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Casa de la Música, Playa / Miramar in Havana Cuba

The month of January 2022 in this prestigious and exclusive place in Havana the best talents, orchestras, singers of the island are being presented, every weekend a different artist with the musical quality that characterizes the Cubans.

Aila Mompie, Asi Son, Tanin Pantoja, Quinteto Maden, Lazarito Valdez y Bamboleo, Papucho y Manana Club, El Hijo de Teresa y la Llegada, Leonel Limonta y Azúcar Negra, Yvan y la Leyenda, La Octava Nota, Zule Guerra, Maykel Hores y RB Salsa, Charanga Latina, Waldo Mendoza, Yordano y el Hermano, Giraldo Piloto y Klimax, Vania, Ronny, Casabe, Max Max, Pascualito Cabrejas y Tumbao, among others.

Since it opened in the mid-nineties, this concert hall has consolidated its position as the temple of salsa and Cuban son in the capital.
a de la Música, Playa / Miramar in Havana Cuba

Since it opened in the mid-nineties, this concert hall has consolidated itself as the temple of salsa and Cuban son in the capital. The best bands have played on its stage and the programming continues to be irreproachable.

It is a beautiful place in Havana, where orchestras from different artistic catalogs of the country perform, a spectacular place to enjoy good popular dance music in its halls.

The house was built in the 40’s in one of the most aristocratic neighborhoods of the capital and was the headquarters of a lodge of the Masonic Foundation. It had two floors of masonry and tiles and included in its ample distribution a party room, stage, and auditorium, a premonition of what it would be half a century later. The Irrumpe Theater Group and the Fondo Cubano de Bienes Culturales (Cuban Fund of Cultural Goods) also passed through it, then sadness came over every corner of the House until EGREM knocked on its doors to break the silence and turn it into the House of Musicians and Cuban Music.

It began with the EGREM Award Gala in April 1995 and in October of the same year, with the concert of the great Cuban musician Chucho Valdés and the group Irakere, it passed the test of fire because this concert was recorded live in the memory of the House thanks to the latest technology equipment it has.

The House was created to exhibit and commercialize the Cuban discography in different media and to promote the recognition of the work of our artistic talents through live presentations, and as a complement to this, the gastronomic offer, always preserving the most genuine values of the national culture.

“International Salsa Magazine is SalsaGoogle.com“.

We are an organization that from the hand of its Founder, Director, and Editor Eduardo Guillarte, in force since 2007 has been working nonprofit helping to promote:

Orchestras, Singers, DJs, Clubs, Plastic Artists in North America, Europe, and Latin America and Asia and with the contribution of volunteers in various parts of the world, which at the same time invite and recommend all lovers, dancers of our Latin music to visit the Casa de la Musica, Playa / Miramar in Havana Cuba.

How to get there: Dale Click Aqui

Calle 20# 3308 cya Havana, Cuba 10400orner of 35 Miramar Pla

+53 7 2026147

Facebook: Casa de la Música de Miramar Playa

Fuente: www.ecured.cu

Aila Mompie, Asi Son, Tanin Pantoja, Quinteto Maden, Lazarito Valdez y Bamboleo, Papucho y Manana Club, El Hijo de Teresa y la Llegada, Leonel Limonta yAzúcar Negra, Yvan y la Leyenda, La Octava Nota, Zule Guerra, Maykel Hores y RB Salsa, Charanga Latina, Waldo Mendoza, Yordano y el Hermano, Giraldo Piloto y Klimax, Vania, Ronny, Casabe, Max Max, Pascualito Cabrejas y Tumbao, entre otros.
Casa de la Música, Playa / Miramar Beautiful place in Havana

Long live music and its unique and great protagonist, La Salsa y  el Son Monte Adentro.

Article Interest: Quinteto D’Amore of Havana – Cuba

Live music and other news in the SF Bay Area

Renowned timbalero, composer, bandleader and vocalist Mario Solomon is the leader of one of the hottest groups performing modern Cuban Dance music in the US: Mario Y Su Timbeko.  Although Mario moved from Oakland to Austin, Texas during the pandemic, he hasn’t stopped his original music from coming out.  His latest single “Sola Te Quedaste” follows three singles that he has released during the pandemic: “Llego Lo Que Te Esperabas”, “Lo Mas Grande” and “Nadie Sabe Nada”.  These songs are to be released as an EP in the first quarter of this year.  Mario Y Su Timbeko consisting of bassist Ayla Davila, guitarist David Lechuga, vocalist and keyboardist Jordan Wilson, pianist and recording producer Jason Moen and conguero Carlitos Medrano will be performing a special concert “Timbeko By The Bay at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley on Saturday, February 12 starting at 8 pm.

Mario explained that the show is like taking a trip with the history of Cuban Music featuring traditional rhythms of Danzon, Cha Cha Cha, Boleros and Changui which will be the focus of the first set.  The second set will feature original music with selections from the new EP.  Many Bay Area-Northern California dancers and listeners alike are big fans of Timbeko’s infectious timba sound which contains elements of RnB, Gospel and Funk.  Mario hopes to have copies of the EP ready to sell at the dance/concert.  There will also be a dance after party with DJ Antonio included in the admission to the show.  For more information on the concert, visit lapena.org.  For more information on Mario Y Su Timbeko, check out their page on Facebook and Instagram.

Mario Mayito Salomón
Mario Mayito Salomón

Montuno Productions will be presenting a Valentine’s Day Concert as part of their Bay Area Latin Jazz Series at Oakland’s fine art deco California Ballroom located on 1736 Franklin Street.  This triple billed show will feature the debut of Cuban jazz vocalist Jessy Diaz accompanied by 4 time Grammy award winner Oscar Hernandez of Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Edgardo Cambon and Candela and ending the show with be the MP All Star Salsa Project directed by pianist Israel “Izzy” Tannenbaum (formerly of Grupo Niche).  I will be your Master of Ceremonies and DJ for the entire evening.  Cuban food will be available for hungry patrons at the concert/dance.  For more ticket information on this dance/concert, you can visit montunoproductions.com

Major cancellations and postponements continue due to the latest Omicron variant of the Coronavirus pandemic.  The Victor Manuelle concert/dance scheduled for the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame has been postponed until Saturday, April 9th per show producers JC Coral and Bosco Vega.  Cuban born Brother-virtuosos violinist Ilmar and pianist Aldo Lopez-Gavilàn protagonists of the film documentary Los Hermanos/The Brothers cancelled their scheduled January 23rd concert at U.C. Berkeley’s Zellerbach Auditorium.  There is no rescheduled date for that show.

On the local club front, Oakland’s own Fresquecito Timba DJ monthly at La Furia Chalaca near Jack London Square produced by DJ Walt Digz was cancelled as well at the beginning of January but the event will be back in February.  The Ramp in San Francisco has temporarily suspended their live and DJ music shows per order of the San Francisco Port.  The Ramp is hoping to resume their live music dates in March.  Other venues such as Space 550 just didn’t reopen in January but will reopen on February 11th with Julio Bravo y Salsabor headlining their Valentine’s Day weekend party.  You may want to double check that the venue is still open and that live music is still going to be presented on the night that you are planning to go out.

This is Julio
Julio Bravo

A scene of many a popular, crowded club night, Lukas on West Grand and Broadway in Oakland the home of Thursday Cuban nights will close at the end of January.  Ahi Na Ma, the production company in charge of the popular Cuban dance night featuring DJ’s Leydis and Antonio have announced that their weekly event will move to a new location soon to be announced.

Ex El Gran Combo vocalist Charlie Aponte will be visiting the SF Bay Area on Friday, April 1 at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission St. in San Francisco.  Jaffe Events will be presenting the show.  Look for Aponte to feature original material from his recordings as well as the many hit songs he recorded with El Gran Combo during his tenure with this great musical institution.  It promises to be a smokin’ show!!

The Seahorse in Sausalito continues to buck the trend and continues to present live music on their outdoors patio stage on Saturday and Sunday evenings starting around 5 pm.  They are featuring Orquesta Taino Feb 6, Karabali with Karl Perazo of Santana and Michael Spiro Feb 12, Louie Romero & Mazacote Feb 13, Salsa Caliente w/Gary Flores Feb 19, Edgardo Cambon & Candela Feb 20 and Braulio Barrera’s Somos El Son on Feb 27th.  KPOO/KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz is the house DJ behind the decks.

Another venue that has stayed open for business in spite of this tough COVID time is the Cigar Bar, 850 Montgomery St. in San Francisco.  You can still enjoy good drinks, fine food and a selection of cigars for your enjoyment.  They have a full schedule on Fridays and Saturdays for February which includes Somos El Son Feb. 4, N’Rumba Feb. 5, Manteca,  Feb. 11, Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble, Feb. 12, La Clave Del Blanco, Feb. 18, Edgardo Cambon y Candela Feb. 19, The Latin Rhythm Boys Feb. 25 and Pacho Y Orquesta Evolution on Feb. 26.  Schedule subject to change due to COVID so check their calendar to confirm acts.  Visit their website at www.cigarbarandgrill.com

This is Edgardo Cambón
Edgardo Cambón

BY LUIS MEDINA, PRODUCER AND HOST OF CON SABOR ON KPFA 94.1 FM AND SABIDURIA CON TUMBAO ON WORLD SALSA RADIO.COM

How Birdland began operating and its role in Latin music

What is Birdland?

Birdland has been the place in which many of the most important New York’s stars of the show were born and has represented the beginning of many artistic careers that have achieved worldwide fame, so this spectacular venue deserves all the recognition and fame that it has accumulated over the years. 

This is a jazz club that began operations in December 1949 in Manhattan and was closed for a few years until its reopening in 1986. What happened was that a second location of the same name was opened in Manhattan and was not too far from the land on which the original club operated. Today, Birdland operates at the same facility as the headquarters of the famous local newspaper The New York Observer in the past. 

Stage at Birdland
Stage of the jazz club Birdland

Story about how the idea to create Birdland was born  

During the 1920s, there were a lot of musicians who had to move to New York City because it was there that the biggest jazz movement of the moment was being produced. It could be said that the birthplace of the most famous jazz styles of the last decades was the Big Apple and its surroundings. 

It was there where and when the musical career of Charlie Parker, affectionately known as Bird by most of his fans, emerged. Some time later, it would be this brilliant artist and talented saxophonist who would get one of the most popular jazz clubs in the city and the country in general named after him. This would be one of the many tributes received by Parker before and after his death in 1955. 

Once Birdland was opened in the late 1940s, the saxophonist began performing there on a regular basis along with many other music legends of the moment such as Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Lennie Tristano, Maxie Kaminsky and many more. Although Birdland was named to honour Charlie, that did not keep the artist from having some friction with Oscar Goodstein, one of the founders of the venue, who said that Parker was constantly asking for too much money. As the story goes, this was the reason why the musician did not perform as many times as expected. 

On the facade of the club, a neon sign could read Birdland, Jazz Corner of the World, making it clear what its customers would find once they entered the facility. Once inside, there was space for approximately 500 visitors and a full orchestra to lighten the mood that night. Birdland included a very long bar, spacious tables, stands with a wide variety of products, folding chairs, among other things. At that time, customers only had to pay a $1.50 fee to enjoy everything that the nightclub had to offer.   

It went on to have so much prestige that it had among its visitors Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Gary Cooper, among other personalities from the entertainment world. It has taken so much popularity in those years that composer George Shearing dedicated one of his greatest creations entitled Lullaby of Birdland to it, which was also inspired by Charlie Parker as well as the name of the place.  

Tommy Potter, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane at Birdland
Tommy Potter, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane performing at Birdland in 1951

The role of Birdland in Latin music 

Just as Birdland contributed to the emergence of important careers in the jazz music scene, it also did the same with a good number of Latin music singers who saw this corner of New York as an opportunity to make their art known to other audiences. One of them was world-famous bandleader, composer and musician Tito Puente, who performed at the venue on several occasions and improvised many sets with Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton. 

There is also the case of Tito Rodríguez, who made use of his great talent to record a spectacular live album entirely dedicated to Birdland and whose name was Live at Birdland. In addition, he featured incredible collaborations with great musicians such as Clark Terry, Al Conh, Zoot Sims, among others. 

Another of the great Latin music artists who came to perform at this venue was Cuban bandleader, arranger and trumpet player Chico O’Farrill. The artist played and recorded at the club on a wekly basis about the time he already had his own orchestra called Afrocuban Jazz Orchestra. Arturo O’Farrill, worthy son of his father, also performs regularly at Birdland with his orchestra The Afro Latin Jazz Ensemble. 

Announcement about Tito Puente's concert
Announcement of Tito Puente’s show at Birdland in 1999

Pianist Fadi Gaziri Debuts In Salsa Music With Cuba Classic

A Studio Album That Reflects The Multicultural Sound Of Western Europe And Latin America

Cuba Classic album cover with colored houses and a red car
Cuba Classic was released in August 2021

The son of medical parents and the grandson of a passionate pianist, Fadi Gaziri ventures into the Salsa world with the album Cuba Classic, independent record production in collaboration with his German colleague and great friend Fritz Wengler.

Cuba Classic fuses the incredible universe of emotions that classical music transmits with the passion, conventional melodies of Jazz, and the rhythmic base of the Caribbean that characterizes Latin culture.

“Arranging classical pieces to fit a Salsa vibe was surprisingly easy… The melodies can be rhythmically changed to suit the Latin vibe while keeping authenticity…” Voiced by the talented British pianist.

This masterpiece with hybrid two-language titles strikes a perfect balance between the original title of a classic work and the sensation of the indicated awakening of a Latin melody. “I always liked Salsa for its quality to make people dance, so naturally and with such confidence.

As for the music itself, I love the colorful brass arrangements and Latin percussion. It’s a lot of fun to listen to and to play… ”. Fadi indicated.

The 13 songs on the album are El Capo (Zarathustra, R. Strauss), 5 Sinfonía De Salsa (Beethoven’s 5th Symphony). “I had a lot of fun with this one. …The Reorganization, the phrasing, using repetitions, increases, and the complete brass arrangement to make it sound like a proper Cuban track”. Fadi added recalling his experience with the production of this theme.

The next track on the album is Mambo Loco Nórdico (Grieg’s Piano Concerto in LA minor), resembling Havana at its turbulent peak and with great determination. Continues, the fourth track Mambo Austriaco (Mozart – Symphony No. 40 and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik), and the exquisite mix of Calipso Alemán (Beethoven’s Symphony 9).

In addition, you will also find in Mambo Classic: G-String Bossa (Air on a G string, JS Bach), Salsa Húngara (Brahms Hungarian Rhapsody) thought for the Latin ballroom dance competition tracks, due to the grace of the exuberant exposure of the horns.

Funeral De Che Guevara (Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsody in C sharp minor), Havanera (Carmen Bizet) is another of the themes that stand out on this album. “It was inspired by the character of Che Guevara and his revolutionary spirit. Along, with a trumpet blast from Mariachi… Fernando’s lyrics and voice also add to the overall feeling”. Gaziri commented to us.

Rumba Rusa (Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky), La Toccata Loca (Bach Toccata in D minor), Green Leaves (traditional Greensleeves), and finally the piece Lambada A La Luz De La Luna (Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven) beginning with the funeral march played with a trumpet solo intervened with a joyous lambada, ending in a Latin urban sound.

Fadi’s main idea with Mambo Classic is to simplify the music on this album for use in schools across the country and have children perform it by simply playing percussion with the backing tracks.

Similarly, Gazziri hopes to present this record production live in 2021 on the big stages of Berlin and the rest of Europe.

Why The Fusion Of Latin Rhythm With Classical Music?

Fadi Gaziri in black and white playing the piano
Fadi Gaziri can handle musical instruments alongside cinematographic elements, folk, and ambient electronic sounds

This talented artist since his return to Hamburg in 2017 has been involved in teaching music to children and teenagers in schools in this port city located in northern Germany.

Gaziri showed signs of concern every day as he observed his students’ reluctance to learn classical music, a feeling already developed as a famed behavior among young people today. But why don’t German students like to learn about their cultural heritage? The main reasons that Fadi realized were that his students were not motivated to continue with their studies due to the complexity of the music and the difficult handling of the instruments that did not allow them to master them quickly.

Realizing this, Gaziri began to devise the fusion of the Latin genre with classical music and thus seek to reverse the discouragement of his students. “I wanted children to learn classical music in a fun and interactive way. Something that would not take long to learn and that could involve all participants, regardless of their age, nationality, or musical ability. Most schools have Latin percussion that sits on the shelves and is rarely used.

So, I thought it would be a great idea to put in some classic melodies and accompany them with this Latin percussion. Wouldn’t it be fun and a good learning experience at the same time? Fadi told us.

Currently, this prodigious pianist is evaluating the possibility of continuing to teach in German schools full-time by 2022.

The Story Of Fadi Gaziri

Fadi Gaziri in his recording studio with pianos around
Fadi Gaziri played the piano first time at the North Pole in August 2021

Fadi Gaziri is a natural music producer and composer for audiovisual media, film, and theater. He was born in Moscow and began his musical studies of piano and violin at the famous Gnessin Music Academy.

At age 12, he moved to Sweden with his family and later to England (1998) where he continued his musical training.

This extraordinary producer studied Music Composition, Piano, and Languages ​​at Durham University in 2004 graduating with great honors and passing his ABRSM piano exams with distinction. Two years later he entered Bournemouth University to study for a Master’s in Film Composition.

That same year (2006) Fadi moved to Hamburg and started working on music for commercials, films, and sound branding. At the same time, he began touring the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Germany accelerating his musical career.

In 2014 Fadi released his first solo album titled Northern Lights, a mix of cinematic and folk sounds that he combines with electronic texture. He used his technological knowledge to loop while playing piano, violin, and adding subtle voices that he performed himself.

Over the next three years, Gaziri released his second EP “The Jump”, founded a music supervision company, and has been dealing with song placement, and licensing for film and television ever since. He assumed a permanent position as an in-house music producer at TUi Cruises in Berlin and composed, and arranged music for more than ten theatrical productions performed on board the ships.

Don’t Think About Not Attend The Alocubano Salsa Festival

It Starts On October 7th in Stockholm, Sweden

Dos hombres vestidos de blanco y un hombre con chaqueta y sombrero azul
Los asistentes deben guardar su entrada impresa o como recibo digital en su dispositivo móvil.

One of the most anticipated Afro-Caribbean events in Stockholm (Sweden) is the Alocubano Salsa Festival. This year, as usual, they will focus on the culture of the Cuban island and will once again do magic with the multiple Bootcamps led by Cuban instructors of trajectory that will focus on the technical development of each dancer that will make them feel comfortable and at home.

To maintain public health security, the Swedish government has drawn up a plan for the lifting of restrictions concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to a more normal daily life. This derogation is based on the gradual elimination of limitations in the country with a maximum of five steps: The first step refers to the extension of restaurant openings until 10:30 PM and releases in the maximum amount of participation in activities at the open-air (Coming from June 1st, 2021). Steps two and three continue with the permission to give training and hold meetings in general without limits of square meters in open and closed spaces (It came into effect from July 1st, 2021). The fourth and fifth steps are estimated to be exposed in mid-September of this current year.

For this reason and in compliance with the measures adopted by the Swedish government, the Alocubano Salsa Festival will be held in 2021 with the main Latin genres of the moment Bachata, Cuban Salsa, Top Mambo, and urban music on four dance floors with eight Spanish-speaking DJs: DJ Javier La Rosa, DJ La’Fe, and DJ Flecha will mix the best Cuban Salsa, while DJ Soto-Mayor and DJ Raymon will make sure the attends do not leave the dance floor with the Reggeaton, moreover, DJ York and DJ DLux will do the same to the rhythm of Bachata, and similarly DJ Mauri will be mixing the best music for Top Mambo.

Venue: Royal Park Stockholm. Frösundaviks allé 15, 169 03 Solna, Sweden

Choose Your Bootcamp

Instructor de baile con camisa blanca y pantalón negro.
During the event, there will be filming and photographs that may include images of private participants

In the Bootcamps, participants will have the opportunity to be in small groups of 20 people, thus achieving a more personalized treatment during the four intensive hours of class, distributed as follows: two hours on Thursday night and the last two night hours will be finished on Friday. Additionally, you will learn a unique and exclusive choreography that you will perform with Cuban instructors on stage during the party on Saturday. (This participation is not mandatory).

Mambo Fusion: Designed for intermediate and advanced dancers. They will have a dress code that will be announced days before the event. The Cuban instructors are Rodrigo & Asya.

Bachata Traicionera: Four intensive hours of exclusive training. Instructors: Sergio and Ana. Level: Intermediate / Advanced. For the performance in the Sergio and Ana show, the participants will use a dress code that will be announced days before the event.

Cuban Salsa: It will last four hours divided into two hours of night practice on Thursday and the remaining two hours will be dictated on Friday. The choreography will be given by Cuban teachers: Seo Fernández and Bárbara Jiménez in individual Bootcamps. Level: Intermediate / Advanced. Essential dress code. The announcement will be on the eve of the event.

Date: Thursday, October 7th – Sunday, October 10th

Full Pass: 210 EUR

Extraordinary Concert with Havana D’ Primera & Alexander Abreu

Orquesta Havana D 'Primera despidiéndose en el escenario con luces azules
Before the concert, there will be two hours of the workshop, followed by Latin parties (before and after HDP) with DJ Soto Mayor and DJ La’Fe

Havana D’ Primera is a Cuban timba band founded by Alexander Abreu in 2007 and made up of 17 of the best Cuban musicians. The orchestra is led by the main composer Abreu, who has stood out for his melodic voice and ability to fuse genres through Salsa such as Jazz, Funk, and other Afro-Cuban rhythms.

“Since its inception, the band has released five studio albums and one live album. Following the release of the debut album Haciendo Historia with EGREM in 2009, its first release for the record label Páfata Productions, Pasaporte in 2012, received favorable reviews from the international press and was voted one of the best Latin alternative albums of the year.

Likewise, they have followed the success of “Pasaporte” with four more albums, released through Páfata Productions, and the last one in co-production with Cuban Producciones Abdala. “La Vuelta al Mundo” was released in 2015. A live album, “Haciendo Historia LIVE”, arrived in 2016, and then “Cantor del Pueblo” in early 2018, earning the orchestra a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Salsa Album.

Finalmente, en 2021 se edita el disco “Será Que Se Acabó”, como homenaje a la música popular cubana de los 80 y 90 ”. Fragmentos extraídos de la biografía de La Habana D ‘Primera

Fecha : Domingo 31 de de octubre de st

Hora : 6:30 PM – 10:20 PM