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If it's Latin, Orquestra Infinidad plays it
Their energetic style gives Centro Ybor just the right score. Expect salsa, merengue, Latin pop, mambo and traditional music set to a new beat.
By AMY ABBOTT
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 5, 2000
Ybor has become synonymous with drinking and revelry. Its identity is a jumbled mix of historical reverence barely kept afloat above the din of nightclubs and bars.
Now there's a new player on the scene, a big one called Centro Ybor, combining a little history, a bit of commerce and some nightlife.
The only thing missing is a soundtrack.
Orquestra Infinidad might be the band to provide it.
An 11-piece Latin band, Orquestra Infinidad will set the beat for throngs of tourists and locals popping in and out of the 23 shops, restaurants and entertainment centers at the new shopping mall. The Orquestra's stage will be the center of Centro Ybor's spacious courtyard facing Eighth Avenue.
The band's sound is playful and vigorous. Those qualities attracted the attention of Taylor Ward, Centro Ybor's marketing director, who helped solidify the local swing scene at a now-defunct Ybor City nightclub. Ward has booked the band for weekly Thursday night performances.
"We have very high-caliber musicians," said Pedro Bullaudy, Orquestra Infinidad's leader. "Dedication, commitment and presentation are all essential to what we do."
That's a lot to ask when it comes to dealing with 11 accomplished musicians. Throughout the band's 10-year existence, the members have changed repeatedly. Currently there are a male and female vocalist; two trumpets; a trombone; a reeds specialist playing flute, alto or baritone sax; a bass player; a keyboardist; and three percussionists. Several members have toured the world and played in a slew of bands. Trumpet player Paul Von Adam, for example, played with Tony Bennett.
"There have been several changes throughout the life of the band, but it has been a process of finding the right people who are attuned to what we do," Bullaudy said. "We definitely have that with the band we have now."
He isn't the only person who believes that. As regulars at several bay area locations, they've had plenty of exposure. They were playing Havana Night at the Tampa Yacht Club when Ward spotted them.
"When we were booked, they told me what you do is what we want," Bullaudy said. "No changes."
The name of the band is Spanish for "Infinity Orchestra." "We wanted a name to reflect the sense that there are no limitations but has no end and no past," Bullaudy said. "No limitations."
With artistic freedom and Ybor City as a home base, Orquestra Infinidad has found the perfect mix.
"It is so ideal to play in Centro," Bullaudy said. "Our home base has been at Marti-Maceo in Ybor for years. They've been kind enough to let us rehearse there."
Salsa, merengue, Latin pop, mambo: If it's Latin, the orchestra plays it. They even play a less well known style called cumbia, a rhythm derived from South American music. Original works and cover tunes will share the score at Centro Ybor, as well as traditional music set to a new beat.
The new gig won't tie down the band, though. Requests to play keep rolling in thanks to their CD, El Rio, which has been out for less than a year. They have a contract to play a tropical themed event at a Hyatt in Orlando for a Washington company. Requests are also coming in from Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New Orleans.
The hardest challenge the group faces is keeping it real.
"With all the exposure, we need to make sure we maintain the level of great music. With all this popularity, we can't forget to keep our focus," Bullaudy said. "Music comes first."
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