Rolling Afro-Latin Music All Stars - Tribute to Afro-Latin Music Thread 2014 (DVD incl.)

I see this has devolved into primarily a Latin jazz discussion. I'm afraid I have nothing to offer. The Willy Garcia album isn't very good, overall.

The Latin Grammys tend to be conservative, I think, because people are voting for sub-categories they don't necessarily know about. So the familiar name trumps. That's my guess anyway. I don't think I've listened to that Calle 13 album all the way through, and don't particularly want to.

You didn't mention that Raquel Rivera lives part of the time in Albuquerque:

http://cascabeldecobre.blogspot.com/

I started listening to both the Wisin and the Yandel solo albums but just couldn't care. The guest spot by 50 Cent on Wisin's made it that much more difficult.

I'm more disillusioned than ever with the state of salsa.

Was hoping you would know of a great salsa release to talk about. Latin-jazz gets more English language media hype but it is not necessarily wowing me

I think next year we should start a new version of this thread to remain open until it gets too big, however many years that takes, and without trying to pad it. I just feel like: stick a fork in it, it's dead. The thread and the sub-genres that I care about the most.

I did hear some okay merengue from Juliana in the Dominican Republic, but even those songs weren't as good as much of what she's previously done.

You might like this: http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/25500.10

Seems promising at moments, but mostly a letdown. Still has that post-80s NYC salsa dura blandness to it. (I know they aren't from NYC, but that's what I'm hearing, plus I think some of the musicians are.) But maybe you would like it more than I do.

Had my eye on this reissue, but not sure it's worth it:

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/25440.10?9qYnw2zS;;480

Incidentally, do you know that El Watusi, the Latin music download site (associated with Descarga.com I think) went out of business? Not good. The back catalog of great salsa is sinking back into obscurity.

Did not know about El Watusi going out of business.

I also have not heard the most recent Bio Ritmo album (speaking of non-NY salsa).

Your idea regarding the thread makes sense(unless ilx magically gets new contributors into Latino sounds who could add more stuff here)

Just noticed this suburban DC gig

"LA INDIA EN CONCIERTO"

Friday October 17th

General Admission $35
VIP Standing $45

VIP SEATING $60 (Only a few tickets left)

Doors: 9pm

Show after midnight

This is from Shiina Ringo's debut album:

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

I mean the original song, obviously.

Been too busy lately to check out live shows from acts getting media attention. Missed Pedrito Gonzalez at K. Ctr last weekend (got a mixed review in W. Post although part of that may be a key bandmember wasn't there) and gonna miss Miguel Zenon tonight.

Am out of touch with current Hispanic pop and descarga.com style salsa dura too.

Zenon is on the cover of Downbeat this month I read.

Meanwhile NYC gets the nice older folks shows:

Friday, November 14, 2014 @ 7pm / Aaron Davis Hall / Tickets: $15 - $30
The Puerto Rican Songbook Hidden Treasures
Featuring Dr. Willie Rodriguez & Friends in concert. Friends Include: Andy Gonzalez, Roland Guerrero, Nicky Marrero, Nelson Gonzalez, Ivan Rentas, Pete Nater, Jimmy Bosch, Laura Reyes, Julio Salgado, Eduardo Reyes, and Multimedia by Alan Molnar.
From the press release: "This musical exploration of the Puerto Rican Songbook Hidden Treasures under the direction of Dr. Willie Rodriguez will celebrate the outstanding contributions of Puerto Rican composers like the great Placido Acevedo, Simon Madera, Miguel Angel Amadeo, Sylvia Rexach, among others."

This is really good so far. For lovers of a distinctively Puerto Rican sound and swing. But of course Don Perignon Y La Orquesta Puertorriqueña has been around for a while:

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/25535.10

On Spotify too.

http://www.noticiasmvs.com/#!/noticias/ganadores-de-la-15-edicion-de-los-latin-grammy-343.html

Thanks, need to check some of those out

I missed Romeo Santos, bachata heartthrob on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. Plus he was on Jimmy Fallon too I think.

Unrelated:

I enjoyed Jorge Drexler's album this year. He's a Uruguayan singer/songwriter kinda rock guy who sorta went pop (with a touch of dance) on his 2014 effort.

Oh, did not realize Drexler won Latin Grammy Record of the Year

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6327226/latin-grammys-recap-2014

from another Billboard article re why appearances on the show did not translate into sizeable sales increases:
To be fair, this year’s Latin Grammys had three Best New Artist nominees onstage -- Aneeka, winner Mariana Vega and Pablo Lopez. But those performed only for approximately 90 seconds at a time as part of a medley,

—Mejor álbum tropical tradicional

"Grandes éxitos de las sonoras, con la más grande, La Sonora Santanera", La Sonora Santanera

Plenty of musicians on the Latin scene play on this record which I haven't heard yet but it looks intriguing: http://www.planetarts.org/mists-charles-ives-for-jazz-orchestra.html. One of them is the same guy who told me last week about his Latin Grammy win for appearing on Final Night At Birdland, prompting my post.

Cuban /Latin jazz in NY

Nuevo Jazz Latino, the group that made such a splash in June at Jazz at Lincoln Center, will play five nights at Dizzy's, Dec. 26-30, this time with the addition of trumpeter Mike Rodríguez, along with Yosvany Terry (sax and shekere), Elio Villafranca (piano), Carlos Henríquez (bass), Pedrito Martínez (congas), and Dafnis Prieto (drums).

For our special New Year’s week celebration, it’s a Cuban holiday with the Nuevo Jazz Latino All-Stars. The group features Pedrito Martinez, Yosvany Terry, Mike Rodriguez, Elio Villafranca, Dafnis Prieto, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra bassist Carlos Henriquez, all successful leaders and award-winners in their own right. This unique ensemble originally debuted during Jazz at Lincoln Center’s 2013-14 season for a nearly sold out two-night run in The Appel Room. An unusual opportunity that paid dividends, the group was tasked with composing new original pieces specifically for this ensemble. As a result, each piece of music was written for the individual talents of each fellow band member, and after rave reviews, we’re treating audiences to this super-group up close and personal in the club.

Thanks. Familiar with every one of those guys except the bass player.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/altlatino/2014/12/04/368225290/alt-latinos-favorite-latin-music-of-2014

I like Jorge Drexler 2014 one alot, and rapper Ana Tijoux is pretty good too. Still need to check some of the other ones out (don't think there's anything resembling salsa here or even Latin-jazz)

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/6397824/juan-flores-scholar-nuyorican-music-dies

Was writing a book about Eddie Palmieri, and was a big fan of bugaloo

http://edmorales.net/2014/12/06/in-memoriam-juan-flores-1943-2014/

FYI Nueva Yorkers

The Pedrito Martínez Group residency at SubRosa returns Tuesday through Thursday (16-18), at 63 Gansevoort Street, sets at 7:15 and 9:15.

In his email listserv, author/musician Ned S*blette keeps raving about this group (and he is offering free guestlist spots)

How to get on his email list?

try emailing him at ned AT qbadisc.com

Note that his emails in addition to covering latin music also often include links about political stuff from a left-wing viewpoint and links about international politics and US and international history. Plus he does an end of the year thing on favorite books

What timing! Today the 30th annual Havana Jazz Plaza festival gets under way...with Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Xiomara Laugart and Axel Tosca.ZZ Top. the López-Nussa family concert.

http://www.authenticubatours.com/cuba-festival-tours/cuba-jazz-festival.htm

Latin Jazz list from NPR sponsored jazz critics poll

1. Arturo O'Farrill & the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, The Offense of the Drum (Motéma) 19

2. Miguel Zenón, Identities Are Changeable (Miel Music) 16

3. Yosvany Terry, New Throned King (5Passion) 11

4. Danilo Pérez, Panama 500 (Mack Avenue) 8

5. David Virelles, Mbókò (ECM) 6

6. Alfredo Rodriguez, The Invasion Parade (Mack Avenue) 5

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

Nate Chinen in the NY Times loves this guy too:

2. David Virelles “Mbókò” (ECM) The brilliant young pianist David Virelles continues his interrogation of Afro-Cuban culture and ritual with methodical cool but also an openness of spirit. With Román Díaz thrumming a percussive heartbeat, this intoxicating suite resonates with implications both ancient and state-of-the-art.

I haven't heard that album, but Virelles is a great player—saw him with Ravi Coltrane last year.

great album

not on Spotify US if I searched correctly.

ECM doesn't put its music on Spotify.

Should I start a new open-ended thread per the Rudiph note above:

Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2015 and onward: Salsa, Bomba, Merengue,Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin-Jazz and more

Please do.

Rolling Afro-Latin Music 2015 and onward: Salsa, Bomba, Merengue,Reggaeton, Bachata, Latin-Jazz and more

I have no idea where to put this but searched Barbes and there was mention on this thread. I was in NY last week and went to Barbes on Wed to see the Mandingo Ambassadors and it was incredible. They're there every Wed and would highly recommend. So fun. http://www.mandingoambassadors.com/

Cool. Barbes nightclub hosts some Latino acts which is why it got mentioned on this thread. But probably goes better on this 2016 "global" "whirled" thread where old-school Guinean dance music led by guitarist Mamady Kouyate is more likely to be appreciated. Rolling Outernational Non-West Non-English (Some Exceptions) 2016 Thread Once Known as World Music