FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE QUÉ PASA IN LA By Rudy Mangual Albert Torres Productions announced the schedule of the upcoming 14th Annual Los Angeles Salsa Congress & Bachata Room hosted by Island Touch. This annual salsa and bachata-dancing extravaganza has become a Los Angeles tradition and the most anticipated salsa event of this city. Scheduled to take place May 24 through May 27, 2012 at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, headlining the event will be two salsa artists with over 21 million hits on YouTube: Oscar D'León, "El Leon de la Salsa," and his Orchestra performing on Friday, May 25. In addition, two-time Grammy Award winner Luis Enrique, "El Principe de la Salsa," will take the stage on Saturday, May 26. Grammy nominated New Swing Sextet from New York City, with special guest Alfredo de la Fé will headline the finale of this year's event on Sunday, May 27. A Pre-Congress Party featuring local favorites Johnny Polanco y su Conjunto Amistad will take place on Thursday, (location to be announced). Over 3,000 dancers from more than 40 countries are scheduled to participate at this year's event; plus special dance workshops by Eddie Torres, Griselle Ponce, Johnny Vázquez, and Tito & Tamara, among many others - plus local and international DJs. Three large rooms will be available for social dancing / salsa / bachata / kizomba & zouck / pop / hip-hop / animation / hustle, and much more. Daily pool parties will also take place. Come and see the best dancers from all corners of the world. Get your full event pass by contacting atevents@gmail.com or by visiting www.mysalsacongress.com. Discount room rates are still available at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel through www.mysalsacongress.com or call (310) 445-9705. The L.A. Salsa Music Seminar (directed by three-time Grammy winner Oscar Hernández) is a four-day (May 22-25, 2012) intensive individual and group instruction that aims to provide the students participating with the training and tools necessary to play and perform as part of a salsa band. Hosted by Albert Torres Productions and headed by pianist, arranger, producer Oscar Hernández, classes will be taught by some of the top musicians in the Latin music scene. Instruments include piano, bass, trumpet, sax/flute, trombone, percussion (timbal, congas and bongos), vocals, and salsa music arranging. Classes will be held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Application deadline is April 1, 2012. Basic music knowledge is required. To register, more information and fees, visit yapiano1@mac.com or call (310) 445-9705. This special music educational seminar ties in with the 14th Annual Los Angeles Salsa Congress & Bachata Room event, making the city of Los Angeles the world's "Salsa Mecca" for an entire week. Salsa lovers, Los Angeles is the place to be in May 2012! Happenings around town in February: Direct from Puerto Rico, "El Caballero de la Salsa" Gilberto Santa Rosa will be performing at The Conga Room in Downtown L.A. on February 2nd. Yari Moré and his Orchestra perform at the Center Stage Theatre in Fontana on February 2nd. Chino Espinosa y Los Dueños del Son will be at Steven's Steakhouse on February 2nd. Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz Band will be at Vitello's in Studio City on Thursday, February 9th. Celebrate Valentine's Day early at Ortega 120 in Redondo Beach with 2 Hombres on February 11, 2012. Great food, over 120 different tequilas, plus music and dancing. Son Mayor performs at the Center Stage Theatre in Fontana on February 16th. La Palabra will be at The Granada in the city of Alhambra on February 24th. Multi-Grammy winner Spanish Harlem Orchestra will be in town February 17, 2012 performing at The Granada in the city of Alhambra as part of this year's Valentine's week celebration. If you are looking for the Los Angeles underground club music scene, check out Little Temple in the Silverlake area of Santa Monica Boulevard. L.A.'s hottest DJs and local bands party nightly (Wednesdays through Sundays) and you never know who is going to make a guest appearance. Currently "Resident Fridays" features R&B, Old Skool, Latin, Bachata, and Reggae. "Irie Sundays" is Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Punta, Cumbia, and Merengue. Visit www.littletemple.com for a complete monthly calendar of events. Please continue supporting all your local artists and their venues. Peace. A BITE FROM THE APPLE By Vicki Solá Photos of Gilberto Colón ©by Allen Spatz On November 19, 2011, pianist Gilberto "Pulpo" Colón, Jr. was honored as a "Bronx Living Legend" by the Bronx Music Heritage Center and The Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture. Colón functioned as Héctor Lavoe's pianist for 16 years, after he was invited by the late salsa legend to join his band in 1975. They recorded "Comedia," their first album together, a watershed work that earned platinum status in 1978 and included a brilliant three-and-a- half minute solo by Colón on the track "Bandolera"—a length not usually featured on commercial releases. Colón has performed with the orchestras of New York Latin music's iconic "Big Three" (Tito Puente, Tito Rodríguez and Machito), and has also led his own ensemble, Ensalada de Pulpo (Octopus Salad), with whom he recorded a CD, "Pulpo's Hot Bread." He tours with the Big Three Palladium Orchestra and is featured as musical director of Orquesta de La Gente, a group dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Héctor Lavoe's music. As a teen, with trumpet and drums under his belt, Colón began piano lessons with Charlie Palmieri. A longtime admirer and friend of Oscar Hernández, he also studied with José Febles and Alberto Socarrás, and has been an educator at Johnny Colón's East Harlem Music School for 16 years. Interviewed by WBAI-FM radio's Ibrahim González during the course of the Hostos tribute, the pianist spoke candidly and movingly about his personal life and experiences as a musician. Attendees had the opportunity to witness a dynamic performance by Colón’s Ensalada de Pulpo, reinforced with guest artists. Says Colón, "I want to express my thanks and deepest appreciation to Justin Méndez, Barry Olsen, Reynaldo Jorge, Joe de Jesús and Orlando Peña on trombones; Héctor "Máximo" Rodríguez and Andy González on bass; Daniel "Deecoy" Antonetti on timbal; Marco "Ito" Arguinzoni and Eddie Montalvo on congas; Pedro Segundo "Pocholo" La Boy on bongó, Jeremy Montalvo on maracas, José Inés Adorno Colón on minor percussion, Danny Méndez on guiro; and Rey Bayona, Luisito Ayala, Frankie Morales and David Navedo on lead vocals." More info... Last month, I highlighted Demetrios Kastaris's Conjunto Katharí, which combines Afro-Caribbean music with gospel lyrics. Three singles from their forthcoming production are available at www.elwatusi.com. Laser luster... Carlos Jiménez's Mambo Dulcet — defined by Jiménez as "a danceable salsa band, with a jazz and Latin jazz feeling"— is out with "Red Tailed Hawk," a production encompassing salsa, chachachá, mambo, bolero, and Latin jazz. This flutist/vocalist/producer (pictured) had a hand in all of the arrangements, presenting five of his own original compositions and relying on the support of some real heavyweights - Edy Martínez, Alfredo Valdés, Jr., Orlando Marín and Sonny Bravo. A native New Yorker, Jiménez learned trumpet at the age of four, under his father William's guidance, and two years later -when his family went back to Villalba, Puerto Rico - he studied with the prominent professor Pablo Leon. Returning to New York in 1995, Jiménez attended the Music Conservatory at Westchester and also took lessons with Dave Valentín, Hilton Ruiz, Mario Rivera, Bobby Porcelli, Sonny Bravo, Mike Longo, and Alfredo Valdés, Jr. The bandleader has four recordings under his belt - "Arriving," (released in association with the late Hilton Ruiz), "El Flautista," "Thoughts," and this latest, which I encourage you to check out! DJ Jeff's "Hot Pick of the Month": Ocho y Más - "Puerto Rico." Around town... Lyndhurst, New Jersey's best kept secret: The Whiskey Café's "Latin Sundays." This past December 18th was a gem. Two bands played two sets each - Jerry Hernández & Orquesta Dee Jay, plus Jimmy Bosch's Sexteto Otro Mundo. Hernández's band was awesome, serving up old school-style salsa. Bosch featured Herman Olivera, along with Renzo Padilla, Chiemi Nakai, Rubén Rodríguez, Manu Bizeau, and Orlando Vega. The previous month, Grupo Latin Vibe brought down the house! Two bands, SonSublime and Los Soneros De Oriente, headline a February 11th Valentine's Dinner Dance Gala at the Polish Center, in Yonkers... The Bronx's popular Side Street has reopened with "After Work" parties Thursdays and Fridays, and live entertainment every first and third Saturday of each month. On February 18th, Frankie Morales celebrates his 50th birthday there with his Mambo of the Times Orchestra and special guests Herman Olivera and Michael Stuart.... This month, the West Gate Lounge presents Charansalsa (Feb. 4th), The Eddie Torres Mambo Kings, featuring Eddie Torres's All-Star Dancers (Feb. 11th), Orlando Marín, a.k.a. "The Last Mambo King"(Feb. 18th), and Cubanosón (Feb. 25th). ¡Hasta la próxima! LATIN BEAT UPDATE By Nelson Rodríguez How do you follow-up a hot year of great releases? You top 2011 with an even hotter 2012 of new releases, re-issues and many related surprises. As we finished 2011, many new projects emerged from all over the world; while multiple rare recordings surfaced in various websites. Puerto Rico experienced the celebration of Humberto Ramirez’s 20th Anniversary, along with the release of the Conjunto Puerto Rico CD titled “Así Es…Conjunto Puerto Rico” with special guest Rafu Warner (of Bobby Valentín fame). Led by pianist Kevin Figueroa, the band lives by their motto ‘Qué viva el tumbao’, as shown on the tracks “Cachetero,” “El Bochinchero,” “Todo o Nada” and “Mi Receta.” Another act from the island that has been doing well is Julito Alvarado & Del Sur Al Norte, whose CD “Perseverancia” includes the hits “Olvídala,” “Sí No Te Quieres Tú,” “La Manía de Mi Mujer,” “Por Primera Vez,” “Sin Ti No Tengo Nada” and “Boricuas Unidos” (featuring Héctor Giovanni, Luisito Carrión and Julio Voltio). Combine the vocal talents of Harold Soto and Anthony García with the top arrangements of its leader, and you have, as a result, one of Puerto Rico’s hottest young bands. One of the best ambassadors of Latin jazz in the world has been Poncho Sánchez, who offers a different concept with each release and always includes some tracks for those jazz fans that love to dance. The CD “Chano y Dizzy”, a collaboration with trumpeter Terence Blanchard opens with an awesome “Chano Pozo Medley: Tin Tin Deo/Manteca/Guachi Guara”; and also contains some of my favorites — “Con Alma,” “Promenade,” “Ariñáñara” and “Groovin High.” A Hall of Fame musician who has made a name for himself with every CD he releases is Mark Weinstein, who took us all by surprise with his latest CD, “El Cumbanchero”. Considering Mark’s high-caliber flutework and pianist Aurán Ortiz’s powerful arrangements on the title track, “El Mulato Rumbero,” “Aruanco,” “Danzón de Liz” and “Armoniosos de Amalia,” it is obvious that this CD will be regarded as one of the year’s best. Ukraine’s Dislocados offer their fantastic new release, “Pasaporte Universal”. Surpassing their debut, pianist/director Ilya Yeresko and vocalist Karolina Patocki are back with an award-winning recording. Just listen to “Como Tú” (with Jimmy Bosch), “Discolado,” “Dirty 30,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” “El 29 de Abril,” “Fiesta del Caribbean Club”, “Navidad en Heathrow,” and “Mi Barcelona.” Bassed in Toulousse, Chámacos is a new band from France, a powerhouse for salsa in recent years. Their debut, “Salsa y Timba”, features the tunes “Alegria,” “Oye Chámacos” and “Boogaloo Diablo Mama.” Here in the U.S., North Carolina joins the salsa ranks with the school band under the leadership of David García’s UNC’s Charanga Carolina, founded in 2004 and comprised of students from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and professional musicians from the surrounding area. Their CD “La Familia” is enriched with the outstanding arrangements of “Noche Como Boca E’Lobo,” “El Avance,” “Ahora Si,” “Esto Te Pone La Cabeza Mala,” “Timboró,” “El Cayuco” and “Nada de Ti.” José Lugo & Guasabara Combo’s “Poetic Justice” contains five tracks that are going to be huge in 2012: “Alguien Que Me Quiera,” “Hoy Se Cumplen Seis Semanas,” “Parece Que Uno Se Va a Morir,” “Yo No Pedí” and the Latin jazz number titled “Postum Mambo.” Veteran percussionist Mike Rojas, better known as “El Padre de la Salsa Vallenata” has an extensive resume that includes performances with Santana, The Rolling Stones, Arsenio Rodríguez, Eddie Cano, Azuquita, Juan Gabriel, José José, Willie Bobo, René Touzet, and many others. His incorporation of the vallenato-style accordion to the song “Crescencio” (with a young Yari Moré) was soon followed by Roberto Torres’ ‘El Caballo Viejo’ that arranger Alfredo Valdés Jr. picked up while based on the West Coast, when Valdés and Rojas were members of Hermes Niño and his Colombian Boys. Mike Rojas & La Sociedad’s CD, “Sopa de Ritmo” features names like Henry Mora, Paco Navarrete, Harry Kim, Bobby Loya, José ‘Perico’ Hernández, Willie Mullings, Arturo Velazco, Ralfi Pagán and Yari Moré. Producer/guitarist Greg Landau has been doing a great job of documenting Latin music from the Bay Area under his own label (Round Whirled Records), as exemplified by saxophonist Enrique Fernández’s “Cantos del Sexto Sol,” a recording that combines the sounds of the Andes, the Caribbean and New York, featuring Omar Sosa on keyboards. On the other hand, Carne Cruda’s “Oakland Tight” combines norteño and banda beats in an array of rock, cumbia, and funk elements, while the music of the late 1960s and ‘70s in the Mission District served as the inspiration for the soundtrack “Songs From La Mission” (with actor Benjamin Bratt) one of 2010’s best CD’s, in my opinion. I loved Greg Landau’s compositional work and the band’s version of “Be Thankful” by William reminds me of the Latin soul style that emerged in New York in the 1960s. Luis Disla is another saxophone veteran who has made his debut with “The Prophecy,” backed by Abraham Laboriel, Alex Acuña and Steve Gadd, along with special guests Néstor Torres and Tito Puente Jr. My favorites tracks include “Reasons,” “Naima’s Way,” “Stick To It” and “You Don’t Know Me.” The Swiss compilation “Salsa-Editor’s Choice-Vol.3,” is a must have, with selections by Susie Hansen, Bio Ritmo, René Rodríguez, Oscar Ledezma y Los Okananis, Pibo Márquez y su Descarga Criolla, Sin Miedo, Bernardo Quesada & Rumba Jam, Una Mas Trio, Bryan Vargas & Ya Está, Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra, and Clandestina Orquesta. Jorge Cordeo & Los Gran Daneses have been a landmark Danish band since their 1993 debut (“Rompiendo el Hielo”) as Los Gran Daneses de la Salsa. In 1996, they had an awesome release titled “Del Norte y Tropical.” Their new CD, “Siempre Pa’Lante,” demonstrates how this band has grown over the years with the hits “Ya Llegó,” “Pa’Lante,” “Qué Pena Me Da”, “Te Perdomo,” “No Vengas a Decirme,” and “El Güiro No.” DESDE BORINQUEN Por: Elmer González La Fiesta De Tite Curet Alonso. El 2011 finalizó con un evento musical que atrajo la atención de miles de boricuas: El especial para la televisión sobre la obra musical de Tite Curet Alonso, producido por el Banco Popular de Puerto Rico. El evento fue precedido por un gran despliegue promocional que incluyó visitas de varios artistas por las universidades locales con conferencias ilustradas sobre la vida del compositor de "Periódico de ayer". El evento tuvo un elemento adicional de interés pues durante una década la música de Curet Alonso estuvo ausente de la radio debido a disputas entre los radiodifusores y la entidad ACEMLA que dirigía, hasta hace un par de años, las regalías de derechos de autor de la mayoría de las composiciones de Tite. La ausencia de su música trajo consigo un desconocimiento de su trabajo en toda una generación de jóvenes. Se espera que el especial genere información e interés por la obra del ilustre compositor salsero quien murió el 5 de agosto de 2003. Luego de su difusión televisiva, el público podrá tener un DVD y un CD de audio de este trabajo. El dinero recaudado por las ventas estará destinado a sufragar programas de educación de música popular en diferentes escuelas locales. El especial incluye un buen número de artistas locales e internacionales interpretando temas de Curet Alonso. Entre otros, sobresalen Lalo Rodríguez con el grupo Truco y Zaperoko, la venezolana Trina Medina con "El lamento de Concepción", Andy Montañés, Cheo Feliciano, Danny Rivera, Orquesta La 33 de Colombia, Calle 13, Rubén Blades, Jerry Medina con el Apollo Sound y Yuba Iré, entre otros. Los arreglos son distintos a los arreglos originales del repertorio. Ricardo Pons, José Lugo y Omar Silva realizaron una labor excelentes como arreglistas. El repertorio incluye piezas como: "Plantación adentro", "Esto es el guaguancó", "Pa' los caseríos". "Mi triste problema", "Las caras lindas", "Cucubano", "Barrunto" y "Marejada feliz", entre otros. El especial de dos horas titulado "Sonó, sonó", se pautó como una difusión simultánea en los principales canales locales de televisión el 4 de diciembre. Yanni En El Castillo Del Morro. Al momento de redactar estas notas, se anunciaba la presentación del tecladista griego Yanni en un concierto al aire libre en las inmediaciones del Castillo del Morro en el Viejo San Juan. Se anunció que sería un espectáculo de luces y de música electrónica en las noches del 16 y 17 de diciembre que se estaría transmitiendo en diferido por la cadena de televisión Public Broadcasting System (PBS) en los Estados Unidos. Además, se estaría produciendo un CD y un DVD del espectáculo. El gobierno de Puerto Rico, a un año antes de las elecciones, anunció que estaría "regalando" seis mil quinientos boletos en un espectáculo cuyo precio de admisión es de 150 dólares por persona.