Notes from Late Summer 2016
Hi Everyone, I hope that your Summer was full of fun and excitement. I recently returned from visiting in-laws, family and friends in Spain! I got back to participate in the San Jose Jazz Summerfest on a Salsa DJ fueled stage with my radio colleague Jose Ruiz…it was a blast! I was sidelined for most of the month after the show recovering from an accident (I’m ok!!) However, I was able to bounce back and volunteer my help during Labor Day weekend at the annual Brazilian Day – Lavagem produced by my old friend Concecao Damasceno of Ginga Brasil/Bras Arte and the great people of Casa Del Cultura.(Shout out to Nick, Jose, Vanessa and the crew). Great live music provided by special guest Margareth Menezes sitting in with SambaDa(who were fabulous), Spok, Boca Do Rio, Dandara and Pandemonium and others!! I was also able to catch only a bit of the Festival De La Isla up in Vacaville. I caught a bit of the music of Avance, Hector Tricoche(who killed it with Orquesta De La Isla) and 90’s Salsa Romantica crooner Nino Segarra. I wasn’t able to catch Johnny Rivera or Ray Sepulveda but I heard they had great sets! Catch you...
Read MoreRandom Notes 7/29/16
Is it me or is this Summer just blowing by? It’s been hot in the SF Bay Area. Roberton from Los Van Van visited the SF Bay and joined locally based Cuban vocal legend Fito Reinoso on stage at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival’s monthly Thursday Salsa happenings at Jessie Square last week. Our good friend, Luisito Cuba was instrumental in hooking up a visit from Roberton who not only hooked up with Fito but visited SF’s Bissap Baobab after the show for a rumba featuring Roberton on congas and vocals joined by renowned congueros Sandy Perez and Jesus Diaz. Reinoso joined Roberton on vocals. Other visits included the Cigar Bar and Cana Oakland!…Salsa heartthrob Jerry Rivera also visited the SF Bay and headlined the Peruvian festival at Swiss Park….Speaking of Pop/Salsa heartthrobs…El Sonero De La Juventud Victor Manuelle is paying SF a visit on Saturday, July 30 at the Regency Ballroom. N’Rumba is opening up the show which is also featuring DJ Pablo. Coming up: John Santos Sextet at Yoshis Aug. 12. SF Jazz is featuring a Cuban piano summit with Gonzalo Rubalcaba 8/11, Fabian Almazan/Aruan Ortiz 8/12, Alfredo Rodriguez/Ivan “Melon” Lewis 8/13, Harold Nussa-Lopez/Aldo Lopez-Gavilian 8/14 and featuring percussion phenom Pedrito Martinez joining each of the headliners on these string of dates….San Jose Jazz Summerfest heats up the same weekend 8/12-8/14 with a kick-off Salsa block party featuring yours truly from 9 to 11 pm and my radio/dj colleague Jose Ruiz starting at 7 pm at the San Pedro Street Stage. We’ll be throwing down hot music for dancing in the streets so come on by!! Festival performers that weekend will feature the hot Puerto Rican band “Pirulu Y La Tribu” as well as La Maquina Insular, the Bay Area Salsa All Stars, Lizz Wright, Sergio Mendes, Miguel Zenon, Kermit Ruffins, Bobby Caldwell, Jose James and others. Info:...
Read MoreCatching Up With Arturo Sandoval
I feel invigorated after catching a set from virtuoso trumpeter, multi-instrumentalist and entertainer Arturo Sandoval at Yoshi’s this week. Sandoval, whose illustrious history includes being one of the founding members of the famed Cuban supergroup Irakere, a protege of the legendary jazz icon Dizzy Gillespie and currently enjoying an acclaimed solo career, was in fine form fronting a top notch band of ace players. Sandoval whose winning combination of his sharp sense of humor, effervescent personality and phenomenal playing easily won over the packed Yoshi’s crowd. He played a few selections off his current “Live At Yoshi’s” recording including an explosive Funk to Salsa tour de force version of the classic “El Manicero” featuring Sandoval on vocals, trumpet, keyboards and timbales! His jazz selections were sublime including his version of “A Night In Tunisia”! It’s great to catch up with greats such as Arturo Sandoval who is definitely alive and...
Read MoreOMCA 2nd Fridays are Smokin’ En Clave!
It was a joy to DJ for a crowd of diverse, beautiful folks at the Oakland Museum last Friday, July 8th for their Friday Nights at the OMCA. The great Cuban vocalist Fito Reinoso and his Ritmo Y Armonia was the featured band and they did smoke with their energized, hypnotic brand of Timba and Son “para el bailador”. I was behind the wheels of steel playing hot Salsa, Timba, Mambo, Son, Guaguanco, Reggaeton and Merengue to the packed masses on the Oakland Museum outdoor dance floor. It’s a great scene and it’s free every Friday night. Every 2nd Friday is devoted to Latin music with rotating bands and DJ’s. For more information, visit their web site at museumca.org/friday-nights-omca. Check it...
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