The Pre-Valentines Day Dance-Concert this Sat. 2/11/23 in Oakland Preview
This Saturday night, February 11th is shaping up to be quite a show for the 3rd Annual Pre-Valentines Day Dance-Concert at the classic Art Deco California Ballroom, 1736 Franklin Street in Oakland.
read moreTalking Music/Music Notes 1/27/23
I attended the lecture by former Los Van Van trombonist for 40 years, Edmundo Piña Machin “Mundele” at Cafe Alma in San Francisco’s Hunters Point district last Saturday. This was one of two dates where Mundo was going to present his multi-media presentation on the history and evolution of Cuban music from the 1800s to the present day.
read moreMusic News: Week ending 1/21/23
Manny Martinez, the esteemed vocalist of Azabache fame who is the lead singer for Louie Romero’s Mazacote and VibraSON has plans to come out with new recordings closer to Summer time. His latest single Tu Y Yo is a fine example of catchy, sophisticated Salsa En English!
read moreTalking Music: In Appreciation of Jeff Beck RIP
I grew up with “wide ears” which meant I had an appreciation for all genres of music as a young kid. I was born in an era that allowed me to be immersed in an explosion of different influences: Motown, The Beatles, The British Invasion, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Soul, RnB, Psychedelia, Folk, Gospel, World, Top 40, Latin and my parent’s favorite Spanish speaking AM radio stations that was always on the family radio.
read moreTop 2022 Musica Cubana & Latin Jazz Picks-Luis Medina (Con Sabor KPFA & Sabiduria Con Tumbao-World Salsa Radio.com
Here is my lists of the Best of 2022 Musica Cubana and the Best of 2022 Latin Jazz music that I heard this past year. A couple of these Musica Cubana releases were also included in my top 2022 Salsa releases since they encompassed both genres.
read moreTop Salsa Picks 2022/Luis Medina (Con Sabor KPFA-Sabiduria Con Tumbao-World Salsa Radio.com)
Here is the first list of my top picks for 2022. I’ll start with my best of 2022 Salsa – Full length releases as well as top 2022 Singles/Songs. LM
read moreHappy Holidays! Music News 12/26/2022
Happy Holidays Everyone! I haven’t posted in a short while because I was working, got a cough/cold (NO COVID!), got busy preparing for Christmas, hosted and produced a Christmas Eve Con Sabor radio program for KPFA and rebroadcast a best of Sabiduria Con Tumbao program for WorldSalsaRadio.com, had a great Christmas with my immediate family, stayed at home recovering, reading, listening to music and watching my share of movies and recorded television.
read moreMy Conversation With Mayito Rivera “El Poeta De La Rumba” by Luis Medina
I caught up with the amazing vocalist Mayito Rivera “El Poeta De La Rumba” on the afternoon before his explosive performance at Roccapulco in San Francisco in early November. Mayito Rivera, former lead vocalist of Juan Formell Y Los Van Van was with the group for over 20 years. He is currently preparing new music to be recorded in the first part of 2023 which includes a song featuring his new rhythm Mayombe that he introduced in an earlier recording.
read moreCon Sabor Special Fund Drive Edition Tonite 12/10/22 9pm on KPFA 94.1 FM & kpfa.org!
Hi Everyone, I will be celebrating my KPFA radio program Con Sabor’s 25th Anniversary as the year comes to a close. I have prepared a special program for tonight. I will be celebrating with excerpts of live performances that I have hosted and produced throughout the years. Tonight I will be featuring violinist extraordinare Anthony Blea y Su Charanga (formerly Charanson) with special guest John Santos from a New Year’s Eve broadcast going back to 2005!
read moreJohn Santos Sextet Triumphs at the Freight 12/2/22
The John Santos Sextet EP release party for their new recording “A Puerto Rico Del Alma-Filosofia Caribeña Vol. 3” was a triumph for Santos and his stellar sextet: long time collaborator and flautist Dr. John Calloway, pianist Marco Diaz, bassist Saul Sierra, drummer David Flores, saxophonist Charlie Gurke and Santos on congas, misc. percussion and vocals.
read moreLive Appearances
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