TATO TORRES Y YERBABUENA

BORICUA ROOTS MUSIC GRUPO

YERBABUENA pronunced: YER-buh BWAY-nuh
yerbabuena, hierbabuena, n., f. : wild spearmint, mint yerba, hierba, n., f. : herb : grass : weed buena, n., f., adj. : good

Note: the Spanish name "yerba-buena" ("good herb") is used to describe several varieties of mint, including Satureja douglasii, Satureja chamissonis, and Mentha spicata (spearmint)

A new Boricua generation is embracing their traditional musical expressions. YERBABUENA is the product of everything that leads to a contemporary Puerto Rican musical experience.

Tato Torres

YERBABUENA (one word) is a group of individuals who come together to play the music that they love under the musical direction of singer-composer-musician Tato Torres. It is composed of musicians, singers and dancers from the New York City area, who share an intense passion for the musical traditions of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

For a long time, their musical traditions have been constricted by commercial culture and generally limited to holidays and "folkloric" presentations. While well-recognized Boricuas like Willie Colon, Marc Anthony and Ricky Martin are known worldwide for their "Latin" flavor, groups like Los Pleneros de la 21, Viento de Agua, and yerbabuena, have been changing the way people listen to traditional Puerto Rican music in New York City and beyond.

By functioning as a link between the older and new generations, the traditional Puerto Rican rhythms of plena, bomba and musica jibara have remained engraved in the Puerto Rican subconscious, they have always been the sounds our thoughts dance to. The current revitalization of Puerto Rican identity and a significant increase in ethnic "self-confidence" has reinforced a deep collective yearning for identity and pride. As all elements of culture, our traditional and popular music satisfies a significant part of the need for collective self-awareness and cultural cohesion.

The last thing that will come to your mind while at a yerbabuena event is that you're watching a show. It feels more like a cross between a jam in the park, a spiritual ceremony and a family reunion. Their moves are not painstakingly choreographed, nor do they all have the same look, attitude or style; still, they convey only wholeness and harmony, and their music is moving beyond belief. The music they play is, by nature, participatory. Whether bomba, plena or musica jibara, it's all interactive. And being witness to their vibrant sounds and the deep joy that making music together gives them, just leaves the audience no choice but to join in the chorus or dance for the drums. After a YERBABUENA session, you'll be uplifted, tired and happy.

Boricuation has had the pleasure of enjoying YERBABUENA live on a few occations and their perfomances are uplifting to the Boricua spirit within me and everyone else. The vibe is allready full with anticipation as you sit patiently to hear your ROOTS music. From the begining to the end of thier perfomances, it's non-stop rhythmatic extacy that takes you back to your abuelitas time. I always come away a better Boricua after a YERBABUENA performance.

For booking and schedule information:
YERBABUENA.BIZ
YERBABUENA ON MYSPACE

YERBABUENA @ Nuyorican Cafe
Old San Juan Puerto Rico Sept. 21 2006