RAFAEL BERMUDEZ RODRIGUEZ

(double bass, compositions, arrangements) 

                                            

 

Rafael began professionally in 1983 as the bass player of the Orchestra Típica “Nueva Ilusión”, in his native city, where he made his first compositions and orchestrations. In 1996, he founded his own group, the Septeto " Sonority ".  Within groups such as, the Septets " Barricada" and “Traje Nuevo "; grupo "Soneros de Verdad", he was employed as the Musical Director;  of the Teacher Nicolás Sirgado; the popular group The Surik", The Quartet Careenings", as contra baseplayer and Musical Director and also with Orquesta "Conexión Salsera", of the teacher Maestro Nicolás Sirgado; el popular grupo "Los Surik", El "Cuarteto Carenas", as contra baseplayer and Musical Director of María Victoria y su Grupo. He worked next to the outstanding Cuban interpreter, Thin Soledad, as a musician, composer, arranger,  director and Musical Producer. He composed and orchestrated topics for the popular Santiaguera and Son singer Charity Hierrezuelo, accompanying her on a tour through several cities of Europe.  Member of UNEAC.
Participated in national and international events: Festival of the French Song; tour through Central America (Nicaragua and Costa Rica, 1994-95), where he carried out concerts with several artists of the area, among them, the Guatemalan singer-songwriter Arjona; in the year 2000. Morocco, (invited by his Majesty, The King); in 2001, Festival of the Arts of Columbia (USA) and in the same year, he traveled to the USA, where he made several concerts in important North American scenarios as the Lincoln Center and the Nells Cuban Club", of the New York. Festival ”Son Cuba” (Germany-Austria) 2001. In the years 2000 and 2004, together with well known Cuban and international names, among those that of Manolito Simonet and Caridad Hierrezuelo. In 2002 the Festival CARIFLORA, (Jamaica).  

He shared scenarios next to well known figures such as Ricardo Arjona, Efraín Ríos, María Victoria Rodríguez, José L. Cortés, Lazarito Valdés, Adalberto Álvarez, Caridad Hierrezuelo, Manolito Simonet, Pancho Amat, Segundo, Soledad Delgado, etc...   
As instrumentalist, composer and arranger, he worked on cd’s such as:   
CD: "Habana a flor de Piel" of the group Sintesis, nominated the Latin Grammy 2002 next to Dog Valdés, Pablo Milanés, Tata Güines, May Rivera, among others.   
CD: “Dame un chance" (Septeto Traje Nuevo).
CD: “Son Esperanza". (Septeto with the same name)  
CD: “Mientras Tanto",  of the minstrel Carlos Céspedes.  
CD: “Afíliate Bailador", (Sindicato de la Salsa, Puerto Rico).
CD: “Abran Paso que me voy", (Donaldo Flores)

His musical work reached international relevance when placed in the Hit Parade of Tampa Bay, USA, at the beginning of the 2000, the Rich topic Guarapo recorded by the Septeto “Traje Nuevo” and more recently, a version of this same topic is placed on the lists of the Hit Parade in Puerto Rico and other towns of USA, as Los Ángeles, San Francisco, California, Tampa Bay, recorded by “El Sindicato de la Salsa”, besides being listened to in several countries of Europe and also recorded by the Cuban Donaldo Flores.