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

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