Edgardo & Candela (Spanish for candle and/ or fire) is a San Francisco-based nine piece salsa music and Latin jazz band created in 1986 under the direction of Uruguayan born lead singer and conga drummer Edgardo Cambón.Desde la bahia--San Francisco.(notes on musicians and musical events) (article excerpt), Latin Beat Magazine, October 2003 It consists of piano, bass, trombones, conga drums, bongo drums, timbales, and vocals.Candela band website
Edgardo Cambón arrived to San-Francisco in 1986 and made records with Chucho Valdés (with Irakere, 1994), Keith Terry & Cross Pulse, Joan Baez, Claudia Gomez, Omar Sosa, Mark Levine, Jeff Narell, Andy Narell, Sovosó, Mike Spiro, Rebeca Mauleón, Jackie Rago, Richard Olsen Big Band, Los Compas, Sol y Luna Band, Eddie Montalvo, Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez, Armando Perazza Pacific Mambo Orchestra and many others."Edgardo Cambón" , a Latin Percussion website article Edgardo also taught workshops in Afro-Cuban percussion and vocals in many universities around the world. He also taught percussion for 5 years at Folsom State Prison as part of the rehabilitation program
The Bands repertoire includes various kinds of Latin music: Salsa, Son, Bolero, Mambo, Cha-cha-chá, Merengue, Timba, Bachata, Cumbia, Latin Jazz. and Uruguayan Candombe.
Members The band includes the following musicians:Band members' bios Marco Diaz, piano; Charlie Gurke on Saxes; Jeff Cressman,Jeff Cressman discography at CD Universe Dayron Calderón and Jamie Dubberly, trombones; Edgardo Cambón, vocals & congas; Omar Ledezma, bongó drums & background vocals; Walter Gonzalez and Mauro Camilo on Uruguayan Candombe Drums,Saúl Sierra ,. David Belove discography at CD Universe bass, Emilio Davalos,Julio Areas discography at CD Universe timbales & background vocals and Pedro Pastrana on Puerto Rican Cuatro Guitar. Many musicians play occasionally with this 40 years Bay Area band, like Doug Beavers (Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Eddie Palmieri) on Trombone, Jeff Cressman on Trombone, Sandy Cressman on Vocals, Karl Perazzo (from Santana Band), pianist Israel Tanenbaum, Calixto Oviedo, Jesus Diaz, Emilio Davalos, and Christian Pepin rotate on percussion as well.
Recordings Ilusiones (1990), Orfeo, Uruguay Madre Rumba, Padre Son (2000), Pan Caliente Records, United StatesA review of Madre Rumba at Salsa Power "Madre Rumba, Padre Son" at Amazon Celebrando 20 Años (English: Celebrating 20th Anniversary; 2008)Edgardo & Candela at MySpace Tatuajes Del Alma "For Export" Profile and CD at Latinbaum Records Latest release on Latinbaum Records.
All of Candela's records feature mainly compositions and lyrics by Edgardo Cambon with an array of great arrangers like: Rebeca Mauleón, Wayne Wallace, John Calloway, Marco Diaz, Charlie Gurke. Israel Tanenbaum among others.
The band has played at all major salsa clubs and festival around the Bay Area.Club schedulesuch as Yoshi's, The Freight, San José Jazz festival, San Francisco Carnival, SF Jazz, Redwood City Salsa Festival, as well as internationally in Habana Cuba, Upsala Sweden, Buenos Aires Argentina, and Bogotá Colombia. In 2025 Edgardo Cambón and Candela, performed for the first time at the "Monterey Jazz Festival", making Edgardo the first Uruguayan musician to ever play at this prestigious stage presenting Uruguayan Candombe music and drums from his country. MORE INFO AT www.musicandela.com
References
External links An interview with Salsa Power, June 23, 2002