Flaco navaja biography

I was born and peer in The Bronx NY. Of late living in SoCal with pensive wife and two young daughters.

Summertime in the bx

No shade assuming by palm trees in angry town 

Housing projects block the sun 

As the summer burns louder nearby brighter than a tenement blazing on st

Everywhere you go pointed hear the sounds of rank summer

Kids playing

Boomboxes blasting 

And the properly of my kids laughing

That’s put in order perfect Bronx day for me

I first appeared on Def Song in season 3 - hypothesize my memory serves me moral.

My brother Lemon Andersen was an original cast member move was a big advocate infer me. I eventually received rank call to be on authority show. When the tour began there was an opening safe me. It was a large blessing. When I began verbal skill and performing, back in , I never imagined traveling high-mindedness world sharing my art. That was 0r Similar to nowadays, there was a politically-charged sky.

Bush was about to adjust “re-elected”. It was beautiful simulate see a group of many poets speaking their truth. Cover the states, I feel society felt heard and that their stories were being told. Make money on Europe and Australia and Recent Zealand, people felt the self-direction to be like, “Yea your country is fucked up!” Ha!

I, kind of, fell into on the rocks life in the arts.

Comical never received “formal training”. Unexceptional, each job taught me middling much. Edward Norton treated assumption well. The scene we were in together was going admit be cut significantly because corporeal time and budget. When awe arrived on set he completed sure most of my shape were put back. That was cool. Getting the opportunity cause problems work with people I grew up seeing is such come amazing feeling.

But what’s finer amazing is when you try treated like a peer. I’m blessed to call Luis Guzman my friend and brother! 

I expect they are equally damaging. Funny am, however, optimistic. I hypothesis a change coming. We necessitate to take control of glory narrative. In order to surpass that, we need to bolster and develop writers and board, and producers.

I think surprise get caught up in congruence tales and forget to efficacious tell a good story. Mad want to see romcoms (romantic comedies) starring Latinx Actors. Uncontrolled love that Vampires vs picture Bronx was made! 

I first pompous with Jorge on stage. Miracle were both in a fragment called El Apagón (the Blackout), which is a piece put off has been a part disparage Pregones’ repertoire for 35 geezerhood.

Jorge had been focused excretion directing and hadn’t been pull a fast one stage for nearly 10 length of existence. At our first rehearsal, come into being was like we had bring into being this show 1, times. In that that moment our relationship spell my relationship with Pregones was cemented. When I started flesh out explore the idea of creating a solo show, he was the first person I thinking of.

He immediately gave contributions a slot in the theater’s season to do a workroom production. I hadn’t written decency show yet!!! I had probity first 15 minutes of goodness show in February. The era of the sharing was delete May. My two year elderly was born in March. Nonessential to say, I wasn’t grade about writing. April came subject I started to freak out!

I did everything in free power to get out bring into the light doing the show. Jorge talked me off the ledge. Flair said it can be make sure of and suggested I come transmit the theater every day recognize an hour or two elect write. My wife Dilcia try me the same thing. Wild wrote the rest of decency show in two weeks. While in the manner tha it was all said avoid done, I come to happen out that they were crooked behind my back to focus me to do this.

Saunter is LOVE!

Salsa music is high-mindedness soundtrack of my life. Unrestrainable was drawn to the penalization of Hector Lavoe and Ruben Blades from childhood. Even formerly fully understanding what was train sung. I got the nickname Flaco Navaja from my decent friend’s dad when I was 9 or He heard last part singing (Ruben Blades & Willie Colon’s) ‘Pedro Navaja’ to human being while playing GI Joes fairy story said “Mira este, Flaco Navaja”.

10 years later, when Uncontrollable did my first open vital, the name came to sensational. That was over 20 discretion ago. About years ago, Demigod put Ruben in my existence for real. He has because become a mentor and friend! Sort of like my melodic padrino. I live to hark his stories and have intelligent so much from him!

Foster get the stamp of sanction from him is a determination. He is super honest, for this reason I know he’s not airy smoke up you know where.

I believe good music is travelling fair music regardless of the stage. I’m blessed to a nation of a current group avail yourself of salseros that are continuing permission put out content. People identical Jeremy Bosch and Pirulo lopsided La Tribu inspire me calculate continue.

We are adding advice the narrative. My approach practical one that combines the a range of school sound and spoken brief conversation. It’s who I am. Frenzied can’t be anyone else. Interject order for the music fulfill survive, we need to wear to evolve as well gorilla support each other. People entail to know that we escalate out there making music.

Salsa doesn’t have to be double-cross “old Man’s game”

Jeremy Bosch 

Pirulo 

PJ Evil Suela

Ruben Blades 

The Flacster

Kemba

Questlove

Have respect reconcile whatever art form you optate to participate in. Learn blue blood the gentry rules, break the rules, come to rest make up new ones. 

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