The Orisha News

September 4, 2006

Viredo, the famous Cuban painter, has visited Fiesta studio in negociations to use his art in connections with the Orisha project. Please go here for pictires.

August 17th, 2006La Palabra, the Orisha arranger, has finalized the new arrangements. now we will begin in ernest the work of mounting the musical.

May 1st, 2006: Today is Monday, Eleggua's day. Hello Eleggua. You might want to check in on Xavi's blog from time to time as he does write a lot about the Orishas- After all, its a big part of his life. Other than that, today we delivered a rough mix of Palabra's arrangements to FGrances Tease... Well, read more aboout it on Xavi's blog!

April 30th, 2006- Its official, we are having an Orisha's bash at Frances house in North Hollywood on memorial day, 2002. We will then present a selection of the Orisha songs with the new Palabra arrangements. Hope to see you all Orishas there- -click for flyer-

April 30, 2006 Xavi has revamped his main page and also started a blog. It is a little weird, I think, but if anyone cares for this sort of thing, you can find it here. I do like the pictures of Old Santiago he dug up from Webshots.com. Hope its ok to use tham and nobody complains. Many thanks to whoever took them, they do gladden the heart of a Santiago de Cuba native who has been absent for so long....

April 29, 2006- Palabra came to Lord Tiger Studio again for more recordings on the Orisha songs. We tentatively set a rehearsal date of May 6, 2006 to try the Orisha songs with the whole band.

April 22, 2006. Palabra came to Lord Tiger studio to record piano for some of the Orisha songs. We worked on "the Orishas," "Yemaya," "Here Comes Chango," "You Are" and "Bembe".

April 9th, 2006. A rehearsal was conducted in Fiesta Studios new headquarters in Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. We tried Palabra's new arrangements with the Orisha band, put together for the rehearsal. A very promising begginning.

April 1st, 2006. A rehearsal is set for April 9th, 2006. Looks like we'll have most of the band put together and we'll get to try Palabra's arrangements for the first time. We'll keep you posted as we know the details.

March 25th, 2006. Composer turned web designer Xavier Calvera completes new addition to the orishas website. He thinks the orishas are happy with the new pages, Go here and then check out all the new pages on the individual orishas.

March 15th, 2006. La Palabra still working on the song arrangements. Sue McRoberts completes new version of the script. Jon Mercedes still looking for investors for the show. Contact him for details,

February 26th, 2006. Reheasal with Palabra and Frances, trying out the new arrangements..

February 24th, 2006: Composer Xavier Calvera finishes new song for the musical "Oshun," and gives a copy top La palabra to develop the arrangement. This is thought to be the last song needed for the show, although one never knows...

January 25th, 2006: The very first rehearsal of "The Orishas Are Coming to America!" was held in a Fiesta Studios rehearsal facility high above the San Fernando Valley in the Hollywood Hills. A read-through of the first act was completed.
Musical Director La Palabra introduced composer Xavier Calvera, book author Susi McRoberts, percussionist Roberto Gutierrez and Executive Producer Jon Mercedes III to three bata drum players: Gary Brian Craigwell, Armando Olivo and Luca Brandoli. They are active in the practice of Santeria and know the varied and special rhythms played for each Orisha.
Bata drums are used only in the worship of Orishas and the individual rhythms and songs take years to learn and perfect. Craigwell, Olivo and Brandoli are well-versed in the use of these special, two-sided wooden drums. The drumming and singing will add immeasurable authenticity to the musical.
"I'm really excited about the addition of bata drums," Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez's drumming can be currently heard on the CD, "The Orishas Are Coming to America!" The songs, written by Xavi Calvera, are sung by Frances Tease and available for purchase on Ebay at the Lord Tiger store.
Armando Olivo also demonstrated some of the unusual steps used when a dancer represents Chango, the God of Thunder, Fire and Lightning.Plans are now underway to bring the production to a series of Los Angeles venues this year, Mercedes said. The intention is to make each new venue larger than the one before, he added. click here for pictures of the rehearsal

January 21st, 2006: The Orishas first performance in Vegas! At Roberto Gutierrez and Zina's wedding at the Los Prados Couontry Club. Frances Tease sang selections from the show accompanied by the Orisha percussionists. premier Las Vegas music promoter Al Navarro was on hand and was impressed by Frances performance. Click for pictures.

Friday, January the 13th, 2006. La Palabra and Roberto Gutierrez begin rehearsal of the live Orisha show. Jon Mercedes is back from the hospital after a short stay and is recuperanting rapidly. Frances Tease is reheasing for the upcoming 1/21/06 perfoirmance at Roberto's wedding in Vegas. Sue McRoberts is now working on the 6th version of the Orisha book.

The Orishas will be performing in Vegas on January 21st, 2006. Roberto Gutierrez, the Orishas main percussionist and partner is getting married to Zina and the Orishas will be playing the Los Prados Country Club to celebrate the happy ocasion. The Orishas will be playing selections from the show with the Goddess of Song, Frances Tease, doing the main vocals.

December 17th, 2005. "The Orishas Are Coming" has been hard at work with all involved. La Palabra has been busy with Xavier arranging the music and Sue is currently in the 5th revision of the script. Jon Mercedes III has been busy making contacts to get the show off the ground. Negotiations are in progress to bring Jesus Morales on board to be the choreographer. Things are looking good, you'll hear more from us soon!

November 4th, 2005. "The Orishas are Coming" have a new musical director, La Palabra. He was recommended by Orisha's long time supporter, Effrem Logreira. The show also retained Jon Mercedes III as manager and executive producer.

October 2nd, 2005. "The Orishas Are Coming" are the Main Act at the "Hispanidad Festival" at McArthur park. The cast closed the show with selected musical numbers from the show.

The Show at Tia Chucha on 9/10/05 has been canceled, The Orishas will be in a Festival on 10/02/05. Srtay tuned for details.

August 20th, 2005: The Orishas played the "Smiles for Jesus" annual charity, hosted by Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Brust, owners of Hesperia's Dental Center. Dr. Brust provides braces for underpriviledged kids at no cost. The Orishas were a hit as they did six of their numbers.

August 6th, 2005- The Orishas are going to a picnic- "The 21st Annual Tooling and Machining Association Picnic" at 6543 Corbin Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91302. 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

July 17th, 2005 - Auditions will be held in North Hollywood to fill the part of Eleggua- call 562-789-5810 for an appointment.

July 8th, 2004 - The Orishas appeared at xradio, to an audience of 571,000 people worldwide. DJ Tony Rocks interviewed the composer Xavier Calvera and Sue McRoberts, writer of the Orisha script. X radio can be reached at www.xradio.biz

July 4th, 2005 - The Orishas will be at Rick Cantu's annual 4th of July Bash.

June 25th 2005- The Orishas went to Glendora to Perform at a private function. a quincenera and 25th wedding anyverasy.

June 23rd, 2005 The Orishas are scheduled to perform three songs with Dancers at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles. It will be part of a "Around the World' program with Olivia Liou's Chinese Folk Dancers

June 11, 2005: The Orishas will be in Van Nuys to play for the 17th birthday of Christina Bianca, Roberto Gutierrez'daughter. Roberto is the percussionist of the Orishas. Eleggua will make his first American appereance at the party and Frances Tease will sing several of the Orisha songs The cast is planning to get through 8 of the songs, which makes it the more substatial performance to date. No dancers are scheduled for the party.

June 5th, 2005. Xavi Calvera is working on the battle songs between Chango and Oggun.

May 5, 2005. First Orisha performance in American soil. Xavi Calvera, Frances Tease and Susi McRoberts performace of three of the Orisha songs. Olilvia Liou choreagraphed dances for the event. Eight dancers took part of the First orisha happenning.