Happy Holidays! Music News 12/26/2022

Happy Holidays Everyone! I haven’t posted in a short while because I was working, got a cough/cold (NO COVID!), got busy preparing for Christmas, hosted and produced a Christmas Eve Con Sabor radio program for KPFA and rebroadcast a best of Sabiduria Con Tumbao program for WorldSalsaRadio.com, had a great Christmas with my immediate family, stayed at home recovering, reading, listening to music and watching my share of movies and recorded television. I’m feeling a lot better and here are things to look out for this week!

San Francisco Mission District French West-African restaurant/nightclub Bissap Baobab on 2243 Mission near 19th Street is continuing to contribute to everybody’s holiday spirit this coming Friday night, December 30th presenting Javier Navarrette’s Socially Distant Friends starting at 8:00 pm! (Photo: Javier Navarrette right, Anthony Blea center, LM left-Photo by Luis Medina) One of the best of the locally based supergroups was born during the COVID pandemic was put together by all-star percussionist Navarrette who worked with Anthony Blea Y Su Charanga (a.k.a. Charanson), Linda Tillery’s Cultural Heritage Choir and La Mixta Criolla.

This all-star group will feature Navarrette’s brother Raul on trombone (from NYC), John Villalobos on tres, guitar and bass (from L.A.), vocalist Karla Lozada, violinist extraordinare Anthony Blea, Kai Lyons on tres, bass and guitar, vocalist/percussionist Hector Lugo, percussionist Jesse Weber, and saxophonist Charlie Gurke. Expect musical surprises, fireworks and inventive, eclectic danceable music from Navarrette and company. Highly recommended!

Also highly recommended for my South Bay peeps…VibraSON, the popular vibes salsa band led by bongosero Jake Jacobs and featuring some of the top all-star players on the Latin dance scene including vibraphonist Charlie Barrera, guest vocalist Edgardo Cambon and special guest for this coming Thursday is conguero Karl Perazo from Santana will be returning to Charley’s LG, 15 N Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos this coming Thursday evening, December 29th starting at 9 PM. Dance lessons start at 8 PM with J.C. and Katie. Local DJ will be trading sets with VibraSON throughout the evening.

Late breaking news 4 my South Bay Peeps. The hot new club Mama Kin at 374 South 1st Street in San Jose presents Pre NYE Salsa this Friday, December 30th with Orquesta Liberación! My friend Robert Santana formerly of Boogaloo Sundays will be teaching the dance class with Norine Rodriguez starting at 8 PM. Mama Kin specializes in Southern Cajun and Creole food! They’re usually open for Salsa on Sundays! Check it out!

Don’t forget to check out my program “Sabiduria Con Tumbao” tomorrow night-Wednesday, December 28th from 5 to 7 PM PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com. It’s my last Sabiduria program for WSR this year! It’s gonna be a blast!

That’s it for now until next time! Stay healthy, merry and bright Mi Gente!