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. A proponent of an urban sound with a strong contemporary vibe, 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 the credentials to teach music. He gave his first professional concerts playing 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, 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. Following that, he toured cities in the United States such as 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 mixed Cuban rhythms such as chachachá, timba, and changüí, “with sonic touches from the Caribbean like reggae, calypso, or reguetón, along 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 for the launch of his album Bueno, referencing his surname and honoring the quality of his music, produced by Maykel Bárzaga and Omar Hernández. The album is conceived around duets: Haila, Alain Daniel, Kelvis Ochoa, Baby Lores, X Alfonso, the duo Buena Fe, Gema Corredera, and Omar Hernández (Omi).
But Descemer is multifaceted, a "true monument to versatility." His musical talent has led him to venture into production, arrangement, and songwriting. He has collaborated—in one of these roles—on musical projects 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 together with Kelvis Ochoa under the label 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 recording of boleros composed by him and performed by the well-known bolerista Fernando Álvarez. Also, Amargo pero dulce by Diana Fuentes (Cuba, 2009).
He participated as a teacher in the Music Workshops at Stanford University, California, and the University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Alongside Kelvis Ochoa and other musicians, he took part in 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. Music Director for 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 soundtracks 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 of their compositions are in high demand in Cuba, such as "Quisiera volver" and "Tus luces sobre mí" by Alejandro Perez; "Ser de sol," alongside 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 the one by Omi and Luna Manzanares.
And he continues to write songs for Enrique Iglesias, Luis Enrique, and a song with the Cumbia Kings will be released soon.
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 - TV y Novelas Award for Song of the Year for "Cuando Me Enamoro"
2012 - ASCAP for "No me digas que no" performed by Wisin y Yandel
