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Maritzaida

"We should do another record, but let's make it a visual product," suggested Charlie Hunter just months after Maritzaida’s explosive debut with Boleros Clásicos Volumen Uno and Volumen Dos. It had only been a a little over a year since Maritzaida and her husband, AJ Weibe, began their bolero journey after a five-year break from music, following a decade of performing together as military musicians, including a three-year stint in Tokyo. But their return to the stage had been nothing short of extraordinary.

After those first two albums, the duo worked on a tribute to Puerto Rican legends Sylvia Rexach and Tutti Umpierre, culminating in their third album, Alma Adentro: La Música de Sylvia Rexach y Tutti Umpierre, and leading to Maritzaida connecting with Rexach’s daughter, actress and singer Sharon Riley Rexach, and taking up the torch for a multi-year journey to bring Rexach and Umpierre’s unpublished works to life. Ready for a another challenge, they approached Hunter about their next move. "How do we make this record stand apart?" they wondered. Maritzaida had the answer: "I love the sound of a cello."

Enter Zachary Brown, an NYC-based cellist. With Brown on board, Weibe dove into arrangements, practicing with Maritzaida every evening after their day jobs—Weibe, a Communications Director with a Ph.D., and Maritzaida, a Cooperative Extension Educator and Ph.D. candidate. Balancing a "normal" life with headlining shows like the North Carolina Folk Festival, the couple remained undeterred in their pursuit of artistry.

Like their other records and under the advice of Hunter, they didn't want the gloss of fancy production; they craved authenticity. The setting? Echo Mountain Studios, a 1920s church in Asheville, NC, turned world-class studio. Veteran engineer Ethan Gingerich fine-tuned the group’s placement around a single microphone—“Aaron, move two inches forward; Zach, step back a foot”—capturing every nuance of their live performance. A video crew was on hand to document the intimate recording of five bolero classics, which they wrapped in a few hours.

But when Hunter called Weibe a few days later, he had only one regret: "We should've done five more to make it a full album." Determined to complete what they’d started, the group reconvened months later. However, Hurricane Helene derailed plans to return to Echo Mountain. With Asheville out of reach, Earthtones Studio in Greensboro, NC, became their savior. In just a few hours, they finished the record, with the gentle sound of rain—heard at the end of "Silencio"—adding an unexpected but fitting touch.

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Sharon Riley Rexach Joins Maritzaida In Reviving A Puerto Rican Legacy With Radio Bohemia Volumen I

Sharon Riley Rexach Joins Maritzaida In Reviving A Puerto Rican Legacy With Radio Bohemia Volumen I

Source: Aaron Weibe

Traducción al español a continuación... Puerto Rican vocalist Maritzaida is proud to announce the upcoming release of Radio Bohemia Volumen I: La Música de Sylvia Rexach y Tutti Umpierre, arriving on all digital platforms July 11, 2025. Inspired by the original 1953 radio broadcasts of legendary composer Sylvia Rexach and pioneering guitarist Tutti Umpierre, the album brings to life the sound and soul of Puerto Rico’s música bohemia—with a special appearance by Sharon Riley Rexach, Sylvia’s daughter, who served as ...

1
Recording

Charlie Hunter Produces Fourth Bolero Record For Puerto Rican Vocalist Maritzaida

Charlie Hunter Produces Fourth Bolero Record For Puerto Rican Vocalist Maritzaida

Source: Aaron Weibe

“We should do another record, but let’s make it a visual product,” suggested Charlie Hunter, celebrated guitarist and producer, just months after Maritzaida’s stunning debut albums, Boleros Clásicos Volumen Uno and Volumen Dos. The Puerto Rican vocalist and her husband, AJ Weibe, had only recently returned to music after a five-year hiatus, following a decade-long career as military musicians, including three years in Tokyo. Their comeback was nothing short of extraordinary, capturing hearts and minds with their authentic take on ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Sentimientos En Vivo

SideHustle Records
2025

buy

Radio Bohemia Volumen...

SideHustle Records
2025

buy

Boleros Clásicos...

SideHustle Records
2023

buy

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