Latin Friday: La 33 with La Pambelé

La-33 Renowned for their hits like “La Pantera Mambo”, “La Soledad”, and “Qué Rico Boogaloo” the now legendary. La-33, was founded in Bogotá in 2001. Drawing inspiration from the hard-hitting salsa and Latin sounds of 1970s New York, the orchestra was created by brothers Sergio and Santiago Mejía Rocca, along with Guillermo Celis, in a house on Calle 33 in the Teusaquillo neighbourhood, giving the group its name. Blending rock influences, original lyrics, and fresh arrangements, La-33 has become a symbol of Colombian salsa. Over more than 20 years, they’ve performed over 1,500 concerts across five continents, establishing themselves as one of today’s most successful independent salsa groups. La Pambelé is a salsa brava orchestra redefining Colombia’s tropical and alternative music landscape by revisiting the sonic traditions of 1970s salsa brava while infusing them with contemporary lyrical narratives. Their sound bridges nostalgia and modernity, what one of Colombia’s leading media outlets described as “a new approach to old-school salsa.” The ensemble’s nine musicians bring together a rich instrumentation: piano, congas, flute, trumpet, timbales, trombone, bongó, cowbell, baby bass, and vocals, crafting a dynamic and high-energy performance designed to move both body and soul. Emerging from Bogotá at 2,600 meters above sea level, La Pambelé takes its name from a Bantu term meaning “defender of one’s own,” while also paying homage to the legendary Colombian boxer Antonio Cervantes Reyes aka “Pambelé“. Composed of musicians from across the country, the group challenges long-held assumptions about the capital’s musical identity, asserting Bogotá’s place within Colombia’s rhythmic and cultural heritage.