Grupo Niche

Grupo Niche is a legendary Colombian salsa orchestra founded in Cali in 1978, led by songwriter Jairo Varela and trombonist/arranger Alexis Lozano. The band has had many members throughout the years, including Nicolás “Macabí” Cristancho (piano), Francisco “Porky” García (bass), Luis Pacheco (congas), Jorge Bazán (vocals), and Héctor Viveros (vocals), among others. Al pasito, their first album, was edited in 1979 and went largely unnoticed by audiences and critics alike. In 1981, they would find success with their second LP, Querer es Poder, which included the song “Buenaventura y Caney,” their first massive hit in Colombia. After a brief tour in the United States, they released the albums Prepárate and ¡Directo desde Nueva York! Niche’s 1984 album No Hay Quinto Malo included the song “Cali Pachanguero,” which propelled them to local and international stardom. In 1985 the group released two albums, Triunfo and Me huele a casamiento, adding singer Tito Gómez and pianist Israel Tenenbaum to their line-up. Gómez would remain with Niche until 1990, when they released Cielo de Tambores, which made it to number 3 on Billboard’s tropical music charts. Following the international success of Cielo de Tambores, Grupo Niche continued to solidify its legacy as one of Colombia's most influential salsa orchestras. In 1992, they released Llegando al 100%, featuring standout tracks like "Hagamos lo que diga el corazón" and "No tuve a quién decirle amor," with Charlie Cardona as lead vocalist. The mid-1990s saw the release of Etnia, an album that delved into Afro-Colombian rhythms, highlighted by songs such as "La canoa ranchá" and "La magia de tus besos," performed by vocalists Willy García, Álvaro Granobles, and Javier Vásquez. Despite the incarceration of founder Jairo Varela in 1995, the group released A prueba de fuego in 1997, achieving commercial success with the hit "Eres," sung by García. Subsequent albums like Señales de humo (1998) and A golpe de folklore (1999) showcased the band's versatility and commitment to their roots. In 2000, Propuesta earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Salsa Album. The group expanded its international presence with a debut performance in Japan in 2005 and released the album Alive that same year. After Varela's passing in 2012, his daughter Yanila Varela took over the group's direction. Under her leadership, Grupo Niche released the posthumous album Tocando el cielo con las manos in 2013 and 35 Aniversario in 2015, which received multiple award nominations. In 2020, they celebrated their 40th anniversary with the album 40, which won the Grammy Award for Best Tropical Latin Album. Continuing their innovative streak, the group released Niche Sinfónico in 2023, a symphonic collaboration that earned them the Latin Grammy for Best Salsa Album.

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