Enrique Alvarez

Enrique Alvarez Navarro is a founding member and director of the popular orchestra Charanga Latina as well as an outstanding violinist and composer of many Cuban hits. He was born in 1952 in the province of Camaguey, Cuba. Enrique comes from a long line of musicians. His grandfather, father, brother, and son are all respected Cuban artists. Enrique began studying music at the age of 4 under the tutelage of the highly regarded professor, Carmelo Alvarez. His classmates at the Escluela Macional de Arte de La Ciudad de La Habana, are now some of Cuba's finest players: Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera, Juan Pablo Torres, Ignacio Berroa and his brother Adalberto Alvarez.

At the age of 6, Enrique played violin in a children's orchestra which performed "Charanga Francesa". This music was played by ensembles that included a few violins, flutes and other instruments. They were responsible for popularizing rhythms such as the danzon and the cha cha cha decades before this music became known worldwide. The "Charanga Francesa" groups also played sones, boleros, and other Cuban rhythms in their own special style. This was the beginning of Enrique's vocation as a "charanguero".

At the age of 14, Alvarez joined the Charanga Cubanacan Orquestra, along with other outstanding students from the Escuela Nacional de Arte , including Emiliano Salvador, Calisto Oviedo, Jose Luis Cortes, Miguel "Anga" Diaz, and Sopilon. This experience allowed him to develop his talent and musicianship in this popular Cuban music genre. Upon his graduation in 1971, he joined the Orquestra Sinfonica de Camaguey. During the 70's he recorded with outstanding musicians such as Jose Maria Vitier, Silvio Rodriguez, Pablo Milanes and with pianist Frank Fernandez, as well as established Charanga bands Orquestra Aragon, Los Van Van and Ritmo Oriental.

In 1976. Enrique Alvarez joined the Maravillas de Florida Orquestra and toured internationally, until joining Elio Reve's Orquestra in 1981 as first violinist. Alvarez has performed with excellent musicians and singers like Daniel Santos, Andy Montañez, Wilfredo Vargas, Sonia Silvestre, Dany Rivera, Papo Lucas and others. In 1984 he joined an ensemble under the direction of the outstanding flutist Richard Egues, a founding member of Orquestra Aragon. In 1986 Gonzalo Rubalcaba asked him to join his group and co-produce records with the great singer, Tito Gomez. They produced two albums: Orquestra America en Caracas and La America de Ayer, Hoy y Siempre.

Enrique is an uncomparable musician who has shared stages with the best Cuban violinists and charangueros: Rafael Lay (Aragon's musical director and violinist), Enrique Jrrin (the creator of the cha cha cha), Miguel Barbon Brindis aka "The Prodigious Boy" and Melodias del 40, Alfredo de la Fe, Pedrito Hernandez y Arcaño y sus Maravillas. With percussionists Jose Luis Quintana, aka "Changuito" and Tata Guines, he gave the traditional Cuban musical concepts a new sound with his inspired violin descargas.