Missed both of those gigs. I heard the Arocena one was good. I liked Pupy y los Que Son Son the time I did see them. Pupy might have even been with Los Van Van when I saw them a long while back. Twenty-something Peruvian salsa singer Vega is coming my way also.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 8 August 2017 15:39 (six years ago) link
There is an extremely common horn lick loop that I just heard again and always wonder where it originated. First place I heard it was Benny Moré's "Que Bueno Baila Usted," so I always think it must be from there but not sure. Maybe I even brought this up before.
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 12 August 2017 02:45 (six years ago) link
Don't know
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 12 August 2017 16:03 (six years ago) link
Haven't heard.
― _Rudipherous_, Saturday, 12 August 2017 19:22 (six years ago) link
Thanks anyway for responding. Here, at 0:42https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1VE56pc3Rk
― Lucas With The Lydian F (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 12 August 2017 19:46 (six years ago) link
Also, saw great Latin Jazz at Terraza last night.
I toyed with going to see young Peruvian salsa singer Cesar Vega Friday night, but I figured gig wouldn't start till 1 am and decided not to go.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 14 August 2017 04:13 (six years ago) link
http://africasacountry.com/2017/08/despacito-will-not-save-us/
This article tilts at windmills a bit--
So, “Despacito” will not save us. But wait! Isn’t it great that amidst the racism and xenophobia of the Trump era, people all over the world (including more than a few Trump voters) are shaking their butts to Despacito? Fonsi told NPR that:
The timing is quite perfect, you know, in this environment we live in… I don’t want to turn this song into a political environment, because it’s not. It’s a great song to make us feel good. But in the times that we live, where some people want to divide and want to build walls — we’re going through a lot of change, so it’s quite lovely that a Spanish song is No. 1 right now.
Except there’s this little thing called history, and it tends to repeat itself. The Mambo craze of the 1950s that sent many Cuban songs to the top of the charts did not end racism and poverty so why should we expect the current moment to be any different? Neither did the Latin explosion of 1999. Despacito, and the imitators that it will inspire, will do nothing to improve the cultural, political or economic status of Afro-Latinos. As Jezebel Culture Editor, Julianne Escobedo warns, “Don’t let Bieber play you!”
What is the point of decrying the many ways the music industry exploits Afro-Latinos when nothing can be done (and we haven’t even touched on the obvious problems of sexism in reggaetón and the music industry)? Capitalism is so entrenched, you may as well be tilting at windmills. Except, there is a growing movement to build a new, more democratic economy that empowers producers, including cultural producers, to control their production. Groups like Sol Collective in Sacramento and Rhythm Conspiracy in New Orleans are experimenting with cooperatives and other forms that allow artists to cut the middlemen, the gatekeeper publicists and the record labels.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 28 August 2017 18:16 (six years ago) link
Another take re "Despacito"--
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/whats-next-for-latin-music-after-the-summer-of-despacito/2017/08/24/703ba7de-8816-11e7-961d-2f373b3977ee_story.html?utm_term=.797a9cedc6f6
The success of “Despacito” and “Mi Gente” also has to be coupled with other mainstream media appearances and opportunities for visibility, explains Jack Rico, the host of the Latin pop culture podcast Highly Relevant. He points out that “Despacito,” with all its record-breaking accolades, was left out of this year’s Video Music Awards nominations. Rico says mass-media moments like these are critical blows to Latin representation....The current iteration of this Latin boom has also been very specific when it comes to those who benefit. Male artists who make music in the reggaeton-pop vein have a path to success, but that’s not necessarily the case for those who don’t fit the “Despacito” model. Spanish-speaking female artists are missing from the crossover conversation, which also doesn’t include lesser-known genres in the Latin music world.
Isabelia Herrera, the music editor of the culture website Remezcla, notes that the idea of “Latin music” itself is problematic, a broad umbrella term that encompasses dozens of countries and genres. All eyes on reggaeton-pop may not actually help genres that don’t sound like what’s trending right now.
“I think this pop moment that reggaeton is having is probably going to continue and be very successful. If you look at the Latin charts, it performs the best,” Herrera said. “But if we talk about regional Mexican, or salsa, I’m very hesitant. I don’t really know what’s going to happen with things that don’t fit into the construction of what outsiders think Latin music is.”
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 August 2017 13:38 (six years ago) link
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7942283/john-leguizamo-essay-latin-underrepresentation-music-movies-vmas-despacito-snub
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 29 August 2017 17:43 (six years ago) link
Yep.
Meanwhile Fania, I see in another Billboard article, is trying to promote their brand to a new audience via dj remixes:
“At Fania, we see working with DJs and creating remixes of the original classic as a huge opportunity to target a new audience and thus begin a lifelong connection with the Fania brand,” Skolnick said. “It’s working incredibly well. We’ve increased our social media engagement with 18-34 year olds by more than 150% in the last two years.”
Recently completing a tour in Europe, Marquez will perform at a record release party at Kinfolk as part of the Armada Fania DJ pop series in Brooklyn on Sept. 7, before going on an extensive tour throughout the U.S.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/7941984/fanias-santiago-sessions-how-a-globetrotting-djs-childhood-led-to-him
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 29 August 2017 17:52 (six years ago) link
Spanish-speaking female artists are missing from the crossover conversation, which also doesn’t include lesser-known genres in the Latin music world.
Oh no! Lesser no genres in Latin music continue to be obscure. It's all the fault of those outsiders constructing what "Latin music" is. Everyone knows that all Latinos (another problematic construction, admittedly) listen to all of Latin music in its entirety.
A lot of music writing (like a lot of other writing) seems driven by the need to say something, even if there's nothing that needs to be said.
The hand-wringing looks pretty funny to me at this point.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 31 August 2017 16:50 (six years ago) link
Everyone knows that all Latinos (another problematic construction, admittedly) listen to all of Latin music in its entirety.
That's why I used to hear Puerto Ricans blasting all that banda when I was living at 16th & Green in Philadelphia in the 90s.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 31 August 2017 16:54 (six years ago) link
The Despacito video breaks new ground, drawing attention to previously completely ignored Latina curviness.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 31 August 2017 17:07 (six years ago) link
But uncelebrated Latina asses remain uncelebrated. What is to be done?
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 31 August 2017 17:36 (six years ago) link
Somewhere there is a reasonably good looking young Ecuadoran woman with not much of a booty at all. When will a major label put her in a video?
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 31 August 2017 17:39 (six years ago) link
Meanwhile I see that El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico are doing a 55th anniversary tour that will bring them to the Palace, in Woodbridge , VA half an hour or so south of Washington DC Friday night. Only Spanish language bands play there. I think I saw the 50th anniversary tour.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 31 August 2017 17:51 (six years ago) link
https://www.tickeri.com/events/598255e3f6ebfc000bcdb91a/el-gran-combo-de-puerto-rico---celebrando-55-a-os-de-trayectoria-
I have basically zero sympathy for people demanding mainstream recognition of Spanish-language music in the U.S. That actor may have some points. I can't really comment on film and TV since I'm so oblivious to them. But Despacito is a pop reggaeton mediocrity, I don't care how many youtube views it has received, or how many times it has been streamed. (I would of course care if I were in the music industry.)
Me [while Africando's "Yay Boy" is playing in club]: This is a good song.Puerto Rican salsera: Do you understand the words?Me: No.Puerto Rican salsera: How do you know it's a good song.
A lot of people think that way, not just white non-Hispanics.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 31 August 2017 19:26 (six years ago) link
True re how many people react to non-English songs. However while I recognize that statistically the likelihood of reggaeton or more obscure Latinx sounds becoming a regular part of the mainstream US pop culture may be small, I understand the desire for that culture to be represented.
So "Despacito" was played at a wedding that I was at over Labor Day weekend, and even two (likely Trump supporting )conservatives there that I know, danced.
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 15:56 (six years ago) link
Kind of like this, but the melodies seem very familiar and I suspect it's a cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cghPur_wWz0
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 15 September 2017 20:32 (six years ago) link
New Plena Libre album.
I'm just looking through the very esoteric Spotify New Music Friday Latin playlist.
― _Rudipherous_, Friday, 15 September 2017 20:43 (six years ago) link
the melodies seem very familiar and I suspect it's a cover
Yeah - it's right there in the video description: "un remake del clásico de Jorge González"
Here's the original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTp-jWf_GM
― grawlix (unperson), Friday, 15 September 2017 23:24 (six years ago) link
OK. I originally heard it on Spotify.
― _Rudipherous_, Saturday, 16 September 2017 05:02 (six years ago) link
Thanks for heads up on new Plena Libre. Like them
― curmudgeon, Monday, 18 September 2017 14:00 (six years ago) link
Poor Puerto Rico...Hurricane hit it hard
― curmudgeon, Monday, 25 September 2017 14:32 (six years ago) link
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/arts/music/lin-manuel-miranda-puerto-rico-relief-song.html?_r=0
The charity benefit song "Almost Like Praying" is on Spotify. It's got its moments.
Rather than creating a mournful number, Mr. Miranda said in an interview, he hoped to capture “the spirit of the island.” As a result, the bilingual “Almost Like Praying,” which takes its title and chorus from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “Maria,” from “West Side Story,” is bursting with energy
an upbeat charity single featuring an all-star lineup of Latin artists from across genres and generations, including Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Fat Joe, Luis Fonsi, Rubén Blades, Camila Cabello, John Leguizamo, Rita Moreno and Marc Anthony....Also featured on the song: Pedro Capo, Dessa, Juan Luis Guerra, Alex Lacamoire, Ednita Nazario, Joell Ortiz, Anthony Ramos, Gina Rodriguez, Gilberto Santa Rosa, PJ Sin Suela, Tommy Torres and Ana Villafañe.)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 6 October 2017 13:14 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igC2mWONVZQ
― Commandolin Wind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 8 October 2017 14:54 (six years ago) link
washburne is an all around cool dude
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Sunday, 8 October 2017 16:15 (six years ago) link
Have you met him?
― Commandolin Wind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 8 October 2017 17:11 (six years ago) link
yeah, coupla times. very friendly on those occasions and happy to talk details and history. also works with belafonte's social justice project teaching music to prisonershttps://www.sankofa.org/
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 10 October 2017 01:25 (six years ago) link
Cool. Did you tell him about your dad?
― Commandolin Wind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 October 2017 01:30 (six years ago) link
heh, yeah i did because he was doing a show about the caribbean roots of ragtime and it seemed pertinent.
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 10 October 2017 02:09 (six years ago) link
Was that for his latest project, Rags and Bones?
― Commandolin Wind (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 10 October 2017 02:13 (six years ago) link
yep, i saw him do it with a full band; was one of my better shows of this year tbh
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 10 October 2017 02:26 (six years ago) link
https://www.zohomusic.com/cds_detail.php?cds_id=171
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Tuesday, 10 October 2017 02:27 (six years ago) link
Saw Washburne in visiting bands in DC a few times. Good player.
Unrelated. Caught some of this below linked PBS doc recently, that aired earlier this year. Some great 60s and 70s NY footage in this. Fania era
http://www.pbs.org/video/latin-music-usa-hour-2-the-salsa-revolution/
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 10 October 2017 16:39 (six years ago) link
http://remezcla.com/lists/music/latinx-music-writers/
Mostly pop and reggaeton
― curmudgeon, Friday, 13 October 2017 17:11 (six years ago) link
N*d S*blette likes his live NY Latin Jazz
Cuban trovador José Aquiles (from Santiago de Cuba) with David Virelles (his son) at the Jazz Gallery on the 20th. I'd definitely go see Harold López-Nussa at the Blue Note (Oct. 23-24), and I'd go to Bobby Sanabria's PR benefit at Le Poisson Rouge (23).
... benefit organized by Miguel Zenón at Jazz Gallery Nov. 1,
. . . and to this one:>#POETSFORPUERTORICO / A Reading for Hurricane Relief / Saturday, November 4, 2017 / 6:00 p.m.Poets House / 10 River Terrace / Corner Murray & River Terrace / New York, NY
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 18 October 2017 03:11 (six years ago) link
Heard the J. Balvin remix of "Mi Gente" with Beyoncé on Spanish-language pop radio this morning.
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 26 October 2017 20:05 (six years ago) link
i don't understand much spanish. i just learned what the chorus lyrics to becky g's "mayores" mean and O_o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMFewiplIbw
― dyl, Friday, 27 October 2017 20:00 (six years ago) link
yeah, huh.
― Chocolate-covered gummy bears? Not ruling those lil' guys out. (ulysses), Friday, 27 October 2017 20:04 (six years ago) link
> Singer orders all white audience members to stand in the back > White female volunteer refuses> Volunteer banned for being racist 🙈 pic.twitter.com/kPgHZNTJDL— The Safest Space (@TheSafestSpace) November 4, 2017
It's okay to be white.
― _Rudipherous_, Sunday, 5 November 2017 04:24 (six years ago) link
What does that have to do with this thread?
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 November 2017 04:42 (six years ago) link
http://uproxx.com/music/karol-g-casi-nada-acoustic-uncharted/
Reggaeton/ r’nb /Trap vocalist Karol G goes acoustic in the link
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 November 2017 04:56 (six years ago) link
She's on tour in the US. With rapper Noriel. Karol G is from Colombia.
On a separate unrelated US tour is the current version of salsa band Grupo Niche, from Colombia.
from wiki--At the age of 62, Varela was found dead in his Cali home on August 8, 2012, apparently from heart failure.[3] Jairo's daughter, Yanila Varela has been the Grupo Niche's owner since her father's death in 2012.
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 7 November 2017 19:32 (six years ago) link
Karol G with reggaeton & "salsa Urbana" producers/performers LaFame. I kinda like this one too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7xZUPI4LwA
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 9 November 2017 01:40 (six years ago) link
RIP percussionist Bobby Matos
Born in the Bronx, moved to Cali in the 80s played with lots of Latino and non-Latino acts (Miriam Makeba, Jim Croche)
― curmudgeon, Tuesday, 14 November 2017 21:03 (six years ago) link
http://www.mcny.org/exhibition/rhythm-power
Would like to see this Rhythm and Power: Salsa in NYC exhibit before it closes 11-26. But not sure I will be able to
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 16 November 2017 15:29 (six years ago) link
I was up in NYC this weekend and made it to the Rhythm and Power: Salsa in NYC exhibit! It's small but enjoyable. A great dance video in the hallway that show's the outline of dancers doing various steps, plus a bunch of album covers and other artifacts and audio and photos. Some nice old Palladium ones from the 50s.
― curmudgeon, Monday, 20 November 2017 05:39 (six years ago) link