Descemer Bueno

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. Representative of an urban sound with a strong contemporary vibe, he is an artist 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 performing with Santiago Feliú, one of the best troubadours in Cuba. 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 along with Yosvany Terry, Dafnis Prieto, Miguel (Anga) Díaz, and Roberto Carcassés, recording the album Columna B with Mas y Mas Records. Following this, he embarked on a tour of American cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. He was also part of Grupo Fula, based in Barcelona, Spain.

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 a Grammy nomination in 2005. He later formed his band Siete Rayo and recorded his first album, Descemer Sieterayo, with Universal Latin. In this album, he blended Cuban rhythms such as chachachá, timba, and changüí with Caribbean sounds like reggae, calypso, and reggaeton, along with a touch 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 for the release of his album "Bueno," a title that plays on his surname and pays tribute to the quality of his music, produced by Maykel Bárzaga and Omar Hernández. The album features a collection of duets with artists such as Haila, Alain Daniel, Kelvis Ochoa, Baby Lores, X Alfonso, the duo Buena Fe, Gema Corredera, and Omar Hernández (Omi). However, Descemer is multifaceted, described as a “true monument to versatility.” His musical talent has led him to explore roles as a producer, arranger, and composer. He has collaborated—sometimes in various capacities—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); and "Falage e Canibal" by Lennine (Brazil, 2006). In 2007, he released the album "Amor y Música" with Kelvis Ochoa under the labels Egrem, Art Bembé (Spain), and William Vivanco's "La Isla Milagrosa" (Cuba, 2007). The following year, in 2008, he released the album "Sé feliz," a collection of boleros composed by him and performed by the renowned bolerista Fernando Álvarez, in addition to "Amargo pero dulce" by Diana Fuentes (Cuba, 2009).

He participated as a professor in the Music Workshops at Stanford University in California and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Alongside Kelvis Ochoa and other musicians, he took part in a 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, and participated in a jam session with Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Wynton Marsalis. His songs have been featured in American films and Pepsi commercials. He contributed to the soundtracks of movies such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Cheaper by the Dozen, Honey, and Chasing Papi. He was the Musical Director for films including Violeta (1998, Mexico), Corazón del Tiempo (2007, Mexico), Habana Eva (Venezuela-Cuba, USA, 2009), and Siete días en La Habana (Morena Films, France-Spain, 2011).

He created the soundtrack for the television series E.R., The O.C., ESPN, and Daisy Cooks (PBS NY); as well as for the telenovelas 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, Thalía, Baby Lores, Reyli Barba, Fonseca, Samo (from Camila), Cabas, Ana Bárbara, Tobi Love, Nohelia, and Luz Casal.

The music videos for his compositions are in high demand in Cuba, such as "Quisiera volver" and "Tus luces sobre mí" by Alejandro Perez; "Ser de sol" with the duo Buena Fe by Ian Padrón, among others.

The widespread acceptance of the album Bueno has led to numerous 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 significant amount of time in the studio to work on the production of intriguing albums, such as those of Omi and Luna Manzanares.

He continues to write for Enrique Iglesias, Luis Enrique, and a song with the Cumbia Kings will be released soon.

Awards

2005 - Best Latin Artist according to Best of Miami 2005 in Miami New Times. 2006 - Goya Award as co-author 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 - TV y Novelas Award for Song of the Year for “Cuando Me Enamoro.” 2012 - ASCAP for “No me digas que no” performed by Wisin and Yandel.