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. Representing a vibrant contemporary urban sound, he is 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 began his professional concerts performing 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 that included Roberto Carcassés, X Alfonso, and Elmer Ferrer, performing concerts in Spain, Bolivia, Uruguay, Germany, and Argentina. He then joined Columna B with 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 period of tours in the U.S. cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. He also became part 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 a Grammy nomination in 2005. He later formed his band Siete Rayo and recorded his first album, Descemer Sieterayo, with Universal Latin, in which he blended Cuban rhythms such as chachachá, timba, and changüí, “with Caribbean sound elements like reggae, calypso, and reggaeton, along with a dose of rap and even a touch of Colombian cumbia.” Guitarist George Pajon from the Black Eyed Peas contributed to this album.

Since 2012, a series of concerts began to celebrate the release of his album Bueno, a reference to his surname and a tribute to the quality of his music, produced by Maykel Bárzaga and Omar Hernández. The album features a series 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—a true testament to versatility. His musical talent has allowed him to venture into production, arranging, and composition. He has collaborated 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 Egrem label, along with 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 collection of boleros composed by him and performed by renowned bolerista Fernando Álvarez. He also worked on Amargo pero dulce by Diana Fuentes (Cuba, 2009).

He served as a professor at the Music Workshops of Stanford University in California and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Alongside Kelvis Ochoa and other musicians, he participated in a humanitarian concert held in the Dominican Republic in response to the earthquake in Haiti. He has shared the stage with internationally renowned artists, such as saxophonist Steve Coleman. He took part 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 soundtracks for the television series E.R., The O.C., ESPN, and Daisy Cooks (PBS NY), as well as 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, Thalia, Baby Lores, Reyli Barba, Fonseca, Samo (from Camila), Cabas, Ana Bárbara, Tobi Love, Nohelia, and Luz Casall.

The music videos of their compositions are in high demand in Cuba, such as "Quisiera volver" and "Tus luces sobre mí" by Alejandro Perez; "Ser de sol," in collaboration with the duo Buena Fe, by Ian Padrón, and so on.

The great reception of the album Bueno has led to numerous performances in cities across Cuba, such as Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, and of course, Havana.

He is currently recording the song "Libélula" with Omara Portuondo. His plans for 2013 involve spending a lot of time in the studio to work on producing interesting albums, such as the ones by Omi and Luna Manzanares.

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

Awards

2005 - Best Latin Artist by the publication 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.