SF International Film Festival
The 2018 San Francisco International Film Festival has gotten off to a flying start with multiple screenings in various venues throughout the SF Bay Area. Established venues such as the Castro Theatre, the Roxie Cinema and the Victoria Theatre are now joined by newer venues Children’s Creativity Museum, SF MOMA, Dolby Cinema and the Walt Disney Family Museum and across the bay at BAMPFA and Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre. Film screenings range from a tribute to Oscar nominated actress Charlize Theron to live music/film happenings featuring the Kronos Quartet, Blonde Redhead and Marc Capelle’s Red Room Orchestra. A slew of domestic and international films ranging from mainstream to independent releases are featured with a range of subject matter from the banal to profound changes in our ever changing world. Boots Riley’s outrageous and controversial film “Sorry To Bother You” makes it debut at both the Castro and across the bay at the Grand Lake Theatre. Be sure to visit www.sffilm.org to review your schedule and get your tickets quick! Some films only have one screening so you have to jump on it. As always, the SF International Film Festival has something for everyone so check it...
read more10th Annual SF Salsa Festival Blasts Off!
The 10th Annual SF Salsa Festival is taking over the Park Central Hotel on 50 Third Street in San Francisco this weekend! Trombonist extraordinare Jimmy Bosch teams up with master sonero Herman Olivera to headline the festival Saturday evening 3/24. Orquesta Taino will be also featured. Grammy Award winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra are headlining tonight. The festival which features dance performances and dance instruction from noted dancers from around the world, dance congress DJ’s and rooms dedicated to Zouk, Kizomba and Bachata music is produced by John Navarez and Liz Rojas who are the brainchild behind the long running, award winning Salsamania Dance Company. Their opening night party on Thursday evening at the three floor Calle 11 night spot featured the fresh sounds of the Cabanijazz Project who are releasing a new recording in early June. If you are a dancer who loves to dance or a music fan who appreciates great live music, the festival is worth checking out. For more information, go to...
read moreRumba Que Zumba at the Havana Jazz Festival
The 33rd annual Internacional Jazz Plaza attracted huge crowds in a variety of settings concentrated in the Vedado neighborhood in Havana. The festival featured outdoor concerts at venues such as Jardines De Mella (an outdoor garden on the side of the Teatro Mella) featuring Rumba groups such as the youthful Timbalaye whose front line of vocalists dressed like Reggaeton or Timba pop stars. Their expressive dancers were led by a young, blond haired mulata whose moves were awesome as well as authentic. Their percussionists, barely in their twenties, were in command of their drums as their rhythmic call and response was inspired and explosive. Other groups featured during the week were Yoruba Andabo, Rumbata and Explosion Rumbera. The “OG’s ” of Rumba were represented by Rumberos De Cuba, a veteran rumba group celebrating 20 years together who played at the salon of the Egrem studios. I was invited by my friend Ricardo “Robertico” Oropeza of El Septeto Nacional De Ignacio Piniero. What a great scene full of atmosphere, emotion and special guests in the audience such as Freddy, the bassist from El Gran Combo and the renowned Puerto Rican sonero Luisito Carrion on vacation in Cuba. The veterans of the Rumberos De Cuba quickly displayed their mastery of the rumba…the quinto and...
read moreHavana Jazz Festival 2018 Part One
I have just returned from attending the 2018 Havana Jazz Festival in Cuba which was officially named the 33rd Festival Internacional Jazz Plaza which took place from January 16th through the 21st. I was warned about delays in shows, last minute cancellations and the lack of organization of this festival. So I travelled to Havana prepared for the worst and hopeful for the best. I was delighted to have been pleasantly surprised with great shows from tremendous musicians from both Cuba and abroad that ran on time at a variety of different venues. The festival is similar to South By Southwest in the US where multiple shows are presented at the same time at different venues. Unfortunately, it wasn’t great weather in Havana during my stay: it was wet, rainy, windy, cold and overcast for almost the entire week of the festival. But I didn’t let that stop me for taking in the wonderful music and culture of Cuba. I was fortunate to catch the following shows during my week stay in Havana: Bobby Carcasses with guests Maraca, Yosvanny Terry, Don Poncho Terry and Roberto Carcasses, Chucho Valdes with his band and special guest Joe Lovano, Timbalaye, Pablo Menendez and Mezcla with special guest John Calloway, Edsel Gomez Triumvirate with Maraca, Pancho Amat with Javier Colina and Julio Padron, Yosvanny Terry Quintet, Pupy Y Los Que Son Son, Orquesta Aragon collaborating with Michel Herrera with special guests Alain Perez, El Noro, Maraca among others, Roberto Carcasses & Trio Salvage, Ocho Y Mas with Bobby Allende, Marc Quinones, Jimmy Bosch, Haila, Alain Perez, Alexander Abreu and Osain Del Monte, Alain Perez and Orchestra, Alejandro Falcon with special guest Michel Herrera, Ramon Valle Trio, Elito Reve Y Su Charangon, Rumberos De Cuba, the Cesar Lopez Havana Ensemble, Roberto Fonseca with special guests Eliades Ochoa, Maraca and X Alfonso. I had a phenomenal time as I discovered the city of Havana, met musicians, reunited with friends from the SF Bay who made the trip and musicians that I met in the US, attended extraordinary concerts, researched the music, production and folklore of Cuba and connected with professionals, journalists, musicologists and the people of Cuba who shared their warmth and knowledge with me. I will go into details of my musical adventures in my next...
read moreEmceeing: The Thrill Of It All
I have been asked to MC for tonight’s show featuring Grammy Award Winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra featuring renowned sonero Herman Olivera at Yoshi’s in Oakland. It’s always an honor to emcee a prestigious show featuring musicians that you admire, support and actually play their music. Emceeing is an acquired skill honed by years of experience, stage time and learning from watching the best doing their thing. Speaking for myself, it’s not just knowing what to say about the artists that you are presenting but having the knowledge of their music, history and accomplishments. It’s also the art of presentation, knowing what to wear for the occasion and preparing your introduction. Hopefully you’ll do it with class and a taste of show biz. The years of experience will help you develop your own style. When you’re backstage, you’ll also have to deal with your thoughts, last minute script changes and nerves (we all get them) at the moments before you’re on stage. That all disappears once you are focused and when you get on stage. You take the microphone in your hand, gaze out into the bright lights and start..”Ladies and Gentlemen, Damas y...
read moreCon Sabor Top Picks 2017/Salsa-Latin Jazz-Musica Cubana
I am sharing with you my top picks in Salsa/Latin Jazz/Musica Cubana for 2017. Here are the the picks: Doug Beavers “Art Of The Arrangement” Ruben Blades w/Roberto Delgado & Orchestra “Salsa Big Band” Javier Fernandez “The Eternal Classic 2” Eddie Palmieri “Sabiduria” Isidro Infante “Cuba y Puerto Rico: Un Abrazo Musical Salsero” Arturo Ortiz y 7 Con Calle “Cuentos De La Calle” Yumuri “Changanero” Dayme Arocena “Cubafonia” Septeto Santiaguero “Raiz” Arturo O’Farrill/Chucho Valdes “Familia” Oscar Hernandez/Alma Libre “The Art of Latin Jazz” Hilario Duran “Contumbao” Pacific Mambo Orchestra “Live At Stern Grove” Orquesta Borinquen “Pa Que Tu Lo Sepas” Los Rumberos De La Bahia...
read moreBenefit for Puerto Rico This Friday 12/1-Roccapulco
Puerto Rico continues to be in bad shape after Hurricane Maria. There are thousands of residents still without electricity, clean water, medical supplies and food. El Vacilon (formerly of Treasure Island) Productions is throwing a bash with great vocalists from Puerto Rico and New York this Friday evening, Dec. 1 at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission Street in San Francisco starting at 9 pm. The show will feature internationally acclaimed recording artists Frankie Vasquez, Michael Stuart and Mel Martinez. They will be backed up by great bands such as Karabali, Avance and Taino respectively. Karl Perazo, timbalero and percussionist extraordinare of Santana fame will be featured with both Karabali and Avance. DJ’s Carlitos Way and La Niche will be spinning all night in-between sets. The suggested donation at the door is $25. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to sweat to support Puerto...
read moreSF Bay Represents with New Recorded Music!
We are so lucky in the San Francisco Bay Area that so many talented musicians make this area their home. As a result, we are enjoying a welcome surge of new recorded music from these fine talents. One of the hot, new bands that have emerged in this area is Grammy award winning vocalist/percussionist Braulio Barrera and Somos El Son. Their new recording “Somos El Son” is a delicious sampling of their explosive brand of Salsa and more. Barrera, a member of Pacific Mambo Orchestra, is a fine vocalist and exceptional percussionist who leads a top notch band of Bay Area based heavies who packed a tremendous swing. The veteran group of bad boys Orquesta Borinquen have returned with their new recording “Pa Que Tu Lo Sepas”, their follow up to their 2007 cd “El Trombonista”. Their new recording is full of great arrangements, a collaboration with special guest Willie Torres of Spanish Harlem Orchestra fame and slammin’ tunes. The band now led by trumpeter Bill Ortega Jr. and featuring vocalist Carlos Xavier shines on this recording. A strong effort from this fine band. Percussionist Silvestre Martinez has put out a fine Latin Jazz recording “Vengo De La Costa”. Martinez whose credits include performing with Louie Romero’s Mazacote and the renowned Charanga orchestra La Moderna Tradition has a distinctive Mexican flavor interwoven into his Latin Jazz fabric. Check out the tracks “Wildcat” and the title track to appreciate his unique approach....
read moreEssential Recordings/Fall 2017 Listening
I want to share with you a list of fine recent recordings that you should pick up on now. As we all endure the turbulent, worrisome and absurd nature of these times with President Loose Cannon at the helm, these music recommendations will uplift your spirit and soul. My heart goes out to the people of Puerto Rico and Mexico as they struggle to rebuild their lives. Great music often gives you hope, energy and the will to live, listen and dance. Here are my picks: Ruben Blades w/Roberto Delgado Y Orquesta – Salsa Big Band – rubenblades.com; Doug Beavers – The Art Of The Arrangement – Artist Share; Eddie Palmieri – Sabiduria/Wisdom – Ropeadope/Eddie Palmieri; Javier Fernandez – The Eternal Classic 2 – Javier Fernandez; Dayme Arocena – Cubafonia – Brownswood Recordings; Mulata Son – Mujer Y Artista (EP) – Mulata Son/Cubamusic.com; Oscar Hernandez y Alma Libre – The Art of Latin Jazz – Origin; Pacific Mambo Orchestra – Live At Stern Grove – PMO; Yumuri – Chanaguero – BIS; Isidro Infante – Cuba Y Puerto Rico: Un Abrazo Musical Salsero – BIS – Vision Musical VYT; Arturo O’Farrill/Chucho Valdes – Familia – Motema; Arturo Ortiz & 7 Con Calle – Cuentos De La Calle – DIG Music; Pedrito Martinez Group – Havana Dreams – Motema; Braulio Barrera/Somos El Son – Somos El Son – Somos El Son...
read moreSummer 2017 – Live music lives in SF/Northern Cali
Welcome to Summer 2017! I have been on hiatus from posting the past two months due to personal reasons. However, I”m back feeling renewed and refreshed. I saw a trio of terrific Cuban and Salsa shows during these weeks: Alexander Abreu and Havana D’Primera were phenomenal at Roccapulco..what a tight and dynamic orchestra! The huge and talented presence of bandleader/vocalist/trumpeter Abreu was matched by the charismatic star presence of ex-Van Vanero, Mayito Rivera who is quite an exceptional vocalist. They teamed up on an incredible tribute to Juan Formell with Rivera singing one of Los Van Van’s anthems “Soy Todo”. Simply a great show. Around Carnaval SF Weekend, I just caught some fine acts such as Grammy Award winner Javier Cabanillas “Cabanijazz Project” smoke it out with guest vocalist Edgardo Cambon as well as the hot “La Misa Negra” with their fresh Cumbia sounds and great stage show. Also caught the reunion of Ramocue with ex-Los Mocosos Victor Castro and Shorty throwing down the funk Mission style. That same weekend, I caught one of the finest Salsa orchestras in the world today, The Spanish Harlem Orchestra under the direction of pianist Oscar Hernandez at Yoshis in Oakland. SHO were debuting a couple of songs from their forthcoming album as well as some of the favorites from their last few recordings. SHO were very impressive with a power packed band including timbalero Luisito Quintero, trombonist Doug Beavers, saxophonist/flautist Mitch Frohman and their explosive trio of vocalists: Marco Bermudez, Carlos Cascante and Jeremy Bosch (also exceptional on flute). The Western Region Puerto Rican Council presented the 39th edition of the El Dia De San Juan Festival at History Park in San Jose. This year’s festival featured the exceptional vocal stylings of Herman Olivera, one of the top Salsa singers in this day and age and the youthful and energetic Salsa of Norberto and Gerardo of NG2. Backed by the impressive all-star <strong>Orquesta Taino, Olivera shined with a powerful set of his past hits that he’s recorded with Eddie Palmieri, Manny Qquendo and Libre and his acclaimed recording La Voz Del Caribe. Olivera’s fierce soneos combined with his smooth dance moves to deliver a great performance which ignited the audience. NG2 kept the energy up with their high octane show displaying their great voices which combined their well-known songs with their new material. NG2 kept the dancers going with their contagious commercial Salsa sound tailored for today’s audiences. Taino did a great job backing up both Olivera and...
read moreLive Appearances
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