"Born out of Toronto's hot spot for crossing cultures, Lula All-Stars are the elite players of a sizzling salsa scene. A dream team of salseros, the cream of the crop, you can not sit still when they fire up!”
- Derek Andrews
Concert Producer
True to their name, this high-energy salsa big band, led by Sean Bellaviti and Luis Orbegoso, delivers the very best of Lula Lounge, Toronto's premier world music venue.
Featuring topflight vocalists and soloists backed by an A-list lineup, performing original salsa compositions, the band is comprised of musicians with roots from across the Americas. A hit with audiences of all ages at Sunfest, PANAMANIA, Toronto Jazz Festival and Salsa on St. Clair, the irresistible rhythms of Lula All Stars bring all the excitement of Canada’s urban salsa scene to any stage
The debut release, Salsa de la Buena is a uniquely-Canadian version of “salsa dura,” influenced by beloved, classic Fania recordings, traditional Cuban son, contemporary timba and tropical dance movements from Colombia and Venezuela.
With a new urban Latin sound incubated in the world’s most multi-cultural city, the group has performed with international guests such as Alfredo de la Fe, Ralph Irizarry, Herman Olivera ,Willy Torres and Jimmy Bosch.
De la mente de un visionario y soñador como el ecuatoriano José Ortega surgio la idea de organizar una especie de All-Stars canadiense. Apoyado en el talento del percusionista peruano Luis Orbegoso y el pianista canadiense Sean Bellaviti, Ortega creo el ensamble Lula All Stars, una agrupacion que tiene su centro de operaciones el Lula Lounge, un club nocturno de la ciudad de Toronto que presenta salsa, jazz, musica brasilera y africana en vivo. Salsa De La Buena es el resultado de este primer esfuerzo. more
Toronto is home to many diverse populations from across the globe. There are Italian and Portuguese suburbs, and also neighborhoods full of Trinidians and Jamaicans, Cubanos y otros Latino-Americanos. And there the Lula Lounge is home to a vibrant salsa scene. The debut CD from the 11-strong house band (catch them Saturday night) is a scorching tribute to internationalism. A top set of salsa dura is belted out by a roster of talents that have been sidemen to big names like Jimmy Bosch and Alfredo de la Fe. more
Comme l’indique son nom, cet irrépressible big band de salsa mené par Sean Bellaviti et Luis Orbegoso représente les meilleurs ambassadeurs de Lula Lounge, la plus importante salle de musique du monde torontoise. Composé de la crème de la crème de chanteurs et de solistes provenant des quatre coins des Amériques, qui sont accompagnés par une section rythmique sans égale, l’ensemble s’est créé un répertoire de salsa 100 % original et 100 % canadien. Ayant déjà conquis le public de tous les âges à Sunfest, au Square Nathan Phillips, à Cultura et au Brampton Jazz Festival, les Lula All Stars s’apprêtent à électriser toutes les grandes scènes du pays avec un irrésistible cocktail de salsa distinctement multiculturelle qui se veut à l’image du Canada!