Grupo Niche Tickets

Grupo Niche
Some of the most compelling new Salsa music is coming out of Colombia, rather than Cuba or Puerto Rico. Known for both its vigorous, up-tempo dance music as well as slower-paced romantic numbers Grupo Niche is a popular salsa group based in Cali, Colombia.

During its artistic career, Grupo Niche has received dozens of Gold and Platinum records for their excellent sales. In addition to the admiration and love of their fans, the band has also been the recipient of numerous awards including Latin Grammy nominations and other special distinctions around the world.

Among its best known hits are Cali Pachanguero, Del Puente Pa'll?, Sin Sentimientos, Una Aventura, Etnia, Gotas de Lluvia, Han Cogido la Cosa, Mi Pueblo Natal, Hagamos Lo Que Diga Corazon, Duele Mas, Nuestro Sue?o, and the famous cumbia Canoa Rancha. Their most famous song is Cali Aji

Colombian musician and producer Jairo Varela began playing guitar at the age of eight, having his first experience in a band while participating in La Timba. After moving to Bogota, Jairo Varela started composing and formed the salsa sensation Grupo Niche in 1980 in collaboration with Alexis Lozano.

They made their recording debut in 1981 with Querer Es Poder which featured a trio of lead singers: Alvaro del Castillo, Homer 'Tuto' Jimenez and La Coco Lozano (Alexis's sister). Over the years Grupo Niche has gone through some changes.

Many of the players have branched off and formed groups of their own so there is a changing cast of characters with each of their albums. After the first album Tuto and La Coco departed and Oscar Alberto Abueta shared lead vocals with Del Castillo on the 1982 follow-up Preparate...Grupo Niche Vol.2.

Abueta left and was replaced by Tuto on 1983's Niche (aka Directo Desde New York). Tres, a Cuban six or nine-string guitar, was added to the band. For their albums between 1981 and 1986, Niche's salsa orchestra instrumentation included a front-line of saxophone, flute, two or three trumpets and one or two trombones, a rhythm section (timbales, conga, bongo, guiro, maracas, bass, piano) and voices (lead and chorus).

On the first two albums, Varela and trombonist Alexis Lozano shared musical direction and arranging chores. The group had the opportunity to participate in a salsa festival at New York's Madison Square Garden in 1986. Grupo Niche's new lineup debuted in 1987 with Tapando El Hueco.

Between 1984 and 1988 Varela became the sole musical director on Niche and remained so on the six albums released during those 4 years. In 1988 most of the band split from Varela after Historia Musical and adopted the name Orquesta International Los Niches.

Varela continued with the name Grupo Niche and substantially new personnel. G?mez, Monge and Cabarcas were the only pre-split members who remained with him on 1988's Tapando El Hueco, which was up to Varela's usual high creative and imaginative standard.

In March of 1989 Grupo Niche played to more than one million people at their concert in Per?. In September that same year, Grupo Niche arrived to Europe for the first time and staged their first European tour, visiting France, England, Germany, Switzerland and Spain.

In 1990, Musivisa, affiliate of Televisa, acquires discografic and promotional rights of the orchestra and organizes the first Mexican tour of Grupo Niche, where they played an extended tour of 16 concerts at large venues such as the mythical Sal?n La Maraca.

When the band started to become popular, many talented singers started with it before launching solo careers. Among them were singers Willie Garcia and Javier Vasquez who, now after being with the band with so many years, have left the band to start their own group Son De Cali.

However, Jairo Varela has found some new talented singers including Oswaldo Roman (known previously through the popular salsa group Puerto Rican Power). He will be touring with Grupo Niche from now on.

In addition to participating in the largest and most traditional festivals in Colombia, Grupo Niche has also played on an international level at the largest venues in the world and has represented Colombia at numerous concerts such as: the Independence of Cuba in Miami and the Calle Ocho Celebrations, Festivals of Salsa of Ralph Mercado in New York, and has visited countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, Per?, Panam?, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Curazao, Aruba, among others. On December 27, 1996, before 30,000 people at a Super-concert at the Fair of Cali, Colombia, the name Jairo was tiredlessly shouted in standing ovation.

When the band started back in the 80s, it took inspiration from Combo Vacana, the seminal Colombian coastal band of the 60s. Over the time Grupo Niche has developed a strong brass frontline with a large range of percussion rounding out the sound. The groups arrangements tend to be less complex than what were used to hearing from Cuban groups and the music bursts out with an almost electric energy.

Released at the end of 2005, Alive is a testimony to the songwriting brilliance of Jairo Varela. It is a new studio recording. The album begins with Hola Rola, a delicately constructed salsa jam with electrifying brass riffs and soulful vocal choruses.

The tune locks into a tight groove, until a sudden instrumental break introduces an entirely new melody, lurking like a hidden treasure within the original song. When the vibraphone suddenly appears in the middle part of Cocomania, it becomes evident that Grupo Niche is back in top form and with a lot of enthusiasm.