Aragon – Le Champagne de Las Charangas
The great Orquesta Aragon presented a phenomenal dance concert at Zellerbach Auditiorium on Friday, August 13th. This legendary charanga led by Rafael Lay Jr, the son of the late band leader and violinist, demonstrated that they are one of the finest dance orchestras in the world. Aragon boasted 5 violins (including Lay), flute, piano, bass, timbales, bongo, congas and two dynamic singers drew from their extensive repertoire and played dance music that was sublime, swinging and irresistible. The front area of Zellerbach was turned into a dance floor once the dancers took over and was packed all night. The only draw back to the evening was the light attendance of approximately 700 people that showed up for 2 hours of dance heaven. The band was celebrating their 70th anniversary with the oldest member going back to 1955. However, age didn’t slow up this band as some of the oldest grey haired members danced up a storm showing off their moves in front of an adoring crowd. Kudos to Shabi Samoohi, Patricia Morgovsky and Sue Taylor for putting together this treat for the eyes and...
Read MoreAnd The Beat Goes On
I recently emceed a rock show featuring two of Cuba’s forward thinking artists Equis (X) Alfonso and Osamu. Both artists had no problems mixing rock, hip hop, reggae, pop, blues, rumba, salsa and folklore into exciting new fusions of music. Equis Alfonso is a dynamo of a performer who knows how to play practically every instrument, has a terrific presence and singing voice…and knows how to get funky while rapping it down to the audience. It’s no wonder that he is a huge star in Cuba! Osamu is an astonishing guitarist and vocalist who leads a powerful rock band that features tv star Yoris on vocals. Performing his fusion of salsa and rock called Rock Con Sabor, he dazzled the crowd with his guitar riffs and danceable melodies. The biggest surprise was his special guest the ageless Pedro Calvo who was THE voice of Los Van Van for many years. Calvo ,nearing 70 was in tip top physical shape and commanding voice, tearing through rock versions of his hits with Los Van Van such as “Sandunguera”. Ironically enough, he looked more like a rock star in his trademark soldier style hat, tight t-shirt, leather jeans and silver buckled belt that Equis and Osamu! Both Equis and Osamu produce their own videos and the visuals presented at this Yerba Buena Center of the Arts “New Frequencies” show were outstanding, progressive and...
Read MoreNo More Jelly’s Club Havana?
Jelly’s in San Francisco has been one of the epicenters of SF Latin music for the past 16 years. I have been a long time resident dj for the past 10 years. The reputation that the club enjoys is based on the Sunday “Club Havana” tardeadas that generated extraordinary salsa and cuban music from both the featured band and the dj much to the delight of both the dancer and the listener. Evidence of this phenomenon is on the Jelly’s live music sampler that features Mazacote, Anthony Blea’s Charanga, Fito Reinoso and others. The succession of fine talent has been handed down from the beginning when Linda Wosskow and radio dj Chata Gutierrez started the Sunday scene to when Ivette “La Coqui” Fuentes took over as dj to when I started alternating Sundays with La Coqui for many years. After La Coqui parted ways, I kept on the every other Sunday rotation with timba Dj’s Walt Digz and Antonio. The club changed direction earlier this year: now Antonio and myself appear monthly and Walt Digz is there every other Sunday. Jelly’s is located at a prime real estate spot at Pier 50 near Pac Bell Park which houses the Giants. The club has been a target of the Fire Department for quite some time and it’s no secret that the Port Of SF has wanted Jelly’s to move out. Perhaps to make room for a hotel and/or another upscale development. Now the Port of SF has given Jelly’s a 30 day eviction notice after an unfortunate shooting that occurred outside the club after a small private party on a Friday evening. The entertainment commission and the police have cleared Jelly’s of any involvement and wrong doing. However, the Port has used this incident as an excuse to give the club their eviction notice. There was a protest rumba this past Friday in front of the Port’s offices. However the participation and support of the community was strong but light on numbers of people. Jelly’s is now playing a chess game with the Port. Clarice Lacau, the owner of the club has obtained a lawyer who is in written communication with Port officials. The eviction deadline is up this week. It is feared that the city may shut down their doors which could be a significant loss and the end of an era in the local salsa scene. Jelly’s intends to stay open until the end. More to...
Read MoreTodo Tiene Su Final – Tempo Latino 2010
Enrique told me that Sunday was usually the traditional slow final night at Tempo Latino. You couldn’t tell by the energetic capacity crowd that attended the Plaza De Toros show featuring trombone titan Jimmy Bosch and his All Stars and La Sucursal SA that evening. Barcelona’s La Sucursal SA started the show with a crowd pleasing set that featured original material from both their cd “Lo Nuestro” and their latest ep. The talented musicians of La Sucursal led by bassist/musical director Santiago Acevedo and vocalist Marcelo Rosero played smokin’ salsa dura that had the crowd dancing and cheering for more. Their inventive version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” took everyone by surprise. For their encore, they invited el sonero Herman Olivera and flautist Mitch Frohman from Jimmy Bosch’s band to join them on a rousing finale. Jimmy Bosch and his all star ensemble took the stage for a three hour set. Joining Bosch were heavyweights Olivera, trescero Nelson Gonzalez, bassist Mike Vinas, conguero Eddie Montalvo, timbalero Ralph Irrizary, pianist Arturo Ortiz, vocalist Wilito Otero, Frohman and a horn section that included members of La Excelencia and Mercadonegro. Drawing from a mixed repertoire of classic salsa and Bosch’s own tunes, these excellent players and singers had plenty of room to improvise and stretch out. What a descarga from this elite group of great players! I was particularly impressed by the fluid piano work of Ortiz, the masterful tres playing of Gonzalez, the soneos of Olivera and the youthful Otero and the trombone mastery of Bosch! Went over to La Conga to catch up with the Barcelona double team of Orquesta Sabor Y Son and DJ Jacoviche who were playing to the die-hards. Sabor Y Son had their moments but the real story was DJ Jacoviche (reminded me of a taller DJ Walt Digz in a cap and athletic suit) slammin’ la salsa dura until 5 am when the police finally cut the power. What a fitting end to a Salsa festival such as Tempo Latino! Gracias Enrique, Eric, Louise, the great crew of Tempo Latino and the Antilla crew! I hope that I’ll be back...
Read MoreSaturday was a big day…not only was Puerto Rican diva Choco Orta headlining the festival with Austin’s own party band Grupo Fantasma but I was also dj’ing my second night at Tempo Latino. Choco worked the press on Friday: singing at the press gatherings and wanting to be taken seriously as the heir to Celia Cruz’s throne. I was only able to check out 3 songs but she clearly showed off her powerful singing voice backed by a swinging band with tight coro singers. Her old school repertoire from her recording “Ahora Mismo” included gems from the Machito and Celia songbook. She danced like a staggering woman possessed by voodoo. She was nervous and self concious on stage but turned into a dynamo as soon as the music started. I missed her fiery conga and timbales solos later in the set as I had to run to start my gig. Grupo Fantasma played a tremendous opening set..more salsafied than when I saw them at South By Southwest. Fantasma was made up of an explosive brass section, screaming guitars, fine lead vocalists and played a set that included cumbia, funk, latin rock, bolero and descarga. Vocalist Jose Galeano took the place of two missing percussionists with fire and chops behind his percussion set of timbales, congas and bongos. Eric Duffau introduced their encore by stating “La Revelacion” to the crowd and revealed that Fantasma had earned themselves a headlining spot in the future. The crowd roared with approval. I started at La Conga earlier than expected because the place was nearly packed by 12:15 am! I tore it up on my first of 3 sets before our musical guests Zulu 9.30, a reggae band from Barcelona started. Zulu 9.30 struck a chord with the partying crowd although the salseros backstage were asking me when I was going to come on. The crowd was screaming for more at the end of their set. I had no choice but to play the best music that I felt at the moment. I started with Bobby Valentin’s “Aqui No Me Quedo” and the rest was history-the entire La Conga dance floor was packed with dancers! What a great scene! I loved playing at Tempo...
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