Spam Allstars are road warriors -- a touring band. Perhaps one could say they are taking an “old school” approach to sharing their music. For each performance they have, every music lover they meet, every time they bring yet another musician into the fold for a collaboration – Spam Allstars celebrate their opportunity to work as musicians and be creative each day.
The band’s newest release – electrodomésticos (Spamusica Records, 4/2007) - took roughly 18 months to record. Most of the sessions were done at the City of Progress studio in North Miami, FL, and produced by DJ Le Spam. All of it was recorded while working around a 200+ yearly performance schedule. DJ Le Spam wanted to capture certain moments with musicians that the band had played with over the last three years. The outcome is a refreshing collection of recordings featuring each of the Spam Allstars – Andrew Yeomanson/DJ Le Spam (turntables, samplers, guitar, bass), Adam Zimmon (guitars), Tomas Diaz (timbales, vox), AJ Hill (saxes, vox), Steve Welsh (saxes), Mercedes Abal (flute, vox), Chad Bernstein (trombone, vox), and Lazaro Alfonso (congas). [click here for more info on individual band members] In addition, the band welcome special guest musicians including Pee Wee Ellis (saxes), Page McConnell (keys), Martin Perna (saxes), Sammy Figueroa (percussion), Jim Payne (drums), Albert Menendez (keys), Brendan Buckley (drums), Jose Elias (tres), Michel Diaz Fragoso (keys), Juan Carlos Valdivia (violin), Spencer Garn (keys), Ben Hovey(trumpet), and Carlos Averhoff, Jr. (saxes). Earlier in December 2006, Spam Allstars released their third vinyl - 12” #3. This recording features the two songs that Pee Wee Ellis collaborated on for electrodomésticos. Pee Wee did the horn arrangements, and co-wrote Aranitas & Joe Drives Through. The 12” also includes two electro mixes by DJ Le Spam. Artwork for the vinyl & CD release provided by EMILIO PEREZ courtesy of Galerie Lelong. In September of 2007, electrodomesticos was released on Bomba Records in Japan.
Previous releases by Spam Allstars include: Spam Allstars Contra Los Roboticos Mutantes(2004); Fuacata Live!(2002); Pigs in Space(2000); Pork Scratchings(1999), and two vinyl releases - 12" #1 & 12" #2. Each of these titles have been released in the US independently on Spamusica Records. In addition Fuacata Live is available in Japan on Amsys Records, and in the UK and France on Spamusica Records and distributed by New Note and Moradisc respectively.
Spam Allstars over the years have had the opportunity to work with some amazing talent. In the last couple of years, the band has had the privilege of performing and recording with the aforementioned legendary saxophonist, Pee Wee Ellis (JB Horns). They performed together in select US cities, and in the UK. Spam Allstars were also invited to appear with Daddy Yankee for his MTV2’s $2 Bill series. In 2004 they were honored to collaborate and tour with Page McConnell's (Phish) side project - Vida Blue. The two bands recorded and toured together nationally as a 10-piece ensemble.
In an effort to introduce their music to new people, Spam Allstars have established residencies in select markets. Originally this got started in their hometown with weekly performances in Little Havana, Miami, and Miami Beach. In 2002, they began a monthly residency at SOB's in New York City. They went on to have residencies in Atlanta, Tampa, Gainesville, New Orleans and Ft. Lauderdale. In the summer of 2005 the band headed to Europe sharing their version of electronic funk in everything from an underground Moroccan club in London, to the prestigious Roskilde Festival in Denmark.
Spam Allstars third album Fuacata Live! was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2003. Spam Allstars were surprised and proud of this achievement considering that the album had been recorded live to a CD burner during one of their weekly shows at Hoy Como Ayer in Little Havana.
This year the band has had the pleasure of playing some new festivals and adding to the bands touring circuit. Highlights included Langerado Festival, Wakarusa Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, Santa Monica Pier, Central Park’s Summerstage, and Chicago’s World Music Festival.
DJ Le Spam and Spam Allstars are excited to have participated in four new CD’s, and releasing electrodomesticos in Japan on Bomba Reocrds. in the fall of 2007. The other cd’s include a Fania Records compilation release curated by DJ Le Spam - FANIA LIVE.02 MIAMI//DJ LE SPAM; Spam Allatars' Ochimini on THE ROUGH GUIDE TO LATIN FUNK; Spam Allatars' Afrika on THE ROUGH GUIDE TO LATINO NUEVO; and Spam Allstars’ Charanga E-350 on THE ROUGH GUIDE TO SALSA CLANDESTINA.
MUSIC BINDS US ALL
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