Musical Notation
by George Rivera
Musical Notation
by George Rivera
June 18, 2000 – Let me start the column off by wishing a Happy Father’s Day to all you fathers out there. Remember, it takes more than just planting the seed to be a father. Let’s all try to be the best possible role models we can for our children for they are our future.
Well, this past week started off with a bang and the momentum continued up until today. As you all should know by now last week Los Van Van, Barbarito Torres, David Sanchez, Bobby Sanabria and Los Lobos started our musical week off at the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival 2000. I needed to chill for a few days so I laid low for a couple of days.
On
Wednesday night things started cooking with a record release party for Carlos
Valdes, aka “Patato” at Nell’s, home of the original CubanSoul dance
party. Six Degrees Records was celebrating the release of Patato: The
Legend Of Cuban Percussion, a compilation culled from the Ritmo Y
Candela sessions. Sitting in with the band was Nicky Marrero, who put on
quite a show proving to one and all that he is one of the best around, if not
the best. The crowd went wild when out of the blue Pete “El Conde” Rodriguez
took to the stage and took over the soneo duties, giving his son a break.
Oriente Lopez, formerly of Grupo AfroCuba, also sat in with the band on piano.
It is always a pleasure to hear Oriente play. If you’re in NYC and haven’t
checked out the ambiente at Nell’s it’s a must.
Friday
night, just like last week, it was down to the Museum of Natural History for
another fix of the Fort Apache Band. For those of you out there into Latin Jazz
this is a must see. Last week Jerry Gonzalez brought on board Cuban drummer
Dafnis Prieto, who went on to steal the show with a display of virtuosity unseen
in any other young drummer on the scene. As if that wasn’t enough this past
Friday Jerry came with Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez. This man is the most
sought out drummer on the scene today. The man has made the rounds with just
about every important band there is from McCoy Tyner to Carlos Santana. Word is
that Steve Berrios will be back with the band this coming Friday, the 23rd
of June. This time since brother Andy will be away a truly gifted young bassist,
Carlito Henriquez, will be subbing with the band. It’s a free event that
starts at 5:30pm so if you’re in Manhattan why not stop by and enjoy the
music. These are events that we should all be supportive of if we want more.
Saturday night it was off to the World Trade Center where Pacheco and Celia Cruz were holding court. Pacheco started things off with a little help from his current vocalist, Casanova. The band was tight throughout the entire set. They had the crowd dancing to tune after tune. Then Celia took to the stage and the crowd picked it up a notch. It was one of the best performances I have witnesses over the last couple of years. Celia’s voice was strong throughout and never gave in. It’s amazing how these old warriors just won’t let up.
As
soon as that was over it was time to make my way up to the Chelsea Pier where
Shanachie Records was showcasing its current roster. Wayne Gorbea y Salsa
Picante, Ralph Irizarry y Timbalaye and Johnny Almendra y Los Jovenes del Barrio
were the top draw. My apologies go out to Wayne and the boys for missing their
set; however, I’m sure he’ll understand.
Ralph Irizarry and Timbalaye put on a strong set which highlighted the bands exceptional chops. The band featured Roberto Quintero (percussion), Luis Perdomo (piano), and Ozzie Melendez (trombone). Timbalaye continues to grow and improve with each and every performance. That is not to say that the band was ever weak. To the contrary, the band has always been a very tight-knit unit; however, it has matured at an accelerated pace and is rapidly becoming one of the premiere Latin Jazz ensembles around.
The night came to an end with the presentation of Johnny Almendra y Los Jovenes del Barrio. This is one of my favorite groups around. First of all it is different from all the rest because it is a charanga, but not in the traditional sense. While Los Jovenes can be traditional at times, they manage to keep your interest with some funky and jazzy twists, as well as some contemporary Cuban twists. If you haven’t as of yet caught this band in action I suggest you make your way down to Gonzalez Y Gonzalez (Broadway & Houston St.) any Wednesday night. Guess what, this is another freebie. The band usually starts things off around 9:00pm and it's over just like that by 12:00am.
So, there you have it. A week full of music and it’s not even over yet. Let’s see, today there’s Chico O’Farrill and Cachao at Central Park’s Summer Stage, another freebie, tomorrow it’s Bamboleo at SOB’s, Tuesday it’s Aragon and Ruben Blades at Carnegie Hall, and the music just keeps on coming...
Hasta la proxima, ciao…
NightLife in the City
Monday, June 19
Bamboleo @ SOBs
Tuesday, June 20
Ruben Blades & Editus, Orquesta Aragon @ Carnegie Hall
Bamboleo, Jimmy Bosch @ Copacabana
Wednesday, June 21
"Direct from Japan & Spain" Toshiyuki Miyama & The New Herd
Chano Dominguez Group @ Bryant Park (42nd & 6th Ave. NYC) 12:00pm
Willie Villegas y su Orquesta@ Club Ivy
Thursday, June 22
Tito Rojas @ Latin Quarter
Johnny Almendra Y Los Jovenes Del Barrio @ Tony's Of Worth
(Worth Street Bet. Broadway & Church St)
Banda Loca, David Cedeno @ Windows On The World
Friday, June 23
Joe King @ Tony's Of Worth
Ralph Irizarry, Jovenes Del Bario, & Wayne Gorbea @ Bryant Park 12:00pm
Grupo Melao @ Wild Palm
Tito Rojas, Tono Rosario @ Copacabana
Saturday, June 24
5 Time Grammy Award Winner EDDIE PALMIERI with
Cheo Feliciano, Domingo Quinones, Michael Stuart,
Isidro Infante & The RMM Orchestra
Special Guest Soloist David Sanchez
@ Carnegie Hall
Toby Rivera & John Silver @ Wild Palm
Bamboleo, Johnny Pacheco, Aldaberto Santiago, Yomo Toro @ Copacabana
Sunday, June 25
Luis Damon @ Copacabana
Monday, June 26
Truko & Zaperoko@ SOBs
Tuesday, June 27
Jose Alberto, Cuco Valoy @ Copacabana
Wednesday, June 28
Ray Sepulveda @ Club Ivy
Albita @ Lincon Center
Thursday, June 29
Raulin Rosendo @ Latin Quarter
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs @ Copacabana
Wayne Gorbea @ Windows On The World
Tito Rojas @ Copacabana
Friday, June 30
Ray De LaPaz @ Tony's Of Worth
Luis Damon @ Cafe Remy
Sublime (Charanga) @ Wild Palm
Gilberto Santa Rosa, Ravel @ Copacabana
Saturday, July 1
Gilberto Santa Rosa, Son By Four @ Copacabana
Sunday, July 2
Little Louie Vega, Nuyorican Soul Orchestra @ Central Park Summerstage
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Jose Alberto, Fiesta @ Copacabana
Monday, July 3
Ray Sepulveda @ Latin Quarter
Tuesday, July 4
Luis Damon, Venessa, Ravel @ Copacabana