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.