Graciela RIP
Graciela Perez-Grillo was one of those legendary figures in our music who made an undeniable impact. Blessed with a great voice, impeccable timing, clear phrasing and a sense of humor, she sang with passion and style. Those classic Machito tunes that she recorded with her brother and husband Mario Bauza still stand the test of time. She enjoyed a renaissance in the late 80’s and 90’s when she and Mario Bauza collaborated on his last big band recordings. Now her music will be passed on to a new generation with open ears that appreciates classic dance music and loves to dance to it as well as the fans who loved her. Celia Cruz, La India, Albita, Elena Burke and many other divas owe a big debt to Graciela who was the first one to open the door. Blessed are the...
Read MoreSin Salsa No Hay Paraiso!
“Sin Salsa No Hay Paraiso” is the title of the new El Gran Combo cd on Sony which is definitely worth picking up! They are sounding solid as ever. I dare you to put this cd on and NOT dance. It is a fine example of music that is written, produced and performed well by one of the finest salsa orchestras in the world. Period. That is no small feat for a band that pushing 50 years in show business. It’s available on I Tunes for all of you who can’t wait for your local record store (do they still exist?) or mail order house to ship it to you! Pa’ bailar y...
Read MoreThe Yin and the Yang – Noticias/Live Music
I just found out that the scheduled Elio Reve Jr. Y Su Charangon show on the 23rd of this month has been cancelled. What a bummer since I missed Reve in Barcelona last summer. Hopefully, he will be rescheduled soon. The David Calzado/Charanga Habanera show has also been cancelled for the beginning of next month. That leaves Juan Formell and Los Van Van as THE big Cuban show to look forward to in the future. They will be appearing at Yoshis in June with 2 nights in San Francisco and 2 nights in Oakland. In the meantime, the revamped Seis Del Solar featuring original members pianist/musical director Oscar Hernandez and timbalero Ralphy Irrizary will be performing this coming Wednesday and Thursday at Yoshis in SF. Now this isn’t the reunited original band that has been working with Ruben Blades on dates outside the country this past year. However, they have some dynamic firepower with the dynamic talents of bassist Ruben Rodriguez, saxophonist Bobby Franceschini, drummer Dafnis Preito and conguero Bobby Allende. Should be one hot show. If that wasn’t enough, Omar Sosa and his acclaimed Afreecanos group visit Yoshis, Oakland on Friday, April 16 through Sunday, April 18. Check him out on Art Sato’s “In Your Ear” program Saturday, April 17 from 4 to 6 pm on...
Read MoreVariety is the spice…
I caught the amazing Janelle Monae at an intimate gig at Cafe Du Nord in the city last night. This petite striking beauty who sports a fluff of a pompadour of sorts was both original in her look as she was in her music. You could say that she was reminiscent of a Grace Jones of 2010 but had an abundance of talent and style. Fronting a powerful three piece band consisting of guitar, keyboards and drums, Monae performed her version of a movie musical entitled “The Archandroid”. Monae amply displayed her powerful, soulful voice on top of a bed of angular, rn’b influenced modern rock. She had the sold out crowd going wild while she was singing songs from her “movie” complete with stage sets, film credits and tons of atmosphere....
Read MoreShows I did miss somehow, etc.
I managed to introduce Tito Gonzalez Y Su Son De Cuba’s first set at Yoshis in Oakland before I had to run to my station’s sponsored show with Bassekou Kouyate at Slims in SF’s South of Market district – so I missed Tito’s set! I also missed Pepito Gomez with a SF based timba band…but I wasn’t the only one who missed it-I heard that it was a light crowd. I’ll probably miss the upcoming SF Salsa Festival as well. I must be old school but back in the day, the salsa festivals in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s had big groups like the Fania All Stars, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri or a ton of our local salsa heroes at the Greek Theater, the Cow Palace or the huge ballroom at the Marriott or the St. Francis Hotel. Although this affair has selective “dancer’s” dj’s such as Fab Fred & El De La Clave, they only have one band: Doug Beavers’ Conjunto Rovira and their primary focus is on salsa dance troupes. Now with all due respect to all the great salsa dance troupes that are out there and I do enjoy attending the annual Salsa Congress that features great headliners, dancers, dj’s, etc. I also dj to a lot of fine dancers myself at both Cocomo and Jelly’s. I think that they should have named the gig “The SF Salsa Dancer’s Festival” which would have been more accurate. In my opinion, you need to have a cavalcade of great bands and other essential elements if you’re going to live up to the name “The San Francisco Salsa Festival”. That’s what this great city deserves! Nuff...
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