Father’s Day: Stern Grove, The Sun and PMO
Fathers Day was a great day for Salsa, Mambo and Latin Jazz lovers. 2014 Grammy Award winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra presented a great afternoon of music with special guest stars the one and only Sheila E., 2013 Grammy winner Marlow Rosado and the Salsamania Dance Company. The band was in fine form as they played selections from their explosive repertoire featuring classic big band salsa and an original new takes on Salsa en English and Bachata. The 21 piece PMO also shined on a Stern Grove commissioned suite combining Afro-Cuban folklore, Brazilian and Timba which showcased the exciting Salsamania dance company led by champion dancers John Narvaez and Liz Rojas. Guest pianist Marlow Rosado added to the fireworks with his dynamic piano playing and showmanship during his segment of the show. Sheila E. ended the show playing 2 numbers with plenty of show biz glitz, superstar attitude and incredible percussion chops. At the end of the day, it was PMO who pulled off a spectacular performance that clearly showed that they were worthy of winning a Grammy and much more!! Our joint pre-concert talk that I hosted with PMO leaders Christian Tumalan and Steffen Kuehn was attended by a full house of fans. The talk turned out to be an informative, witty and inspiring talk for all involved. A huge thanks to Judy Tsang and Monica Ware of Stern Grove for the invitation to host this special...
Read MorePMO Mania at Stern Grove 6/21/15
I will be the host of a pre-concert talk with Pacific Mambo Orchestra prior to their appearance at the Stern Grove Festival on Sunday, June 21st at 12 Noon. The location will be the Stern Grove Trocadero Clubhouse. We will be talking about PMO’s new music, mambo and direction after their celebrated 2014 Grammy Award. The concert will start at 2 pm where they will be joined by the electrifying Sheila E. and 2013 Grammy Award winner Marlow Rosado. The amazing Salsamania Dance Company will open up the show. So come down early, save your space, check out the talk and get ready to mambo!!...
Read MoreRIP Johnny Polanco
I received the sad news late last week that Los Angeles based multi instrumentalist and bandleader Johnny Polanco died of a heart attack. Polanco was an amazing musician who excelled on trombone, tres, vibes, violin and practically whatever instrument he would get his hands on. He also led a crack band which featured the legendary Artie Webb on flute and the talented Manny Silviera on bass. He was introduced to me by his then manager, empresario Albert Torres in the late 1990’s and I had the pleasure of working as DJ to his first gigs in the SF Bay Area. Due to the power and swing of Polanco’s music, he became a frequent visitor to the SF Bay Area. He last visited SF when his band backed up Jose Alberto “El Canario” at Roccapulco in a recent visit. I was fortunate enough to catch up with Johnny when I last visited L.A. in early January. A gentleman, a true professional and a nice guy are the memories that I have of Johnny Polanco. He now joins the big descarga in the heavens. Fortunately, we have 3 recordings with his Conjunto Amistad and I have memories of past good times....
Read MoreRandom Notes 5/15/15-PMO & Summer Fun!
Grammy Award winners Pacific Mambo Orchestra will be headlining a FREE show on the Sunday, June 21st date at the Stern Grove Festival, 19th Avenue & Sloat Blvd in SF. They will be joined by the legendary percussionist and vocalist Sheila E and Grammy Award winner pianist Marlow Rosado. The Salsamania Dance Company will be opening up this KPFA Radio sponsored event. More info: www.sterngrove.org SF Jazz heats up this summer with the San Francisco Jazz Festival and the SF Jazz Summer Series: Pedrito Martinez on Sunday, June 21st at the SF Jazz Center with 2 shows at 7:30 pm and 10 pm and on the same night…the phenomenal tribute to the legendary Cuban composer/pianist Ernesto Lecuona with Chucho Valdes, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Michel Camilo at Davies Symphony Hall!! The Summer Sessions will feature artists such as Latin Alternative rockera Natalia Lafourcade, legendary vocalist Tania Libertad, renowned Oscar award winning singer/songwriter Jorge Drexler and Cuba’s great Los Van Van at Davies on August 14th. For all the info, visit sfjazz.org Eddie Palmieri is bringing his Latin Jazz Septet to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival on Sunday, May 31 at the Jackson Theater in Santa Rosa on a double bill with Pablo Ziegler’s Jazz Trio for New Tango. Palmieri will also bring the jazz group to the San Jose Jazz Summer Fest in August…..Sonero de excelencia Andy Montanez will be headlining the 37th Annual El Dia De San Juan on Saturday, June 20th at San Jose’s History Park. This is a rare Northern California appearance for Montanez, whose last visit was at the 2009 SF Salsa Congress! As I recall, Montanez and his orchestra and his sons tore it up!! So get ready for Salsa dura y Sabrosa Puerto Rican style I’m a bit leery of the phrase “SF Salsa Festival” being tossed around to outdoor shows featuring an out of town headliner and a few local bands. Can we get the real thing organized that is inclusive of the majority of the great bands, dj’s and dance troupes that play and are part of the Bay Area scene without the agendas, politics and narrow minded promoters? Or am I dreaming? If that is the case, I’ll keep dreaming in living color y “en clave”…..Ciao 4...
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