir de la isla, Luis se estableció en Berlin. Allí actuó con varias bandas como “Color Latino”, “Salsamania” y creó su propia banda “Nueva Visión” en Berlín, participando en festivales y clubes en Alemania, Italia y Austria. Algunos de los clubes y festivales en los que actuó son Quasimodo, Haus der Kulturen der Welt y Flöz en Berlín, el Fabrik en Hamburgo, el festival de música folk FOLKEST en el norte de Italia, el Jazzmeile en Berlín y otros.
En 1994, él vino a Miami, para realizar en uno de los clubs nocturnos más importantes de la ciudad en los años 90, Café Nostaglia, grabando dos producciones; “Café Nostalgia live!” y “Te dí la vida entera”. En 2000 Luis formó su propia banda. Ha actuado en escenarios de Sudamérica y Estados Unidos. En 2005 graba el disco “Costumbres” con SONY-BMG latino con las canciones de Juan Gabriel. Su último disco “Made in Habana” (2012) fue producido por Descemer Bueno (productor de Enrique Iglesias, Yerbabuena, Cubiche y otros) y Roberto Carcasses (líder de “Interactivo”) con cantantes invitados; la nuyorican Alkebulan y el cubano Kelvis Ochoa.
En estos momentos, 2017 está lanzando una nueva producción “Arsenio Essential”, con música en casi su totalidad de Arsenio Rodríguez. Cuenta con la producción musical y arreglos de Orlando “Landy” Mosqueda, nominado en varias ocasiones y ganador de Grammys.
Las claves del son y del guaguancó, así como también la estructura del conjunto que Arsenio consolidó en la decada de los cuarentas en Cuba se expandieron por toda América en un explosivo reguero de sabrosura a través de las orquestas de salsa de los años setenta que relanzaron sus inigualables montunos mediante una escalada de sandunga sin precedentes en la historia de la música latina, convirtiendo al “Brujo de Macurijes” en la figura central del nacimiento de la salsa como la expresión más viva y tangible del nuevo barroco latinoamericano.
Ahora reaparecen en Estados Unidos las composiciones esenciales del “Ciego Maravilloso” con la nueva producción del reconocido cantante habanero, Luis Bofil titulada “Arsenio Essential”, un extraordinario trabajo discográfico hecho en Miami con total respeto por la obra original del legendario tresero cubano”
Jairo Grijalba Ruiz, Marzo 2, 2017
Historiador, ensayista musical
Singer Luis Bofill has the kind of voice that calls out for a good time. The Cuban native is a Miami nightlife institution known for his classic bolero styling, lusty laugh and all-night-long enthusiasm. He reprises songs made famous by Arsenio Rodríguez on his latest sing-along, dance-ready solo album.
Judy Cantor-Navas
Billboard Magazine
“Quien no conozca a Luis Bofill en Miami no conoce la noches de Miami!”
José Antonio Evora, Nuevo Herald, Miami
“A well-known nightclub in Miami gave birth to Grupo Café Nostalgia (Naïve), who perform live in a fashion that adds to sophistication elements of languishing regret and 3a.m. smokiness and sleaziness, qualities found not simply in the group’s music but in the resplendent voice of lead singer Luis Bofill”
“A well-known nightclub in Miami gave birth to Grupo Café Nostalgia (Naïve), who perform live in a fashion that adds to sophistication elements of languishing regret and 3a.m. smokiness and sleaziness, qualities found not simply in the group’s music but in the resplendent voice of lead singer Luis Bofill”
Fredric Koeppel, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis
“Café Nostalgia” haunt lieu du “nouveau son de Miami” et d’une nouvelle émigration cubaine Véronique Mortaigne, Le Monde, Paris
“Luis Bofill, una de las voces más ricas y sugerentes en color y textura, tiene a su cargo la mayor parte del repertorio (CD “Te dí la vida entera”), y en él se muestra como un camaleón; a cada canción, un nuevo ropaje, una variación de la esencia de cada tema”
Eliseo Cardona, Nuevo Herald, Miami
“Grupo Nostalgia and guests put on an impressive and original show. Luis Bofill cements his reputation as Miami’s own Benny More.”
Judy Kantor, New Times, Miami
“Since he’s been a resident of South Florida for a while now, it is in this album, Made in Habana, that he carefully sheds some of his Cuban roots in favor of the local flavors. While this is a straight-up party, you can feel elements of Colombia and other Caribbean spices in the mix. This is a good record, but Bofill’s even better live, where his gleaming bald head rocks back and forth, sometimes in pain, sometimes in ecstasy.”
Abel Folgar, New Times, Miami
“So finally this morning I got to listen to Luis Bofill’s “Made in Habana.” Wow. I need to listen to it again, but my first impression is that it is a gem of an album. Superb production, great songs, astounding swing. This is Cuban music made by young Cuban musicians (coming and going) who give a fuck about American mainstream pop…..”
Eliseo Cardona, independent jornalist, Miami Released productions: “Cafe Nostalgia live!” (Naive Records, 1997) “Te dí la vida entera” (Naive Records, 1999) “Costumbres” (BMG Latin USA-Sony, 2005) “Made in Habana” (Independent, 2012) “Arsenio Essential” (Independent, 2017) Collaborating in: Julio Iglesias “Divorcio” (SONY 2003) David Torrens “Ni de aquí ni de allá” (EMI, 2001) Raúl Del Sol “Caminar Soñando” (Alumbra Record 2007) Grupo Cubiche “Cubiche” (Independent 2009) Projects for “Playing for Change” (2011-2013) Pepin Rivero “Cantos Viajeros” (children music 2018) Boris Larramendi “Allá en Cuba” (2020)