KPFA needs your support!
Lot’s of things have been happening that have taken my time away from my blog. I have been working hard the past month with the KPFA fund drive. It is no secret that this 61 year old listener sponsored radio station is in financial trouble going thru job cuts, reducing budgets, shrinking resources and enduring a heated local station board election and on-going internal political struggles. In addition to my duties and obligations as Music Director, I have been extremely busy producing fund drive programs, assisting my fellow on-air hosts in pitching for much needed money and securing premiums for this current drive. It has been a struggle this time which is reflective of our sagging economic situation and it appears that the station is going to fall short of its goal this time. You can contribute to KPFA by going to the web site at www.kpfa.org. If you listen to my program “Con Sabor”, please consider supporting the cause, visiting the web site and becoming a...
Read MoreCachao On TV
I was fortunate enough to be a part of the film documentary “Cachao Uno Mas” focusing on the late great music legend Israel Lopez “Cachao”. The film is being aired nationally tonight on PBS. In the film, I was caught in the act of interviewing Cachao for my KPFA program “Con Sabor” at the Cigar Bar in San Francisco. A film crew was present to capture Cachao during the course of a weekend as he was being honored at San Francisco State University and later culminating with a fantastic concert at Bimbos 365 Club with Cachao, actor/musician Andy Garcia and the Cineson All Stars with local greats John Santos and Wayne Wallace. The original version of the film premiered at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 2008 and has been screened at various international film festivals. The TV version is a new version of the film with added interviews with Gloria and Emilio Estefan and Arturo Sandoval. This film is a testament to the greatness of this master musician and the gentle, humble human being that was...
Read MoreCan’t leave out Musica Cubana – Sept 2010
I’ve been also enjoying some new tracks from the master Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso y Los Que Son Son from his upcoming new release: “Un Loco Con Una Moto”, his remakes of “Parece Mentira” and “Ni Bombones Ni Caramelos” and La Batea featuring Omara Portuondo. Maikel (now Maykel) Blanco y Su Salsa Mayor’s new “Soy Lo Que Te Hala” for all the timba heads. Septeto Nacional De Ignacio Pineiro for those who love classic son. And who can forget the gorgeous tribute to the latin side of Nat “King” Cole, “L O V E” by mister smooth Issac Delgado joined by legendary jazz vocalist (and Nat’s brother) Freddy...
Read MoreTidbits on New Music – Sept 2010
Here are some great recordings that have been dominating my play lists: Chucho Valdes and the Cuban Jazz Messengers mesmerizing “Chucho’s Steps”, the no holds barred slammin’ salsa release by Luis “El Tzunami De La Salsa” Gonzalez “Tributo A Un Gigante”, the great new live recording “The Latin Side Of Herbie Hancock” by trombonist extraordinare Conrad Herwig with special guests Eddie Palmieri and Randy Brecker; “Providencia”, the beautiful new cd by Panama’s own Danilo Perez (Wayne Shorter’s current #1 choice on piano), the indestructible 73 year old salsa legend Bobby Cruz who demonstrates vocal chops that most singers would die for on his new release “Alma, Tierra y Raices” and the exquisite recording “Motion” by former Jane Bunnett collaborator Hilario Duran and his Trio. Plus I’m still enjoying the music that I brought home from Tempo Latino in late June from AYVA Music based in Spain: pianist Leo Blanco’s “Africa Latina” and trumpeter Guillermo Calliero’s tango-flamenco-jazz fusion “Barcelona Hora Cero”. Add to that great new releases by producer/musician Greg Landau’s soundtrack from the film “La Mision”, Carne Cruda’s “Oakland Tight” and an out of the blue latin-jazz release from ex Bay area resident Silvestre Martinez “Heritage”. All killer no...
Read MoreLive Appearances
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