Top Salsa-Latin Jazz-Afro Cuban Music Picks 2012

Hi Everyone, the following are my picks for the best recordings of 2012.  I focus on Salsa, Latin Jazz and Afro-Cuban music which is presented on my radio program "Con Sabor" on Saturday evenings from 9 to 11 pm on KPFA 94.1 FM.  I've enjoyed sharing these recordings with you on my program.  I hope that you pick up one of these titles for your collection.   I wish you Happy Holidays!

ARTIST/TITLE/LABEL

EDDIE MONTALVO “DESDE NUEVA YORK A PUERTO RICO” - SENOR MARCHA

CHEO FELICIANO/RUBEN BLADES “EBA SAY AJA” - ARIEL RIVAS MUSIC

RALPH IRRIZARY Y LOS VIEJOS DE LA SALSA “VIEJOS PERO SABROSOS” - BKS

LA EXCELENCIA “ECOS DEL BARRIO” - HANDLE WITH CARE

SANTIAGO ALL STARS “JOYA Y RAREZA” - HASBUN PRODUCTIONS

MARLOW ROSADO Y LA RIQUENA “RETRO” - PINK CHAOS

CUBANA ALL STARS “A DREAM COME TRUE” - VCM

BAILATINO “ANIVERSARIO” - PRODUCE KORTA

SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO “VAMOS PA' LA FIESTA” - PICAP

PACIFIC MAMBO ORCHESTRA “PMO” - PACIFIC MAMBO

ALEXANDER ABREU/HAVANA D'PRIMERA “PASAPORTE” - BIS

PAPO VASQUEZ “OASIS” - PICARO

WILSON CHEMBO CORNIEL “AFRO BLUE MONK” - CHEMBORO

CHARANSALSA “PA'L MI PUEBLO” - CHARANSALSA

TOP RELEASES FROM LATE 2011 INTO 2012

VARIOUS SONO SONO TITE CURET - BANCO POPULAR

MICHAEL STUART “TRIBUTO A LOUIE RAMIREZ” - RLM

NG LA BANDA MIS 22 ANOS - BIS

El Gran Combo visits...

This Saturday, December 15th, the iconic El Gran Combo visits the San Francisco Bay Area celebrating their 50th Anniversary at Cafe Cocomo.  This group that was created by members of Rafael Cortijo's orquesta back in 1962 brings their trademark sound that has launched a galaxy of hits throughout their illustrious career.  Their leader, pianist/musical director Rafael Ithier will conduct the Combo but has stopped performing live as their pianist a number of years ago (the esteemed pianist/producer Willie Sotelo has taken Ithier's place in live performance).  Their front line of vocalists Charlie Aponte, Jerry Rivas (who took over Andy Montanez's place back in the 70's) and Papo Rosario have been performing as a team since that time.  The band has always been a tight unit who performs with precision, style and fire.  This is the classic Rolls Royce of Salsa from Puerto Rico but always with the love and heart of their public fueling this classic hit making machine.  

Things To Do And Listen To...December 2012

Scenes to look out for during December:  El Gran Combo will be bringing their 50th Anniversary tour to Cafe Cocomo on Saturday, December 15th.  Pepe Y Su Orquesta will be opening the show.  The last time that El Gran Combo played at Cocomo, it was packed to the brim.  Expect the same.  You may want to get your tickets at www.cafecocomo.com.  Pete Escovedo will be celebrating the next year at Yoshis in Oakland from Friday, Dec. 28 through New Years Eve.  His sons Peter Michael Escovedo and Juan Escovedo will join him along with his big band playing his brand of Latin Jazz, Salsa and those fabulous Azteca classics.  Timbalero extraordinare Eric Rangel has led his Orquesta America for the past two decades and is a staple of the SF Bay Area Salsa scene having played with Conjunto Cespedes, Salsa Caliente, Conjunto Rovira and others.  He has been recently diagnosed with throat cancer and is undergoing surgery and treatment.  There will be a benefit/tribute to Eric by former bandmates and friends at El Vacilon in Treasure Island on Sunday, December 16 from 4 to 11 pm with the likes of Avance, Borinquen, Candela, Pepe Gonzalez, Julio Bravo and other special guests.   DJ Carlitos Way and yours truly will be spinning in-between sets.  Proceeds to offset medical costs.

New cd's out now by Diego Gale, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Sammy Gonzalez, Alberto Barros, Alexander Abreu y Havana D'Primera, Victor Manuelle, Papo Vasquez Mighty Pirates Troubadours, Poncho Sanchez, Pete Escovedo, Septeto Santiaguero, DJ Ricky Campanelli, N'Klabe, NG2, Tito Puente's six cd box set and more.  Hopefully you already have your copy of the Eddie Montalvo, Bailatino and Chembo Corniel recordings that have been out for a little while now.

Venezuela's Bailatino-Explosive music 4 your collection

Bailatino, one of the finest of Venezuela's contemporary Salsa orchestras have put out their latest recording "Aniversario".   Their horn sound is defined by their two trombone and flute attack.  Veteran percussionist Jose "Cheo" Navarro leads this fine band through a swinging repertoire of Salsa, Descarga, Cha Cha and Latin Jazz.  Edgar "Dolor" Quijada (what a great nickname for a vocalist) leads Bailatino's charged vocal trio throughout the entire cd.  Venezuela has some of the finest musicians playing in the Salsa and Latin Jazz genres.  Bailatino keeps raising the bar in terms of bringing interesting and challenging arrangements to compliment their ferocious swing.  This is evident in "Aniversario" when you listen to a tune such as "Donde Estara Margot" (the single from the cd) or "La Vampira".   Do not overlook this cd among the many fine new Salsa recordings that this season has to offer.  This is worth seeking out.

Tommy Olivencia is lifting me up.

I'm listening to the salsariffic sounds of Tommy Olivencia on my headphones.  Furious conga solo dancing in my head through my trusty Sony phones.  Horn section converging within into the jumpin' descarga.  A timbales solo racing in front of a swinging big band.  It's being a rough day...things not together..misunderstandings...heated words...tense..momentary setbacks but setbacks nonetheless.  Tommy was celebrating his 40th Anniversary with PR all stars: Paquito Guzman, Sammy Gonzalez, Hector Tricoche, former Bay Area resident Melvin Martinez, Lalo Rodriguez and Gilberto Santa Rosa. Taking me to the dance floor in my studio..big band salsa mania a la puerto rico...they don't fool around with the salsa in p.r..  Afincado!!!  Bad day going away...Tommy reminds me of la salsa de verdad!  We got to remind everyone that this music still exists.  Chillin' now.

Septeto Santiaguero - Son Sublime!

El Septeto Santiaguero have put out a new recording "Vamos Pa La Fiesta" that is a beautiful testament to the Cuban Son.  This compositions are classic but not tired relics of an authentic form of music.  The music is full of excitement, joy, regret, sadness and the gamut of emotions that reflect life's experiences.  Septeto Santiaguero are not as well known as other groups that perform the Cuban son but this recording may be their big breakthrough.  Not only are they incredible musicians and singers whose vocal timbres and phrasing invoke the spirit of Cuni, Barroso, Valdes and Piniero.  They also feature special guest collaborations from guests such as Ruben Blades, Cheo Feliciano, Jose Alberto "El Canario"and percussionist extraordinare Luisito Quintero.  The result is a rich listening experience which transports you to the island where the Son is a respected national treasure that keeps evolving with every new generation.  You can feel the energy as this solid group performs Son with a certain heartfelt afinque that is truly their own.  I had the opportunity to catch them live at last year's Tempo Latino festival in France where they tore it up!  This recording should open doors for this fine group.

Tiempo Libre with SF Symphony at Dolores Park

One of the fine moments I did have this Summer was my MC stint with Tiempo Libre along with the SF Symphony at Dolores Park this past July.

The San Francisco Symphony travelled to Dolores Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the Mission last July 22nd.  The community that watched the free show had their picnic spots set up at the Park.  The Mission Cultural Center were involved in this concert with the Symphony along with the SF Arts Commission and the McKesson corporation.  The Symphony brought with them a powerhouse of a band with Tiempo Libre, an exciting Miami based septet made up of Cuban born musicians who are adept at playing Afro-Cuban son, timba and salsa.  

I was invited by the San Francisco Symphony to emcee their event at Dolores Park.  

I represented KPFA and my program “Con Sabor”.  The park which was packed to the gills by a wide cross section of people from timba aficionados to the trendy “beautiful” people to some folks who wouldn’t have stepped on Dolores Park soil let alone the Mission a decade ago.  However since gentrification has changed the population and landscape of the Mission, the opportunity seemed right for the Symphony to throw this free classical music bacchanal.  The expansive staging and sound were top-notch.  The Symphony were dressed in their Sunday best attire.  The Symphony were set up in a u formation on stage while the center of the stage was set up with Tiempo Libre’s equipment.

The Symphony presented their special program of classical music with a Latin theme for the first half of the show.  The Symphony started the second half by playing a short suite before introducing Tiempo Libre.  People moved past the barricades in the large grassy area in the front of the stage and turned it into a dance floor for the duration of the set.  Tiempo Libre was superb.  The band led by keyboardist Jorge Gomez took the stage and tore it up with their musically fat sounding versions of timeless Cuban classic standards such as “Que Bueno Baila Usted”, “El Manicero” and “Son De La Loma”.  The band had a tight and explosive sound while their vocalist Joaquin Diaz danced and grinded “a la timba cubana” while he sang his pregones (refrains) to a happy crowd.  The symphony backed Tiempo Libre sounding like a massive charanga with their string arrangements.  

The fired up crowd brought back Tiempo Libre for an encore after they played their set of rehearsed numbers with the Symphony.  Suddenly, the band switched to a hypnotic timba rhythm and the crowd went crazy!  The syncopated sounds of the keyboards, driving synths, funk bass, the fierce polyrhythms of the percussion locked into the timba groove while Diaz led a call and response with the excited crowd.  They managed to get quite a few hands in the air at the SF Symphony concert.  A few Symphony musicians who were on stage dancing in their seats while grooving to the irresistible rhythms of Tiempo Libre!  

Thanks to Louisa Spier and the fine staff at the SF Symphony, the SF Arts Commission and the Mission Cultural Center for their support and tireless work at pulling this event off!  It was a memorable afternoon to be a part of this unique San Francisco happening...vaya!!

Moving

I have been missing in action for most of this summer.  I moved to a new place.  In the process, I missed most of the events, concerts, happenings and even some promotional activities that I set up for the station that I work for and represent.  It's a mental and physical process that taxes you because of the countless amount of details involved in business transactions, the preparations and packing that needs to be done before a move and finally, in the emotional transition from one place to another.  Change can be exhilarating, frightening, hopeful...in short, the whole gamut of emotions at the same time.  My wife Isidra and I wanted to take the family to a place where my son Adrian would be able to grow beyond the craziness of Oaktown.  So we did it.  We still have business to settle there as well as adjusting to our new surroundings.  There is good news..I am refocusing on activating this blog again because in my life...music really matters.

Notes From A Friday Night

Last Friday night, I was running around taking care of business but I managed to catch some music along the way around San Francisco.  My friends at La Bohemia Productions presented Paris based Sergent Garcia who rocked the trendy Mezzanine club with this latin Reggae world groove.  He cheerfully led the crowd who was dancing to his raggamuffin beat.  His rhymes flowing on top of his anthemic funky dance hall salsa-fied sound.

On the other side of the city, the outside air was in a cold mist and the music hot at the Fillmore Plaza stage of the Salsa Festival At The Fillmore last weekend.  The festival was produced by Roy Bennett with assistance from Neftali Rosado (leader of Pa'l Bailador).  I caught Carlos Del Sol leading a blistering salsa all-stars ensemble featuring renowned timbalero Louie Romero, trumpeter Julius Melendez, pianist Marco Diaz, bassist Saul Sierra, trombonist Jaime Dubberly..you get the idea.  Salsa Dura was on the menu as vocalist Del Sol served it up as he fronted this band with swing.   Del Sol makes an engaging frontman blessed with his idol looks and fine voice.  He was joined by another fine vocalist singing lead on the other tunes.  

Grupo Bakkan also was on fire with their commercial brand of Salsa with three vocalists led by Toni Neito.  And the multi-cultural Bay Area crowd agreed with that assessment by packing the Yoshi's lounge dance floor as Bakkan put out the hits.  Veteran sonero Fito Reinoso shook the Rasselas spacious back room with his blazing Cuban son, salsa and timba.   Backed by the latest version of his long running band "Ritmo Y Armonia", Reinoso stretched out the tunes until the dancers had to totally surrender to his ectastic sound.

Somewhere in-between everything, I went to support the KPFA sponsored event featuring veteran English roots rocker James Hunter.  He seduced the Bimbos 365 crowd with his retro 50's-60's blue-eyed English soul.  Hunter was a master craftsman at working the crowd with deep soul pouring out of his voice on every tune.  His vocal chops and tasty guitar work drove the tight band to higher ground.  

Essential Listening July 2012

Here are a pair of great cds just in time for Summer listening:

Cheo Feliciano/Ruben Blades "Eba Say Aja"(Ariel Rivas Music) - Two of Salsa great soneros make a gem of a recording! They sing each other's hits backed by a "phat" Vibes sound a la Joe Cuba and a tight rhythm section.  These distinctive stylists are at the top of their game: Blades's sharp intense flow compliments the smooth Feliciano whose soneos are on point.  They get together for two soulful duets "Lo Bueno Ya Viene" and the dynamic bolero "Si Te Dicen".  The real delight is hearing Ruben covering Feliciano's signature tunes such as "Nina" and Feliciano coming back with a gorgeous version of Blades' "Sin Tu Carino".
La Excelencia "Ecos Del Barrio" (Handle With Care) - With their hearts on their sleeve, this street wise monster of a band has put out their best recording so far.  Salsa dura con conciencia is what La Excelencia does best.  "La Economia" says it all with it's relevant social commentary and afinque.  This band swings with fire as it chronicles what is happening with the neighborhood today.   Their big bold sound also takes an Asian flavor with the irresistible "Descarga La Excelencia" or their bid for global domination "Pa'l Mundo Entero"

Yomo Toro RIP

Got the sad news yesterday that the great Puerto Rican master of the cuatro, Yomo Toro passed away.  A musical genius and a virtuoso of his instrument which sounds like a cross between a mandolin and a guitar, his many contributions embellished the Fania sound of the 70's.  From his unforgettable performances with the Fania All Stars to his legendary recordings with Willie Colon and Hector Lavoe, Yomo was a unique presence proudly representing his Puerto Rican heritage.  He was one of a kind!  I had the immense luck of working with Yomo when he appeared at San Francisco Carnaval more than 2 decades ago!  He wasn't on a big ego trip.  On the contrary, he was humble and very gracious.  That man had more swing going on with his small group than most salsa orchestras at the time!  We are lucky that Yomo has left us with a legacy of great music from the Fania days to his solo career.  He has joined the giant jam session in the heavens with all the ancestors who have blessed us with their music.  Ciao maestro!

Carnaval Flashback

Carnaval 2012...the party came and left!  If you were a part of it, you felt the heat from sweaty bodies in glitzy costumes, heard great live music and felt the rush of the excited crowd.  It was a outdoor party in HD.   The Carnaval Parade in San Francisco has always been a mix of the indigenous with the stylish splashed with color on the streets of the Mission District.   The Carnaval Festival is one big party with three stages on 17th, 20th and 22nd.  I was involved as entertainment coordinator for the two-day festival as well as the MC for the 17th Street stage.  It was a lot of work but was gratifying to see Ricardo Lemvo fire up an already acclerated crowd at the festival you helped to organize with other hard working folks.  There were no slouches in the lineups for the two days that featured Avance, Bayonics, Boca Do Rio, Manicato, Team Bahia, Afrolicious, Candelaria, Pa'l Bailador, Mestiza, the Cuban Cowboys, Borinquen, Native Elements, Fito Reinoso, Bang Data, DJ Quick & The DJ Project and others.  With incredible floor shows provided all weekend by the likes of the Aquarella Dancers, Ginga Brasil featuring Queen Ashley George, Fogo Na Roupa's dancing Carnaval army and Samba funketeers.  All one can say after a weekend of that...what a bachcanal!

Hitting The Ground Running

It's incredible how time flies by.  I just returned from a family vacation in Cozumel, Mexico a week ago.  Last week, the biggest decisions in my life was which beach we were going to and what are we going to eat.  Vacations are wonderful if you can get away and if you can afford them in the age of Obama, global warming and dark financial realities.  However,  it's been non-stop since I returned from Cozumel.  I hit the ground running because of my job realities as Music Director at KPFA Radio and as Entertainment Coordinator for this year's SF Carnaval 2012.  Add to that my DJ/Host gigs at Cafe Cocomo and special events such as the upcoming Windsor Carnaval.  And balancing a home life with a family and I'm smokin' baby!!!  It's funny how much you need to push your energy level to accomplish everything that you want in life.  Well I'm ready...let's the games begin!!

Keeping the engine running at SXSW

I'm remembering the whirlwind that was SXSW in Austin.  You have to tackle a conference and festival such as SXSW with plans A to F.  You have to be ready to walk a lot if you start around 11 am and go to the late nighttime hours.  My schedule included interviews meeting artists, publicists and managers on Thursday and Friday which also means that you are missing something because something is always happening at SXSW.  I was also sick with a cold the entire time that I was in Austin which meant you also have to keep your energy up through attending day time scenes such as the MTV Woodie Awards to catch rising blues star Gary Clark Jr. and juggle your time to see latin alternative darlings Ximena Sarinana, Natalie LaFourcade and Javina Mena jam with Mexico's Torreblanca.  In between you make the time to catch a bit of Springsteen's keynote address before running to meet up with Bomba Estereo at the Omni Hotel six blocks away.  Then shoot back to the Austin Convention Center to pick up the ticket for the Boss's show. I had to eat a bite at the Sounds of Spain party where I could take a breather to enjoy a little dish of paella, chorizo and ensalada and savoring a glass of Marques De Caceres.  I'm just talking about a few hours into Thursday.  Let alone the night time gigs where there were showcases in every part of downtown Austin.

Recovering from my SXSW Hangover

I have recovered from my week long hangover from attending South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.  I represented KPFA in my position as Music Director but what got me there was my coverage as a radio journalist and a life long passion for music.  I was ill throughout my entire trip to SXSW but I did manage to interview some key figures in World, Electronica and Latin Alternative music: Simon Mejia, the brain child of Colombia's electro cumbia gods "Bomba Estereo", Jairo "Muchachito" and Simon from Spain's rumba catalana fusion giants "Muchachito Bombo Infierno" and the fiery Nigerian songstress Nneka whose latest cd "Soul Is Heavy" is pulsating with hip-hop, reggae, funk and African grooves.  I was one of the lucky few who got picked from a special lottery to attend Bruce Springsteen's exclusive intimate concert in Austin...what an awesome show!  A two hour, forty minute set with The Boss and his mighty E-Street Band now augmented with a 5 piece horn section (including the late Clarence Clemons nephew on tenor sax) and 2 background vocalists.  Bruce was mighty impressive as he rocked the hell of the Moody Theater, home of tv's Austin City Limits.  Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, Eric Burdon, Tom Morello, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo and The Arcade Fire joined The Boss on stage!  There is so much happening at SXSW that you are actually missing 10 cool things for the one act that you choose to see.  It's an endurance test to see a third of what you wanted to see in the first place.  More to come later.

SF Salsa Rueda Festival celebrates Cuba!

San Francisco is the home to one of the hottest music and dance festivals in Cuban Music.  I was contacted by Serena Wong who along with Nicholas Van Eyck organized the fourth annual SF Salsa Rueda Festival at the Hotel Whitcomb.  Serena and Nicholas also are leaders of the renowned Salsa Vale Todo dance troupe.  It was a joyful celebration of Cuban culture.  I was chosen to MC and present 13 dance troupes who came as far away as China to perform their interpretation of Cuban dance from Rumba to Son to Timba.  What a great show and a fine representation of dancing as large dance troupes showed their best Rueda de Casino moves while some couples displayed a full range of dance from dancing guaguanco to modern timba.  Deejays Antonio, Dark Rum and Walt Digz played music that packed the dance floor throughout the entire weekend.  I caught impressive live sets by Miami's Timbalive and SF's own Rumbache although I wasn't able to make it to see Manolin, El Medico De La Salsa due to the Bay Bridge closure.  However, I heard that he played a great set.  For those who missed this year's SF Salsa Rueda Festival, you may have another chance to check this show out in Las Vegas scheduled for this coming August.  

Making Kids Happy

I had a blast performing as DJ for my 9 year old son's elementary school family dance.  All the kids were happy because I played their favorite hits from Lady Gaga to Rhianna to Train, etc.  The school auditorium was set up with several disco balls that were spraying spears of white light on kids and their parents.  A line of anxious young girls lined up in front of my dj setup on the auditorium stage to request Taio Cruz's "Dynamite".  I started this pre-teen anthem "I came to dance, dance, dance, dance..."and the kids screamed with delight as they jumped up and down.  The 90 minutes flew by as I first played a short set of music before our dance instructor, Liza arrived.  Once Liza got on stage, she led the kids on line dances such as the Chicken Dance, Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide and finally the Macarena.   I played Parliament's "Flash Light" while Liza got all the parents dancing on stage showing the kids their awesome funk moves.  I finally cut loose with a set of dance music that satisfied even the most demanding 10 year olds!!  My son Adrian joined me on stage.  He shook it on stage with the old man while I was playing LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem".  I knew that all the kids wanted to hear "I'm Sexy And I Know It" but I knew I would be on the PTA's blacklist if I played it.   I brought too much music for the short amount of time that I played for the kids but it was worth it.

Another New Year Resolution

I am making a new year's resolution right now to blog more often.  Improve the blog as well.  I know it's February but I'm moving forward.  So keep it locked, I will deliver.  Blog entries coming right up.

Honor Roll Time

I was among four honorees receiving the Armando Peraza Award at the recent 8th Annual edition of the Voices Of Latin Rock Autism Awareness Benefit at Bimbos 365 Club in San Francisco.  I was contacted several months ago by "Dr. Rock" himself...Bernie Gonzalez who wanted to honor my contributions to the Music and Latino/Hispanic communities through my various endeavors including my years as a radio producer and host.  What a thrill it was to be introduced by an old friend, KCSM's own Chuy Varela to a the full house made up of celebrities, music stars, community activists and old friends.  I had a speech planned but was a little thrown off by being asked to come up first.  So I was able to wing it successfully and was able to thank everyone that I wanted to thank...whew!  What an event!  Entertainment was provided by The Family Stone featuring original members of Sly Stone's old band Jerry Martini, Cynthia Robinson and Greg Errico performing rousing versions of the old hits,  the fresh edgy Latin rock of singer/songwriter Blanca Sandoval and the funky pop/rock band led by Miles Schon (son of Neal Schon) and Wil Champlin (son of Bill Champlin).  After all the hoopla has died down, my plaque is placed proudly on top of my fireplace.

LatinJazzingit!

The Grammy Awards was a special celebration that honored a wide spectrum of musical genres.  Due to the Academy's tragic decision to eliminate more than 35 categories, Latin Jazz will not be given its due.  That means that the musicians that have been keeping this genre of music strong and vibrant will not get the hard sought after recognition that they deserve.  Such artists which range from established giants such as Michel Camilo to young lions as the Curtis Brothers will be given the brush off.  Tragic indeed.  We are in 2012, not 1812.  Society supposably has evolved to be inclusive at this day and age.  Or is the Grammys another microcosm of the flawed nature of the times where racism has been accepted in states like Arizona.  Where fences are being built to keep people out who work jobs that the status quo would never accept for less than acceptable wages.  Now Latin Jazz artists are given a flimsy excuse for their exclusion such as they need to compete with "legitimate" jazz artists to be part of the general Jazz genre.  The Latin Jazz category was hard fought for by masters such as Eddie Palmieri and Bobby Sanabria to bring to light the fact that Jazz has always been influenced by latin rhythms and melodies.  What a shame that the Academy wants to censor and minimize the impact of the music.  The Grammys will not be the barometer of great music that it once was.  Instead it will represent the tunnel vision of a privileged few and celebrate the glory of the million sellers.  The Grammys have taken a big leap backward.....what a shame!

Con Sabor Top Picks of 2011/Salsa-Latin Jazz-Musica Cubana

Con Sabor Top Picks of 2011: (in no particular order)
Various Artists "Sono Sono Tite Curet" - Banco Popular
Mambo Legends Orchestra "Ten Cuidado" - Mambo Legends
Various Artists "Salsa - Un Homenaje A El Gran Combo" - Banco Popular
Choco Orta "Choco Swing" - Chocolocoton Basillo
Cachao "The Last Mambo" - Eventus/Sony
Sonido Criminal "Crime Payz" - Sonido Criminal
Don Perignon/Orquesta La Puertorriquena "A Otro Nivel-30 Anniversario" - Al Andujar
Michael Stuart "Tributo A Louie Ramirez" - RLM
8 Y Mas "Una Mas" - 8 Y Mas
Issac Delgado "El Supercubano" - Planet
NG La Banda "Mis 22 Anos" - Egrem
Maraca & Latin Jazz All Stars "Reencuentro" - Maraca/Descarga Sarl
Victoria Sanabria "Mi Decima Con Orquesta" - Echa Compay
Jose Alberto "El Canario" "Original" - Select O'Hits
Pupy Y Los Que Son Son "Simplemente Pupy (Unreleased tracks) - Pupy/Egrem
Stefon Harris/David Sanchez/Christian Scott "90 Miles" - Concord
La Sucursal SA "Sin Fronteras" - La Trifulca
Montuno Swing "Rico Tumbao" - Tumulan Music
John Santos/Coro Kindembo "La Esperanza" - Machete
Jerry Gonzalez Y El Comando De La Clave "El Comando De La Clave" - Sunnyside
Jane Bunnett/Hilario Duran "Cuban Rhapsody" - Alma
Willy Torres "Hardcore" - Latin Street
Bobby Sanabria "Tito Puente Masterworks Live" - Jazzheads
Santiago All Stars - Joya Y Rareza - Hasbun Produciones

2012 starts with a bang!!!

I brought in 2012 as dj at Cafe Cocomo's explosive New Years Eve party going mano-a-mano with local favorites Avance.   The band who has incredibly enough started close to 20 years ago by Santana percussionist extraordinare Karl Perrazo still boasts a front line of youthful looking boy band singers: Armando Cordova, his brother Jeff and Jimmy Flores.  Their dynamic presence combined with a top notch band with a great trombone section provided three sets of fine dance music.   There was a bigger, energetic and excited crowd who brought in 2012 with us at Midnight.  Avance sounded great...they also featured some brand new material in their repertoire along with crowd favorites from their last 3 cds.  The band kept me on my toes but I was ready to play.  I put it in the mix which kept the dancers on the dance floor!  What a way to start the year!