Under ReConstruction
Hi everyone, it’s been a while since I have posted on my blog. A lot of sickness has hit my home and I have been affected. I haven’t had a lot to say since I have been on a personal and professional reconstruction of sorts. In some ways, it’s befitting to a start of a new year: the closing of some doors and the opening of other new exciting possibilities. The letting go of old, now toxic, things and relationships and the nurturing of new ways and roads that will support my future growth and development even at this stage of my life. I still have a lot to say and comment on and that will be reflected on future posts. If you are still out there, thanks for putting up with me. I’m not dead. I just want my posts to resonate with some weight, knowledge that I want to pass on and relevancy. I’ll be back...
read moreCasa Sanchez On A Friday Night
San Francisco’s Mission District is the home of Casa Sanchez restaurant located near the corner of York and 24th Street. Latin Jazz and Salsa is featured every Friday night starting at 7 pm in the small, cramped dining room that is full of good vibes. Fine Mexican food is offered such as the Carne Asada Tampiquena or Enchiladas En Mole. Last Friday, I checked out conguero Adrian Areas and his solid Latin Jazz quartet performing a spirited repertoire that included classic compositions by Mongo Santamaria and Wayne Shorter. The colorful Chepito Areas, former Santana timbalero, was holding court at the bar among a group of friends and customers who were cheering on his son Adrian. Only in the...
read moreHappy New Year Resolution
A New Year marks another chance to start anew. Another shot at getting it right from the jump. I have a feeling this year is my time to reboot this page dedicated to music and life. It is a temptation to get lazy as one gets older so I’m challenging myself to stay stimulated and write often in this space.
read moreTop Salsa-Latin Jazz-Afro Cuban Music Picks 2012
Hi Everyone, the following are my picks for the best recordings of 2012. I focus on Salsa, Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban music which is presented on my radio program “Con Sabor” on Saturday evenings from 9 to 11 pm on KPFA 94.1 FM. I’ve enjoyed sharing these recordings with you on my program. I hope that you pick up one of these titles for your collection. I wish you Happy Holidays! ARTIST/TITLE/LABEL EDDIE MONTALVO “DESDE NUEVA YORK A PUERTO RICO” – SENOR MARCHA CHEO FELICIANO/RUBEN BLADES “EBA SAY AJA” – ARIEL RIVAS MUSIC RALPH IRRIZARY Y LOS VIEJOS DE LA SALSA “VIEJOS PERO SABROSOS” – BKS LA EXCELENCIA “ECOS DEL BARRIO” – HANDLE WITH CARE SANTIAGO ALL STARS “JOYA Y RAREZA” – HASBUN PRODUCTIONS MARLOW ROSADO Y LA RIQUENA “RETRO” – PINK CHAOS CUBANA ALL STARS “A DREAM COME TRUE” – VCM BAILATINO “ANIVERSARIO” – PRODUCE KORTA SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO “VAMOS PA’ LA FIESTA” – PICAP PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA “PMO” – PACIFIC MAMBO ALEXANDER ABREU/HAVANA D’PRIMERA “PASAPORTE” – BIS PAPO VASQUEZ “OASIS” – PICARO WILSON CHEMBO CORNIEL “AFRO BLUE MONK” – CHEMBORO CHARANSALSA “PA’L MI PUEBLO” – CHARANSALSA TOP RELEASES FROM LATE 2011 INTO 2012 VARIOUS SONO SONO TITE CURET – BANCO POPULAR MICHAEL STUART “TRIBUTO A LOUIE RAMIREZ” – RLM NG LA BANDA MIS 22 ANOS –...
read moreEl Gran Combo visits…
This Saturday, December 15th, the iconic El Gran Combo visits the San Francisco Bay Area celebrating their 50th Anniversary at Cafe Cocomo. This group that was created by members of Rafael Cortijo’s orquesta back in 1962 brings their trademark sound that has launched a galaxy of hits throughout their illustrious career. Their leader, pianist/musical director Rafael Ithier will conduct the Combo but has stopped performing live as their pianist a number of years ago (the esteemed pianist/producer Willie Sotelo has taken Ithier’s place in live performance). Their front line of vocalists Charlie Aponte, Jerry Rivas (who took over Andy Montanez’s place back in the 70’s) and Papo Rosario have been performing as a team since that time. The band has always been a tight unit who performs with precision, style and fire. This is the classic Rolls Royce of Salsa from Puerto Rico but always with the love and heart of their public fueling this classic hit making...
read moreThings To Do And Listen To…December 2012
Scenes to look out for during December: El Gran Combo will be bringing their 50th Anniversary tour to Cafe Cocomo on Saturday, December 15th. Pepe Y Su Orquesta will be opening the show. The last time that El Gran Combo played at Cocomo, it was packed to the brim. Expect the same. You may want to get your tickets at www.cafecocomo.com. Pete Escovedo will be celebrating the next year at Yoshis in Oakland from Friday, Dec. 28 through New Years Eve. His sons Peter Michael Escovedo and Juan Escovedo will join him along with his big band playing his brand of Latin Jazz, Salsa and those fabulous Azteca classics. Timbalero extraordinare Eric Rangel has led his Orquesta America for the past two decades and is a staple of the SF Bay Area Salsa scene having played with Conjunto Cespedes, Salsa Caliente, Conjunto Rovira and others. He has been recently diagnosed with throat cancer and is undergoing surgery and treatment. There will be a benefit/tribute to Eric by former bandmates and friends at El Vacilon in Treasure Island on Sunday, December 16 from 4 to 11 pm with the likes of Avance, Borinquen, Candela, Pepe Gonzalez, Julio Bravo and other special guests. DJ Carlitos Way and yours truly will be spinning in-between sets. Proceeds to offset medical costs. New cd’s out now by Diego Gale, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Sammy Gonzalez, Alberto Barros, Alexander Abreu y Havana D’Primera, Victor Manuelle, Papo Vasquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours, Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo, Septeto Santiaguero, DJ Ricky Campanelli, N’Klabe, NG2, Tito Puente’s six cd box set and more. Hopefully you already have your copy of the Eddie Montalvo, Bailatino and Chembo Corniel recordings that have been out for a little while...
read moreVenezuela’s Bailatino-Explosive music 4 your collection
Bailatino, one of the finest of Venezuela’s contemporary Salsa orchestras have put out their latest recording “Aniversario”. Their horn sound is defined by their two trombone and flute attack. Veteran percussionist Jose “Cheo” Navarro leads this fine band through a swinging repertoire of Salsa, Descarga, Cha Cha and Latin Jazz. Edgar “Dolor” Quijada (what a great nickname for a vocalist) leads Bailatino’s charged vocal trio throughout the entire cd. Venezuela has some of the finest musicians playing in the Salsa and Latin Jazz genres. Bailatino keeps raising the bar in terms of bringing interesting and challenging arrangements to compliment their ferocious swing. This is evident in “Aniversario” when you listen to a tune such as “Donde Estara Margot” (the single from the cd) or “La Vampira”. Do not overlook this cd among the many fine new Salsa recordings that this season has to offer. This is worth seeking...
read moreTommy Olivencia is lifting me up.
I’m listening to the salsariffic sounds of Tommy Olivencia on my headphones. Furious conga solo dancing in my head through my trusty Sony phones. Horn section converging within into the jumpin’ descarga. A timbales solo racing in front of a swinging big band. It’s being a rough day…things not together..misunderstandings…heated words…tense..momentary setbacks but setbacks nonetheless. Tommy was celebrating his 40th Anniversary with PR all stars: Paquito Guzman, Sammy Gonzalez, Hector Tricoche, former Bay Area resident Melvin Martinez, Lalo Rodriguez and Gilberto Santa Rosa. Taking me to the dance floor in my studio..big band salsa mania a la puerto rico…they don’t fool around with the salsa in p.r.. Afincado!!! Bad day going away…Tommy reminds me of la salsa de verdad! We got to remind everyone that this music still exists. Chillin’...
read moreSepteto Santiaguero – Son Sublime!
El Septeto Santiaguero have put out a new recording “Vamos Pa La Fiesta” that is a beautiful testament to the Cuban Son. This compositions are classic but not tired relics of an authentic form of music. The music is full of excitement, joy, regret, sadness and the gamut of emotions that reflect life’s experiences. Septeto Santiaguero are not as well known as other groups that perform the Cuban son but this recording may be their big breakthrough. Not only are they incredible musicians and singers whose vocal timbres and phrasing invoke the spirit of Cuni, Barroso, Valdes and Piniero. They also feature special guest collaborations from guests such as Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Jose Alberto “El Canario”and percussionist extraordinare Luisito Quintero. The result is a rich listening experience which transports you to the island where the Son is a respected national treasure that keeps evolving with every new generation. You can feel the energy as this solid group performs Son with a certain heartfelt afinque that is truly their own. I had the opportunity to catch them live at last year’s Tempo Latino festival in France where they tore it up! This recording should open doors for this fine...
read moreTiempo Libre with SF Symphony at Dolores Park
One of the fine moments I did have this Summer was my MC stint with Tiempo Libre along with the SF Symphony at Dolores Park this past July. The San Francisco Symphony travelled to Dolores Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the Mission last July 22nd. The community that watched the free show had their picnic spots set up at the Park. The Mission Cultural Center were involved in this concert with the Symphony along with the SF Arts Commission and the McKesson corporation. The Symphony brought with them a powerhouse of a band with Tiempo Libre, an exciting Miami based septet made up of Cuban born musicians who are adept at playing Afro-Cuban son, timba and salsa. I was invited by the San Francisco Symphony to emcee their event at Dolores Park. I represented KPFA and my program “Con Sabor”. The park which was packed to the gills by a wide cross section of people from timba aficionados to the trendy “beautiful” people to some folks who wouldn’t have stepped on Dolores Park soil let alone the Mission a decade ago. However since gentrification has changed the population and landscape of the Mission, the opportunity seemed right for the Symphony to throw this free classical music bacchanal. The expansive staging and sound were top-notch. The Symphony were dressed in their Sunday best attire. The Symphony were set up in a u formation on stage while the center of the stage was set up with Tiempo Libre’s equipment. The Symphony presented their special program of classical music with a Latin theme for the first half of the show. The Symphony started the second half by playing a short suite before introducing Tiempo Libre. People moved past the barricades in the large grassy area in the front of the stage and turned it into a dance floor for the duration of the set. Tiempo Libre was superb. The band led by keyboardist Jorge Gomez took the stage and tore it up with their musically fat sounding versions of timeless Cuban classic standards such as “Que Bueno Baila Usted”, “El Manicero” and “Son De La Loma”. The band had a tight and explosive sound while their vocalist Joaquin Diaz danced and grinded “a la timba cubana” while he sang his pregones (refrains) to a happy crowd. The symphony backed Tiempo Libre sounding like a massive charanga with their string arrangements. The fired up crowd brought back Tiempo Libre for an encore after they played their set of rehearsed numbers with the Symphony. Suddenly, the band switched to a hypnotic timba rhythm and the crowd went crazy! The syncopated sounds of the keyboards, driving synths, funk bass, the fierce polyrhythms of the percussion locked into the timba groove while Diaz led a call and response with the excited crowd. They managed to get quite a few hands in the air at the SF Symphony concert. A few Symphony musicians who were on stage dancing in their seats while grooving to the irresistible rhythms of Tiempo Libre! Thanks to Louisa Spier and the fine staff at the SF Symphony, the SF Arts Commission and the Mission Cultural Center for their support and tireless work at pulling this event off! It was a memorable afternoon to be a part...
read moreLive Appearances
Follow Luis on
Follow Luis on