Nabori

"Featuring a repertoire of completely original music the incendiary new 13 -piece NABORI is already causing quite a stir - mostly below the waist.

Look for the band to turn up the thermostat...with unrivaled creativity and virtuosity."


- Milwaukee Magazine - October 2006 Issue

Nabori's music pays homage to Puerto Rico, but the talent is bred in Milwaukee

By Lilledeshan Bose
lbose@mkeonline.com
Posted: Dec. 7, 2006



Having 12 to 13 members in a salsa band isn't as chaotic as you would think. It's easy, says Tony Ayala, Nabori's musical director: "I work with nothing but pros."

Taking music to the next level is a matter of pride for this Milwaukee-based salsa band. Nabori's music is traditional in many respects. They play a type of salsa called "salsa brava." It's percussion-heavy, upbeat and orchestrated, with an added urban street flavor.

The bigger deal is the fact that Nabori plays only original music. "We never do covers," co-founder and percussionist Wichy Ayala said.

It's a considerable feat for such a complex sound. "You need to merge all the talent together to make it sound like one body," piano player Joel Diaz said of the creative process.

Made up of mostly Puerto Ricans raised in Milwaukee, Nabori's members originally saw salsa as something their parents listened to. Growing up, they were inundated instead with rap, R&B and pop. "As we got more involved with music, we migrated to what we knew best," Wichy Ayala said.
In 2005, Tony Ayala handpicked local musicians to form Nabori. The goal was the music had to be 100 percent made in Milwaukee.

"We wanted to exploit the talent we have here in the city," Wichy Ayala said. All the songs were arranged, composed and recorded by musicians who've performed salsa music since they were teenagers.

They also named the band Nabori, which refers to the working class of the Taino tribes, native inhabitants of Puerto Rico. The Naboris were hunters and gatherers.
"For us, it speaks to the tradition of our music. Nabori in particular was the group that made things happen," Wichy Ayala said.

Singer and songwriter Robert Figueroa, who has lived in the city since 1993, says Nabori's songs are about everyday situations for Puerto Ricans. Many songs are tinged with nostalgia. The song "Recuerdos," for example, is about "remembrances of the island and how we - the people here in Milwaukee - feel about it."

The members' heritage plays prominently in their music, but it's also about Milwaukee. Playing only original tunes, Tony says, "identifies who we are and what we're about. It's about being in Milwaukee and being different."
Regardless of the language Figueroa sings in, finding a salsa audience locally wasn't a problem. The bigger obstacle was Milwaukee's penchant for cover bands. Salsa dancing is gaining pop culture cache via TV shows such as "Dancing with the Stars" and movies such as "Take the Lead." Yet "folks are slow to comprehend what's going on," Figueroa said. "They want to dance to things they recognize."

Considering the band has been around for only a year, Nabori has been fueled by unusual hype generated from its Summerfest appearances and other area gigs.
The challenge of getting people to rally behind the band will be easier when Nabori releases its debut full-length album this spring. "Big things are going to happen yet," Wichy said.
- MKE Magazine - December 7, 2006

(Calle 24 Music)

A powerhouse brass section of two trumpets, baritone sax and trombone accent all eight of the original scores of this debut recording by the group Naborí. Based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Naborí was founded in 2005 by Wichy Ayala (timbal) and vocalist Robert Figueroa, after years of performing individually with numerous cover-salsa bands throughout the cities of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and neighboring Chicago, Illinois. The love and passion of old-school salsa dura is what brought these musicians together, with the main goal of producing original scores, interpreted in the fashion and style of salsa pioneers. While all scores were composed by lead vocalist Robert Figueroa, most arrangements are credited to bassist Rafael "Tumbao" Castro. Invited guests in this recording include Rafael Castro (guitar), Luis Lopez (cuatro guitar), and Mike Franceschi (trombone), among others. Standout tracks include Agúzate Rumbero, Se Formo, Recuerdos, and Maldita.




- COPYRIGHT 2009 Latin Beat Magazine

Based in Milwaukee of all places (an indication of how widespread Latin American culture has become in the United States), Nabori play classic, hard salsa on their debut album Historia del Barrio. With a polished and professional sound, a high degree of musical excellence, upbeat tempos and song arrangements all deeply rooted in tradition, Nabori play music definitely aimed at the dance floor.
- AS PUBLISHED IN VANCOUVER SALSA.COM

“Historias Del Barrio” reaffirms Naborí’s position as the best regional salsa group.

It was just a matter of time. Naborí, considered by many Milwaukee’s best salsa band, made its first disc available for sale at the end of August. Titled “Historias Del Barrio”, the CD includes eight dance songs in the best tradition of “salsa brava”, a genre of music that seeks to reproduce the creativity and intensity of the original salsa music of the 70’s.

Naborí was founded in 2005 by musicians, Wichy Ayala, Roberto Figueroa, and Tony Ayala with the purpose of recording original salsa music, rather than performing popular songs by famous artists, as many other groups tend to do.

In 2006, Naborí was named “Best Salsa Band” by Milwaukee Magazine. A year later, Naborí won a WAMI Award. And just this year, ¡Aqui! Milwaukee named Naborí as one of the best Latino ensembles.

With “Historias Del Barrio”, Naborí presents a CD that is completely true to the band's original purpose since it does not include a single cover song. – All the compositions are original. Listening to this CD one is reminded that, with Naborí, rhythm and dance are everything as the songs exhibit a contagious energy

In addition the production of this CD is of the highest quality and confirms once again, that for now, Naborí continues to be Milwaukee’s “untouchable” salsa band.

In August, at the Quimera Cocina Boricua restaurant, Naborí celebrated their CD release with a free concert. They do the same at 6:00 pm on September 25th at Cathedral Square Park, where the CD will be available for purchase.






- Translated From an article that appeared in the “Best of Latino Milwaukee” edition of ¡Aqui! Milwauk