Music News: Charanson is back & other News!
Charanson, the renowned SF based all-star band led by violinist Anthony Blea has returned to the scene! I have many good memories from working with Chranson as a resident dj at the legendary club Jelly’s on alternating Sundays with DJ Coqui (Ivette Fuentes) which was the big Sunday thing during the 1990’s and early 2000s until the club’s demise in 2010. The band and I would keep the music on a high intensity level for the delighted crowd both sonically and on the dance floor.
read moreRemembering Oscar Valdes, Irakere co-founder, lead vocalist and percussionist; Music News
Oscar Valdes, the commanding, charismatic vocalist, master percussionist and co-founder with Chucho Valdes of the Cuban Grammy Award winning supergroup Irakere died on Thursday, October 19 at the age of 85.
read moreLive Music This Sunday 10/22/23
Things to check out in your in the mood for Salsa, Latin Jazz, and more this weekend. Brazilian star vocalist/pianist and recording artist Elaine Elias will perform this Sunday at her closing night of a four night stand at the SF JAZZ center in SF at 7 PM.
read moreGoodbye Tirso Duarte and other music news
I was remembering Tirso Duarte, the extremely talented Cuban vocalist/pianist/composer who passed away too soon at the age of 45 on September 26th. He was brutally attacked and suffered fatal injuries after a concert in Tumaco, Colombia. Tirso who lived in Cali for the past 12 years was part of the Cali music scene with his band La Sonoridad. He recorded numerous singles during the past decade
read morePlaylist for Con Sabor-Fund Drive Edition-9/23/23 featuring the 10 pm Mix
Here are the selections that were played during my first of two fundraising programs for the KPFA Winter 2023 Fund drive now through October 6th. You can pledged your support of KPFA and Con Sabor by going to www.kpfa.org. Here is the playlist:
read moreMusic Is Where You Find It-Carlitos Franco All Stars at Mission District Celebration for muralists Michael Rios and Carlos “Kookie” Gonzalez.
I was invited a few weeks ago to the evening celebration of the restoration of the BART mural at the 24th and Mission Street station. This two part event, which started at Noon with an earlier formal event with dignitaries of San Francisco, celebrated the work of two great artists and muralists Michael Rios (also known as creator of designs, t-shirts, stage sets and cover art for Carlos Santana) and renowned muralist Carlos Kookie Gonzalez. The murals of both Rios and Gonzalez span more than three decades. These two gentlemen are also musicians: Michael on the cuatro (former cuatro player for Alma Del Barrio in the eighties and the original Cienfuegos in the 70’s) and Kookie on Congas who has been playing with a lot of Mission district based bands.
read morePlaylist for Con Sabor-Sat 9/9/2023-9 to 11 PM PST-KPFA 94.1 FM
I featured an interview with renowned Jazz/World music vocalist Sandy Cressman during the debut of the music/interview segment Talking Music in the second hour of Con Sabor . I played explosive music ranging from classic Salsa to contemporary Timba, Latin Jazz, Brazilian, Live recordings, new offerings from our SF Bay/No Cal scene to Salsa from Panama, Puerto Rico, Canada and Spain on last night’s program.
read moreEl Tecolote celebrates 53 Years, Music Happenings & free Brazilian Day/Lavagem
I want to congratulate the Mission District’s bilingual newspaper, El Tecolote on their 53rd anniversary! Kudos to “el jefe” Tecolote founder Juan Gonzalez, the staff of El Tecolote and Acción Latina on their successful gala fundraiser last Saturday night. I am so sorry that I missed it! I was out of town but there in spirit at the St. Mary’s Cathedral banquet room last Saturday evening, August 26.
read moreHerman Olivera coming, Weekend happenings!
El Sonero Del Siglo XX1…Herman Olivera is coming to Roccapulco on Saturday, September 16th presented by Jaffe Events. Olivera has spent a good part of close to 3 decades as the lead vocalist for el Maestro Eddie Palmieri.
read moreChangui KL plays Changui for the SF Bay Masses
The exciting and versatile young guitarist/trescero Kai Lyons, (pictured left-photo by Luis Medina) formerly with the highly regarded band Soltron band made up of many now prominent Bay Area musicians, has been busy these days! Kai who has been featured, with Javier Navarette’s Socially Distanced Friends all star group has been producing his own Changui nights at venues such as the Ivory and Wine nightspot in SF’s Mission District on 22nd and Bartlett Streets.
read moreLive Appearances
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