Rei Alvarez
voice, guiro, drumset
reialvarez.com
bioritmo.com
@rattan_dj
Laura Ann Singh
voice, synth
lauraannsingh.com
@lasingh
Marlysse Simmons
piano, organs
marlysserose.com
@marlysserose
Giustino Riccio
cajon, conga, bongos
@giustinoriccio
@giustinopizza
Gary Kalar
electric guitar
morphmusiccompany.com
Dan Martinez
bass
@danmartbass
“Entre Tus Flores”
Ansonia Records
LP, CD & Digital
Buy / Stream
Lyrics
Released: January 10, 2025
Featuring
Rei Alvarez: voice, guiro, maracas
Laura Ann Singh: voice
Marlysse Simmons: piano, synth, wurlitzer, mellotron, farfisa vip600, crumar “organizer” univox
Guest
Additional Vocals: Peni Candra Rini (#3)
Guitar: Alan Parker, Sebastian Cruz, Bryan Vargas(#9,#10), Gary Kalar
Bass: Andrew Randazzo, Cameron Ralston, Adam Hopkins, Dan Martinez
Drumset: Devonne Harris, Ty Russell
Orchestra
Violins: Anna Bishop, Naima Burrs, Treesa Gold, Susanna Klein, Kristen Presley, Ellen Riccio
Violas: Kimberly Ryan, Hyo Joo Uh, Melissa Sunderland Jones
Cellos: Stephanie Barrett
Flute: Lauren Serpa
Oboe: Lauren Williams
Clarinet: John Winn
All music by Rei Alvarez, Marlysse Simmons, except #6 & 10
All lyrics R. Alvarez, except #6 & 10
All arrangements by by M. Simmons
Recorded by Lance Kohler at Minimum Wage & Curtis Fye at Spacebomb, Richmond, VA
Mixed by Simon Guzman at Sangre En El Cactus, Los Angeles, CA.
Mastered by JJ Golden
More Details Here
"They bring the bolero into the 21st century."
All About Jazz.com
Miramar reimagines the Latin bolero and carries the torch of Bolero Beat—a genre that rose to international fame in the 1960s by blending nostalgic ballads with psychedelic rock, bossa nova, funk, jazz, and more. The sextet features the vocals of Rei Álvarez and Laura Ann Singh and is led by pianist Marlysse Simmons-Argandoña. Miramar’s members are based between Richmond, VA, and Brooklyn, NY, with ties to Puerto Rico, Chile and Brazil. The band’s name, meaning “look to the sea,” evokes the postcard-perfect seaside towns common throughout Latin America, reflecting their desire to capture the humble poetry of everyday life in music.
“Crazy, updated, odd – and irresistible.”
Lira Magazine, Sweden
With roots in the golden-era bolero sound of 1950s Puerto Rico, Miramar weaves in the romantic pop sensibilities and orchestral ballad styles that defined international music in the 1960s and ’70. Originally an offshoot of the indie-salsa band Bio Ritmo, Miramar was one of the first Latin groups to perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk and has since shared its distinctive take on bolero worldwide, performing across the globe often collaborating with string quartets and orchestras. Their music has been released on leading independent labels, including Brooklyn’s world music connoisseurs Barbès Records and renowned soul revival label Daptone Records. Their 2025 album, Entre Tus Flores, was released on the legendary Ansonia Records that was originally founded in New York City in 1949. The album has been described by Sounds and Colours Magazine as a “retro-tastic, string-driven take on the bolero.”, hailed by Spain’s Staf Magazine as “one of the greatest discoveries of recent years” and praised by Sweden’s Lira Magazine as “crazy, updated, odd – and irresistible.”
The
Mirmar
Symphony
Show
Learn More
Recordings
“Salida” b/w “Urgencia”
45rpm & streaming
Daptone Records
Buy / Stream
Daptone Records
March 29, 2019
Side A: Salida
Side B: Urgencia
Rei Alvarez: voz, drumset
Laura Ann Singh: voz
Marlysse Simmons: organs
Bryan Vargas: guitar
Hector “Coco” Barez: percussion
Cameron Ralston: electric bass
All songs by Rei Alvarez & Marlysse Simmons
Produced by Axelrod & Luiggi
Recorded at Daptone Studios, Brooklyn, NY
“Olas y Arenas”
Barbés Records
Digital Single
Buy / Stream
February 18, 2022
Press Release
Laura Ann Singh: voice
Rosette String Quartet:
Ellen Cockerham Riccio: violin
Tressa Gold: violin
Kimberly Ryan: viola
Stephanie Barrett: cello
Music and lyrics by Sylvia Rexach (Puerto Rico, 1922–1961)
String arrangements by Marlysse Simmons-Argandoña
Recorded and mixed by Lance Kohler at Minimum Wage Recording, Richmond, VA
Mastered by Brent Lambert at The Kitchen, Carrboro, NC.
“Dedication to Sylvia Rexach”
Barbès Records
CD & Streaming
Buy / Stream
June 17, 2016
Rei Alvarez: voz, guiro, maracas
Laura Ann Singh: voz
Marlysse Simmons: piano & organ
Bryan Vargas: guitar
Hector “Coco” Barez: percussion
Cameron Ralston: upright bass
Guest:
Kevin Hardin: acoustic guitar
Rusty Farmer: upright bass
Ellen Cockerham Riccio: violin
Tressa Gold: violin
Kimberly Ryan: viola
Tomeka Reid: cello
Recorded and mixed by Lance Kohler at Minimum Wage Recording, Richmond, VA
Who is Puerto Rico’s Sylvia Rexach?
On January 22nd, 2022, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of one of the most legendary Puerto Rican composers of romantic music, Sylvia Rexach. She has been a huge inspiration to us and too so many, not only for her work as a composer but as a poet, comedian, and an avid leader of musicians' rights. Even though she only lived until her 39th year, the impact she left on the world was that of someone who had lived a hundred years.
Learn More