Geneva 2002-2003

The band was started up by Franck Molina and Morten Kildemo in 2002, while working on contracts at CERN. We started up with the name Our Latin Thing (as in the film), modified it to Nosotro Cosas Latina, and finally Franck came up with the name Mayagueson derived from the 'Son' de Mayaguez, the city where he grew up and studied in Puerto Rico, so rich in music and dance (and Tuna fish). The band Our Latin Thing started playing in a small bar in Carouge (l'Insomnia) where the owner acquired a massive fine for the loadness disturbing the normally so quiet posh area of Geneva. Then we played at Fete de la Musique in Geneva 2002, and at the Melting Pop bar in 2002, with 15 musicians! You should have seen the face of the owner of the bar when the 15 musicians entered the tiny stage. No free drinks for the musicians that night! Band Members : Fred (Timbales), Olivier (Bongo), Sam (Congas), Marcello(Bass), Morten (Piano), ...(Tres), Daniel (Trumpet), Jan (Trumpet), Dadi (Trombone), Joel (alt. sax), Franck (alt sax/vocals), Montze (Vocals),....and a few  visitors, Laurent (Trumpet), Richard (Trombone).

We then got a new Timbalero, the great Timbalero (Carlos Kort) who has played with many of the great salsa-stars (Irakere, Willy Colon, Arturo Sandoval, Ray Barretto, Grupo Café). Carlos also brought a new Congera (Andre, a student of him), and one got hooked on salsa because it got really really thight. Unfortunately, we only played one gig outdoor in Martigny (Switzerland) with the latter band (august 2003). The second gig, where we also had with us the great singer Lazarus (a Cuban living in Madrid, but often hired for gigs in Switzerland) rained away in a terrible august storm (something that the alps are very fameous for in this period). The Band Members: Carlos (Timbales), Andre (Congas), Morten, Marcello, Franck, Michel, Joel, Mauritzio (alt. sax) ,Daniel, Jan...(see photos).

Franck went to work in Nice (France) and has still to start up a new band..., and recent rumors tells that he's back working in Switzerland. Morten went to work and got stuck in Trondheim, and started up together with great musicians the new real Mayagueson (which made Franck really happy!). The touch of Tuna has, however, now been replaced by the arctic cod. Daniel Verdeska has started up a new Latin Jazz big band orchestra in Geneva. Carlos Kort apparently got a salsa orchestra in Bern a bit in the same style as Mayagueson, but he also plays with the salsa band Bulenga.I still hope we may get him to play with the new Mayagueson in Norway one day..... Marcello and Fred plays in a Son-based Cuban salsa band (Freson?) in Geneva, but rumors say that Marcello has defaited to electronic music.

Thanks to all for a great salsa-experience,

Morten Kildemo

Here are some cool photos taken by Michel during a rehearsal at the CERN Jazz Club in 2003 in an attempt to promote the band. However, the band faded out, but lives on in various new constallations.