El Gran Combo bring their 60th Anniversary Celebration to the SF Bay!

The iconic Puerto Rican Salsa institution El Gran Combo is celebrating their 60th Anniversary this year and they are on the west coast swing of their current US tour. EGC will be hitting the Bay Area this Saturday, October 15th at the Richmond Auditorium, 450 Civic Center Plaza in Richmond. Founder and original pianist Rafael Either (pictured left-photo by Luis Medina) is still directing the group but no longer plays piano in live performances. His live pianist, the talented producer/arranger Willie Sotelo died earlier this year. The group has a new pianist and the show still goes on. And what a great show you can expect from El Gran Combo! Opening the show will be the SF Bay’s own Pepe y Su Orquesta. Doors open at 6 pm. El Gran Combo is expected to hit the stage around 9 pm for a two hour set according to long time Salsa music promoter Julio Mercedes. Tickets are still available at www.ticketon.com. For more information, call 510-672-6857.

The John Santos documentary Santos Skin To Skin has been receiving great reviews. There will be a showing in SF’s Mission District this coming Sunday, October 16 at 4 pm at the Roxie Cinema, 3117 16th Street near Valencia in San Francisco. The John Santos Birthday celebration scheduled for Sunday, October 30th, 8 pm at the SF Jazz Center which features a showing of the film as well as a live performance by the John Santos Sextet with special guest Orestes Vilato is already sold out! For more information, you can visit www.sfjazz.org.

El Maestro Eddie Palmieri who will be celebrating his 86th birthday this coming December will be playing at Yoshi’s, Jack London Square next Friday, October 21 at 8 and 10 pm and Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 pm and 9:30 pm. Palmieri has just released a recording with Sonido Solar, a group made up from his younger mentees and former members of his band on Truth Revolution Records. Palmieri is bouncing back from health issues which forced him to cancel a Summer date in Northern California back in July. It’s always a treat to see the Maestro in action! He will be joined by his Latin Jazz Sextet which have featured top stellar players in the past such as trumpeter Jonathan Powell, saxophonist Louis Fouche, conguero Little Johnny Rivero, bassist Loques Curtis and percussionist Camilo Molina. For ticket information, visit www.yoshis.com before all the tickets are sold out!

On another note, Puerto Rican sax phenom Miguel Zenon will also play Yoshi’s on Tuesday, October 25 for one show only at 8 pm in support of his new recording Musica De Las Americas.

Sonero Mayito Rivera, a powerhouse vocalist who sang for Los Van Van for many years before embarking on his own solo career will be making a rare appearance on Friday, November 4th at San Francisco’s Roccapulco club. Rivera known as “El Poeta De La Rumba” will be appearing with his own orchestra as well as a slew of Timba/Cuban Salsa DJ’s including DJ Leydis, DJ Antonio, DJ Pepe Timba and DJ Cubita as well as dancer Yismari Ramos. Yours truly, Luis Medina will be your MC for the evening. Rivera who is a dynamic sonero who can flawlessly sing Timba, Rumba, Son, Salsa with style, grace and power is an electrifying performer. Tickets available at www.tickeri.com and eventbrite.com. For more information, call 562-587-1265.