Music News: Richie Ray and Livestreams this Week 1/21-1/24/2021

Salsa piano legend Ricardo (Richie) Ray has just released a new instrumental recording Salsa Jazz and Beethoven on his own label. Richie studied classical piano at the prestigious Julliard School Of Music before launching into his five decade plus career back in the 1960’s. He teamed with the dynamic vocalist Bobby Cruz and had a wildly successful career as a Salsa superstar duo back in the 1960’s and 1970’s with such mega hits as “Richie’s Jala Jala”, “El Sonido Bestial”, “Aguzate” and “La Zafra” among others. Richie’s style of integrating Classical, Jazz and montunos into his playing and musical arrangements was considered groundbreaking in that era.

Both Bobby and Richie converted to Christianity in 1974 and came out with several Salsa recordings with Christian themes for the Vaya label. They retired to focus on their Christian studies and work as ministers until they came back to the stage in the 1990’s for a series of Anniversary shows to their fanbase and a new generation of fans. Now Richie is back with a recording that showcases his three loves in music. I will be airing an interview with Richie Ray on Saturday, Feb. 6th on the first hour of my radio program “Con Sabor” on KPFA 94.1 FM and on-line worldwide at www.kpfa.org from 9 to 11 PM PST. Check it out!!

There will be a series of livestreams from the virtual Havana Jazz Festival (otherwise known as Jazz Plaza in Cuba) now through Sunday starting at 5 PM PST on Hothouse.net. The festival will feature Bobby Carcasses, Harold Lopez-Nussa and Jazz legend Roscoe Mitchell on Thursday, Friday’s show features Frank Fernandez, Michel Herrera and Ari Brown, Saturday will showcase Roberto Fonseca, Orlando “Maraca” Valle, James Sanders and Fernando Varady and Sunday’s concluding show will star Alejandro Falcon, Ruy Lopez-Nussa and Toneka Reid and Junius Paul and other acts on all 4 nights. For more information, visit www.hothouse.net.

SF Bay Area based vocalist Armando Cordova of Pacific Mambo Orchestra and Avance fame will be live-streaming his latest project with a group of stellar musicians including Karl Perazo of Santana, ex Charanga Habanera bassist Ernesto Mazar Kindelan and renowned keyboardist Erick Peralta this Saturday evening, January 23rd at 6 PM PST on Facebook live and You Tube Live. Cordova will be unveiling his latest material which features Salsa, Reggaeton, Rock and other surprises.

See you next time. Ciao 4 now!!