Music News 12/9/2023

I wish el maestro, Latin music Icon Eddie Palmieri a happy 87th Birthday this Friday December 15th. In Palmieri’s honor, I aired the first night of a two part Birthday salute to Eddie Palmieri on my program Con Sabor on KPFA 94.1 FM and www.kpfa.org. Part one aired last night, December 9th and the second part will be aired between 9 to 11 PM PST next Saturday evening, December 16th. I’m featuring selections from Eddie’s vast catalog of iconic Salsa and Latin Jazz that thrilled aficionados and dancers for over 6 decades. Eddie is a former NEA Jazz Master and 10 time Grammy Award winner. Eddie recently retired from the music business due to health issues. You can listen to tonight’s program by visiting our archives. The music programs are archived for two weeks after broadcast at www.kpfa.org/archives. You can search under Con Sabor.

KPFA is currently in it’s Winter 2023 fund drive. KPFA is the oldest listener sponsored free speech radio station in the U.S. since 1949. KPFA has been supportive of Latin music and culture since the early 1970’s. Con Sabor is proud to be broadcasting carrying on the mission of Latin programs on the station. Con Sabor has been highlighting Afro-Latin music such as Salsa, Latin Jazz and Musica Cubana since 1997. The KPFA fund drive will run until Friday, December 15th. Donations are tax deductible. You can go to www.kpfa.org. Thanks for your support.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra will be visiting the SF Bay for Christmas this coming Friday, December 15th at the SF JAZZ Center, Franklin and Fell its in San Francisco at 7:30 PM. SHO has just finished a new recording that will be released early 2024. SHO has recently added former La Excelencia vocalist Edwin Perez to replace veteran sonero Marco Bermudez who has launched his solo career. Perez is well regarded for his powerful voice and sharp social commentary on his songs from his last solo effort “Directo Al Punto”. SHO bandleader and pianist Oscar Hernandez will no doubt debut some new material from their forthcoming album.

Recommended for this weekend: The veteran timbales powerhouse Eric Rangel and his Orquesta America will be celebrating Eric’s birthday at 5 PM Sunday at the Seahorse in Sausalito. Renowned Santana percussion phenom Karl Perazo will be joining them for the evening. Expect musical fireworks! KPOO DJ Jose Ruiz will be spin in between sets.