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 represents an urban sound with a strong contemporary vibration, a musician destined to make history.
He studied classical guitar at the Manuel Saumell and Amadeo Roldán conservatories, which also provided him with the 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 gift for writing lyrics.
In the 1990s, he led Estado de Ánimo, a jazz combo group with Roberto Carcassés, X Alfonso, and Elmer Ferrer; performing concerts in Spain, Bolivia, Uruguay, Germany, and Argentina. He later 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 touring in the North 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, along with 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 nomination for the Grammy Awards in 2005.
Later, he created 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 sonic touches from the Caribbean like reggae, calypso, or reguetón, 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.
Desde 2012 comenzó una serie de conciertos por el estreno de su disco Bueno, haciendo alusión a su apellido y honor a la calidad de su música, producido por Maykel Bárzaga y Omar Hernández. El álbum está concebido a base de duetos: Haila , Alain Daniel, Kelvis Ochoa , Baby Lores, X Alfonso, el dúo Buena Fe, Gema Corredera, Omar Hernández (Omi).
Pero Descemer es polifacético, “verdadero monumento a la versatilidad”. Su talento musical lo ha llevado a incursionar como productor, arreglista o compositor. Ha colaborado —en alguna de esas facetas— en trabajos discográficos como Trampa del tiempo, de Pavel y Gema (España, 1995); Náuseas de un siglo y Futuro inmediato, de Santiago Feliú (Cuba, 1997); Jazz timbero, de Bobby Carcassés (Cuba, 1998); Mambo&Co de Francis del Río (Cuba, 1999); Haydée de Haydée Milanés (Cuba, 2004); Breathe de Yusa (Cuba, 2006); Falage e Canibal de Lennine (Brasil, 2006). En el año 2007 sacó al aire junto a Kelvis Ochoa el disco Amor y Música bajo el sello Egrem, Art Bembé (España) y La Isla Milagrosa de William Vivanco (Cuba, 2007); al año siguiente, en el 2008, salió bajo el mismo sello el disco Sé feliz, fonograma de boleros compuestos por él e interpretados por el conocido bolerista Fernando Álvarez. Además, de Amargo pero dulce de 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.
Alongside 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 movies 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 composed the soundtrack for the television series E.R., The O.C, ESPN, Daisy Cooks (PBS NY); and the telenovelas Cuando me enamoro (Televisa 2011-12) and La que no podía amar (Televisa 2012).
He has written 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 his 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 acceptance of the album Bueno has led to many 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 the production of interesting albums, such as those of Omi and Luna Manzanares.
And he continues to compose for Enrique Iglesias, Luis Enrique, and there will soon be a song with the Cumbia Kings.
Awards
2005 - Best Latin Artist from 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.
