Maracalicious
I was lucky this week to catch the great flautist/bandleader Orlando “Maraca” Valle and his Cuban based band on opening night this week at Yoshis in San Francisco. One thing that I love about Maraca is his sophisticated take on timba, cuban salsa and latin jazz…always modern and on the cutting edge with a strong foundation in traditional Afro-Cuban music. He is truly a musician’s musician who plays several instruments and has produced many recordings. Ever since the time that I first saw him at the famed New Morning in Paris with Irakere in 1990, Maraca always impresses with his sheer virtuosity on the flute, his chosen instrument. His clear musical direction as a solo artist and bandleader encompasses a variety of styles. For this tour, his excellent band of top notch musicians and charismatic vocalists includes the superb Alfred Thompson on sax. He had the Yoshi’s crowd mesmerized whether he led his band on an intense Latin Jazz number or a relentlessly swinging timba romp. I had an opportunity to speak to Maraca backstage after his exhilarating performance. He said that he has a new recording coming out in Cuba but also has plans to release another recording with his current band. If you didn’t have the chance to catch him this time, don’t miss him the next time because he is truly one of those artists who have to catch...
Read MoreIs It Fun Yet 2011?
As we head towards another Summer, the reality of our economic situation pops up in different but telling ways. Do you notice that it’s hard to get a break these days? Remember the good old days before the economy started going down the tubes that all the prices of everything has gone up? Also it’s hard to find those generous extras from most restaurants…don’t you hate it when you go to a restaurant that you dine from time to time and find that the portions of food are skimpier but you’re paying the same price as before? It’s hard to go to that endangered species called a record store to find that hard-to-get cd. Now you almost always have to go on-line to either order the cd with the jewel case or you download the recording but you have to hassle to get the cover art! Such is life in 2011 where having a full time job with benefits is the sexy status symbol. If you don’t believe me, ask one of your friends who are laid off or looking for...
Read MoreIt’s Already June..I had my Carnaval Blast!
It’s rainy June in the SF Bay Area. Carnaval SF during Memorial Day weekend in the bay is already a memory. This year I was asked by SFCAT who has been producing the event for the past two years to emcee their 17th Street main stage and serve as a consultant with their entertainment committee. The entertainment that was picked this year led to two days of exciting shows focusing on local gold with great salsa, Brazilian, funk, Latin Pop, reggaeton and world music bands exemplified by fine performances by the Venezuelan Music Project, the 19 piece Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Ronkat and Katdelic, Aquarella and Grupo Samba Rio, Dos Four, Mazacote, Panjea, Samba Da and others. Unfortunately, the rain came late on Saturday afternoon to wash out the scheduled performances of Team Bahia, Avance and L.A’.s Very Be Careful. The exciting performances of La Moderna Tradicion, Too Smooth and Sandy Perez were cut short by the police at the end of the event which marred a great day of parade, sun and fun. It was great to say hello to so many friends and public that made Carnaval so special this...
Read MoreBack From Vacation to Grammy Reality
I’m back everyone from my blog vacation. A lot has happened since we last checked in. Latin Jazz and 30 other categories have been dropped from the Grammys. A big blow to the Latin Jazz genre that ranges from established giants as 9 time Grammy Award winner Eddie Palmieri to young upstarts such as Alfredo Rodriguez who have been making important recordings that has contributed to a current world wide Latin Jazz renaissance. Palmieri and percussionist-educator Bobby Sanabria in New York and locally, John Santos are leading the fight to have the category restored. The category was established in 1996 when Palmieri was governor of the N.Y. chapter. N.A.R.A.S., the academy that oversees the Grammys claims that there weren’t enough music submissions from the categories to justify their existence. But the Academy’s motives are being questioned due to lack of notice and transparency in dropping the categories without first informing its members according to Santos. It’s suspicious that this major decision comes on the heels of the Best New Artist category being awarded to jazz wunderkind Esperanza Spalding instead of massive teen idol Justin Beiber. The Grammys were full of surprises this year much to the apparent chagrin of the pop music establishment. Beiber’s manager took out a full page ad in the N.Y. Times criticizing the Grammys stating that they were out of touch. The Academy then reacted weeks later with the announcement of the category changes. The Academy’s decision sets up a policy that supposably now only the best of the jazz genre (including Latin Jazz artists) will have the opportunity to win the “real” jazz category. However that argument doesn’t take into account that the streamlining of categories will make it harder for deserving artists to get the recognition and honor of a Grammy nomination for their work. Santos and members of the Bay Area’s Latin Jazz community vow to fight until the category is restored. For more information on this issue…go to...
Read MoreLive Appearances
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