LATIN RHYTHMS WITH DJ IRIE LATINO - JAMAICA TOURIST ISSUE 16
If you had asked Alexis Monteith aka ‘DJ Irie Latino’ about Latin rhythms only a few years ago, he would have told you that he didn’t have a clue about Latin music. Since then, the 41-year-old disc jockey has developed into quite the expert and his devoted group of followers has expanded far beyond its original circle of ex-pats from Spanish speaking countries. Each Friday, Alexis’ catchy party and dancing trend continues to draw its aficionados to Montego Bay’s trendy hot spot BlueBeat for Copacabana Fridayz.
With the fiery mix of genes of an Italian mother and a Jamaican father, Alexis’ loves to bring people and cultures together through music. His love story with Latin rhythms began during a visit to Santiago de Cuba in 2000. “Surrounded by old Spanish architecture and cars from the 1950s, I felt like I was starring in a movie,” recalls the DJ. “Cuban salsa blaring from street radios added something unique to the rich atmosphere which made a lasting impression”.
When a salsa singer sporting a dark suit and polished black shoes took to the stage in a bar one night, Alexis found himself electrified by the music. “I have never been so captivated by a musical performance,” recalls the DJ about the very moment in which his interest and fascination for Latin music was born.
Alexis started experimenting with salsa music as a DJ in 2004, while in charge of promoting the weekly Latin Night for the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston. In 2006, the feeble beginnings had evolved into an Irie Latino movement in Ocho Rios, which at the time had a large Latin community. Recalls the DJ, “We had a wonderful core group of employees from the RIU and Bahia Principe hotels, who were joined by locals and tourists interested in Latin music.”
Alexis’ skillful mixing and spinning of the Latin rhythms of salsa, samba, bachata, merengue and reggaeton, could fool anyone into thinking he is of Latin descent. Says the DJ about his favourite artists; “I love to play the music of the Colombian group Sonora Carruseles to get the salsa dancing going. Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra is my favourite meringue pick, while the Aventura Group, also from the Dominican Republic, is perfect for bachata. For trendy reggaeton, Puerto Rican singer Tito El Bambino is the ideal music choice.”
Located at the trendy BlueBeat on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, Alexis has a devout following of Irie Latino fans from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, Jamaica as well as many other nationals who come by to enjoy the vibrant and catchy music. Says the DJ; “I have spotted Mayito Rivera, lead singer of the Cuban band Los Van Van, Lennox Lewis, Donovan Bailey and Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett at my events.”
Alexis’ is keen to promote Jamaica and the Caribbean region DJ Irie Latino Alexis Monteith on his popular blog, where the DJ talks about his favorite music, events, restaurants, bars and the abundance of things to do on the island. Log on to www.irielatino.blogspot.com. Search for Irie Latino on Facebook and Twitter.
Don’t miss Irie Latino’s Copacabana Fridayz at BlueBeat on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip every Friday from 11:00 pm. Latin dance classes are starting in the near future. Call 952-4777.
With the fiery mix of genes of an Italian mother and a Jamaican father, Alexis’ loves to bring people and cultures together through music. His love story with Latin rhythms began during a visit to Santiago de Cuba in 2000. “Surrounded by old Spanish architecture and cars from the 1950s, I felt like I was starring in a movie,” recalls the DJ. “Cuban salsa blaring from street radios added something unique to the rich atmosphere which made a lasting impression”.
When a salsa singer sporting a dark suit and polished black shoes took to the stage in a bar one night, Alexis found himself electrified by the music. “I have never been so captivated by a musical performance,” recalls the DJ about the very moment in which his interest and fascination for Latin music was born.
Alexis started experimenting with salsa music as a DJ in 2004, while in charge of promoting the weekly Latin Night for the Courtleigh Hotel in Kingston. In 2006, the feeble beginnings had evolved into an Irie Latino movement in Ocho Rios, which at the time had a large Latin community. Recalls the DJ, “We had a wonderful core group of employees from the RIU and Bahia Principe hotels, who were joined by locals and tourists interested in Latin music.”
Alexis’ skillful mixing and spinning of the Latin rhythms of salsa, samba, bachata, merengue and reggaeton, could fool anyone into thinking he is of Latin descent. Says the DJ about his favourite artists; “I love to play the music of the Colombian group Sonora Carruseles to get the salsa dancing going. Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra is my favourite meringue pick, while the Aventura Group, also from the Dominican Republic, is perfect for bachata. For trendy reggaeton, Puerto Rican singer Tito El Bambino is the ideal music choice.”
Located at the trendy BlueBeat on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip, Alexis has a devout following of Irie Latino fans from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico, Spain, Jamaica as well as many other nationals who come by to enjoy the vibrant and catchy music. Says the DJ; “I have spotted Mayito Rivera, lead singer of the Cuban band Los Van Van, Lennox Lewis, Donovan Bailey and Minister of Tourism Ed Bartlett at my events.”
Alexis’ is keen to promote Jamaica and the Caribbean region DJ Irie Latino Alexis Monteith on his popular blog, where the DJ talks about his favorite music, events, restaurants, bars and the abundance of things to do on the island. Log on to www.irielatino.blogspot.com. Search for Irie Latino on Facebook and Twitter.
Don’t miss Irie Latino’s Copacabana Fridayz at BlueBeat on Montego Bay’s Hip Strip every Friday from 11:00 pm. Latin dance classes are starting in the near future. Call 952-4777.
