Music News 12/14/2021

The legendary Eddie Palmieri will be celebrating his 85th Birthday tomorrow, December 15th. To commemorate the occasion, I will be presenting a birthday salute to El Maestro on Sabiduria Con Tumbao this Wednesday on his birthday from 5 to 7 PM PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com. This is the second Birthday salute dedicated to Eddie that I have presented in the last week. The first one was aired last Saturday, Dec. 11th on Con Sabor during KPFA 94.1 FM Fund Drive in the second hour of the show. In case you missed the program, you can access last Saturday’s program by going to www.kpfa.org/archives/. The Con Sabor program will be available for only 2 weeks until Christmas Day.

Eddie will be playing a special concert “Eddie Palmieri and Friends” this coming Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Anfiteatro Tito Puente in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The concert promises to be a special event featuring all star guests Charlie Sepulveda, Batacumbele, Jimmy Bosch, Michael Stuart, Brian Lynch, Louis Fouche and rising star Arlene Gonzalez. There are rumors that all star soneros Victor Manuelle and Gilberto Santa Rosa may join Palmieri on stage as well.

Marc Anthony will be presenting his “Pa’Alla Voy: tour up in Northern California this coming Friday, Dec. 17th, 8 pm at San Jose’s SAP Center. The tour is named after his smash hit “Pa’Alla Voy’ which is remake of Africando’s worldwide 90’s hit “Yay Voy”. If Anthony’s livestream that was aired earlier this year on You Tube is any indication of his concert set expect the salsafied hits along his crossover hit collaborations, pop and ballads. Anthony can belt it among the best! One big bonus is his swinging big band made up of top notch musicians.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra conquered Monterey with two explosive sets at a special show this past Saturday, Dec. 11th at the Monterey Conference Center. SHO played a few new tunes from their upcoming 2022 release much to the crowd’s delight. I had the pleasure of emceeing the show as well as playing music as the event’s DJ. It was fun keeping the dance floor packed following SHO who were on fire all night. Thanks to producer Luis Mendoza and Montuno Productions for inviting me to be a part of this event. Also special shout out to Bill Martinez and the mighty MP crew.

Among the new musical goodies that I have been playing lately, I highly recommend bassist Charlie Donato y Su Son Ideal’s full length “De Vuelta Al Barrio” and the return of trumpet phenom Luis “Perico” Ortiz and his new recording “Sigo Entre Amigos” with special guest vocalists Tony Vega, Milly Quesada, Johnny Rivera, Gerardo Rivas and Henry Santiago. Also joining Ortiz are trumpeters Charlie Sepulveda and Yturvides Vilchez, flautist Nestor Torres and saxophonist Antonio Luis Orta on this spectacular recording! Both of these explosive recordings would make worthy gifts for the salseros in the family!

Mini Notes: I have also been enjoying the new Edwin Perez (ex-vocalist for La Excelencia) single “Sonero de Que?”. Perez is a rising star who has delivered awesome quality in his recordings especially his last full length “Street Corner Chronicles“. Also check out El Clan Del Solar and their swinging tune “La Salsa Esta Muerta Pero De La Risa!” I think that says it all!.

Until next time….Ciao 4 now!!!