Descemer Bueno is a composer, double bassist, percussionist, and music producer. He is one of the most important and popular Cuban musicians of the moment. He embodies a contemporary urban sound with strong vibrational qualities, a musician destined to make history.
He studied classical guitar at the Manuel Saumell and Amadeo Roldán conservatories, which also provided him with credentials to teach music. He gave his first professional concerts playing with Santiago Feliú, one of Cuba's finest troubadours. In this band, he composed his first songs and discovered that he also had a talent for writing lyrics.
In the 1990s, he led Estado de Ánimo, a jazz combo group with Roberto Carcassés, X Alfonso, and Elmer Ferrer, and performed concerts in Spain, Bolivia, Uruguay, Germany, and Argentina. He then joined Columna B alongside Yosvany Terry, Dafnis Prieto, Miguel (Anga) Díaz, and Roberto Carcassés, recording the album Columna B with Mas y Mas Records. This was followed by a phase of tours in the American cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. He also became a member of Grupo Fula, based in the Spanish city of Barcelona.
In 1999, he co-founded the now legendary Latin hip-hop group Yerba Buena, alongside producer Andrés Levin, Xiomara Laugart, and Cucu Diamante. Descemer produced and composed most of the songs for President Alien, Yerba Buena's debut album, which earned him a Grammy nomination in 2005.
He later created his band Siete Rayo and recorded his first album Descemer Sieterayo with Universal Latin, in which he blended Cuban rhythms like chachachá, timba, and changüí, “with sonic touches from the Caribbean such as reggae, calypso, or reggaeton, combined with a certain dose of rap and even a bit of Colombian cumbia”; guitarist George Pajon from the Black Eyed Peas collaborated on this album.
Since 2012, a series of concerts began to celebrate the release of his album Bueno, referencing his surname and honoring the quality of his music, produced by Maykel Bárzaga and Omar Hernández. The album is based on duets with Haila, Alain Daniel, Kelvis Ochoa, Baby Lores, X Alfonso, the duo Buena Fe, Gema Corredera, and Omar Hernández (Omi).
However, Descemer is multifaceted, a "true monument to versatility." His musical talent has led him to also work as a producer, arranger, or composer. He has collaborated—in one of those roles—on albums such as Trampa del tiempo by Pavel and Gema (Spain, 1995); Náuseas de un siglo and Futuro inmediato by Santiago Feliú (Cuba, 1997); Jazz timbero by Bobby Carcassés (Cuba, 1998); Mambo&Co by Francis del Río (Cuba, 1999); Haydée by Haydée Milanés (Cuba, 2004); Breathe by Yusa (Cuba, 2006); Falage e Canibal by Lennine (Brazil, 2006). In 2007, he released the album Amor y Música alongside Kelvis Ochoa under the labels Egrem, Art Bembé (Spain), and La Isla Milagrosa by William Vivanco (Cuba, 2007); the following year, in 2008, he released the album Sé feliz under the same label, a compilation of boleros composed by him and performed by the well-known bolerista Fernando Álvarez. Additionally, he worked on Amargo pero dulce by Diana Fuentes (Cuba, 2009).
He participated as a professor in the Music Workshops at Stanford University, California, and at the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Along with Kelvis Ochoa and other musicians, he was part of the humanitarian concert held in the Dominican Republic in response to the earthquake in Haiti.
He has shared the stage with internationally renowned musicians, such as saxophonist Steve Coleman. He participated in a jam session with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Wynton Marsalis.
His songs have appeared in American films and Pepsi commercials. He contributed to the soundtracks of films such as: Dirty Dancing Havana Nights; Cheaper by the Dozen; Honey; and Chasing Papi. Musical Director of films: Violeta (1998, Mexico), Corazón del Tiempo (2007, Mexico), Habana Eva (Venezuela-Cuba, USA, 2009), Siete días en La Habana (Morena Films, France-Spain, 2011).
He created the soundtracks for the television series E.R., The O.C., ESPN, Daisy Cooks (PBS NY); and the soap operas Cuando me enamoro (Televisa 2011-12) and La que no podía amar (Televisa 2012).
He has composed songs for Enrique Iglesias, Juan Luis Guerra, Andrés Levine, Ana Torroja, Thalia, Baby Lores, Reyli Barba, Fonseca, Samo (Camila), Cabas, Ana Bárbara, Tobi Love, Nohelia, and Luz Casall.
The music videos for their compositions are in high demand in Cuba, such as "Quisiera volver" and "Tus luces sobre mí" by Alejandro Perez; "Ser de sol," along with the duo Buena Fe, by Ian Padrón, etc.
The great reception of the album Bueno has led to many performances in cities across Cuba, such as Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, and, of course, Havana.
She is currently recording the song “Libélula” with Omara Portuondo. Her plans for 2013 involve spending a lot of time in the studio to work on the production of interesting albums, such as those by Omi and Luna Manzanares.
And he continues composing for Enrique Iglesias, Luis Enrique, and soon a song with the Cumbia Kings will be released.
Awards
2005 - Best Latin Artist from the publication Best of Miami 2005 in Miami New Times.
2006 - Goya Award as co-writer of the soundtrack for the film Habana Blues (2006) directed by Benito Zambrano.
2009 - ASCAP for “Lloro por ti” performed by Enrique Iglesias.
2010 - ASCAP for “Lloro por ti” performed by Enrique Iglesias.
2011 - Latin Grammy for Song of the Year and ASCAP for “Cuando me enamoro” performed by Enrique Iglesias and Juan Luis Guerra.
2011 - TVyNovelas Award for Song of the Year for “Cuando Me Enamoro”
2012 - ASCAP for “No me digas que no” performed by Wisin and Yandel.
