Nostalgia Amarilla: Meet the Band

Nostalgia Amarilla is a Puerto Rican Bomba ensemble based in Tampa Bay Florida. This ensemble proposes to keep the roots of Bomba alive while traveling to the edge of the vanguard by injecting small doses of electronica sounds through an array of technological devices, midi-controllers, tablets, modulators and sound texturizers. Only time will tell.

Curtis Hixon Park; Tampa, Florida.

Where the name came about?  The name came about the many yellow flowers that flourish around the island during the spring and summer months. No one is able to escape it.

What is Bomba?  Bomba is the oldest genre of African heritage from the island of Puerto Rico. The sound consists of 2 or more wine barrels altered into drums. A big one is called  “Buleador” for a given straight rhythm and a smaller one is called “Subidor” or “Primo” for improvising (there could be 100 Buleadores, but always only one primo). Add to this a set of sticks called “Cuá” and a Bomba Maraca. As the song develops a dancer (male or female individually or as a pair) is to come to the center of it all (Batey) and challenge the Primo player to follow the steps being marked.

GREGORIO ALLENDE "Macho" (Musical Director)

Gregorio Allende returned to his native in 2005 Puerto Rico at the age of 25 to achieve 3 things: To get even closer with his father, with whom he already had a great relationship with, to “Re-Puertorricanize” and to get 60 Credits from a University to be eligible to transfer to a public state university back in FL.

Little did he know that he would fall in love with Puerto Rican Bomba.  It was the logical thing to do; since he became a conscious self-thought in African-American history experiencing an “Afro-Latino” view of things in US just like Piri Thomas, and Arturo Alfonso Schomburg before him. But for best of chances Bomba came as normal as every day Loizian life.

Fast forward to 2011 after creating the Facbook Page Bomba Puertorriqueña en Tampa Gregorio started organizing and documenting each move.  He was not satisfy with the quality of pictures, image of Bomba in general and wanted to record the sounds he imagined. For this reason, he acquired a home recording studio, certified himself in graphic design (Hillsborough Community College) and acquired HD Visual equipment.
Now in all humbleness Gregorio is ready to move Nostalgia Amarilla to a level yet to be seen ever in the history of the genre.

Gregorio plays all Bomba instruments (fine tuning Primo), studies Kalimba and is a Marimbula enthusiast. Engineers/records audio projects, creates the group’s graphics, shoot the photography, shoots and edits its consequent musical video projects.

Abimael Agosto:

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on the 11^th of June, 1988. Son of Ramon Luis Agosto and Aurea Casnova Cruz. Married to Daniela Quiros with whom he has two daughters: Abigail Agosto and Marley Agosto.

From early childhood, right on fourth grade Abimael was a very active person balancing his elementary studies and swimming.  Abimael succeeded as a swimmer through his childhood and early adolescence.

At the age of 14 his parents moved to US where he further advanced on the sport of swimming in high school.  It is during this period where he meets his wife Daniela Agosto.

Abimel is the main Buleador player for Nostalgia Amarilla.

During the last years Abimael has discovered the sport of cycling while he continues his commitment and love for Bomba music. On professional matters he has establish his own construction business along with his brothers, which keep him a busy man. As of today, Abimael continues an active lifestyle meeting new people, enjoying quality time with his family and discovering new activities to engage.

Jessica D. Garza Albino:

Growing up in Chicago in her youth, Jessica became a skilled Bomba dancer in 1991 when it was introduced to her at the Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. Throughout the years, she fell in love with Bomba as she had the privilege of performing with Separate Peace, Group Yuba and Inaru during her mid 20’s.

Moreover, she has also worked with other musicians, choreographers, filmmakers, fashion designers and make-up artists.  As a result of a strong Puerto Rican community in the city she also developed a deep interest for the musical genres of Salsa, Plena, R&B and Hiphop.

Jessica is 1 of 2 female vocals and dancer, Cuá player and Maraca of Nostalgia Amarilla. 

In the recently past two years Jessica has moved to Tampa, Fl. She multitasks between Nostalgia Amarilla, private Bomba dance instruction for women and children, her profession as an accountant for a private entity and family. She is eager to further her knowledge in acting, singing, choreography and dance production. Jessica is a firm believer that "knowledge is power" and staying close to her Caribbean roots of Puerto Rico as a student of Bomba. She truly enjoys performing and sharing the power and joy of Bomba.

Angelina E. Rivera:

In the last 5 years Angelina has been very busy placing her energies into 4 activities: advancing academic studies, landing a job as a Social Worker, being a dancer with Nostalgia Amarillla and loving her dog “Smokey”. In New York, she committed herself to the community as a mentor, a singer of all trades including Bomba and a dancer.  As part of the community support system, she used to mentored for young women at The Red Hook Community Justice Center in Brooklyn New York, for the “Women in Touch Mission” teaching these ‘women at risk,’ the arts of Bomba along with the Bomba Group Bombayo.

Angelina now resides in Florida. She relocated for a couple of reasons; the most pivotal the loss of her beloved mother, Josephine Rivera who lost her battle with cancer on April 3^rd 2011.  Although at times is very hard for Angelina to cope with the lost of her mother she keeps thriving for achievements in her academic studies and personal success in her personal relationships with close friends.

 

Angelina is 1 of 2 female vocals and dancer, Cuá player and Maraca of Nostalgia Amarilla.

As of right now, Angelina's inner motivation has pushed her forward allowing her to enroll for her Masters in Social Work at the University of Southern California and will be graduating December 2014. She has already graduated from, Chic Studios of NYC class of 2011, Professional Makeup Artist and honorably holds a B.A. degree in Psychology.  She was also a Coordinator/Senior Case Manager for Safe Horizon, one of the largest victim services non for profit agencies in New York City.

Nostalgia Amarilla:

As of today, Nostalgia Amarilla is blessed to enjoy horizontal production, which enables them to have complete musical and creative independence of all their projects. With such independence comes great responsibility; Nevertheless we are grateful to have reach such point. We have a serious commitment to do Bomba Music to the best of our knowledge, ability and determination. Thank you for all of your support!

Partners & Networks:

Nostalgia Amarilla counts with various partners that join them whenever necessary. Most recently, Allende G. have joined forces with high school trusted friend/musical partner Brian Green, also known in the central Florida Rap scene as "Platinundawone" to reach an optimum level of sound quality on their audio projects. On grounds of visual arts, Allende G. has been teaming up with Rodney Brown and his "Fresh Personas" Media Co.  Allende G. has also work closely with colleague Alex Desir on image concepts to create themes for Alex's photo shoots regarding his upcoming clothing brand "Fresh Like Us" (No relation to Fresh Personas). Please make certain to follow this partners on their respective cybernetic internet pages. 

Nostalgia Amarilla teams other Bomba players such as Hector Colon, Julissa Manners and brothers: Alexis Guzman and Francisco De Jesus for various local gigs as necessary. In the last year the group's network has extended with friends from Orl. such as master drummer Angel L. Reyes who has recently has relocated to the state and great sacrifice and input from the friends "Renacer Borincano" Jacksonville, Florida.

Nos fiuimos de "jira" un rato para nuestro parque local Curtins Hixon, disfrutamos, nos tiramos algunas fotos, y vacilamos un rato con el Gracimá. Abimael Agosoto - Barril Buleador, Allende G. - Subidor. Las muchachas estavan detras de las camaras. Tremendo día.