The Gran Combo brings sauce and flavor to the Coca-Cola Music Hall

Tonight’s presentation of the so-called “Salsa University,” The Great Combo of Puerto Rico, at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in the T-Mobile District in San Juan, may have puzzled attendees.

Be witnesses to how the founder and leader of the group Rafael Ithier at the age of 95 he arrives on stage as he has done since 1962 causing surprise and admiration.

Validates in turn that Ithier was not mistaken in the 1960s to conglomerate the first members of the group to create an authentic, unique and distinctive sound that the “Taste Mules” have spread around the world, after belonging to the iconic and important group the Combo of Rafael Cortijo.

The group about to turn 60 surprised the audience with an entrance from the back of the new auditorium in the country to the rhythm of bomb and full. Immediately the audience that occupied the first floor stopped from their seats to receive the “Mules of Taste.”

The older mulatto waited in the back of the stage to make his entrance with a few short dance steps, while the audience applauded him.

The ovation for Ithier was more than deserved. He and the mulattoes have been ambassadors of our flag to the world for almost six decades.

Needless to say, the sound of the “Mulattoes of Taste” was impeccable. They are masters in their infallible formula when it comes to executing the sauce genre.

The salsa group deftly started the concert by appealing to patriotic pride in performing the song “Pàtria”, while presenting the athlete’s historical feat. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn by winning a gold medal representing Puerto Rico at the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo. Similarly, visuals of other Puerto Rican athletes and a group of pandemic heroes were projected on the screen: health professionals.

the singer Jerry Rivas was the one who gave the welcome salute to the show which included 21 hits. Rivas thanked God first for “allowing himself to be here after this pandemic” and then the audience.

Below we review some of the best moments of the evening rich in cadence, flavor and dance.

The performance of the classic “Don Goyo” made the audience follow the salsa key as they sang from beginning to end the success that was recorded in the 1971s when Andy Montañez and Pellín Rodríguez formed the front of the orchestra.

Ithier’s words

The director addressed the audience to announce that they are preparing to release a new unreleased Christmas album and asked if the new music released on the recent album “In Quarantine” has been accepted by the audience. Attendees ’response was a collective“ yes ”.

“Tonight is for you let’s go with sauce until dawn”, Said the director to give way to the repertoire that comprised half of the concert. The director also invited the audience to stand up from their chairs and dance.

Ithier’s birthday celebration

“Tonight at 12:01 am turns 95, so I’m dedicating this next song”, Has held prior to presenting the classic “The Hill of the Tamarindo”. Once again the founder of the group was applauded.

Ithier was surprised with a pinch of bread on stage by his family and to the beat of the classic “White Leaves” his daughters danced the rich salsa from the stage, which turned out to be the most emotional of the show.

Jerry Rivas’ performance of the classic “Jealous Woman” was very successful for the singer who recently turned 66 years old. Similarly the hit “The Menu” caused the cadence of the theme to put many to dance in the back of the auditorium. In fact, a dance floor was recreated.

The presentation of the animator and artist Eddie Miró, Who was in the audience, caused euphoria. Ithier introduced Miró to a standing ovation from the audience and joked with the animator’s family, including Luisca Vigoreaux.

The most sung

The most created themes of the salsa evening were “Rice with beans”, “Witchcraft”, “Chinese eyes”, the Christmas medley and “I don’t do it anymore”, the theme with which they closed the show.