Con Sabor Top Picks of 2011/Salsa-Latin Jazz-Musica Cubana
Con Sabor Top Picks of 2011: (in no particular order)Various Artists “Sono Sono Tite Curet” – Banco PopularMambo Legends Orchestra “Ten Cuidado” – Mambo LegendsVarious Artists “Salsa – Un Homenaje A El Gran Combo” – Banco PopularChoco Orta “Choco Swing” – Chocolocoton BasilloCachao “The Last Mambo” – Eventus/SonySonido Criminal “Crime Payz” – Sonido CriminalDon Perignon/Orquesta La Puertorriquena “A Otro Nivel-30 Anniversario” – Al AndujarMichael Stuart “Tributo A Louie Ramirez” – RLM8 Y Mas “Una Mas” – 8 Y MasIssac Delgado “El Supercubano” – PlanetNG La Banda “Mis 22 Anos” – EgremMaraca & Latin Jazz All Stars “Reencuentro” – Maraca/Descarga SarlVictoria Sanabria “Mi Decima Con Orquesta” – Echa CompayJose Alberto “El Canario” “Original” – Select O’HitsPupy Y Los Que Son Son “Simplemente Pupy (Unreleased tracks) – Pupy/EgremStefon Harris/David Sanchez/Christian Scott “90 Miles” – ConcordLa Sucursal SA “Sin Fronteras” – La TrifulcaMontuno Swing “Rico Tumbao” – Tumulan MusicJohn Santos/Coro Kindembo “La Esperanza” – MacheteJerry Gonzalez Y El Comando De La Clave “El Comando De La Clave” – SunnysideJane Bunnett/Hilario Duran “Cuban Rhapsody” – AlmaWilly Torres “Hardcore” – Latin StreetBobby Sanabria “Tito Puente Masterworks Live” – JazzheadsSantiago All Stars – Joya Y Rareza – Hasbun...
read more2012 starts with a bang!!!
I brought in 2012 as dj at Cafe Cocomo’s explosive New Years Eve party going mano-a-mano with local favorites Avance. The band who has incredibly enough started close to 20 years ago by Santana percussionist extraordinare Karl Perrazo still boasts a front line of youthful looking boy band singers: Armando Cordova, his brother Jeff and Jimmy Flores. Their dynamic presence combined with a top notch band with a great trombone section provided three sets of fine dance music. There was a bigger, energetic and excited crowd who brought in 2012 with us at Midnight. Avance sounded great…they also featured some brand new material in their repertoire along with crowd favorites from their last 3 cds. The band kept me on my toes but I was ready to play. I put it in the mix which kept the dancers on the dance floor! What a way to start the...
read moreJoyful Pre Xmas Tribute To Jose Guaman
I was scheduled to dj the last part of the benefit/tribute to La Fuerza Gigante’s band leader and bongocero Jose Guaman last Sunday. He has been battling pancreatic cancer. A group of friends led by fellow musician “Cafe” Agosto and Angel Cordero organized this benefit/tribute to a nice guy. By the time I arrived at Cocomo, I was delighted to see that the place was stuffed with folks and that they were being entertained by the likes of Orquesta Borinquen who played a smokin’ set. DJ Carlitos Way followed them with selections that connected with the dancing crowd. Guaman has been a fixture on the salsa scene for the past decade or so with Orquesta Baakan. He had to change the name to La Fuerza Gigante a while back due to legal reasons but that hasn’t stopped him from radiating his warm personality, putting out a big smile and playing good music. The Salsa community that night reflected an older, mature crowd who enjoyed and applauded the sounds of Pa’l Bailador, Julio Bravo Y Salsabor, Alexis Y Su Original which also featured veteran sonero Monchy Esteves, La Fuerza Gigante and special guests throughout the entire evening. There was a touching, heartfelt tribute to Jose from family members including his wife and sons and fellow musicians such as Karl Perrazo, Julio Bravo, Cafe and Avance’s Armando Cordova. There were a lot of teary eyes during that tribute at Cocomo. The show ran late but I got my chance to play music in honor of Jose. The show reflected life as it often plays out: the happy with the sad and the hard road ahead. Jose was showered with enthusiastic support, hope and optimism from a loving, appreciative crowd. I was glad I was...
read moreHahahaha!
Hahahaha! We need to laugh as we near the close of another year. We have made it. We survived another long year. A worldwide financial crisis and a bad economy has cost millions of people jobs, security and in some cases, their homes. There is a monetary and class divide that has deepened the gulf between the halves and have nots. The middle class has shrunk over the course of the last three years. This situation drove people to the streets to voice their anger and frustration with the target being the one percent who have the majority of the money and power. Activists have been butting heads with police on the streets to call attention to these issues. It is dawning on all of us that the 99 percent is a wide range of people that are different and diverse. It’s difficult for people to agree on what to do next. The landscape of this rapidly changing world has now forced creative people to turn into unlikely entrepreneurs and businessmen in order to survive and thrive. We need to educate ourselves, read and learn new skills that can keep opening new doors to us while we learn to navigate the political system to our advantage. We need to vote and advocate for better opportunities and perhaps, a responsive government. Welcome to the new year....
read moreEddie Palmieri celebrates 75th!
The irresistible rhythms of salsa dura were driving people to the dance floor at the San Francisco Yoshi’s club. The sound was coming from 9 time Grammy award winning maestro Eddie Palmieri who was in town to celebrate his 75th birthday. One of the true geniuses and innovators of Latin music who has been making an impact since the 1960’s, Palmieri continues his life work by putting out dynamic recordings such as his new 50th Anniversary dvd. Powerful live performances has always been Palmieri’s speciality. This was evident as he brought La Perfecta II featuring an all-star group consisting of the great sonero Herman Olivera, trescero extraordinare Nelson Gonzalez, young bass phenom Loques Curtis, the tight percussion section of Little Johnny Rivero, Jose Clausell and Orlando Vega, the tremendous horn section featuring the trombones of Jimmy Bosch and Doug Beavers and the flute of Karen Joseph. Palmieri’s repertoire consisted of his classic dance tunes such as “Sujetate La Lengua”, “La Malanga”and “Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso” to name a few. La Perfecta II is simply one of the finest live dance orchestras that exist…period. The interplay and communication between musicians, the sheer virtuosity of the players and the fiercest dance music to be heard on any bandstand. Eddie Palmieri was in fine form whether he was playing jaw dropping solos, leading his top-notch ensemble or cracking jokes to the audience. I wasn’t alone in thinking that I was lucky to be there to catch the master at...
read moreRagga Muffins Go Crazy at Mezzanine
I knew that there were many Reggaeton fans out there but fans of Reggae En Espanol? You bet! The hip trendy club Mezzanine featured 3 out of the biggest acts in the genre: Cultura Profetica, Gondwana, Los Cafres along with locally based Bayonics at the Reggae Latino 2011 Fest. The place was packed with mostly young people who danced, screamed, jumped, cheered and raised their drinks up in the air to party to their heroes on stage. DJ Stepwise kept the heads bobbing in-between the breaks. Cultura lived up to their headline status with a dynamic set featuring their potent politically charged dance music. Los Cafres’ charismatic vocalist had the crowd pumped up while the band slammed down their ragga dub beats. The Bay Area’s own Bayonics, in true chameleon form stuck to the Reggae theme of the evening, held their own with a powerful opening set. I missed Gondwana but caught a lot of the island love before I left the club thanks to Adrian Goddard of Jaffe...
read moreWillie Colon In The House!!
What a week! Caught Willie Colon in one of his very rare SF Bay Area appearances at the 10th Annual San Francisco Salsa Congress at the Oakland Marriott. Colon, who has a notorious reputation for being unpredictable, played a phenomenal set. Backed by a top notch band and a powerful horn section boasting 2 trombones and sax, Willie was splendid on lead vocals, trombone and bass trumpet (one of his featured instruments since the late 70’s which sounds like a trombone). He thrilled the crowd with his opening medley of his early hits with Hector LaVoe. His trombone playing was strong blasting out monas as he did 40 or more years ago. He was also in fine voice as he performed songs from various periods of his long career with passion, style and power. Colon doesn’t visit us very often but this was definitely a musical...
read moreLatin Grammylicious
I’m checked out the Latin Grammys on TV on Thursday night. I watched as the current crop of hot recording stars who are enjoying massive success such as Shakira, Romeo Santos singing a duet with Usher, Pitbull with Marc Anthony, Christian Castro, Pepe Aguilar and Disney rehab comeback princess Demi Lovato entertained with gusto. This 3 hour awards ceremony/spectacular is your traditional long drawn out affair with “highlights” that were either dope, corny or awful. Calle 13 accepted the award for record of the year with Residente and their crew as they seized the moment to make a political statement supporting the current student protest movements in Chile and Puerto Rico. I had to endure Alejandra Guzman and Franco De Vita as they sang an insipid ballad that was nominated for song of the year. Co-host singer/actress Lucero and the Muppets own Kermit The Frog introduced the hot Mexican norteno band Intocable. Pitbull and guest Marc Anthony performed their hit duet surrounded by an over abundance of scantily clad women..some wearing bikinis and some were being showered by water! So much for a “top notch” awards show. Oh well, there’s always next...
read moreBe ready to bring your dance shoes 2 my shows
I will be the guest DJ at the new Sabor Salsa monthly happening next week in Marin County at Georges Nightclub, 842 Fourth Street in San Rafael on Thursday, November 17 starting at 9 pm. I will be putting it in the mix with my blend of Salsa Dura, Mambo, Musica Cubana, Merengue, a taste of Bachata y mucho mas for all the salseros and salseras. Georges has been featuring live salsa each month since August featuring bands such as Orquesta Borinquen, Avance and Julio Bravo y Salsabor. I’ll be bringing the Con Sabor wall of sound as featured during my nights at Cafe Cocomo. Speaking of Cafe Cocomo, I will be the dj this Saturday, November 12 as the 19 piece Pacific Mambo Orchestra celebrates their one year anniversary. This great big band is led by pianist Christian Tumulan (Montuno Swing) and trumpeter Stefen Kuehn (Mazacote). Be ready to bring your dance...
read moreOscar D’Leon – Still A Superman!
I had the opportunity to run over to Roccapulco after my radio show on KPFA to catch the living salsa legend, Oscar D’ Leon last Saturday. D’Leon is one of the premier performers in Latin music….a tireless, consummate showman whose live shows are legendary and whose sets last two to three hours at least. I arrived at Roccapulco once D’Leon started his set. At 68, Oscar D’Leon looks good for someone who has survived 4 heart attacks and a few scandals throughout his long career…his voice more powerful than ever and his body strong and robust as he performed his dance moves with the boundless energy of someone half his age. He is a performer that solidly connects with his audience whether he is singing to an admiring fan, signing autographs, taking notes from fans or on the receiving end of a bra thrown on stage from a smitten female. D’Leon sang an impressive range of material from his big hits such as “Calculadora” to Mexican rancheras to boleros. A tune or two bordered on schlock for my taste, but it was his brand of Salsa that consistently had the crowd going with expert backup from his solid orchestra of veterans. Although he was constantly covered in sweat, D’Leon didn’t let it bother him at all as he gave 150% for his audience. He hardly took any break as he went from one tune to the next to the delight of fans and dancers alike. This was the kind of show that reminds you why a legend such as D’Leon is still loved and appreciated...
read moreLive Appearances
Follow Luis on
Follow Luis on