SF Int’l Film Festival Part 2
This year’s SF International Film Festival offered a diverse series of films and happenings. The strong Spanish/French/Uruguayian erotically charged comedy “The Apostate” featured the charismatic actor Alvaro Ogalia in the role of a frustrated man who demands that the Catholic Church remove his name from the baptismal record. A sensational film about the great record producers of our time “Soundbreaking” featured great insightful footage of the late George Martin who was considered the “fifth beatle” at work in the studio with the fab four. This fantastic music documentary also featured such pivotal figures as Sam Phillips, Phil Spector, Rick Rubin, Dr. Dre, Roger Waters, Daniel Lanois and others. The powerful documentary “Under The Gun” is a scathing look at the NRA and the consequences of America’s obsession with guns. The festival presented the screening of the impressionistic 1932 German horror classic at the Castro as their continuing series of combining a classic film with live music…this time provided by Indie electronic rock faves Mercury Rev featuring Cocteau Twins member Simon Raymonde . The results were an errie atmospheric evening with the music further accentuating the bizarre black and white visuals. The festival took advantage of the gentrified trendiness of the ever changing Mission district with screenings, happenings and parties. Despite all of these changes in the neighborhood, the films still took center stage as the festival reinvents itself in the old...
Read MoreSF Int’l Film Festival-Wild On The Latin Side & More
The 59th SF International Film Festival offers a spectrum of film as they moved their headquarters to the Mission this year to the Alamo Drafthouse formerly the New Mission Theatre and other venues such as the Victoria Theater and the Roxie. The Latin films programmed for the festival are varied, esoteric, sensual, strange and poignant. The Brazilian erotic drama “Neon Bull”, the dark, gritty Venezuelan drama “From Afar”, the delightful Mexican coming-of-age film “Leaf Blower” that focuses on 3 teenagers, the Bolivian/USA documentary “Salero” which comments on a fading way of life for salt farmers uprooted by a technological discovery on their land and the canny, erotically charged Spanish/French/Uruguayian film “The Apostate”. The Festival will also feature the live music/film screening of the 1932 horror classic “Vampyr” with the group Mercury Rev with Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins. The festival kicked off their opening night at the Castro Theatre with the comic Jane Austin period film “Love And Friendship” starring Kate Beckinsale as a beautiful, amoral social climber. For more information on the entire festival which runs until May 5th, visit the web site:...
Read MorePedrito Martinez/Issac Delgado 5/1-Yerba Buena Gardens SF
Renowned percussionist/vocalist Pedrito Martinez and his group will be joined by the great Cuban vocalist Issac Delgado for the opening of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival in downtown SF on Mission between 3rd and 4th Streets on Sunday, May 1st from 1 to 3 pm. This unique pairing of the dynamic Martinez whose quartet has a progressive jazz/timba sound along with Delgado, the iconic vocalist who was an intregal part of the amazing band NG La Banda who started the Timba movement in Cuba. This promises to be an exciting start to the yearly festival that runs until October. KPFA/KPOO DJ Jose Ruiz will open the show. This concert is free to the...
Read MoreCubanismo, New Swing Sextet & Dayme Arocena
I have been fortunate to have seen some incredible shows during the past 2 weeks. Jesus Alemany and Cubanismo played phenomenal Cuban music in a myriad of styles from Mambo to Pilon at the SF Jazz Center. To hear this kind of music in a concert setting is practically a sin. However, Alemany wasn’t one to have anybody sit down once the musical heat blasted from stage from this top notch group of performers, he obligated you to stand, clap, sing-a-long and dance in front of your seat. The music was so good that you had to obey..happily…..On the other hand, the SF Salsa Festival had the Park Central ballroom floor open and ready for New York’s explosive New Swing Sextet. The Sextet reunited a number of years ago but had their start in the late 1960’s. They are a tight, exciting band with the classic Joe Cubaesque vibes sound played expertly by vibist George Rodriguez. These veterans had the dance floor packed and rows of standing admirers in front of the stage hypnotized to the beat. Classic hard core salsa for the aficionado y para el bailador!…..Dayme Arocena is a force of nature. This diminutive powerhouse of a vocalist from Cuba didn’t fool around at The New Parish in Oakland. Backed by an exceptional piano and bass duo, her potent music went beyond genres as she covered Afro-Cuban, Jazz, RnB, EDM and Funk! She was a striking sight dressed all in white like a Santeria princess as she radiated charisma and warmth. She connected with the audience with her beautiful smile, impressive vocal range and songs full of emotional depth. She invited Oakland based DJ Cecil to jam with her and the results were a crowd delight. I first saw Dayme last year as part of Jane Bunnett’s Maqueque and I was impressed. After this stunning performance, I’m convinced that this is a rising star in the...
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