Denver is jumping on the Latin music bandwagon! We have a fresh and tasty new act in town who recently signed on to perform at Sevilla, the LoDo Latin dance bar and eatery. Cuartomango is here, and they ain't no Ricky Martin!

Cuartomango performs at Sevilla on April 13, and continues throughout the month. They promise to provide an authentic representation of Latin American and Caribbean music through the use of traditional songs and dances from Cuba, Venezuela, and Columbia. The recent media and musical buzz over such Latin American artists as Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony, and Jennifer Lopez has ignited a flurry of interest in what Latin American music is all about.

Dan Egger-Belandria, percussionist and leader of Cuartomango, agrees that the high demand for Latin American music is great and wonderful, but to perform this music, players need more than a good agent and a Latin name. Cuartomango is determined to bring "the real deal" to Denver's audiences through the band's savory repertoire of Cuban son and salsa, Columbian vallenato and Venezuelan joropo.

The trimmed-down instrumentation of Cuartomango supports the Latin musical ideal of intimate and expressive dances, emphasizing the movement and sensuality of the dancer. The five members, now based in Denver, represent a diverse background. Singer Aspire Acuna, singer/guitarist Alvaro Pizzaro, and keyboardist Eduardo Corzo draw from their native countries of Chile, Mexico/Puerto Rico, and Cuba, respectively. Bassist Jon Baron and percussionist Egger-Belandria are American, but Egger-Belandria received much of his musical training in Venezuela and Cuba. Small ensembles such as Cuartomango are most popular in Caribbean cafes or intimate outdoor settings.

Cuartomango is excited to be in Denver during this surge of Latin American popularity. "Colorado has a strong Hispanic/Latino population," says Egger-Belandria, "with a lot of diversity. We want to show this community the core Latin, Afro-Cuban sound, and as far as demand, Denver is booming."

Indeed, Denver has its small share of Latin acts, but with few exceptions, none have taken the strict traditional approach to the music. The exciting instruments, arrangements, and rhythmic differences are starting to draw bigger and bigger crowds. Egger-Belandria admits to some justified confusion on the part of many people who enjoy Latin music. It takes time to recognize the subtle differences between various styles or whether the band is playing the "real thing." The union between Cuartomango and Sevilla should begin to clear up the confusion.

What remains essential to good Latin American music is rhythm. We all have heard the names of Latin dances, such as salsa, merengue, samba, mambo, cha cha, flamenco, and mariachi. And, oh, how the Latin musical umbrella spreads wide these days, as recordings such as Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club get surpassed by the likes of Martin, Lopez, and Enrique Iglesias.

Egger-Belandria regards these artists as performing music that can be considered something of a mega-hybrid, combining more aspects of American pop music instead of the traditional Latin American sound. He also credits the success of the "Buena Vista Social Club" movie and CD as contributing to the growing popularity of traditional Latin musics, especially that of Cuba.

Cuba has long been considered a mecca for music. Known for distinct styles such as the salsa, rumba, and mambo, Cuba's dance music is spreading toward the rest of us. Note the recent buzz surrounding the "Buena Vista Social Club" movie and CD. In 1997, American guitarist Ry Cooder recorded an album featuring the original players who made traditional Cuban music famous in the pre-Castro era.

The Buena Vista Social Club is named for a members-only club operating in Havana during the 50s. German director Wim Wenders filmed Cooder's recording sessions, and in 1998, released a movie of the same name (now on video). This special reunion featured the musicians who witnessed local fame, but received little recognition outside of Cuba due to a variety of factors. The movie is a documentary of sorts, and illustrates first-hand the heart and soul of Cuban musicianship, where the music comes from, and its inspiration.

While living in Cuba, Egger-Belandria studied with BVSC bongo player Carlos Gonzales and Amadito Valdez. Both Gonzales and Valdez recently came through Denver as members of the new Afro-Cuban All Stars. Cuba maintains a rich history of musical inventiveness and sharp talent, especially in the area of percussion. Egger-Belandria considers his experience with Gonzales and Valdez vital to the sound of Cuartomango.

Recently he reflected on the differences in American and Cuban culture, and specifically the effects on musical education. All of the current hoopla over little Elian Gonzalez has only given Cuba more of a mystique. "Because Cuba is socialist, everything is supposed to be equal. Therefore, music is offered to a student just like that of a doctor or lawyer, and musicians get paid a salary from the government like a doctor or lawyer does," he said.

The educational process is extensive and designed to keep the Cuban musical traditions alive and well. Music is one of the biggest influences on the personality of the Cuban people. Cubans are infused with music, almost singing while speaking and dancing while walking. Music creates an openness and camaraderie among Cuban communities and neighborhoods that is difficult to find elsewhere, even in the United States.

Cuartomango continues Denver's exploration into Cuban and other Latin American traditional music April 13 at Sevilla. Fortunately, Sevilla offers the perfect venue for those of us who are at the Latin Music 101 level. There is plenty of room to dance, but comfy places to sit, eat, drink, listen, and watch. Sevilla is also showcasing a dance group from Miami Salsa Dance Studios prior to the Cuartomango shows.

For more information, contact Dan Egger-Belandria at ebelandria@aol.com or 303- 77-7861. Visit Sevilla in LoDo at 1801 Wynkoop or call 303-298-7777.