New Music - September 2011

I am listening to great music on my cd player such as the new Poncho Sanchez/Terence Blanchard "Chano Y Dizzy" which is a tribute to the late pioneers of Afro-Cuban jazz Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie.  Their opening "Chano Pozo Medley" comprised of "Tin Tin Deo", "Manteca" and Guachi Guaro" out of the Pozo/Gillespie repertoire is worth the price of the cd or download alone!!  Outstanding performances by Blanchard (sounding tasteful and powerful as ever) and Sanchez who plays likes he's been possessed by the spirit of Pozo!  This Latin Jazz opus also features tasty salsa for dancing.  I like the new recording of local based salseros, Montuno Swing entitled "Rico Tumbao" which has a tremendous amount of swing under the capable direction of musical director/keyboardist Christian Tumulan.  The diversity of music that ranges from salsa dura, timba, bachata, merengue to balls out descarga with the help of the latest version of the SF Salsa All Stars.  Montuno Swing also features a trio of fine percussionists who can handle lead vocals: Edgardo Cambon, Omar Ledesma and Braulio Barrera.  Let's not forget the new project "De Corazon Al Son" by the talented Mexican flautist Miguel Martinez and his group Corazon Sur.  Martinez, whose exceptional flute work usually leaves dancers sweating as part of the all-star Karabali ensemble, mixes Mexican folklore into his dynamic Afro-Cuban jazz.  Tracks such as "Descarga" and "La Bruja" features fine ensemble work from contributors Jose Roberto Hernandez, Julio Perez, Marco Diaz, Saul Sierra and Carlos Caro.

Maykel Blanco visits SF In October

I'm excited about the following: I've been asked to emcee the SF debut of the red hot Cuban band Maykal Blanco Y Su Salsa Mayor on Friday, Oct. 14 at Cafe Cocomo.  Now Maykal has been thrilling audiences for the past few years with the most innovative and hip timba music coming out of the island today.  His hit songs such as "Esto Esta" and "Anda Y Pegate" are considered classic dance floor anthems.  The band on record is furious and they have a reputation for great live shows.   There is a lot of anticipation to this show.  For more information, visit www.cultucuba.org

Pedrito Martinez

The end of Summer is almost here but there are still great people coming into town such as renowned rumbero Pedrito Martinez, a much in-demand percussionist since he landed in the New York area.  Pedrito has performed with the whos who of great musicians ranging from Eddie Palmieri to Bruce Springsteen.  He will be performing on Saturday, September 25 from 1 to 3 pm in a free concert at the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival located at Mission near 3rd Street in San Francisco.  Pedrito will be featuring music from his rumba project "Ecobio Enyenison" and from his current group who plays regularly in New York.  Pedrito who was born in the Cayo Hueso barrio in Havana has performed with some of the giants in Cuban music and folklore such as Lazaro Ros, Tata Guines and Los Munequitos De Matanzas.  The John Santos Sextet will be opening the show.