They met in Europe by chance, but it was the love of Latin American rhythms that brought together the members of the project Mercadonegro. The orchestra plays indomitable and hot salsa but is certainly not afraid of including elements from Latin-jazz, son and rap when the temperature needs to be risen to its highest. The band has previously played with Carlos Santana and been a regular backing band for Celia Cruz. But here the music is on the band’s own terms – and only gets better. Expect a full dance floor with oozing and sweaty Latin club atmosphere when Mercadonegro plays its red-hot music.

The Mercadonegro project was born when three Latin-American musicians met by chance in Europe. Ending up in the old Continent for love, they have kept their musical heart in Latin America, and they decided to spread throughout the world the sounds of their homelands, together with new beats and vibes.

Armando Miranda was born in 1974 in La Habana, Cuba, in the Buenavista neighbourhood made famous by the Wim Wenders film. Hes been a professional musician since he was 17 years old. He studied at the Felix Varela Professional Music School in La Habana, where he played - and sung - salsa and Afro-Cuban music with famous artists such as Manguaré, Niurka Espinola, Ire Arche.

Rodrigo Rodríguez was born in 1974 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombias most Caribbean town. He worked as a singer and percussionist for Colombias National Ballet as well as with Joseito Martinez from the Latin Brothers.

Cesar Correa was born in 1975 in Trujillo, Peru. Trujillo is well known for its long tradition in arts and music. He studied classical piano at the Carlos Valderrama Conservatory in Trujillo where he worked as a classical concert player. He also played with numerous salsa and Peruvian folk music groups. He also has a wide experience as an arranger and as conductor. In Switzerland, he studied at Fribourgs conservatory and at the Berns Jazz School.

The three musicians met through Alfredo De La Fé, one of the best violinists in Latin-American music.
With him the boys from Mercadonegro went on several different tours, and played in important venues such as Ronnie Scott in London, and New Morning in Paris. They participated in great events and festivals like Pavarotti and Friends (Modena, Italy), Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), Fiesta (Rome, Italy), Bal de la Rose (Monte Carlo, Monaco).
On different occasions Mercadonegro had the chance to play with heavyweights such as Carlos Santana, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, La India, who described their music as excellent and full of life and energy.

In the winter of 2000 Mercadonegro was part of the first Europe-New York Salsa all Stars with artists like Giovanni Hidalgo, Jimmy Bosch, José Alberto "El Canario", Jesús Allemany.
Moreover, Miranda, Rodrìguez and Correa featured on Alfredo de la Fés record "Latitudes".
While working on it, the three artists started their Mercadonegro project, writing new songs and rearranging well-known melodies.
The group plays with talented and technically strong Latin-American musicians such as the Brazilian bass player Eduardo Dudù Penz and the Argentinean percussionist Alejandro Paneta and the Cuban trés and guitar player Carlos Irarragorri.
Year 2001 was the most important year for the development of Mercadonegro. Together with the producers of Bibomusic Inc., publisher of the group, a new strategy was devised, with participations in great events and with the groups first CD.
Mercadonegro was invited to play in El Cubanito (Zurich, Switzerland), the most important Latin music venue in Europe, where it got a huge success and improved its already good reputation among the connoisseurs.
In January 2002, Mercadonegro started recording its first CD with the participation of international known musicians such as Tony Martínez and Alfredo de la Fé. The CD sound engineer is the expert and well known Venezuelan director José Mendoza.

Discography
2002: BAILALO! (Bibomusic)
2005: SALSA PA'L MUNDO ENTERO (Bibomusic)
The track "Mercadonegro llego" appears on The Rough Guide To Salsa Dance (World Music Network / 2005)


Mercadonegro has played at
Roskilde Festival ; Umbria Jazz Festival ; Paris Jazz Festival ; Lugano Estival ; Tempo Latino ; Porto Latino ; El Cubanito ; New Morning ; Latinoamericando ; Fiesta Rome ; Eilat Jazz Festival ; Europa Jazz Festival and many others.


Mercadonegro has played with
Alfredo De La Fe ; Celia Cruz ; Carlos Santana ; Cheo Feliciano ; Tito Nieves ; India ; Jose Alberto 'El Canario' ; Frankie Morales ; Jimmy Bosch ; Eddie Palmieri and many others.

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Fondé par des «exilés» sud-américains en Europe, cet orchestre a d’abord accompagné les plus
grands comme Eddie Palmieri, Célia Cruz, Tito Nieves, Alfredo de la Fé… Son second album
sorti en 2005 et ses récentes prestations au Paris Jazz Festival, au New Morning, à l’Europa Jazz, le
placent au plus haut niveau du genre : de la salsa absolument explosive, swinguante à
souhait et ultra-dansante…

Le groupe Mercadonegro est né quand trois musiciens latino-américains se sont rencontrés en Europe.
Retenu sur le vieux continent par l’amour, ils ont gardé leur musicalité latine et ont décidés de répandre à
travers le monde les sons de leur terre natale, ensemble, avec leurs nouveaux rythmes, leurs sentiments.
Quatre membres fondateurs composent ce groupe mythique : Armando Miranda «El Moro», est né en 1974
à la Havane, à Cuba. Il est le chanteur principal et l’auteur de la plupart des chansons des Mercadonegro,
Cesar Correa, le fi ls de deux grands musiciens péruviens est né en 1975 à Trujillo au Pérou. Cesar joue du
piano et endosse le rôle de directeur artistique du groupe, et Rodrigo Rodrìguez né en 1974 à Cartagena de
Indias, la plus caribéenne des villes colombiennes. Rodrigo, joue des timbales et autres percussions, compose
certaines des chansons les plus connues du groupe. Il est un artiste aux talents multiples et variés, un
véritable showman. L’histoire de ce groupe commence avec le violoniste Alfredo de la Fé qui a choisi Armando,
César et Rodrigo pour l’accompagner sur ses tournées. Leur dextérité remarquable et leur performance
lors des tournées de Celia Cruz, la reine de la salsa ont été saluées par le public et la critique. En 2000, ils
décident, avec le label Bibomusic, de créer un nouveau groupe salsa autour d’une musique originale et reconnaissable
de tous. Ces musiciens ont alors un seul objectif : devenir le premier orchestre latino-américain
de niveau international (hors Amérique Latine et USA).
Le groupe s’appelera Mercadonegro, en hommage aux racines et à l’héritage de la musique afro-américaine.
Le groupe d’amis décide ensuite de sélectionner des musiciens latinos, vivant en Europe, afi n de monter
un orchestre pour les grands événements en live. Parmis eux on trouve le bassiste brésilien Eduardo Dodu
Penz, le percussionniste argentin Alejandro Paneta et le guitariste cubain Carlos Irarragorri. Ensemble, ils enregistrent
un premier album Bailalo, sorti en janvier 2002. Par son aisance étonnante dans l’interprétation de
tous les styles de salsa, le groupe offre à l’auditoire un spectacle de qualité qui allie son traditionnel et salsa
moderne sans oublier des rythmes afro-cubains.
Mercadonegro est capable de chauffer n’importe quel public ! 14 musiciens très soudés forment l’ensemble
musical depuis les années «galère» jusqu’aux tournées avec Celia Cruz. Ils se connaissent par coeur et ont la
chance d’avoir un pianiste de génie, Cesar Correa, à la fois chef d’orchestre, compositeur et arrangeur hors
pair !