Musical Notation
by George Rivera
Musical Notation
by George Rivera
Hector, Chico, and Poncho Play in New York
July 23, 2000 - This week I'm
going to work in reverse. Today the Colombian community celebrated their
independence day, and as usual the festivities were in Flushing Meadow Park. The
crowd, which was estimated in excess of 850,000, took to the park and celebrated
with lots of food, drink and music. The music was everywhere you turned. The
place to be however, was at the bandstand where Guayacan, Lisandro Meza,
Orquesta Broadway and the Hector Lavoe Orchestra, among a host of many other
musical ensembles, took to the stage. It is still amazing to see how the people
react to Hector's legend. Hector, who has been gone for quite sometime now, is
still a force to be reckoned with. The band was met with the loudest round of
cheers. Anyone would have thought that Hector himself had resurrected and took
to the stage for one last encore. Unfortunately the band's presentation was cut
short due to an overbooked schedule. However, it was good to see that Hector's
music still lives on. Herman Olivera, one of Latin music's unsung heroes, did a
great job as usual handling the vocals for the event.
Chico
O'Farrill is keeping busy working on his latest project. Chico and the orchestra
have been in the recording studio over the last week, and should be finishing up
the latest sessions sometime this coming week. Chico' last project, HEART OF
A LEGEND, has been nominated by LARAS (Latin Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences) for Best Latin Jazz Album.
It's a shame that HEART OF A LEGEND was not even acknowledged by
NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) the last time around. It
really amazes me how artists like Chico seem to always be passed up when these
types of awards are handed out. It really ticks me off especially in the case of
Chico O'Farrill. Chico is one of the the most important figures in not only
Latin music, but in Jazz as well. Not only does his work merit the recognition
of the NARAS membership, the NARAS Board of Governors should also seriously
considered bestowing a Lifetime Achievement Award to Arturo "Chico"
O'Farrill as well. Hopefully, in the next week or so we'll bring you more in
regards to the musical life of this musical giant. In the meantime, if your in
the NYC area you can catch Chico and the orchestra any Sunday night down at
Birdland.
Poncho
Sanchez made a rare NYC appearance last Saturday, July 15th. Poncho and company
were in town for a night of dancing under the stars. Poncho, along with Cuban
flautist Orlando Valle (aka Maraca), were the main attraction for the Midsummer
Night Swing concert series at Lincoln Center. The series, which runs throughout
the month of July, will feature Plena Libre this coming Friday, July 28th.
Speaking of Maraca, he'll be making one last stop here in NYC this Monday, July
24th, at SOB's. If you missed the band's appearance at Lincoln Center you really
don't want to miss this one. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the flute
players residing in NYC show up and jam. I wouldn't be surprised if Fajardo
himself gets up on stage to exchange licks with Maraca. Hey, SOB's is the place
for all this and more. Some of the highlights I've caught at the club include
Danilo Perez jamming with Gilberto Santa Rosa's band, Tito Puente jamming with
Los Papines, and Giovanni Hidalgo and Tata Guines going at it mano a mano.
Well,
the much anticipated Tito Puente/Eddie Palmieri project hit the stores this past
Tuesday. From the look of things it appears to be a winner. We'll give you all a
taste later this week. We had the the first crack at Eddie, who is busy
promoting the release. As usual he had a lot to say, on a lot of things. He is
looking forward to promoting this record and believes that it is an important
project in keeping the roots of this music alive for the next generation. Aside
from Puente and Palmieri's arrangements, Ray Santos was also invited to
participate in the project. It looks like Eddie, along with the members of the
Puente/Palmieri project orchestra, will be the main event at this year's Salsa
festival to be held in Madison Square Garden this coming September.
Hasta la
proxima, ciao…
NightLife in the City
Sunday, July 23
Colombian Independence Festival
Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, NY
Monday, July 24
FREE Jon Secada @ South Street
Seaport, NYC
Orlando "Maraca" Valle y Otra Visión @ SOB's
Tuesday, July 25
Los Adolescentes, Roberto Roena @
Copa
Wednesday, July 26
FREE Jose Alberto "El Canario", Rafael Cruz @ South Street
Seaport 5:30 to 9:pm
For more info: 212. 732-7678
Jose Fajardo @ La Maganette
Miguel Quintana y Los Soneros De Oriente @ Nells
Tropical Wednesdays @ Cafe Remy
featuring Willie Villegas Y Entre Amigos
The party starts at 5:pm • DJ Ray Vázquez & Daniel " El
loco"
Free Buffet & Beer till 6:pm. • FREE Admission before 9:pm
Thursday, July 27
Ray Castro's Conjunto Clasico @ Latin Quarter
FREE Admission All Night
Grupo Imagen @ Windows On The World
Robert Roena @ Copa
Friday, July 28
FREE Hermanos Moreno @ World Trade
Center Plaza 6:pm to 9:pm
Orquesta Broadway @ Wild Palm
Patrick Shannon @ Latin Quarter
Andy Montanez, Bobby Valentin @ Copa
Saturday, July 29
Brenda K. Star, Frase Klave @ Latin Quarter
Conjunto Clasico @ Wild Palm
Andy Montanez, Bobby Valentin & Luis Damon @ Copa
Sunday, July 30
FREE Tono Rosario, Pena Suazo, Jon Secada, Son
By Four,
Victor Manuelle, Pablo Montero @ Flushing Meadow Park, Queens, NY
Monday, July 31
Johnny Pacheco & Monguito @
SOB's
Tuesday, August 1
FREE Yvette Glover, Son Boricua @ Robert F.
Wagner Park in Battery Park
For more info: (212) 416-5343 / (212) 416-5300
Wednesday, August 2
FREE Luis Damon, Ray Martinez @ South Street
Seaport, NYC
Orquesta Broadway @ La Maganette
Thursday, August 3
FREE SEASIDE SUMMER CONCERTS
featuring...
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico,
Jerry Rivera, George Lamond, Limite 21
@ Seaside Park, Brighton Beach
Showtime 7:30pm
For more info: (718) 469-1912 or (718) 284-4700
Frankie Negron @ Latin Quarter
El Gran Combo @ Extravaganza
33-15 Broadway, Qns
For more info: (718) 565-6454
Friday, August 4
FREE Johnny Ray "Salsa Con Clase" @
World Trade Center Plaza
6:pm to 9:pm
Michael Stuart, Eddie Santiago, Eddie Torres
Dancers @ Latin Quarter
Saturday, August 5
FREE Los Soneros Del Barrio @ Roberto Clemente
Park
West Tremont Avenue & Matthewson Road, Bronx
6:pm - 7:30pm • For more info: 718-299-8750
Oro Solido, Cuco Valoy @ Latin Quarter
Sunday, August 6
FREE WILLIE COLON / BORICUA! FESTIVAL
A day-long festival of music, food & crafts in celebration
of Puerto Rican cultural heritage @ Prospect Park Bandshell
9th Street & Prospect Park West, Brooklyn
Tuesday, August 8
FREE Jovenes Del Barrio @ Lindsay Park,
Brooklyn 7:pm
FREE Jose Alberto "El Canario" @
Highbridge Park, Washington Heights, NYC
Wednesday, August 9
FREE Papo Vazquez, Jovenes Del Barrio @ South
Street Seaport, NYC 6-9:pm
FREE Cachao @ Sunset Park, Brooklyn 7:pm
Tipica Novel @ La Maganette
Friday, August 11
FREE Conjunto Imagen @ World Trade Center
Plaza 6:pm to 9:pm
Saturday, August 12
FREE Grupo Caribe @ Roberto Clemente Park
West Tremont Avenue & Matthewson Road, Bronx
6:pm - 7:30pm • For more info: 718-299-8750