Top Picks 2013 – Salsa/Latin Jazz/Afro Cuban/Musica Cubana
I just finished airing my programs featuring the best music of 2013. Here is my list in no particular order because they are all fine recordings!! Puerto Rico All Stars – Echando Candela Cubana All Stars – A Dream Come True Mauricio Silva – Legado De La Salsa Venezolana Volume 1 Chucho Valdes/Afro Cuban Messengers – Border-Free Orquesta SCC-Salsa Con Conciencia – Renacimiento Africando – Viva Africando Conjunto Sabrosura – Mona Pa Mi Bongo Sonora Poncena – 10 Para Los 100 Yolanda Rivera – La Hija Del Guaguanco New Swing Sextet – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Various Artists – Sabe Venezuela Volume 2 Ray Viera Y Trombao – Sambumbia Radioactiva La Maxima 79 – Regresando Al Guaguanco Maikel Blanco Y Su Salsa Mayor – A Toda Maquina Trombonranga – Al Mal Tiempo Buena Salsa Mamborama – Baila Que Baila Omar Sosa – Eggun John Santos Sextet – Filosofia Caribena Vol. 2 Pedrito Martinez Group – The Pedrito Martinez Group Buika – La Noche Mas Larga Mitch Frohman Latin Jazz Quartet – From Daddy With Love DJ El Chino/Various – Salsa World Series Vol. 5 Tipica Novel – Mirando Pa’l Cielo Manuel Valera/New Cuban Express – Expectativas Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet – Latin Jazz Jazz Latin Mayito Rivera – Alma De Sonero Pacific Mambo Orchestra – PMO Timbalive – Con La Musica Cubana…NO! Late 2013 releases that can be considered for 2014 El Gran Combo – 50 Anniversario Pete Rodriguez – Caminando Con Papi Eddie Palmieri – Doin It In The Park EP Hector Aponte/Orquesta Harlem Riverside – Tres Generaciones De Nuestra Musica David Calzado Y Charanga Habanera – Se Sufre Pero Se...
Read MoreFarewell Chata
Chata Gutierrez, a mainstay in the San Francisco Bay Area radio scene for four decades, passed away on December 17 after a long battle with liver cancer. She was 60. Blessed with a great voice, smooth delivery and impeccable musical taste, Chata was a natural for radio. She started back in KPFA under the guiding hand of radio producer Emiliano Echeverria back in 1972. She hosted programs at KPFA and KPOO from 1972 to 1979. I have known Chata since we were classmates in high school and actually worked together for a brief stint at KPFA back in 1976. We were friends, colleagues and rivals but always had mutual respect for each other and the music. She produced her long running Saturday salsa music program later known as “Con Clave” for 33 years at community radio station KPOO. Her program was essential listening for Latin music fanatics and Salsa lovers. She was a staunch advocate for Salsa who was awarded the Tom Donahue award in the late 1980’s. She was loved by her radio public and the Mission community in SF that supported her but was also a fierce competitor and brutally frank in her opinions about music and people. She kept hosting her popular program despite her up and down days almost up to the time of her death with the help of radio dj Jose Ruiz. She will sorely be missed. There will be a wake at Driscoll’s Mortuary from 2 to 6 pm and a memorial concert immediately following at Roccapulco to honor her memory this Sunday, December 29th in San...
Read MoreRenacimiento
I have taken most of the last third of this year off from posting on this blog. I’m not making any excuses for my absence. There has been a lot going on with my life both positive and negative that I have not shared with you. It has been an introspective period of time for me. However, I am experiencing a rebirth/renacimiento…I now feel that I am willing to share my perspectives that I am passionate about with you again. So let’s proceed as we head into 2014.
Read MoreYoshi’s JazzFest – Free – Sunday 8/25/13 – Jack London Square Waterfront-Oakland
Salvador Santana will be headlining a free concert this Sunday, Aug. 25 from Noon to 5 pm at Oakland’s Jack London Square Waterfront brought to you by Yoshi’s Jazz Club. KPFA is one of the media co-sponsors of the Yoshi’s JazzFest which also features the Julian Coryell Trio, Cuban reggaeton mix-master Dos Four and the Oaktown Jazz Workshop Performance Ensemble. It promises to be a great musical afternoon. For more information, visit www.yoshis.com
Read MoreLive Appearances
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