Rolling like tumble weed Afro-Latin music thread 2012 (salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, tribal guarachero, etc.)

Maybe I'll find something new to be excited by this year. Right now I am listening to hours of Tito Rodriguez via Spotify. Maybe I should just start a Tito Rodriguez thread. Ah, but finding something to say. . .

I'm still wallowing in Fania reissues. That, and a bunch of stuff by Andrés Landero.

I'm trying to remember the name of a very old-school bachata comp author Ned Sublette mentioned in his email. Don't really know what bachata sounded like back in its rural DR period. I thought I saved that email.

French website top 10 list --latin w/ Bio Ritmo, Ruben Blades and more

http://salsa.blog.lemonde.fr/2012/01/01/musique-latine-les-meilleurs-albums-de-2011/

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/04/144624778/algo-nuevo-8-releases-alt-latino-is-looking-forward-to-in-2012?ps=mh_frhdl1

This piece refers in part Panama's Los Rakas---but don't they live in Oakland? I guess they're still Panamanian. I like what I have heard of their rapping no matter where they are based.

wow, bio ritmo really? are they dc locals or just happen to play here a lot

I thought they were originally from Virginia (as a group, not individually). Don't know where they are based now.

Descarga.com has its best of 2011 list up, but it seems suspiciously lengthy.

this is so dope, anyone familiar with this senegalese crew? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj1d4POVWh8

x-post--Bio Ritmo are Richmond based (although I think their piano/keyboard player used to live in the DC area or maybe still does).
Their 2011 album has appeared on 3 best-of 2011 lists that I have seen.

I seem to remember they started out in Roanoke (because I remember thinking: Roanoke?!).

They've carved out a nice niche for themselves--their latest was on a hipster NY label that put the album out on vinyl as well, and it attracted attention overseas. They have become the salsa group for open-minded indie-rockers in DC (their gigs have been in indie-rock clubs rather than salsa ones for the most part).

they are at the black cat alot where i saw them once, but recall it still being a salsa music crowd rather than indie rock types, 'twas years ago tho

I was kinda guessing on that based on what I had heard from some folks I know. I've actually only seen them once-- at a special weekend afternoon free gig as part of Sunday night WPFW dj Jim Byers' Metro Mambo series at the Anacostia Museum.

The intro. to "La Negra No Quiere" never loses its pull for me.

I was not in the mood for mambo, so I turned off the Tito Rodriguez and started listening to a Discos Fuentes compilation, and there was a cover of "Pali Pachanguero" that made me want to hear Niche's own version (one of them--actually the later one, I think) so now I'm listening to Niche instead. Wish they had Brillantes on Spotify (or in print).

Haven't looked too hard yet to see which Latin artists got some votes on the Pazz & Jop critics poll. I was kinda out of the loop myself this year-- only voted for a Don Omar single

that was released as a single in 2010.

But had an impact in 2011

Don Omar's "Taboo" got 2 votes, and I think Unperson--now Chinese Character name (Ph#L Fr**m*n) voted for some Latino artists

I voted for "Taboo" in the ILM poll but I'm kind of embarrassed to have voted for it. It's not very good.

I don't know, I could swear Danza Kuduro was already pretty ubiquitous in 2010. Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

I think the search function was compromised by the down time on ILX. "Danza Kuduro" only brings up one reference, but I'm sure it was mentioned by name here more than once.

Anyway, listening to this Bio Ritmo album and really not into it. I don't care for the vocals. Some of what makes the band "quirky" just seems to be the inclusion of dubious "progressive" touches (in terms of keyboard sounds, for instance) that remind me of bad aesthetic choices in some late 70s salsa (but minus the brilliant individuals involved). It's also a bit laid back for my taste, though I guess there's nothing wrong with that--and also maybe uneventful, for salsa. Somehow they always end up sounding like a local band, rather than big time, even though they are pretty polished.

i don't know anything about the timeline but might the danza kurudo sounding ubiquitous part be due to it being mostly a copy of the original that was still around

In this case, I don't think so, since I don't think I heard that song before hand. I'm probably just getting my chronology mixed.

Omar doing "Taboo" and "Kuduro" appear on Billboard's 2011 year-end chart

http://www.billboard.com/charts-year-end/hot-latin-songs?year=2011#/charts-year-end/hot-latin-songs?year=2011

Hi long time no visit, I was catching up on the 2011 posts too. A few comments;

- Danza Kuduro was on my playlist back in summer 2010

- The bachata CD Ned Sublette liked was Bachata Roja (I think), keep in mind that bachata back in the day sounded nothing like it does now

- This is an interesting mix of influences from the guy who leads Bio Ritmo, it's certainly better than their own CD (imho)

http://www.parisdjs.com/index.php/post/Bio-Ritmo-Salsa-Pal-Mundo

I was looking through the salsa that came out in 2011, pretty disappointing overall I felt. The new La Excelencia CD drops in Feb 2012 and promises much if their teaser La Economia is anything to go by.

BTW, I really liked the Don Omar CD, I think he was trying to play Daddy Yankee at his own game and did a pretty good job.

Thanks for keeping the thread going, I always find it interesting.

Marco

Marcomarcos, believe it or not, I was just thinking about you. I was thinking you had given up on this thread because of the constant negativity (mostly from me). But now it turns out even you had trouble finding anything much to like in 2011 salsa.

That Bio Ritmo playlist looks interesting. Will definitely check it out later.

Saw Buika do 3 songs with Chucho Valdes and his band at a sold-out Carnegie Hall gig in NYC Saturday night(was up there visiting for the weekend). Chucho was good but a little too tasteful sometimes ("Satin Doll,") but I liked when his percussionists went to town. Plus they did one Santeria like Afro-Cuban folky chanted number I liked alot. I wish Buika would have sung more songs.

Ned S*blette was raving in his email about a Friday the 20th gig he saw (and participated in?) in NYC with a who's of NYC Latin-jazz folks led by Arturo O'Farrill. Latin-jazz can be enjoyable but it is pretty formulaic it seems these days.

Should I spend my time listening to El Chaval de Bachata, who is coming to the late night suburban DC Latino club Galaxy in February? I see from Wiki he has been around for awhile

Not sure, sorry.

javier estrada's all-tropic mixtape. mostly guarachero at the first half but gets moombahton in at the end - not a moom fan myself but what he puts in isn't too bad

http://soundcloud.com/panamerika/tropic-all-mixtape-por-javier

Just saw a reference to a 2010 animated movie called "Chico and Rita" directed by Fernando Trueba (directed Calle 54) and Javier Mariscal, and do not recall anyone discussing it. I wonder how it is.

A gifted songwriter and beautiful singer chase their dreams – and each other – from Havana to New York and Las Vegas. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice.

Chico & Rita - this is a short review I wrote in Sept 2010;

We had a Cuban night yesterday, heading down to the Barbican to watch two new movies made in co-op with the Spanish film industry and TVE. Chico & Rita was my favourite.

Set in 1948 Habana, a talented young jazz pianist meets a beautiful singer with a captivating voice. United by music and desire, they embark on a passionate and tormented love affair that takes them from Cuba to the neon lights of New York and Las Vegas.

The film is an animation and it’s spectacular, recreating the exuberance of 1940s Havana and 1950′s NY and Vegas. The story also cleverly incorporates famous incidents from latin music history such as the death of Chano Pozo, the drugs raid and subsequent closure of the Palladium Ballroom and the Buena Vista phenomenon.

The film is underscored by a great soundtrack from Bebo Valdés, featuring Thelonious Monk, Cole Porter, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Chucho Valdés, Puente and more.

Ladies will love the sentimentality of the film’s ending and would do well to have their tissues at the ready.

Make sure you see this when it gets a general release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kMdL4Y5KB6A

Thanks.

x-post to my own post re Chucho:
New Yorker Ed Morales is also writing for Univision. Here he is on their tumbler raving about the Chucho Valdes show at Carnegie Hall that I was at

http://univisionnews.tumblr.com/post/16371220793/chucho-valdes-buika-carnegie-hall

Here's another take on the weekend of Latin-Jazz in NYC. Writer Larry Blumenfield, for the Village Voice, says "Valdés sometimes seems like James Brown in his prime"

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2012/01/afro_latin_jazz_orchestra_january_20_chucho_valdes_january_21_review.php

Seems to me that Valdes often just wants to be an improvising jazz cat and not play those more straight-forward Latin rhythms. His choice.

Got an email about a new Chicha Libre album, Canibalismo. Have not listened yet. Oh, public release not till May. A big long tour in support: a worldwide tour that includes stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Bogota, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and Moscow.

ArtsBeat - New York Times Blog
February 6, 2012, 3:44 pm
With No Place at Grammys, Latin Jazz Artists Plan Their Own Concert
By JAMES C. MCKINLEY JR.

A group of Latin jazz musicians are planning to hold a concert in Los Angeles on the same night as the Grammy Awards to protest the decision that eliminated 31 categories from this year’s awards, protest organizers announced Monday. The concert will follow an afternoon rally on Sunday to be held on a street corner outside the Staples Center, where pop music’s royalty will be assembled for the flashy annual Grammys bash.

I wish singer Choco Orta would tour. She's gonna be in NYC uptown as part of Salsa Wednesdays at Taíno Towers on February 29th at 240 E. 123rd Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues

Not the Grammys participants: Ray Carrion and his Latin Jazz All Stars will head the bill, along with John Santos, Bobby Matos and Oscar Hernandez.

Izzy Sanabria anounced on his facebook page today that Jimmy Sabater passed away today. La Excelencia posted "Jimmy Sabater was a great singer, timbalero and and one of the inspirations to La Excelencia. May God have him in his Glory. Our condolences to the Sabater family your in our prayers".

Very sad news.

I wanted to tip you guys off to a really fantastic release, myself and DJ Dave Hucker over here in London UK both agree it's already in the modern classic hall of fame. Don't be put off if Timba doesn't usually do it for you, just make sure you hear it and listen with an open mind, it's cinemascope music. And for once the hype of the descarga review is justified;

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/24670.10

Judging by the audio clips, this sounds like it would be way too timba for me, regardless of your attempt to put that issue aside.

If I had any money to spend on CDs, I'd be buying a lot of these dubiously legal Rareza reissues.

http://soul-sides.com/2012/02/remembering-jimmy-sabater/

singer and sometimes writer with the Joe Cuba Sextet

I have a major aversion to Timba too and had no interest whatsoever in listening to this when I was sent a copy. But believe me Mis 22 Anos is a stunning record, I can't really explain, you just have to hear it with your own ears. You get no feeling whatsoever as to the twists and turns each track takes on those clips, there's some very hard and funky salsa in those grooves.

The Subway Salsa Montuno Records release is a killer too.

I will give it a shot

Marco, have you heard the new Bloque 53 yet? I know you like them (not a fan myself). I hear a lot of modern Cuban influence in the vocals on the first clip here: http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/24690.10?KMtM2HnK;;393

Listening to clips from the new Azucar Negra. Ugh, real timba first thing in the morning.

Really difficult.

Funny though, I have to admit that in the handful of dance classes I've taken over the past year or so, when instructors throw on Los Van Van or Manolito I end up enjoyng it, even if I initially wrinkle my face up.

God these [expletive deleted] really stick to the formula most of the time. I bet the timberos are going to love this.

Just starting to check this out now. I can't remember why I ever liked Mayito Rivera's vocals. And why do the trumpets always sound the same in practically every contemporary Cuban song? It's a disctinctive Cuban trumpet sound and it bugs me inexplicably. The groove is good (except for that annoying heavy-footed thump they have started throwing in on so many songs). As usual, they do get credit for energy.

Oh, "this" is the NG la Banda album, not the Azucar Negra that was the last thing I'd mentioned on the thread.

Looks like this is the Ned S*blette show you are talking about upthread
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/arts/music/afro-latin-jazz-orchestra-at-symphony-space-review.html

That trumpet sound is extremely pinched. Is it a combination of using mutes and some sort of electronic effect? I just don't know, but it's all over contemporary Cuban music (and has been since some point in the 90s). There have been times I've semi-liked it because it's so identifiable, but it just bugs me again at this point. Does anyone else have any idea what I'm talking about?

I don't know, man, this album sounds like timba to me. I don't see how it's so different.

Really hate the way they use the traditional drum-kit.

But again, they have something going on and it has a lot of energy--but: ugh.

Plus too much Latin jazz.

I don't WANT the three underscored with a heavy drum thud. Why? Why do they do that?

Deforms the rhythm, imo.

How is this album not quintessentially timba?

Twenty posts of me complaining about a genre nobody on ILM cares about.

And "Mambo Number Cero" is just inexcusable.

Twenty posts of me complaining about a genre nobody on ILM cares about.

― _Rudipherous_, Sunday, February 19, 2012 10:01 AM (9 minutes ago) Bookmark

fwiw, i loled

ha.

Could have been worse, whiney or deej could have taken an interest.

Might be DJing next week in London - planning to go heavy on the reggaeton. Any great new electro-cumbia songs i should be thinking about playing as well?

What reggaeton are you listening to these days?

Poppier stuff, for the most part - RKM & Ken Y, Daddy Yankee, Xavi The Destroyer, De la Ghetto, Calle 13, Kendo Kaponi, Farruko, etc.

Sorry, I haven't heard anything along the lines of what you're looking for. I haven't figured out how to keep up with cumbia, or much of anything outside a narrow range of Latin music.

i'd check out some of dj dus or disquedj for cumbia

Thanks!

Ng La Banda

Not to start trouble (and there's no right or wrong), but I listened to a few songs from them from a different recent album on Spotify this morning, and uh, I do not have the antipathy to their timba sound that Rudiph does. Is "Mis 22 anos" on Spotify? I did not see it but perhaps missed it. Or is it elsewhere?

It is elsewhere.

W. DC area loves Fruko's live tribute to Joe Arroyo:

http://eventosvippass.com/2012/02/feb-24-fruko-y-sus-tesos-martin-elias-diaz-el-boqueron-ii/?nggpage=2

Just meant to show one photo showing jam-packed crowd

Did anyone post this blog's cumbia post last year? If so, sorry

http://generationbass.com/2011/10/15/sexxy-saturday-cumbia-zzk-fauna-and-much-more/

http://blog.afropop.org/2012/02/spotlight-dj-juan-datas-bondi-blaster.html

more cumbia

message from Descarga:

Fania in Flux ...Again
Observant salsa collectors out there have probably noticed that the Fania reissue program at Codigo music has, pretty much, hit a brick wall. According to our calculations, except for compilations and a few packages (ie Asalto Navideño and Our Latin Thing), it has been seven or eight months since any official reissues have been released. To make matters worse, some of the Codigo reissues which have been released are already out-of-print and unavailable. The reason, we have learned, is that Codigo's distribution is changing hands. This means that until the new distributor (Red) begins to release product, the existing stock will start to quickly dry up and disappear. We could be wrong, but it sounds like the reissue program will be, once again, starting from scratch. Sound familiar? The same thing has occurred twice within recent memory. First, in 2005, when Emusica bought Fania from the Masucci family, and, second, when Codigo purchased the label from Emusica in 2009. At one time (pre-2005) the nearly 1500 title catalog was readily available on cd. Since then, only a few hundred titles have seen the light of day. Hard times for both retailers and collectors, indeed.
We will do our best to keep you posted as more details about the Fania reissue program unfold. In the meantime, you might consider stocking up on titles you are missing. They might disappear for a long time... - Descarga

Having money for CDs is mostly a thing of the past for me, at this point.

Sorry.

In other news:

http://latinmusic.about.com/b/2012/02/28/billboard-latin-music-awards-announce-list-of-finalists.htm?nl=1

http://www.billboardevents.com/latin/billboard-latin-music-awards

"Don Omar and Pitbull, Bachata stars Prince Royce and Romeo Santos, the Mexican Rock band Mana, and Latin Pop superstar Shakira are this year's top nominees."

over these awards i've quit caring it's been repeating for like a decade now

Should I care about these folks or Charlie Zaa?

Artist of the Year, New
- Calibre 50 (Disa)
- Il Volo (Opera Blues/Gatica/Rentor/Geffen/Universal Music Latino/UMLE)
- La Adictiva Banda San Jose de Mesillas (Sony Music Latin)
- Violento (Entourage/Disa/ASL)

Charlie Zaa is Colombian and has put out some things that are okay, but just okay, at least from what I remember. I don't swear by any of that.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/altlatino/2011/11/02/141933577/-que-rico-funky-new-songs-from-puerto-rico-mexico-and-new-york-city

Note to self--check out Puerto Rican artist Mima, who works with Rita Indiana on her latest

not latin but real good to further down see dj raff get a mention on npr! part of the forefront of chilean hip-hop i've been digging for a while now, not sure why puello is the only one that gets any respect

(not latin as in traditional afro-latin music)

I dont want to force feed anyone but each of the tracks on the NG La Banda is 6-7 mins long and they take you on a journey through Timba / Salsa / Cha Cha Cha / Songo / Charanga / Boogaloo and lots of other good stuff, you just have to get past the timba. And the timba is salsero friendly if you give it a chance.

This is probably the best sampler available;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X8J95njNsE

I'm not a great fan of Bloque 53 but they did drop one very hot tune back in 2010. La Surursal SA, also out of Barcelona, are the ones, both their CD's are top drawer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj0tIHZw3_8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tSf2fkk-8k

Interesting to see Frucko mentioned up there, he's been recording new stuff recently due for release later this year, aparently it's going to be a Banco Popular type thing for Fuentes.

Have you guys seen the Joe Arroyo TV soap series, it's really great

http://www.novelasdetv.com/2011/06/capitulos-de-el-joe-la-leyenda.html

And the timba is salsero friendly if you give it a chance.

Got a feeling 90%+ of U.S. salseros would disagee with you there. Of course, you have the built-in excuse of: well then you didn't really give it a chance.

I may have gotten Bloque 53 mixed up with La Surursal SA.

(But I still welcome your talking up the NG La Banda album!)

Listening to the Michael Stuart album, Sentimiento de un Rumbero, from a few years back, which I had summarily decided not to bother with based on quickie audio clips. So far, "Lola" is actually pretty decent. I would dance to this. 2007? Has it been that long already since this came out?

This is, alas, probably about as good as commercial salsa gets nowadays.

I really am not crazy about the random (not really random--but pointless) throw-away snare drum (?) crashes. Suspect this is a timba influence.

Given the album title, it would be nice to have something a lot harder.

Don't be all "rumbero" and then stick to a bunch of 90s RMM style salsa touches.

uh oh, you're doing it again ;)

actually i heard a song on the radio today that was so fast that it made me kinda nauseated to listen to it -- i don't remember much about the song aside from "mueve mueve mueve te" and the fact that i disliked it

ALSO

this is more folk latin music than dance latin music, but the lomax archives have put up full songs and i have really been enjoying the Dominican Republic 1967 recordings a lot. Stream here: http://research.culturalequity.org/get-audio-ix.do?ix=recording&id=10304&idType=sessionId&sortBy=abc

actually i heard a song on the radio today that was so fast that it made me kinda nauseated to listen to it -- i don't remember much about the song aside from "mueve mueve mueve te" and the fact that i disliked it

Oddly, I think I might know the song just from that sketchy description (except I don't know the song title or artist--but it sounds like something folded into one of the tribal guarachero mixes I have).

What is that type of music so I can avoid it? It was awful!

Honestly the last time I had an almost allergic reaction to a piece of music was when I heard "Put a Donk on It"
Usually I am very open minded and will listen to almost anything once.

I don't know what type of music I'd call that song. I'm not 100% sure it's the same song, because it doesn't seem that extremely fast, but it's kind of fast and I can see how it could make someone sick.

And the problem with looking for a song with the words "mueve te" is, well, pretty obvious.

of course

if i have the misfortune to hear it again i'll make sure to remember more about the lyrics !!

i can only think of a reggaeton mueve te

good luck searching for a song called mueve te! Too fast can be good though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agky60Ae3vI

I don't want to ever hear it again tbh, so I don't plan on searching for it!

Orlando Marín, Puerto Rican timbale player and bandleader (who once played with Eddie Palmieri) is still performing as I just read a mention of his Wednesday night the 21st gig in a Ned Sublette email. He supposedly will have a big band with him--Doors / DJ 6:30, 1st set at 8. The Crystal Ballroom at Taíno Towers, 123rd near 2nd. South side of 123rd, entrance by where it says "Harlem Prep Charter School." Elevator to the 4th floor. Ned says the following Wednesday it's charanga night feat. Orq. Broadway with Eddie Zervigón.

He was entertaining when I saw him down here in Arlington, VA years ago.

Wondering if I should do last-minute listening and reading about Rakim y Ken-y who are gonna be in Maryland Friday night. Toying with writing a "reggaeton's not dead" blogpost. Although maybe it is.

I heard yesterday that Chocolate, I mean the trumpeter Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, was ill. Get well soon Chocolate!

xp, Mi Corazon Esta Muerto is brilliant. Commercially, reggaeton seems to be in fairly decent health.

I just seem to hear so much bachata and so little reggaeton on my commercial Latin radio station. Reggaeton's brief flashes of crossover attention (Daddy Yankee hit and critical attention from Sasha Frere Jones in the New Yorker and others) seem so long ago.

That's interesting. People like Romeo Santos and Prince Royce appear to have a much lower profile in Europe than, for example, Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Calle 13, Farruko and a few others. From what i see of the South American charts, PR acts still seem to have a lot of sway. Probably different for North / Central America, though. I should listen to a bit more bachata.

to be fair the evolution of reggaeton got progressively worse over the past few years, what comes out nowadays seems to be strictly throwaway sing-songy auto-tune bs instead of the dirty playero y nelson-era beats

email with a pictured flyer I just received from a Hispanic danceclub in Woodbridge Virginia, south of Washington DC, says in part:

Jueves: Bachateros y Perreo Ladies Night

Got busy with family stuff last night, so I wasn't able to do my Rakim y Ken-y recent tracks research I wanted to do

Plus, there are these other weekend gigs I am curious about:

Maracuyeah Presents: Kali Mutsa- Chilean pop gypsy electronica at Marx Cafe on Saturday and

on Sun. Mar. 25

Huey Dunbar at the Salsa Room --This early 2000s (?) vocalist star from DLG still melds salsa & r’n’b, right? I liked DLG

http://cacoteo.com/new/videos/rakim-y-ken-y-live-bravo-bravo-washington-d-c-rkmykeny-marcelocx_ipaut/

reggaeton live in a club

fyi from a publicist's email:

Waxploitation Records and ZZK Records have announced they’ll be releasing a new project entitled Future Sounds of Buenos Aires. FSOBA is a collaboration featuring some of the most compelling artists emerging from Buenos Aires’ electronic underground including Mati Zundel, Fauna, Super Guachin and Chancha Via Circuito to name a few (complete track list below). To celebrate the release, Waxploitation/ZZK have made a Megamix of the album available for download and stream, premiering the mix at XLR8R.

Oscar D'Leon is touring again. He's gonna be in the W. DC area in May. His Venezuelan salsa may not be relevant to current trends, he is in his late 60s, he had a heart attack a few years back, but the guy and his band still put on a great live show no matter what

This was an EMP presentation by Blanca Mendez

Entitled "Tijuana Makes Some Noise: Ruidoson as a Response and Resistance to Violence in Baja California's Largest City,” the paper will explore the ruidoson sound, including the cultural and political climate out of which ruidoson was born, and the importance of the genre in moving Tijuana forward musically. It will also include the musings of Tony Gallardo, aka María y José, who of course is a crazy person and should provide the GREATEST INSIGHT EVER.
from clubfonograma.com

http://www.npr.org/2012/03/22/149014932/kickin-it-old-school-music-we-love-that-isnt-latin-rock

I wish NPR's Alt-Latino show would always feature the variety of artists that they did in this program (mostly all big well-known names, but it's more than their standard offerings)

http://thelatinalternative.com/affiliates/

new syndicated radio show with blog hosted by longtime writer Ernesto Lechner

Following up on that EMP blurb, this is definitely okay by me:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnwWKC6l3lM

It would be awesome if every major Mexican city would spawn its own new twist on electronic dance music. These two youtube clips seem to show ruidoson overlapping considerably with 3ball though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCtPzGPIG_M

I looked around on intranetz for Oscar D'Leon dates in NYC but couldn't find it. Then tonight I was walking down Roosevelt Avenue and saw a big sign- May 4 at, of course, La Boom.

A little disappointed that he long ago stopped playing bass on stage.

Although video I am watching shows that he does play it now and then during the show.

So Queens, NY is where it is at. You should consider going.

http://laboomny.com/

Yeah, thanks. I drive by that place all the time but have yet to go in there. This may be the first time.

I wonder if events there get any crossover attention from NY critics and bloggers?

Not really.

That's what I thought.

Truth be told, the last time I found out about any Latin-type gig from the media was when I went to see Soda Stereo at the Palladium in the 90s.

la boom gets constant acts coming thru across all sorts of cumbia/salsa/bachata, i never checked it out when i lived nearby tho as most shows i'd check off of youtube were chock full of screaming youngins

Ha, when I looked at the youtubes over the weekend I thought: "sure is crowded."

Screamin youngins, stay off of my lawn and away from my salsa gigs!

My curvy Colombian friend laughs at the mere mention of the place, but I've never asked him why.

By the way, if deej and the Reverend are reading I owe them an apology for something in the 2008 thread. I asked John Benitez yesterday "Did you ever teach somebody the clave in 11?" and he said "yup, and I got one in 13 too."

When I saw La India, Willie Colon, Oscar D'Leon, El Gran Combo, Tito Rojas and others over the years at Latin clubs (with the gigs advertised only towards the Hispanic audience) in the W. DC area, the shows were always packed, the age range varied, and the gigs always started real late. They were also very enjoyable. If you are a great salsa dancer there is not much room to move around, but for me it was ok.

I'm only on the second track but this stuff sounds pretty good:

http://www.reverbnation.com/josenovoa

From this descarga.com lead:

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/24735.10?vszShMov;;394

(Add gratuitous comment about no longer being able to afford to buy CDs, and likely violent worldwide social upheaval and ecological disaster worldwide in the not too distant future.)

This one particularly, I think:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VhZAewnreA

I hope to get out dancing again before The World As We Know It ends.

Uh oh, Victor Manuelle guests on it.

New Yorkers:

http://www.latinclubs.com/nythisweek.html

This used to be a great listing for Latin Jazz gigs all over but I guess he couldn't keep it up http://www.chipboaz.com/blog/live-latin-jazz/

Speaking of Latin jazz in NYC. Writers Ned Sublette and Larry Blumenfeld like Cuban born jazz sax player Yosvany Terry whose new cd “Today's Opinion” (Criss Cross) is coming out very shortly

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303302504577325690597585870.html?KEYWORDS=yosvany+terry

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
April 6, 2012

Playing to the Rhythm of Two Islands
Cuban Saxophonist Yosvany Terry Integrates the Music of His Youth and Jazz

By LARRY BLUMENFELD

What about his brother Yunior?

You can see a picture of Yosvany with Tom Guarna and Manuel Valera performing at Manuel's monthly gig here http://www.terrazacafe.org/

x-post -His brother is still playing with him. On Ned's email he pasted the whole Wall Street Journal article. Here's more of Blumenfeld's article:

In 2000, Mr. Terry began leading a Jazz Gallery series featuring players including drummer Dafnis Prieto. Back in Cuba, Messrs. Terry and Prieto had been half of Columna B, a quartet of conservatory students. “That band was like a laboratory for us,” Mr. Terry said. For Mr. Prieto, “Columna B was a way to support each other. We had all this tradition, all this new information, and a desire to create.”

Mr. Terry, who started his musical studies on violin, picked up the saxophone at age 10. He began regular visits to the U.S. in 1995 through Stanford Jazz Workshop. There, he met alto saxophonist Steve Coleman, whose concepts profoundly affected his own music. Mr. Coleman also bought Mr. Terry his first ticket to New York.

Mr. Terry said drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts taught him to play slow tempos with force. Bassist Avishai Cohen urged him to pick up the chekeré again (he plays it on his new CD). During his first months in New York, Mr. Terry practiced daily with alto saxophonist Antonio Hart, who “helped me sound fluent in jazz.” He spent three years in a powerhouse quintet led by Gonzalo Rubalcaba, an eminent Cuban emigre pianist who plays keyboards on the new CD's closing track.

Mysteries underscore Mr. Terry's new compositions: some ancient and communal, like percussionist Pedro Martinez's chants, drawn from abakua, an Afro-Cuban male secret society; others new and personal, such as the numerology behind sometimes dissonant melodies. His bandmates, particularly trumpeter Michael Rodriguez and pianist Osmany Paredes, match his technical prowess and clarity.

Mr. Terry's younger brother, Yunior, the bassist in his current quintet, said: “When I got to New York, Yosvany was writing challenging jazz. I was skeptical. But once I heard it, I fell right in. It extends what we grew up with.”

http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20120409/latin-music-stars-and-industry-leaders-converge-at-the.htm

same old blah blah but noting that the 3ballmty people are featured on the regional mexican panel

That's good.

From tickeri.com, look who's coming to Washington DC. Does he have new music recorded?

Tego Calderon

May 24 @ Ibiza

Genre: Urban

Location: DC/VA/MD

i don't think so, he's just always touring

Oh, too bad. Saw him at El Borinquen II a long time ago. That might be enough for me

New version tonight of that band I mentioned a few posts ago with Yunior instead of Yosvany. More funk than Latin Jazz

And it is awesome

sounds good

It was great. I had to go home and sleep otherwise would have stayed for second set. Yunior told me that they had a big crowd at the Jazz Standard http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/arts/music/yosvany-terry-quintet-at-the-jazz-standard.html

haven't heard it yet but apparently the new la excelencia "ecos del barrio" sold out of cds in 24 hours

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/laexcelencia4

Descarga is pushing the new La Excelencia as well.

I saw and danced(badly) to old-school Cubans Sierra Maestra at Artisphere outside W. DC Friday night. A fun gig. Their brass consisted just of one trumpet player, but they let an audience member sit in for a couple cuts on his trombone

lamc + summerstage bringing 3ball mty + dj raff to nyc

http://music.remezcla.com/2012/latin/kinky-3ball-mty-more-head-to-central-park-for-summerstage/?nocache=1

That regional Mexican panel as part of the Billboard Latin Music award week is going on now:

3:30pm- 4:30pm
REGIONAL MEXICAN
Sponsored by Morgan Renee Live, LLC
The new generation of Regional Mexican acts discuss genre trends, violence and marketing and promoting online
Introduction by: Randy Carrillo, CEO, Morgan Renee Live, LLC
Moderator: Justino Aguila, Associate Editor, Latin & Special Features, Billboard
Speakers:
Erick Rincon, Artist, 3BallMTY (Universal)
DJ Otto, Artist, 3BallMTY (Universal)
Beat Sheeqo, Artist, 3BallMTY (Universal)
Luis Del Villar, President, Del Records
Gerardo Ortiz, Artist (Del Records, Sony)
Toy Selectah, Producer/Remixer
Jose Serrano, Latin Power Music

The show is on Telemundo Thursday night the 26th

The winners were largely predictable:

http://www.billboard.com/news/billboard-latin-music-awards-don-omar-prince-1006894952.story#/news/billboard-latin-music-awards-don-omar-prince-1006894952.story

Latin-jazz benefit show for flutist

Dave Valentin Benefit Tribute: Salsa Meets Jazz Revisited

Andy Gonzalez + Manny Oquendo’s Libre w/guest jazz soloists Sonny Fortune & Steve Turre
Papo Vazquez Mighty Pirate Troubadours
Dave Samuels w/The Dave Valentin Band featuring Bill O’Connell, Ruben Rodriguez, Robby Ameen & Sammy Figueroa
+ special surprise guests

Masters of Ceremonies Felipe Luciano & Mark Ruffin

Monday, May 7, 2012 at le Poisson Rouge
10pm-2am
158 Bleecker Street | 212.505.FISH
www.lepoissonrouge.com

On March 3, 2012 Grammy© Award Winning flutist Dave Valentin was hospitalized after suffering a stroke during a performance at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis. After hospitalization for 10 days following his return to New York City home, Valentin has made remarkable strides on the road to eventual recovering, but is still unable to perform publicly.

In order to help the beloved flutist meet his continuing financial obligations during his recuperation, many of his friends will gather to stage a benefit tribute to him at Le Poisson Rouge. Located on the 158 Bleecker Street site of the old Village Gate, where for nearly two decades Monday nights hosted the greatest names in jazz and Latin music performing together before packed houses of listeners and dancers under the banner Salsa Meets Jazz, the space will once again pulsate with the sound of jazz soloists improvising to the AfroCuban rhythms of salsa.

The evening will offer older listeners the chance to relive some of the seminal sounds that once filled the room and younger ones a rare opportunity to experience an evening will undoubtedly rekindle the fire that once burned hotly in the Bleecker Street basement. With players such as the bassist-bandleader Andy Gonzalez with Manny Oquendo’s Libre (one of the series’ most popular groups) and guest soloists Sonny Fortune and Steve Turre (two soloists who performed with band many times), former Libre trombonist, composer/bandleader Papo Vazquez with his Might Pirate Troubadours and Valentin’s own rhythm section backing vibraphonist Dave Samuels of Caribbean Jazz Project fame, the night is sure to be one to remember, with several famous surprise guests expected.

For those unable to attend who wish to support Valentin on his road to recovery, tax deductible donations can be sent to the laudable organization that has already begun to help the flutist in his time of need, The Jazz Foundation of America, 322 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036. All checks or money orders should note Dave Valentin in the memo line.

Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Wisin y Yandel

The big summer tour package for 2012!

Jesus. Get a life Latin Music.

I would still like to see Wisin y Yandel, but not on that tour.

I kinda want to see this show sponsored by local commercial radio station June 24th:

Los Tigres de Norte
Carlos y Alejandra
Plan B
Eddy Herrera
3Ball MTY
K-risma Band
Los Adolecentes
y mucho mas!

All for $15.

x-post. Wisin y Yandel had the arena schtick down when I saw 'em at a 4,000 seat arena back in 2007 I think. Spotlights, moving around the large stage from one end to the other, hi-fiving audience members, booming musical bottom to their sound

cumbia is everywhere:

from a press release I was emailed-

In addition, you'll be introduced to the new musicians from Howe Gelb's native Tucson making their Giant Sand debuts along with long time collaborator Lonna Kelley lending her smoldering warble from Phoenix.

The Tucson GIANT GIANT SAND lineup includes Brian Lopez, Gabriel Sullivan and Jon Villa who bring their Mex-Amer-i-can plunk to the album with a permeating cumbia style of playing, drawing on South American traditional music. Joining them all is a string section from Aarhus, Denmark introduced to the band by Señor Lopez (where coincidentally the rest of Giant Sand are from) including violinists Asger Christensen amd Iris Jakobsen, who, ironically, was born in Tucson.

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/musical/2012/05/14/120514crmu_music_frerejones

Sasha Frere-Jones writing about Afro-Latino music for the first time in ages (I think). But his New Yorker piece on Ned Sublette's fave NYC based Cuban conga player (& singer) Pedrito Martinez is only available in full to subscribers right now

Martinez was just down in New Orleans at the 2nd weekend of Jazzfest and did club gigs there too

He's been in NYC since 1998, wonder why he is suddenly now getting more attention?

You might as well ask the rivers to flow backwards

Ha. Any coverage is good and I'm late in finding out about lots of stuff myself too (plus convincing editors to feature articles on percussionists without new cds can't be easy). Martinez I discovered has been making bucks as the go-to Cuban percussionist for folks like Sting and others recording in NYC, while quietly playing club gigs week after week. SFJ at the New Yorker, who I think last wrote up a Latino style-reggaeton--5 years ago, somehow got hip to him and noted that he has been bringing folks to see Martinez who thought they did not like Afro-Cuban or jazz sounds, but are apparently won over by the guy's charisma.

Cynical general answer: There is only a finite, tiny number of artists/Jazz artists/Latin Jazz artists who can be in the spotlight at any one time so everyone has to wait their turn until it shines on them.

Personal answer: Ha, I didn't really know who he was until very recently myself. I only found out about him when I learned that Samuel Torres came in second a few years back in Hand Percussion in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and though "Man, second? Who came in first?" Then somebody told me to check out his regular gig at Guantanamera where all sorts of famous people are known to drop by such as Eric Clapton, but I haven't quite made it over there yet.

So Latin Beat magazine has chosen to feature obscure DC based Cali, Colombian professor, flautist, salsa singer Verny Varela.

http://latinbeatmagazine.com/features.html

Oh, somebody told me about that Panamanian Jazz Fest from the second article. OK, I see his name mentioned in there.

RIP Junior Gonzalez.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nD9joZnTSQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajZ1D01zNpM

His first album was Hommy. RIP. Was 63

Spotify has the Puerto Rican All Stars. I just discovered their version of Eddie Palmieri's "Busca Lo Tuyo" with young Gilberto Santa Rosa on vocals (from an album in tribute to EP):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWowZxdw37w

I looked around on intranetz for Oscar D'Leon dates in NYC but couldn't find it. Then tonight I was walking down Roosevelt Avenue and saw a big sign- May 4 at, of course, La Boom.

― Singularities Going Steady (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, March 31, 2012 4:29 AM

I was busy with family on the late-night Sunday the 6th Washington DC area gig, did anyone attend the NYC one? He's doing Los Angeles and San Diego gigs at the end of the month. Am curious how this tour compares to the one I saw way back when (early 2000s)

Thought about going but couldn't get over there.

x-post--if Wiki is right, I am learning stuff: Based in Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico All Stars (not to be confused with the 1963 namesake band of a similar name, the Puerto Rican All-Stars Featuring Kako) were an alternative and rival to the New York based Fania All-Stars created by Johnny Pacheco....PRAS produced three albums that were released consecutively on an annual basis between 1977-1979.

1979 Puerto Rico All Stars Andy Montañez (Vocals), Frankie Gregory (Producer), Gilberto Santa Rosa (Vocals

x-post-Found on youtube some camera-shakey, poor audio footage of Oscar D'Leon at La Boom in 2011, but nothing otherwise on the recent tour in print or video. He was just in front of the mic, with a bandmate on the standup bass.

I looked at the footage a month ago. Apparently he doesn't play bass for most of the show! Supposedly he said it was because he was tired of opening his case and finding toothpicks inside instead of a bass, so he gave up playing on tour, but it might also be because of his age and health. He does pluck on it every once and while to remind you that that is his instrument.

I think he just played it for the encore when I saw him way back when. But he was fairly energetic behind the mic and did a long show--not bad for a guy who I believe had a heart attack and was hospitalized for heart problems. The W. Post has archived most of their old reviews so I do not see mine online.

Checking out the new Don Omar. There is apparently a Mexican beer anthem, as well as a song entitled "Zumba" which seems to be a Zumba anthem. It sounds okay so far, but I'm not thrilled to see so much song space dedicated to promotional considerations.

Kind of hating this now. I would have hoped for more from him by this point. What is this?

lol i've never had faith in don omar and an effing ZUMBA song confirms this

from kuduro to zumba. He does not care about hipness I guess.

Big selling artists trying to maintain their popularity by shamelessly reaching out to various audiences

I don't think it's about reaching out to various audiences, it's about corporate sponsorship.

i was going to go with "utter lack of creativity/musical chops". his last hit was someone else's hit with his name on it, etc

x-post--I guess RUN DMC did "My Adidas" before they had an endorsement. Not sure here about the Mexican beer plug. Zumba dancing/exercise is seemingly taught everywhere now, did one corporation trademark the name and do they receive money for its usage?

i was going to go with "utter lack of creativity/musical chops". his last hit was someone else's hit with his name on it, etc

That too.

I don't know if he's actually getting money from the ZUMBA® people, but I'm willing to bet he is. (I'm not anti-Zumba per se. I would definitely consider giving it a try.)

My guess confirmed: http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/latin/video-don-omar-talks-new-album-zumba-partnership-1006872152.story

wow

Another Mambo panel Saturday in DC at the Smithsonian Museum of African Art with a free performance from Bio Ritmo

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2012/05/18/metro-mambo-explores-the-fashion-that-went-with-the-rhythms/

Former Lead singers of Los Van Van, Mayito Rivera, Pedrito Calvo, Cesar - Puppy - Pedroso,
Lazarito Valdez & Bamboleo.
Manolito Simonet & Su Trabuco
Jose Luis Cortez " El Tosco" & NG La Banda
U.S Debut of Alexander Abreu & Havanna D' Primera.
Puppy & Los Que Son.
Special Guests: Former lead singer " Tania Pantoja"
" Vania Borges'

DJ Melao on the Mix.

From Havanna to New York Non-Stop Timba Concert.
Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 6:00 PM
THE COPACABANA
268 West 47th St., Corner of 8th Ave

I would probably go to that just because it's such a collection of top timberos (including a couple I at least like some of the time).

does flamenco belong in this thread? i'm reviewing a flamenco/R&B album (eh) this week...

Not really, but go ahead anyway. There's not much action this year.

http://www.ajwnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Caramelo-Ride-cover.gif

It's this one. Sara Erde is Jewish (which is why I was assigned it) but the album isn't particularly Jewish - despite some reviews noting klezmer elements (nothing I can hear tbh).

As I've mentioned on a couple other threads, I like pianist Elio Villafranca's album of duets with percussionist Arturo Stable. I said on the jazz thread that (at least on the track I heard on the radio last night) it seemed as if Stable was pushing Villafranca in a more rhythmically adventurous direction, though there's less of whatever it was that I thought I was hearing along those lines on the whole album than I was expecting. (There should probably be another comma in there somewhere, but I don't feel like figuring it out.) Villafranca is an amazing virtuoso pianist but so far I haven't really been into his albums. He's way more enamored with hard bop than I am, but then again I don't even particularly like Latin jazz in general either. These stripped down collaborations work for me, though some stretches bore me a little.

"Klezmer" feel, starting at 1:13 (and stopping wherever--haven't finished the song yet) on "Brooklyn."

This sounds like something they would play to death on KUNM (UNM's radio station, which I don't listen to any more). Not really into it, though it's not really objectionable.

I could see the accordion on "Peligroso" conjuring up klezmer since there isn't really any tradition of accordion in flamenco (I think, but who knows what was going on when the international accordion trend was in effect?).

i think maybe i'm hesitate to code the accordion stuff as klezmer bc if that's the intention it's kinda a huge dropped ball. flamenco probably does have jewish roots, but it's sephardic + ladino. i wish they had done more there instead of this really broad eastern european (and tbh trendy brooklyn) sound.

As long as we are going off-topic here. . .

Best live act you've seen this year?

I see what you are saying, and I don't think the blend works real well on this album, but I also think if you push klezmer's roots back far enough, you'd get pretty close to the roots of flamenco as well. I mean, ultimately the roma influence is probably taking you back to India. At least based on my deep study of Wikipedia and the Rough Guide to World Music.

I meant to quote what that links to:

A project put together by Orlando Fiol which used an Indian raag as the structure, while incoroprating jazz, western classical, klezmer and possibly other musical sources--and it worked! It did not come across as gimmicky, but rather, well thought out. Everything somehow seemed to be contained by the large mood of the raag. Of course, I know nothing about Indian classical music, and not much about western classical or jazz, but I was sold. That was just the first half of the program. The second was almost entirely percussion based, and mixed Afro-Cuban and Indian elements.

Elio Villafranca's album of duets with percussionist Arturo Stable

I was not familiar with these Cuban-born musicians but I think I will give it a listen. I see that pianist Villafranca has performed live with members of Puerto Rican bomba group Los Pleneros de la 21 (whom I like a lot) so hopefully he can on album sometime do more than hard bop.

Oh, just read Rudiph and James redd comments on the jazz thread re Villafranca and Stable

Rolling Jazz Thread 2012

He can definitely do more than just hard bop; it's just that he tends to gravitate toward that, especially in a lot of his composing. He has done some other work incorporating Afro-Cuban traditional forms, but it hasn't quite worked for me. In addition to being a classically trained pianist with jazz training as well, he started off as a percussionist and he knows the traditions of one of the more obscure orisha-oriented religions in Cuba (I can't remember the name now). I haven't fact checked any of this, but it's all so vague it should be fine. Just remember to consult Wikipedia. Incidentally, I first became aware of him a long while back, when he played a benefit concert for the Free Library of Philadelphia. (He lived in the area and had a personal connection with someone who worked for the library. In fact, his then wife might have worked for the library, I can't remember now. As usual, small world.)

I've posted comments about him going back to 2002. Embarrassingly, all of them are practically the same.

Hey guys, sorry if this is shilling too much, but my friend is trying to do the whole kickstarter/indiegogo thing on a book about music from Colombia, including bits of Cumbia, of course, and I thought some of you might be interested in it:

http://www.soundsandcolours.com/news/sounds-and-colours-in-print-help-make-it-happen/

i'm glad someone's paying attention to vallenato. diomedes diaz's birthday is this weekend (5/26) iirc. (it's the same day as three of my bffs, that's why i remember)

I like the little I have heard of vallenato on disc and what I heard live (at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC one year)

It's pretty sentimental and corny if you listen too closely, but I like the instrumentation a lot.

x-post-- N*d S*bl*tte says that big timba show in NYC is postponed to a June date tba.

He is also excited about: on Wednesday (23rd) there's a rare NYC show by Don Perignon y la Orquesta Puertorriqueña at the Crystal Ballroom of Taino Towers (DJ at 7, band at 8, 240 e. 123rd st.)

An email from local DC area club The Salsa Room promoting their Memorial Day weekend events calls this "the summer of bachata"

Don Perignon y la Orquesta Puertorriqueña would be worth checking out. Actually I missed them once when they were in the Philadelphia area and I guess I could have seen them. Not sure why I let it slip by since I was still trying to get out to things back then. (Maybe it was at the Camden Aquarium? That would explain it, since getting back from there at night always seemed dubious, though probably with the PATCO high speed line it would have been fine. I missed lots of stellar bands at the Camden Aquarium, notably a bunch of Willie Rosario shows.)

This is the summer of still having sinus and allergy problems, putting on more weight, discovering more restaurants, and trying once again to read Critique of Pure Reason. Oh, but that's just me. Actually, I am going to try once again to take a salsa class, starting some time next month. Also going to try to start going to the gym on my lunch breaks (on some days anyway) since by the end of the day I am rarely good for anything.

I missed Tego Calderon's late-night gig at Ibiza in DC last night. It does not appear NPR Music decided to stream it, or the Washington Post decided to review it. Well, he doesn't have a new album out, does he, or even a mixtape?

But Juanes was clearly looking to the “Unplugged” session for something more than just another hit, an intention he signaled by turning to the singer-songwriters Juan Luis Guerra, 54, and Joaquín Sabina, 63, as collaborators. Not coincidentally, the older men are in a position to provide Juanes with advice: both enjoyed great critical and commercial success early in their careers, withdrew for several years and then came back, recharged and as popular as ever.

From the NY Times. Not sure that these collaborators will be enough to win over folks here

Yeah, fuck Juanes and fuck Juan Luis Guerra too.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/entertainment/2012/05/30/ruben-blades-cheo-feliciano-release-salsa-cd/

They sing each others songs

A year after the Grammy Awards cut 31 categories, sparking protests and a lawsuit by Latin jazz musicians, the music organization has made more changes by adding three awards, including the reinstatement of best Latin jazz album

From an AP article. Bobby Sanabria is elated. Everyone else yawns.

Bobby Sanabria is elated. Everyone else yawns.

This is what happens when Latin jazz is played, too...

Ha. It is formulaic these days.

Latin Alternative Music Conference in NYC

2 promising free shows:

Friday July 13
6:00pm – 10:30pm:
LAMC/Celebrate Brooklyn Show
@ Prospect Park Bandshell

Enjoy the outdoors under the stars in Brooklyn with LAMC and Celebrate Brooklyn featuring performances by Calle 13, Ana Tijoux and
Ritmo Machine.
This event is free and open to the public.

Saturday, July 14th:

3:00pm –7:00pm:
LAMC/Central Park Summerstage Show
@ Rumsey Playfield
Presented by Voto Latino and U.S. Army

Performances by Kinky, Los Autenticos Decadentes, 3BallMTY and DJ Raff
This event is free and open to the public.

apparently venus x is opening for calle 13 and 3ballmty at a single show but i don't know what/where that is, assuming nyc

That big Cuban timba gig (previously postponed) is tonight Saturday in NYC at the Copacabana

MEGA TIMBA CONCERT JUNE 16TH LIVE IN NEW YORK!

** PEDRITO CALVO MAYITO RIVERA PUPY PEDROSO MANOLITO SIMONET BAMBOLEO NG LA BANDA TANIA PANTOJA VANIA BORJES ** MUSIC BY DJ MELAO!!

new tego "original gallo del pais" mixtape

http://itunes.apple.com/ar/preorder/original-gallo-del-pais-o.g./id536283027?l=en

finally

Hey fauxmarc, 3Ball MTY are doing another suburban DC gig in addition to the El Zol Fest in Maryland on Sunday. On July 1 they're gonna be down at the Palace in Woodbridge, VA. None of these are exactly subway or bus accessible

might actually check out the el zol, somethin to do

I'd like too but I have a family ting happening

Gonna go see Buika tonight

where at?

Howard Theatre for 2 shows (can't imagine she's popular enough for 2 shows but we'll see)

I guess opening for Nicki Minaj really paid off for her.

(Just kidding.)

The Fania Al-Stars' Live in Africa has been reissued as a CD/DVD set (album and movie, with extra footage). Gonna buy it next week.

Fairly big crowd for Buika's first set. I think her appearance singing in the Almodovar movie and the fact that she hasn't toured since 2010 brought folks in the door. She's a free spirit and maybe could give Nicki Minaj a run in that category.

Oh, I missed Spanish Harlem Orchestra at the same time as Buika at the upscale new DC club the Hamilton, and El Canario on Saturday in Baltimore and 3Ball MTY on Sunday. Saw Jose Alberto El Canrio a long time ago, wished I could have seen 3Ball MTY but family event took priority. FauxMarc did you go?

nope, ended up endlessly brunching

Salsa dancing still diffusing in China:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/life/2012-06/25/content_15520975.htm

Think of all the potential partners!

N'Klabe has released an album of covers including: Quitate Tu (really? they went there?), Lluvia, Persona Ideal, A Puro Dolor (!), etc. Just what the world was waitng for. Salsa is dead: stick a fork in it.

Who are the geniuses coming up with these projects?

I just found out Marlow Rosado is performing here this Friday. Whatever happened to the art of publicity?

This was a good effort:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPnjtJ-NKtw

(Previous comment about the state of salsa music should not be taken as an indication that I've lost my love for salsa dancing and for salsa music at its best. It's just difficult to see how the music can recover much of its oomph at this point, unless it comes from some left field source where salsa dancing boils over so much that people start making the music and somehow breathe life into it. Like Chongqing. Doubtful though.

I still perk up when a solid Puerto Rican or Colombian salsa band comes to town.

cuz lord knows someone needs to show Cheo Feliciano how he should have sung Anacaona.

Who Will Be Playing Yomo Toro In The Soon-To-Be-Released Hector Lavoe Biopic El Cantante?

RIP cuatro player Yomo Toro

Oh no!

DC: Poirier & Boogat (DJ & MC)with Empresarios, Alma Tropicália, Maracuyeah, Fort Knox Five vs. Thunderball, Jay Clue at u hall tonight

Did not get the most exciting quotes from Poirier & Boogat when I talked on the phone to them for my W. CP blogpost that's up today. Eh, its ok. Not included in the short piece---Boogat is listening to old Fania stuff and new Schlachthofbronx from Munich; Poirier is listening to lots of dancehall. Phone connection was not the best--Boogat mentioned some other stuff I could not figure out despite asking him to repeat it.

9-10:15 - Maracuyeah (cumbia dj'ing and more)
10:15 - 11:15 - Alma Tropicalia (live band Brazilian tropicalia covers)
11:15 - 11:30 - Maracuyeah (band change-over)
11:30 - 12:30 - Empresarios (Latin funk)
12:30 - 2:00 - Poirier & Boogat
2:00 - 4:00 - fort knox five, thunderball, jayclue

Tried listening to the new Wisin y Yandel disc on Spotify. It's basically the next step down the path from pop-reggaeton to straight Euro-trance-pop, like their last three albums, but this one has a song with Chris Brown and T-Pain, and another song with Jennifer Lopez, so unlike their previous work, I won't be buying this one.

I'm glad you draw the line somewhere.

I continue to think Tito Ortos is a good role model for the sort of mixed style I dance, with lots of cross body leads, but often in a more circular form. I get annoyed when people get dogmatic about the strict linear slot thing (though I try to stick to that if that's what I'm surrounded by on a crowded dance floor, or maybe even just if I am on a crowded dance floor, since it does seem to conserve space better).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHR7s6gtwto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze4AamA-GE4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qBjjDQZmOM

funny, i was mentally dogging some people for not being the slot last night during empresarios (but it was crowded and they were really all over)

You are the enemy! Haha. I do absolutely think dancers need to be considerate and adapt to existing dance-floor conditions. A couple of my favorite semi-advanced circular moves involve fling my follower out into a free spin (and then moving with her to eventually catch her back and probably go into a CBL), not ideal for crowded floor conditions.

I still haven't even been going out, just taking classes, but hopefully I'll make it to see Marlow Rosado this Friday and maybe some other salsa nights throughout the summer. As I keep repeating, it's frustrating that the scene here is live band oriented, but particularly because so many of the bands are heavily timba influenced (and so many of the others are pretty mediocre). I probably need to watch how I say this since everybody really knows everybody else here. There is .5 degrees of separation. Word travels.

I was dancing with a beginner in class this week to "Quiero Salsa" and I swear it felt like she was dancing half time. I felt like saying: what they hell are you dancing to? Of course I would never say that. Plus she was young and cute and Latina. Not sure why teachers choose such a fast song when there are lots of beginners learning relatively complicated moves (it was a low intermediate class, but a lot of the followers were borrowed from the beginner class).

Because of being so familiar with that song, I tend to dive right in even more than usual. Maybe I should have started with a few more basics or something.

This thread is kind of awesome, if infuriating to me (and apparently lots of others--it ended up being locked) at times:

http://www.salsaforums.com/showthread.php?t=19216

It's like every conflict over salsa dancing rolled into one.

wow. funny how it parallels convos re: djs playing technical mixes vs "playing for the crowd" or w/e though (with many more angles to squibble over), dance/music nerds are dance/music nerds

i'm performing at the Orlando Salsa Congress on Sunday, the "Mambo Swing Orchestra" will be playing at the social dancing, i think they're orl locals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FN-wgoekLw

Good luck

Break a leg.

Nice stuff here (as found on salsaforums):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC6uxLpfmA8

The follower in particular is pretty amazing (not to dismiss Eddie Torres and son, obviously!).

RIP Tutuma Social Club.

Google tells me that was an Afro-Peruvian place. I shamefully have never made it to the similar such places in the W. DC area. I think there are a couple

Any thoughts about Ondatrópica? I like I Ron Man, and the concept appeals to me, but I'm afraid it's going to be party music for Pier One.

Have not heard that Colombian effort yet. My ears have been further south(listening to Chilean rap, Brazilian forro with rebaca--fiddle instead of accordion, and Argentianian tango).

So in an interview I read with Chilean rapper Ana Tijoux, it said her latest cd was recorded at the time of Chilean student protests. But for someone deficient in Spanish like me, what comes across on her new cd is contemporary radio-friendly r'n'b oriented hiphop rhythms that were not present on her 1977 release two years ago. Not sure if it's a musical improvement.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-07-06/news/29762927_1_afro-peruvian-music-jazz-club-house-band

What I've heard of Ondatrópica sounds super trad, which is why it appeals to me. I guess I am officially anticipating the release, but the more reviews refer to it as a "party starter" the more I think I won't like it (although that might say more about the reviewer's lack of familiarity with cumbia than anything else?)

The Brit guy organizing Colombian musicians aspect has me a bit apprehensive, but his involvement seems sincere based on the little I have read

I know -- it's setting off my alarm bells, yet I like what I've heard. I'll give it a chance!

any news on the tribal guarachero front?

3Ball Mty in NYC for the LAMC conference. I missed their 2 W. DC area gigs

¯\(°_o)/¯

x-post

So Bobby Sanabria has a new big band album coming out next month.

I heard it straight from the horse's mouth.

Will it win a grammy now that that Latin-jazz is back

Ha. I thought of making that joke but I figured I'd leave it to the next guy so thanks for following through

What's this trend of people who normally punctuate their sentences on this thread suddenly not doing so

(Not that I mind)

idgi

Has anyone here seen salsa singer Oscar D'Leon live lately? I can't make it, but a friend was asking as Oscar is gonna be at an obscure Korean restaurant (the Diamond Lounge in Annadale, VA) near W. DC Friday night. I saw him 5 or years ago and thought he and his big band were great that night (albeit, he didn't play much acoustic bass and he is a heart attack survivor) but have missed his fairly frequent DC area gigs since then.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/arts/music/calle-13-at-the-latin-alternative-music-conference.html?_r=1&ref=music

Pareles on Calle 13, 3Ball Mty and others at the LAMC in NYC

i spent a while looking through that article for the "parallels" someone was trying to draw between calle 13 + 3ballmty

Jon Pareles may have subliminally drawn some parallels through his choice of LAMC artists to highlight

His name is subliminally designed to make you think of parallels.

Arturo O'Farrill is supposed to be the special guest tonight at Victor Prieto's monthly gig at Terraza. Featuring Vince Cherico on drums.

Sometimes I really like Arturo and other times I think he is just formulaic and stuck in a rut.

3Ball MTV's hit "Inténtalo" is in rotation on Latin radio stations across the US and collaborations with marquee stars like Shakira and Don Omar are in the works

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/latin/lamc-wraps-up-with-big-hopes-for-latin-alternative-1007589152.story#Y7l6PU8WIqRKLI6z.99

He sure sounded great last night.

lol "3Ball MTV"

also, those collabs signal them kind of being over, i hope not though

two things

* i heard inténtalo on the radio yesterday
* ondatrópica will probably (hopefully not) be marketed as latin music for old (and white) people, but it's really good! super tight, varied styles, more energy than you have to keep up with it, a mixture of 60s and 70s tropical rhythms, no fat

My local paper's review of the J. Lo, E. Iglesias, Wisin y Yandel gig only talked about J. Lo.'s butt and nothing else. I guess the ilxor know to some as Ph*l did not get to review the NYC date of the tour.

known

Nope; didn't even know it was happening until a day or two before, and the TV commercial I saw didn't list W&Y on the bill so I didn't bother trying to get tickets.

Timberamayor posted a link to a new (? I think it's new) Kevin Moore article analyzing the integration of a back beat into timba (one of my personal complaints with timba):

http://www.timba.com/encyclopedia_pages/the-clave-and-the-backbeat

This is worth looking at since it provides musicological analysis along with links to samples. I don't share Kevin Moore's taste in music but he is an indefatigable and good-natured timba apologist.

(Some of this 70s Van Van is really gross. . .) (Sorry.)

Honestly, this quickly gets too technical for me, but I still think the part I can comprehend is valuable.

I need to read that again several times.

Speaking of comprehending, but in a different way, I must admit to liking the three most recent Daddy Yankee singles even if he is incorporating some straightforward Ibiza meets Anglo pop friendly club beats that I'd normally dislike, and shamelessly jumping on trends. There's just enough of a Caribbean rhythmic aspect to make 'em work for me. “Lovumbo” fairly recently topped he Latin Songs chart, and “Pasarela” is on the charts now. On “Ven Conmigo,” Yankee has bachata crooner Prince Royce guesting.

"Lovumba" that should say, as in love rumba

I haven't heard the Daddy Yankee songs, but I'll seek them out if they don't come to me first. Javier Vasquez of Grupo Niche and Son de Cali fame has put out a solo album. Not so sure about it, based on the clips that are up, but this song sounds like pure Colombian salsa goodness, if nothing too creative:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T48i0EgDfI0

I don't mean to be mean, but when did his voice age so much?

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/genre/latin/jairo-varela-founder-of-colombia-s-grupo-1007784752.story

Billboard Biz

Jairo Varela, Founder of Colombia's Grupo Niche, Dead at 62
August 08, 2012 | By Leila Cobo (@leilacobo), Miami

Jairo Varela, the iconic founder and leader of celebrated Colombian salsa band Grupo Niche, died suddenly of apparent heart failure in his home in Cali, Colombia. He was 62 years old.

Varela created a signature salsa sound characterized by its fast tempos, aggressive trumpets and well crafted lyrics that navigated from feel-good partying to romance and social consciousness. To this day, tracks like Grupo Niche's hit "Cali Pachanguero" and "Una Aventura" are forever associated with Colombian salsa and play in virtually every tropical radio station and club in the world.

Born in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, a predominantly Afrio-Colombian state in the Pacific Coast, Varela grew up surrounded by music but only began to earnestly pursue it as a career when he moved to Bogotá and began writing his own compositions. In 1978, Varela created Niche, a large salsa band with a big, aggressive sound founded on African rhythms, together with trombonist Alexis Lozano (who would later leave to launch his own band, Guayacán). Niche broke out with its second album, Querer Es Poder on indie label Codiscos, which included the single "Buenaventura y Caney," an homage to the coastal city of Buenaventura.

Niche's popularity was consolidated with 1984's No Hay Quinto Malo, which included the hit "Cali Pachanguero," an homage to Cali, the city best known in Colombia for its salsa music and the place Varela called home for most of his adult life.

As a bandleader, Varela was an anomaly because he didn't sing or play an instrument. Instead, he composed and arranged, preserving the signature Grupo Niche sound through a series of stellar lead singers that included Alvaro del Castillo, Tito Gómez, Charlie Cardona and Willy García and Javier Vasquez, who later created another group, Son de Cali.

Beyond the music, Varela ran his band with military precision, raising the standards for tropical music and even fining bandmembers for arriving late to practice. Grupo Niche toured the world to a degree previously unheard of for Colombian salsa band, playing Madison Square Garden 17 times and performing over 2,000 shows in the U.S., according to Varela.

At the height of Niche's popularity in the early 1990s, Varela opened a state of the art studio and nightclub in Cali and was arrested for elicit enrichment, accused of having received money for performing private parties for accused drug traffickers, a charge Varela denied.

He would spend nearly three years in a low-security prison, from where he continued to write, and emerged to a hero's welcome in Cali and the relaunch of his musical career. Varela spent several years living in Miami before returning to Cali, where he was actively working with Grupo Niche, which continues to tour worldwide. Last May, the band played a concert celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Varela is survived by his partner, Damaris Dediego, and five children.

Oh man. That's a big, big loss. He wrote so many great songs. They are absolutely one of my favorite bands. Prolific, uneven, but their high points are amazing and uniquely there own. I've been meaning to make a Niche mix for my car.

Although not formally shooled in music, Varela has an innate ear and a definite concept of what he wants, and he demonstrates an uncanny instinct for what will go over well with an audience. Jose Aguirre, Niche's current musical director [2002], explained that Varela often writes things that most composers and arrangers would never think of but that work despite their unusual or illogical twists. (From Lise Waxer's The City of Musical Memory)

I can't think of a more appropriate song than this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97-lYu9iS4c

rip

From another thread, I have this technical explanation from Paul in Santa Cruz, that may help illustrate that quote from Aguirre above:

Paul in Santa Cruz explained it this way (and I hope he will forgive me for quoting from a personal e-mail): "The more 'folkloric' [the term I was using] part in the middle corresponds to a shift from D minor to D major, and an interesting thing around 3:15 is that it shifts back to minor, but now the key is F minor instead of D minor. In music-theory terms, D major to F minor is an instance of the most distant of all possible key relations."

I especially like this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8haVudnHCKo

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/09/158196104/guest-dj-puerto-rican-rap-legend-tego-calderon?sc=nl&cc=mn-20120809

I need to listen to this (I think)

Nice song, with a controversial recent video (from Cuba).

http://premioslucas.com/lucasnometro/7600c67ce32a11e1b7183860774f33e8/

Will they finally reissue the Grupo Niche compilation Brillantes now? Or put one out that doesn't short-change fans from the most popular songs? (I am probably underestimating the popularity of some of their more romantic numbers in Colombia and throughout Latin America, but I don't think I'm wrong about which of their harder tracks should be included and in which version. For instance, you just don't use a shorter version of "Cielo de Tambores.")

Who knows why re how reissues are put together and issued.

I finally made my own 2-disc Grupo Niche for the car, but I was working with mp3s from 64kbps to 300something, so the sound is a bit uneven. (The really bad quality ones are from a friend's laptop. Her CD rips all sounded like they were remastered onto aluminum foil.)

(Note: I do own legit. copies of about half of what I put on the mix, I think.)

Thanks to the stylistic changes, you could easily mistake this mix for three or four different bands, I think; but then they have been around for a while and gone through a number of vocalists.

I haven't listened to Cheo Feliciano in ages but I was just looking at yet another Fania compilation of his work and suddenly need to hear the album Cheo right now, but I can't at the moment.

That is such a great album, although sometimes I have trouble slowing my metabolism down enough to fully appreciate the boleros

RIP. Cuban jazz bassist Charles Flores died from cancer:

http://diariolibre.com.do/revista/2012/08/24/i349198_muere-charles-flores-bajista-michel-camilo.html

http://www.europejazz.net/mus/flores.htm

CHARLES FLORES
electric bass

Charles Flores' career began in Cuba with the Cuban jazz
vocalist/composer Bobby Carcasses. While playing with Carcasses, he was
recruited by pianist Emiliano Salvador, one of the key figures in the
history of Cuban jazz. For the next three years, Charles played and
toured throughout Europe and Latin America with Salvador and his quartet.
...
After his stint with Afro-Cuba, he joined the Isaac Delgado Group toured
internationally. While with Delgado, Charles recorded three CD's
including "Con Ganas", "El Chevere de la Salsa y El Caballero del Son",
and "El Año que Viene".

He recorded with Juan Carlos Formell's on his Grammy-nominated CD "Songs
from a Little Blue House" in 1999.

He performed with Jane Bunnett, J.P. Torres, Brian Lynch, Giovanni
Hidalgo, David Sanchez, BBC Big Band, Dave Valentin and others.

Charles Flores released his debut CD titled "Reminiscence" featuring
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez in the year 2000.

Charles joined the Michel Camilo Trio in the year 2001. He travels and
performs throughout the most important jazz venues of the world.
Recording live at the Blue Note, Charles Flores with Michel Camilo and
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez won a Grammy for the Best Latin Jazz Album
(Live At The Blue Note) of the year 2003.

Got a killer Vampisoul compilation in the mail this morning - Saoco!: The Bomba and Plena Explosion in Puerto Rico 1954-1966. Two discs, tons of Cortijo (feat. Ismael Rivera) and Mon Rivera, but plenty of other folks too. Thick booklet with lots of great old pictures, album covers, and detailed notes. Highly recommended.

I discovered bomba y plena hearing it live at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival way back when. I bet that's a great comp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seGX_72WE-g

I have been sick in various ways pretty much all weekend so I am just going to do what I feel like doing, jumping from music to music all day long.

I wonder if they did any cumbia? Their studio tweaked harmonies remind me more of cumbia vocals from around that era than of more Cuban sorts of things (but then again, I haven't listened to a ton of Cuban music from the 60s). Not just posting for novelty value--I think it's pretty good. Their voices are great anyway.

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/30/160324187/guest-dj-pulitzer-prize-winning-author-junot-diaz

He likes bachata, reggaeton, Rita Indiana and more. I need to listen to the Rita one some more. I liked what I heard way back when.

I wish I hadn't bought his book, but I could not get into it. Also, it made me miss a flight! If I had been hanging around the departure gate instead of going to the bookstore in the airport (because there was supposed to be a delay and I wanted reading material!).

So I blame Junot Diaz.

Fortunately, they were able to squeeze me onto a packed flight to Dallas instead of Atlanta.

Ha.

I have his Oscar Wao book but haven't read it yet

it's great

WHOA he propped le1f

i just found out dj blass is playing up the street from me tomorrow. it's otherwise a moombahton show but i'm so up in this

Nice song, with a controversial recent video (from Cuba).

http://premioslucas.com/lucasnometro/7600c67ce32a11e1b7183860774f33e8/

More on Cuban nueva trova outfit Buena Fe:

http://www.timba.com/artists/buena-fe?lang=en-US

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olBrLg6aUR8

The problem with (today's) remakes. Object lesson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHOEHpiyIV8

That project has a lot of great people on it, and it's probably about as good as things get currently, with rare exceptions. But now, compare to what as far as I know is the original:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtZgxpmCbUw

The original has more edge, and way more swing. The vocals feel more inspired. The whole thing feels more urgent.

I'm sure I'd dance to the remake, but I know which one makes me want to dance more.

Maybe I'm just a reactionary.

Nah.

What did they do with all the breaks in the original, that lend it so much of its appeal?

Maybe they need to go back to putting girls in bikinis on the covers of their albums.

I'm sure the remake has some very sophisticated harmonic things going on, but the original is a lot cleaner and crisper.

I was very surprised by how much space is given to salsa in Will Hermes' book Love Goes to Buildings On Fire. Tons of discussion of Willie Colon, Hector Lavoe, Larry Harlow and particularly Eddie Palmieri. He does a great job of putting their work into the larger context of the New York music scene of 1973-77 (the time period covered by the book).

Have the book but have not read it yet. It's next

x-post - dj blass and Toy Selectah ...

More music to investigate

well blass is more of a yesteryear thing i guess, he was up there with dj nelson on producing a lot of good reggaeton in the late 90's? / 00s before it got ehhhh, and he produced on calle 13 albums. it turns out all of his new stuff is MOOMBAHTON. pass pass passsssssss.

toy selectah used to be in the spanish hip-hop group control machete and is currently djing cumbia + electro cumbia

excerpt from David Byrne interview re his new book

You mention in the book that the best-kept secret in the New York cultural scene is the bounty of fantastic Latin-American music here, which is hard to argue with.

It’s incredible. You know some of the best musicians of that style in the world are all here. But there’s this willful ignorance of all that; we don’t want to hear about that. There’s just this incredible richness of music, great popular stuff and great kind of sophisticated stuff. So I find there’s a kind of boundary there, [and] I crossed that boundary some years ago. And I alienated a lot of fans. But oh, whatever! [Laughs]

I don’t think you’ll find a lot of the bands in Brooklyn talking about [that music]. There might be more awareness of Xenakis and Ligeti and stuff like that.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/music-literature/David-Byrne-Offers-Advice-on-How-to-Enjoy-Music-169355586.html#ixzz26SxHQn1o

a secret, really?

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2012/09/21/excuse-me-michael-kaiser/

Did Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser really curse out the Chairman of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts?

This is regarding the "Kennedy Center Honors" and the complaints that virtually no Latinos have been nominated

Saw a subsequent article where Kaiser apologized for telling the guy to "f off." Kaiser wanted credit for K. Ctr booking various Latino Festivals over the years when that was not the issue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/arts/music/jose-curbelo-manager-for-leading-latin-music-acts-dies-at-96.html?ref=todayspaper

The New York Times

September 21, 2012
José Curbelo, Manager Behind Latin Music Acts, Dies at 95
By DANIEL E. SLOTNIK

José Curbelo, a Cuban-born pianist and bandleader who went on to manage the biggest stars of Latin dance music, died on Friday in Miami. He was 95.

The cause was congestive heart failure, his daughter, Marta, said.

Mr. Curbelo rose to prominence as a performer during Latin dance’s heyday, beginning in New York in the early 1940s. He played with the orchestras of Juancito Sanabria and Xavier Cugat before forming his own group in 1942. His music soon progressed from Latin American pop to swinging mambos. The orchestra featured musicians like Tito Rodriguez, Candido and a teenage drummer named Tito Puente, and played in New York ballrooms like the Savoy, Miami hotspots like Ciros, and borscht-belt resorts like Grossinger’s. His notable recordings include a 1947 rendition of “Managua, Nicaragua” for RCA Victor and “Cha Cha Cha in Blue” and “La Familia” on Fiesta.

Mr. Curbelo’s influence on Latin music grew after his orchestra disbanded in 1959 and he founded Alpha Artists, a booking agency for Latin music performers. Until then, bands were paid according to the whims of ballroom owners, who often paid less than musicians’ union scale.

“While the musicians’ union couldn’t stop a promoter from underpaying bands (or not at all), José was able to literally freeze top talent until a promoter made good his debts,” a 1978 article in Latin New York magazine said. “While most people identify the title ‘King of Latin Music’ with Tito Puente, few realize who is the power behind the throne ... the person is José Curbelo.”

In the 1960s Mr. Curbelo represented virtually every important Latin band, including La Playa Sextet and Orquesta Broadway and the orchestras of Tito Puente and Machito Grillo. His tough negotiating style earned the enmity of many nightclub promoters and the gratitude of musicians.

“Curbelo is the type of person you want representing you,” Mr. Grillo said in an article by Max Salazar on Mr. Curbelo in Latin Beat magazine. “He fights like a savage animal until he gets you what you’ve asked him for.”

José Antonio Curbelo was born in Havana on Feb. 18, 1917, to a Cuban mother and a Cuban-American father, a classical violinist. Mr. Curbelo began studying piano and composition under the composer Pedro Menendez when he was just 8. By 15 he graduated from the Molinas Conservatory and began playing with Cuban orchestras.

He was the founding pianist of Orquesta Havana Riverside, which still exists. He moved to New York in 1939.

By the 1980s Mr. Curbelo and his wife, Orchid Rosas, had moved to Miami, where he invested in real estate and booked bands for the yearly Calle Ocho festival.

In addition to his daughter, Mr. Curbelo is survived by a son, Rene; a granddaughter; and two great-grandchildren.

Jon Pareles in the NY Times likes Astro:

the self-titled United States debut album by Astro (Nacional), a four-man Chilean band that got started in 2008. “Astro” carries the legacy of smart, whimsical, catchy Latin alternative rock into the new electro-pop era, as if Café Tacvba were reprogrammed by Animal Collective and MGMT.

Hmmmm, not sure if that style of alt-rock is for me.

x-post - background to the Kennedy Center thing

In the Kennedy Center Honors’ 35-year existence, only two Latinos have been selected: Plácido Domingo in 2000 and Chita Rivera in 2002. Last year, the 50th anniversary of the film West Side Story, would have been a perfect opportunity to honor its star, Rita Moreno, who was also an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, Grammy and ALMA award winner. Other Latino artists who inexplicably have been passed over include Carlos Santana, Gloria Estefan, Ruben Blades, Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Cristina Saralegui, Edward James Olmos and Luis Valdez

Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/09/20/opinion-once-again-kennedy-center-dishonors-latino-artists/#ixzz27JEdGC7z

Went to the big DC Latin fest on Pennsylvania Avenue for a bit yesterday. Never did find a program listing the names of the performers--watched a group doing bachata and cumbia; a salsa group; a dj spinning tribal electro with a tiny handful of highschoolers dancing plus an older woman happily dancing nicely herself; and saw a Mexican band with a keyboardist handling the sampled norteno/polka horn parts

"7 days in havana" which is guess is playing at the AFI Silver latino film fest in silver spring/dc

http://www.havana-cultura.com/en/int/7-days-in-havana/7-days-in-havana-soundtrack

I confess to not knowing renowned Cuban singer, composer and producer Kelvis Ochoa who is in the movie and apparently was in a group Habana Abierto, that toured in Europe.

Wow, that's showing tonight at 7:20 at the AFI Silver Spring followed by Tropicalia a Brazilian music doc. Aww man, can't make it tonight and SUnday when Tropicalia is showing again I will also be busy.

More at the AFI festival:

EL MEDICO: THE CUBATON STORY
Communism and capitalism clash in this multifaceted music doc, alternately thoughtful and thumping. Cuban doctor Raynier Casamayor Griñán, who raps as El Medico, and his European music producer Michel Miglis fight over the way to the top of the Cubaton music scene. El Medico, the son of a Cuban revolutionary, views his music as an authentic expression of his culture and history, while Michel sees him as a product ready for export. After a hit single, El Medico must choose between chasing international music stardom or continuing his vital work as a rural medical practitioner. Official Selection, 2012 SXSW Film Festival.

Sat, Sep 29, 11:30; Thu, Oct 4, 9:45

VIOLETA WENT TO HEAVEN [Violeta se fue a los cielos]
The latest film from Chile's Andrés Wood (MACHUCA) is this biopic of influential, inspiring folksinger and political activist Violeta Parra

Sat, Oct 6, 5:15; Sun, Oct 7, 2:45

was watching this on2 routine by yamulee out of the bronx and can't get over it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa7sZN6_4HE

http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2012/09/28/1310342/fallece-el-pianista-cubano-paquito.html

Publicado el viernes 28 de septiembre del 2012
Fallece el pianista cubano Paquito Hechavarría
ARTURO ARIAS POLO

El famoso pianista cubano Paquito Hechavarría falleció anoche en su apartamento de Miami Beach. Tenía 73 años.

“Era un músico extraordinario y una persona increíble. Su actitud era tan positiva que siempre daba alegría verlo”, dijo el percusionista Nelson “Flaco” Padrón, quien sostuvo una amistad de 60 años con el pianista.

Padrón relató a El Nuevo Herald que Félix, el hijo mayor de Hechavarría, lo encontró “dormido” en su apartamento de Miami Beach.

Below is from an older article:

You may not know who he is, but you have heard Miami-based Cuban pianist Francisco “Paquito” Hechavarría. He´s the one who played the exacting, driving tumbao (a repeated pattern) in Gloria Estefan’s monster hit “Conga.” And well before that he played on Mongo Santamaría´s classic Our Man in Havana. But also you probably heard him on Barry Manilow’s “Hey Mambo,” or with David Byrne, or Ricky Martin, or Israel “Cachao” Lopez, or Christina Aguilera. The list is long.

In fact, Hechavarría is the quintessential “musician’s musician” – a poisoned compliment that acknowledges mastery in his peers’ recognition, just as it suggests obscurity.

Frankly, his fifth album as a leader, speaks to his remarkable musical bilingualism, confirms his technical brilliance and might, just might, bring him out of the shadows.

Hechavarría, 70, came of age musically in the Havana of the 1950s, arguably the Golden Age of Cuban music. It was a time of superb combos and orchestras and now nearly-mythical places such as the Tropicana, Sans Souci and Montmartre clubs or hotels such as the Habana Riviera and the Hotel Nacional. Hechavarría, then a teenager fresh out of the conservatory, was part of Conjunto Casino, one of the leading ensembles of the day. And he also performed with well-known bandleaders such as Senén Suárez, and Nelo Sosa, the Tropicana club orchestra and the late composer-pianist-bandleader Julio Gutiérrez.

http://irom.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/cd-jazz-review-frankly-by-paquito-hechavarria/

RIP

x-post--Wow, finally checked out the Yamulee dancers. The women especially are impressive

Diplo had Erick Rincon on his show last weekend but I don't want to hold that against Mr. Rincon

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00z887m

- Gun Selectah - Villa Ghetto (DJ Otto Remix)
- DJ CLap Pina - Babaninco
- Switch - Sheeqo Beat Remix
- DJ Rogelio H. - Moctezuma (Tribal Prehispanico)
- DJ Otto - Sonido de congas
- Erick Rincon - Aztecs in Berlin
- Kidd Spin vs Sheeqo Beat - Push the Tribal Cumbia on
- Erick Rincon - Todos a bailar
- Major Lazer - Bruk Out (Sheeqo Beat Remix)
- Cedric Gervais - Molly (Toy Selectah Refix)
- Gareth Emery - Tokyo (Erick Rincon 3Ball Bootleg)
- Skrillex - Scary Monsters & Nice Spirits (DJ Kla-c Remix)
- DJ Antena - La bomba de Monterrey
- DJ Otto - Drums Hot
- ZZT - Partys over los angeles (Erick Rincon Remix)
- Alvaro - I want you (DJ Otto Remix)
- Erick Rincon & Alan rosales - Yo DJ
- Tiësto - Maximal (Sheeqo Beat Remix)
- Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (Erick Rincon Remix)
- DJ Chuckie - What happens in vegas (Sheeqo Beat Remix)
- DIPLO & Olver Twizt - GO (Erick Rincon Remix)
- Sidney Samson & Lil Jon - Mutate (DJ Otto 3Ball Bootleg)
- 3Ball MTY - Intentalo (Don Omar Remix)

Tuesday, October 9 . 5PM: Join us at Stamp Student Union for Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook, a conversation with Miguel Zenón, Smithsonian's Marvette Pérez and NPR's Felix Contreras.

Bet this will be more interesting than most of the more jazz than Puerto Rican bomba, plena, or salsa that Zenon often ends up recording. Maybe I am not listening to the right albums and tracks of his.

I had a dream I heard one of those relatively new Daddy Yankee tracks I still haven't checked out yet and liked it. It didn't really sound like Daddy Yankee in the dream though. I can't remember what it sounded like.

I have completely written Zenon off. I think he is incredibly boring and overrated, but I don't get jazz much. (Then again, I'm pretty sure Phil, for instance, would concur.)

Can't get that BBC broadcast to play. I think it may want the newest Shockwave player (though it's not saying that), which I haven't been able to install. Never had a probably with any previous update and it's starting to get irritating. I am running an old version of XP. (I guess XP itself is a bit old?) Actually, I'm probably lucky this PC is still running.

On certain browsers I am having those same Shockwave issues

via forcedexposure.com

Streaming Soundcloud previews from the forthcoming Analog Africa compilation, Diablos Del Ritmo - The Colombian Melting Pot 1960 - 1985

Bajo El Trupillo Guajiro - Sexteto Manaure http://soundcloud.com/analog-africa/bajo-el-trupillo-guajiro
Busca la Careta - Andrés Landero http://soundcloud.com/analog-africa/busca-la-careta-andr-s-landero
Lumbalú - Calixto Ochoa y Los Papaupas http://soundcloud.com/analog-africa/11-lumbal
Schallcarri - Grupo Abharca http://soundcloud.com/analog-africa/schallcarri-grupo-abharca

Released 11/20/2012 on double CD and 2 x Double LP

After half a decade in which seven expeditions were made to Barranquilla, Analog Africa is honored to present “Diablos del Ritmo”, an anthology of - and tribute to - the immense sound of 1970s Colombia. Thousands of records were collected and boiled down to a colorfully diverse selection of 32 tracks (available on Double CD, 2 x Double LP and digital format), Split between Afrobeat, Afrofunk, Psychedelia-inspired rhythms on Part 1 and an array of danceable tropical rhythms on Part 2.

Diablos Del Ritmo release details:

There are a number of theories as to how, in the mid-20th century, African music made its way to Colombia's vibrant port city of Barranquilla, today's mecca of Caribbean tropical music. Some maintain that a man named "Boquebaba" remains responsible. Others claim that seafaring traders and merchants imported the first sizeable amount of African vinyl. An absolute certainty is that in March 2007 Analog Africa-founder Samy Ben Redjeb arrived in Barranquilla, by some still considered the "Golden Gate of Colombia". After half a decade in which seven expeditions were made to Barranquilla, Analog Africa is honored to present Diablos del Ritmo, an anthology of -- and tribute to -- the immense sound of 1970s Colombia. Thousands of records were collected, boiling down to a colorfully-diverse selection of 32 tracks split between Afrobeat, Afrofunk and psychedelia-inspired rhythms on Part 1 and an array of danceable tropical rhythms on Part 2. Colombian music in general, especially the music from the Caribbean coast, is heavily influenced by the drums, percussion and chanting of African rhythms. Music from big players of the day -- from Nigeria, The Congo, The Ivory Coast and Cuba -- entered Barranquilla constantly. Afrobeat, terapia and lumbalú clashed effortlessly with the tropical sounds of puya, porro, gaita, cumbiamba, mapelé and chandé to create a rich amalgam of irresistible dance music while traditional styles were refined by an elite cadre of accordion players that included Alejandro Duran, Alfredo Gutierrez, Calixto Ochoa, Anibal Velasquez and Andres Landero. The heights Afro-Colombian music had reached by the early '80s was nothing short of exceptional. But, none of it could have been possible without two vital engines. One was the Picó sound systems -- roaming street clubs dedicated to mobilizing and spreading the rawest music of Africa, the Caribbean and the rest of the transatlantic black world. The second were forwarding-thinking producers. Discos Tropical, Felito Records and Machuca, amongst several other key players, governed and diversified the psychedelic and coastal music scene of Colombia. Alongside an all-encompassing 60-page booklet including 40 vintage photographs, 24 interviews and documented first-hand knowledge, the deep cuts of Analog Africa's 12th compilation will instantly transport any listener to Colombia's thriving Caribbean coast to indulge in the succulent belly of tropical music's untold historic tales.

I think I have liked nearly all of the Afro-Colombian stuff I have heard over the years

AW YEAH

brace yerselves for this:

Coldplay, Beyoncé, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mumford & Sons, Plan B, Bruno Mars, REM, Fleet Foxes And More Collaborate With African Musicians For Charity Album Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa

To Be Released November 20th on The End Records

'Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa' Tracklisting

01. Viva La Vida (Africa Mix) [feat. Coldplay]
02. I Miss You (Africa Mix) [feat. Beyonce]
03. She Said (Africa Mix) [feat. Plan B.]
04. I Need a Dollar (Africa Mix) [feat. Aloe Blacc]
05. Not Afraid (Africa Mix) [feat. Eminem ft TS1]
06. Timshel (Africa Mix) [feat. Mumford & Sons]
07. Is This Love? (Africa Mix) [feat. Rokia Traore]
08. Under the Bridge (Africa Mix) [feat. Red Hot Chili Peppers]
09. Mykonos (Africa Mix) [feat. Fleet Foxes]
10. Losing My Religion (Africa Mix) [feat. R.E.M. ft Ali Farka Toure Band]
11. I Am Because (Africa Mix) [feat. Shanade]
12. Grenade (Africa Mix) [feat. Bruno Mars]
13. John and Yoko (Africa Mix) [feat. Rokia Traore]

Links

The End Records Website
The End Records Facebook
The End Records Twitter

Coldplay, Beyoncé, Eminem, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mumford & Sons, Plan B, Bruno Mars, REM and Fleet Foxes are just some of the superstar artists lined-up for this great release.

‘Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa’ is the latest project from Artists Project Earth (APE) and features high profile western and African musicians collaborating on exclusive African mixes of contemporary hits. APE travelled to Mali to record African musicians, Toumani Diabaté, Bassekou Kouyate, Ali Farka Touré Band, and Rokia Traoré. Sessions also took place in Kenya, South Africa and Swaziland. Members of Miriam Makeba’s band and Senegalese musicians also added their brilliant musicianship to the collaborative tracks.

‘Rhythms Del Mundo: Africa’ is the long-awaited follow-up to the 2006 smash ‘Rhythms Del Mundo: Cuba’, its successor ‘Rhythms del Mundo: Classics’ in 2009, and 2011’s ‘Rhythms Del Mundo: Revival’, all of which were released in aid of the charity Artists Project Earth (APE).

Formed in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster in 2004, APE was the brainchild of founder Kenny Young and aims to raise awareness and funds for climate change and disaster relief projects.

To date the organization has mobilized some of the worlds biggest artists to help champion their cause and has provided funds to support over 300 projects worldwide, such as:

- Reforestation initiatives in the UK, Africa, Mexico and Brazil

- Wetland conservation in Uganda and orangutan conservation in Sumatra

- No Tar Sands, Anti-Fracking and Biofuelwatch campaigns

- A Special Award for the global Transition Towns movement

- … and in times of need, to help alleviate those suffering from natural disasters.

Funds raised from this campaign will support organisations working throughout Africa to mitigate the impacts of climate change and drought.

Kenny Young, Founder and Trustee of Artists Project Earth said, “Artists Project Earth is funded entirely by sales of Rhythms Del Mundo albums. If you value our work addressing climate change and environmental justice, then please do make a donation to this good cause by purchasing a copy of our new album. Unlike most charitable donations, you get something tangible and enjoyable in return - as well as the knowledge that you are actively supporting some really well-respected organisations and projects. We are known as the ‘Fairy God-Funders’ of the climate change movement - please help us to continue spreading our magic!”

.

​

it sounds awful but i'll probably check it out

Here's hoping for some radical transformations.

Hopefully it makes a lot of money and that money actually goes to the causes

Or at least buys some administrative assistants health insurance.

I just keep listening to Joe Bataan old-school sounds on Spotify lately

Bataan did some salsa like tunes live Friday night, along with the old school Latin soul. A fun gig

Any charanga fans here who can encourage me to go see Orquesta Aragon Wednesday night?

Not a charanga fan, obviously, but that is a major charanga outfit. On the other hand, wasn't their heyday back in the 50s and 60s (or earlier)?

Yep.

Maybe they are the Beach Boys or Rolling Stones of charanga despite more membership changes and deaths and such

Charanga Beach Boys, there's a scary idea.

yamulee's performance from the philly salsafest is up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIuwz59zgE0

Received an email about bachata group Optimo appearing out in Hyattsville, MD November 10. Eh, can't excited enough to listen, although maybe I should give 'em a try.

Unrelated:

I see that Puerto Ricans voted to seek US statehood yesterday. Wonder if anything will come of that?

i've seen a few comments that us reportings on the vote had a lot of fallacies in terms of the actual numbers and that the majority really didn't vote for statehood. dunno the specific deets. also: FTW if puerto rico becomes a state before dc.

I now see that it is discussed over on ILE:

I don't fully understand what's going on in Puerto Rico. . .

Forgot the Latin Grammys started at 8 US eastern time on Univision. Probably nothing surprising. Just turned it on at 10:20 and saw a cowboy hat act with an accordionist in the band performing. Mexican or Mexican-American I am guessing. Not bad

Didn't catch the name of the sappy female pop balladeer I just watched. Pepe Aguilar just won best ranchera album. They speak Spanish too fast for me. A schlocky rock band is on now with a grey-haired 60 something male singer and a spikey haired 60 something woman singer. The chorus is actually kinda catchy.

If I am reading my Toy Selectah tweets correctly 3Ball Mty won best new artist

Wow, Brazilian Caetano Veloso performing with a big band. This is great.

Alt-pop singer Carla Morrison just won an award. I think I would like her. The little sample they played as she came onstage resembled Julieta Venegas. I think one of the hosts just interviewed 3Ball Mty

Juanes' MTV unplugged album just won album of the year. Caetano veloso and Carla Morrison were 2 of the many acts nominated

fuckin' juanes man

Yep

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wewId40ega0

3Ball Mty and too many guests

http://www.latingrammy.com/en/winners/113

Luis Enrique won best salsa album

Don Omar won best Urban album over the below nominees

MTO2 New Generation
Don Omar [Machete Music]
La Bala
Ana Tijoux [Nacional Records]
The Most Powerful Rookie
Farruko [Siente Music]
The Original Gallo Del País
Tego Calderón [Jiggiri]
Otro Nivel De Música Reloaded
J Álvarez [Nelflow Records/Codiscos]

Maybe a few decent videos will pop up from the performances; but probably not many are worth seeing

Restaurant I am eating at has a Bacalao special tonight so I made them play "Te conozco" off Cosa Nuestra.

Speaking of food, reading a reference to pigeon peas in Love Goes to a Building on Fire has me regretting not buying any when I just saw 'em in a Caribbean/African international grocery store.

Acts appearing locally who I don't know much about:

Thurs. Nov. 22

*Thanksgiving cumbiabomba bash with live cumbia band from Mexicoa La Sabroso Sabrosura
+ DJ Jaime Flores (Peru) AKA K-593. (live music that circumnavigates cumbia, reggae, funk, and electro)
9PM at Tropicalia

*Aniceto Molina at the Palace in Woodbridge
__________________________________________________________
Fri. Nov. 23

* Los Rieleros at at the Palace in Woodbridge

*Bachata Heights at Cococabana

bachata heightz is pretty popular, i'm sort of under the opinion they're the biggest pop bachata group next to aventura (but i don't really know at all)

Thanks wiki: Aniceto Molina is an accordion playing bandleader from Colombia who lives in San Antonio now and comes to the DC area frequently. Los Rieleros are a Mexican norteno band.

Love Goes to a Building on Fire

That book is going to make me even more unsympathetic toward the rock/punk/bohemian ethos. "And then Patti Smith spit on the floor. . . And then [some third rate nobody singer] hit an audience member with the mike stand. They threw food in the hotel room."

Oh, wow, man.

The musicians from other genres don't come off sounding so bad, generally, but the rockers seem like a bunch of assholes.

I don't care about most of those bands anyway.

I'm checking out the Billboard charts this morning--Romeo Santos and other bachata and merengue performers are dominating the tropical album chart (a Ruben Blades live album/dvd is there too; although its old I think); and the top Latin song is "Algo me gusta de ti" by Wisin y Yandel with Chris Brown and T-Pain. Nothing too surprising

Is there any reggaeton left that is not Euro-dance club influenced?

I heard this bachata cover on the radio:

Be My Baby by Lala Rodriguez

She and others will probably re-do the whole Phil Spector Christmas album bachata-style next

I heard that on the radio recently too and wondered who was singing -- is that the same person who did "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"?

I think Leslie Grace did the bachata version of "Will You Stll Love Me Tomorrow" (if my google search is correct)

Saw old-timers El Gran Combo near W. DC. many years ago and thought they were great, and they're back there tonight at Cococabana. They're busy touring the East coast, were in North carolina last night and are gonna be back in DC itself at the Howard Theatre in a few months.

I think they have a Christmas album coming out. I wish they'd just put out a regular album, it's too easy to hide behind Christmas album conventions and muddle through. There has been a small flurry of big name releases for the end of the year. Gilberto Santa Rosa has a new album out, and going by the no-nonsense cover I was hoping it might be a mostly salsa dura recording, but no such luck, at least from what I heard of it last night. (It's already on Spotify.) Ismael Miranda and Victor Manuelle both have Christmas albums out. Hard not to yawn.

This Sammy Gonzalez reissue looks good, but the audio clips don't make this thing sound that carefully re-mastered:

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/24986.10?n3Sr4xmc;;402

I am way overdue to buy a few salsa CDs/downloads so I can stop listening to the same stuff over and over again in the car.

cuba bans vulgar / degrading music from the airwaves

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-04/reggaeton-banned-in-cuba-as-castro-cracks-down-on-music.html

latina.com's 25 greatest afro-latino musicians of all time

i haven't read through because it's an obnoxious paging through for each entry. only went there because i was appalled when i heard los rakas are on it. i mean they're fine or whatever but in the 25 greatest of all time!?

Haven't visited this thread before, as I have very little to contribute. But, as I'm taking salsa lessons (mostly to get out of the house, I'm very decidedly not very good), I was wandering if anyone here is aware of salsa musicians who sound a part of the 21st century. By which I mean retaining the typical salsa rhythms (not 4/4 bangers with salsa horns), but introducing a bit of electronic novelty or production touches to the arrangements.

Can answer more at home. See what you think of Michael Stuart's Back to da Barrio. I could recommend a lot of salsa with some electronics here and there or very audible production goings-on, but it isn't necessarily going to sound 21st century.

How about something like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T6BShvK3dk

Or this dubby sort of remix (which is pretty old at this point and you'll probably end up hearing sooner or later if you keep taking salsa classes):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeqBKR6a7Ng

There's also some salsa with what I consider 80s sounding touches, but you have to tolerate some schmaltz. This is actually a pretty hot track to dance too despite the iffy synths, mostly because the percussion comes in so strong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7yHpxRsFPE

Or this, older one I like a lot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0Hz6ja2kH0

Again, hardly contemporary sounding, but not completely traditional.

This was good and fairly contemporary sounding to me, but there's been no follow up I know of (though at least some of these guys appeared on Bannakumbi's neglected 2009 debut album):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-2jeoR_b6w

Bannakumbi w/ Voltio:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYT9cjdLjB0

Having sampled Back to da Barrio I probably should clarify that I'm aware of salsa with digitally crisp production. I was hoping there were unknowns (to me) that remade salsa into their own private soundworld like the late Serbian musician Suba did with bossa nova (Bebel Gilberto's Tanto Tempo, his own São Paulo Confessions).

Okay. I would say BTDB also draws from R&B/pop production in ways beyond being crisp.

I can't think of anything in salsa as electronic as the Suba things you are talking about. Possibly I wouldn't even hear it as salsa at that point, but I can't think of anything that really fits that I've even heard.

I don't think any of those tracks are going to come close to what you want then.

Maybe Sidestepper? I forget what they sound like though.

Didn't some individuals Grupo Fantasma was collaborating with have a very electronic Latin music project of some sort? Help me remember this. Or maybe it included some Grupo Fantasma members. I don't remember how salsa it was, though. Probably not very.

May have included members of Antibalas.

I might be thinking of Ocote Soul Sounds, and in that case it's not what's being asked for either.

This stuff is Maria Hinojosa catnip.

Ha. I don't think my local NPR station carries her current program.

Maybe fauxmarc would be aware of salsa that meets the criteria Sanpaku mentioned above:

By which I mean retaining the typical salsa rhythms (not 4/4 bangers with salsa horns), but introducing a bit of electronic novelty or production touches to the arrangements.

But if what's being looked for is a salsa Suba, that would go well beyond the description you just quoted. That's a lot more than some electronics thrown in here and there as a novelty.

Hi all, long time.

Not a great year for new salsa music, I still think NG La Banda are head and shoulders above anything else released this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpg5r3gHjTk

I'd be interested to know what you guys think (I know I cant convince you on the above), has anyone unearthed any gems?

In my opinion the most forward looking salsa project to date was the Andy Montanez from 2006

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aztxa9Jd_Jw

Marco

Sorry, re the Andy Montanez comment I was referring to the post by Chinchilla!Chinchilla!Chinchilla!(Sanpaku)

I was thinking of "Se Le Ve," but I still don't think it's got enough of an electronic dance sensibility for what Sanpaku is looking for. But yeah, I'm not sure why I didn't mention salsaton initially.

I'm afraid I have to concur about the state of salsa music this year (but I'm pretty down it in general at this point, obviously).

I'm not much of a Latin jazz person, but I liked the Elio Villafranca/Arturo Stable album (on Spotify).

Maybe fauxmarc would be aware of salsa that meets the criteria Sanpaku mentioned above:

By which I mean retaining the typical salsa rhythms (not 4/4 bangers with salsa horns), but introducing a bit of electronic novelty or production touches to the arrangements.

yeah i dunno, i got into salsa as sort of an escape from the edm-type stuff i'm into and keep them pretty separate. i can't imagine this happening without it sounding kitschy but wouldn't mind if someone did get away with it.

The Grammys (not the Spanish language Latin Grammys) announced nominees:

44. Best Tropical Latin Album

Cubano Soy by

Raúl Lara Y Sus Soneros
[Spanish Music Records]

Desde Nueva York A Puerto Rico

Eddie Montalvo
[Señor Marcha Records]

Retro

Marlow Rosado Y La Riqueña
[Pink Chaos Productions]
Formula Vol. 1

Romeo Santos
[Sony Music]

I wonder whether 2 of NY Times critic Nate Chinen's fave albums for the year go beyond the sounds that I expect:

6. DAVID VIRELLES “Continuum” (Pi Recordings) It would have been easy for this dexterous young pianist to make a less murky, more approachable synthesis of Afro-Cuban folklore, but here he burrows deep, favoring the stark irresolution of the poet-percussionist Román Díaz and the drummer Andrew Cyrille.

7. YOSVANY TERRY “Today’s Opinion” (Criss Cross) And here’s that more approachable synthesis, an Afro-Cuban postbop album built around recognizable parameters, with crisp, energetic work by Mr. Terry, an alto saxophonist, and others, including the captivating Pedrito Martinez, on congas and vocals.

Afro-Cuban postbop

It's on Spotify, I guess I will give it a listen

I listened to some of the Terry album last night. It's really, really good. Didn't like the Virelles disc very much though.

I listened to it some early this morning. It's not gonna win over folks who do not like Latin-jazz, but it is better than most standard efforts in that genre. It has some vocals. Have not listened to Virelles yet or to some of those Grammy nominees I posted about above.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/14/arts/music/eddie-palmieri-ties-together-musical-genres.html

It's interesting that something like cumbia has made the leap to electronic music rather painlessly but no one's really attempted it with salsa.

song title from Colombia's Meridian Brothers who are on Soundways:

4. La Gitana Me Ha Dejado (Salsa Electrónica)

http://www.soundwayrecords.com/catalogue/desesperanza.html

typo. Soundway (no extra s)

Meridian Brothers do quirky. The sound of that track isn't really a viable sound for salsa in general, plus the whole project is yet more retro music, even if it's a different sort of retro.

Maybe cumbia has made the leap more easily because it doesn't require as much rhythmic complexity? Or maybe improvisation is more central to salsa, and harder to approximate electronically.

Anyway, I don't think technological progress equates to aesthetic progress. But then aesthetic value is fuzzy and endlessly debatable, so of course it doesn't.

I checked out that Meridian Brothers album a little while back and just found it annoying.

Mostly I hate everything.

I figured that if it was on Soundway it was retro but just posted it because I came across that title

To go full circle (they were discussed on here at the start of the year) Bio Ritmo also do a very creditable attempt at modernising salsa. Despite the hipster label they do really cut it live too

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdjn4GRld34

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cu0i9F89ZR4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUyBQtI5Ths

Marco, do you happen to know any good English language online sources for keeping current with (or catching up with!) cumbia? Any good books in English on the topic, especially from a listener/collector perspective (not so much ethnomusicology, though I'm willing to venture into that if necessary).

I saw Bio Ritmo only once, at a really under-attended show in Philadelphia. They were annoyed with me for requesting a merengue (so I could dance with some non-salsera friends), but my friends and I probably made up about a third of the audience. I was still very new to salsa at the time and didn't really understand the politics of requesting a merengue, so to speak. I wouldn't do that today unless I knew for sure the band was into playing merengue.

They were okay but did seem dispirited by the poor turnout.

Live clip above sounds decent.

What is that song in the middle of the clip? Sounds familiar, but the arrangement seems very different. Possibly from Roberto Roena's La 8va Maravilla? Somehow that doesn't sound quite right.

Might be Azuquita.

It reminds me of "Cuarto Bate" by Azuquita (at least that's where I've heard the song) but maybe it's just similar.

Richmond, VA Bio Ritmo play DC regularly but I have gone only once (they were fun). I also like their offshoot group Miramar that revives '50s and '60s Puerto Rican boleros. Not very modern, I know.

Not salsa-- Argentine electro-something dj
EL G is the DJ name of Grant C. Dull, label manager of ZZK Records, co-founder of Zizek Club and a 8-year adopted citizen & cultural ambassador of Buenos Aires.

12/28/12 @ Beauty Bar – Chicago, IL [LINK]

12/29/12 @ Eighteenth Street Lounge – Washington DC [LINK]

01/04/12 @ BPM Studios (BomBeat) – Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY [LINK]

01/05/13 @ Fox Haven (Bombon) – Houston, TX [LINK]

01/12/13 @ Elbo Room (Tormenta Tropical) – San Francisco, CA [LINK]

01/16/13 @ Eastside Luv (Subsuelo) – Los Angeles, CA

01/17/13 @ Zanzibar (Afro Funke’) – Santa Monica, CA [LINK]

Death to indie cumbia.

Nah, I don't really care one way or another.

I listened to the beginning of the Future Sounds of Buenos Aires and wasn't into it.

Probably not my thing either. As for other things--I did listen to Mexican indie-rock singer Carla Morrison but her ballad-heavy approach does not interest me in the way that Julieta Venegas does/did. Gonna try and see if another NPR fave, Bomba Estereo, has improved as the NPR folks claim. No salsa, but I've been listening to old mambo on a Sunnday radio show.

Hmmmm, wonder if it is worth $30 to see and dance to salseros Paquito Guzman and Raulin Rosendo at Cuba Libre in DC on Sunday the 23rd?

I think I saw Guzman once and wasn't too pleased, but honestly can't remember. Doesn't he have kind of an overblown melodramatic style? That's something that doesn't tend to survive well as a singer ages, in my view. Not to be obnoxious, but he seems like a performer well past his prime.

Raulin Rosendo not really ringing any bells beyond name recognition.

Me too. He's come to DC a lot over the years but I just know that he's a 50-something Dominican salsa singer.

been very much into el g and a lot of the zzk crew (el remolon, frikstailers, villa diamante) for a few years now, nice to see that they're coming to dc but the line at esl on saturdays is ridiculously long, i guess less so if gotten there earlier, and i'm not too into the crowd. i'd try and brave it but the old school vinyl thing at u hall that night's going to be what's up

OT shot in the dark: does anyone know of any good book-length overviews of Argentina's history? (No need to check amazon or WorldCat, etc. for me. I can do that myself. Just wondering if anyone happens to be able to recommend one off-hand.)

Might be old newsy wewsies, but did you guys see this thing that's out on Analog Africa:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61YPSXu18CL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

Saw it but haven't checked it out.

haven't heard, but would listen to!!

Listen away...
http://open.spotify.com/album/6EsqKrqreoVsnArRLYg77B

Think I read that disc two is the cumbia one

I recognize a lot of the names on here -- I wish someone would just reissue whole albums by some of these people -- Wganda Kenya, por ejemplo -- I get tired of listening to other people's comps all the time! I don't have the time (or inclination really) to travel to places where I could find these original records, so won't someone bring them to me?

Also it has been ages since I heard the word Valledupar! I still predict that there is a vallenato revival on the horizon.

Actually, that's not true -- I would love to travel, I just wouldn't do it solely to find records that I'm sure I wouldn't find anyway.

I've been enjoying this over the last few days too

http://f0.bcbits.com/z/59/19/591979443-1.jpg

Saw them two months ago. Pretty fun.