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. An exponent 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 alongside 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 American 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, the debut album by Yerba Buena, which earned a Grammy nomination in 2005.
He later created his band Siete Rayo and recorded his first album Descemer Sieterayo with Universal Latin, which blended Cuban rhythms like chachachá, timba, and changüí “with sound influences from the Caribbean such as 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.
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 features 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 venture into roles as a producer, arranger, or composer. He has collaborated—in one of these 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); Falage e Canibal by Lennine (Brazil, 2006). In 2007, he released the album Amor y Música with Kelvis Ochoa under the labels Egrem and Art Bembé (Spain), and La Isla Milagrosa by William Vivanco (Cuba, 2007); the following year, in 2008, he released under the same label the album Sé feliz, a compilation of boleros composed by him and performed by the well-known bolerista Fernando Álvarez. Additionally, Amargo pero dulce by Diana Fuentes (Cuba, 2009).
He served as a professor in the Music Workshops at Stanford University, California, and 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 been featured 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 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, and Daisy Cooks (PBS NY); and for 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," in collaboration with the duo Buena Fe, by Ian Padrón, and so on.
The great reception of the album Bueno has led to many performances in cities across Cuba, including Santa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, and, of course, Havana.
She is currently recording the song "Libélula" with Omara Portuondo. Her plans for 2013 involve 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 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 movie 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 and Novelas Award for Song of the Year for "Cuando Me Enamoro".
2012 - ASCAP for "No me digas que no" performed by Wisin and Yandel.
