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

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.