New Years Eve: Musical Fireworks At The Freight

Berkeley’s Freight and Salvage was the place to be to bring in the New Year with an evening of dancing and listening to mesmerizing Afro Cuban Jazz and swinging Salsa.  The Freight’s NYE fest featured a double bill with the multi talented Canadian saxophonist/flutist wunderkind Jane Bunnett and her awesome all female Cuban band Maqueque.  The opening musical fireworks were provided by Fania alumni and Salsa music legend Louie Romero and Mazacote.  Romero and Mazacote wowed the crowd with their stellar musicianship and hip smokin’ repertoire of salsa dura.  They kept the dance floor packed with irrisistable guarachas, cha cha cha, hard hitting salsa and a descarga punctuated with hip hop verses spun by lead vocalist Manny Martinez.  The public were treated to the best of both worlds during the evening.  The intriguing Latin jazz of Bunnett and Maqueque created a distinctive, dynamic vibe as they showcased their virtuosity on songs such as Noche En La Havana.  This impressive sextet made up of Cuban based young lionesses were led by the fiery Bunnett whose dynamic solos on the soprano sax and flute excited the sold out crowd.  Maqueque mixed their compelling original Jazz compositions with songs that were highly danceable.  Overall, it was a great way to bring in the New Year with the joy and optimism that good music brings to the heart, soul and feet.