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You will hallucinate with these 4 Salsa clubs in Spain

Barcelona is the second destination city with the major Salsero movement in the Iberian Peninsula

After the Spanish capital, Barcelona, Galicia, and Alicante are the main cities with the greatest salsa identity.

During the 90s this tropical rhythm began to be adopted in the territory and the first cities to put aside the prejudice toward Latin music were Madrid, Murcia, Cádiz, and Galicia, although Salsa was always heard in the Canary Islands but that is a story that we will tell later.

Currently, Barcelona is the second city with the most salsa movement and there are many options where you can enjoy an amazing dance experience in combination with tropical music and amplified energy. So, we will give you a guide to four clubs that have left their mark in Spain with Latin rhythms and which we assure you that you will love a lot.

Mojito Club

Mojito Club is 100% Salsa & Bachata on Thursdays and Sundays

If there is a place where you can go dancing Salsa and enjoy an unforgettable night out, that place is Mojito Club. Indeed, this club is a reference for Salsa in one of the fascinating cities in Spain with architectural landmarks and where more people like this Caribbean rhythm, Barcelona. On its dance floor, you can have a great time until dawn. Thursdays are from 11 PM with the usual Salsa and the most current Latin sounds with local DJs. Does it surprise you? Wait, there is still more to celebrate. On Fridays and Saturdays, they play the most international Latin music and on Sundays, it’s student day from 8 PM.

Mojito Club also has a dance school where they teach classes of Salsa and Bachata to start or improve. These lessons are entertaining, educational, and fun. Each course is 10 hours long and the lessons are from Monday to Friday. It’s not necessary to attend as a couple. Registration is free and costs € 29 per month.

The charm of Mojito Club https://mojitobcn.com/ is located at Rosellón Street, 217. 08008 Barcelona.

Sabor Cubano Sarrià

Luis Alberto Díaz “El Negri” plays the big hits of traditional Cuban music on salsa nights

It’s true Barcelona is almost the cradle of Salsa in this European country. Sabor Cubano Sarrià is one of the town’s Salsa clubs. This Night Club offers live music with the virtuous Cuban pianist, Luis Alberto Díaz “El Negri” also you can dance to the melodies of Cuban Salsa, International Salsa, Bachata, and urban rhythms with DJs. Here, you will find Salsa and Bachata teachers who give free lessons for beginners at 8 PM every Sunday with minimum consumption. Sabor Cubano Sarrià https://www.facebook.com/saborcubanoclub is one of the clubs where you can have fun with the two most widespread Latin dances in the world. It opens its doors from 7 PM to 12:30 AM and you can find it at Calle Marià Cubí 4. 08006 Barcelona.

Baby’Oh

Baby’Oh is a meeting point for lovers of Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba

Baby’Oh is another fantastic club to enjoy Salsa and is easy to locate in Alicante at Calle Sabadell, 16, 03203 Elx. It is characterized by having a large room to dance and slide with quick movements and turns. It has a terrace for smokers, V.I.P and Reserved areas, as well as Table Service. Additionally, Baby’Oh https://www.facebook.com/babyohelche/ offers monthly events, workshops (Saturdays), and live performances with stars and emerging Salsa and Bachata artists.

Salason

This cultural platform is designed with exceptional acoustics and cutting-edge technology.

The last stop in this guide with the four Salsa clubs in Spain with which we assure you that you will hallucinate is Salason. Of course, you will learn Cuban-style Salsa and Rueda Casino as well as traditional Bachata lessons with maximum fun, coordination of movements, and body language.

You can practice on Tuesdays in two groups: Students (intermediate level), the Salsa lessons start at 8 PM, and the Bachata group starts at 8:30 PM.

Thursdays are classes for beginners with two choice times: 8 PM and 9:30 PM.

Salason https://salason.es/ is a structured building with three independent rooms but complementary to each other and is located in the northwest of the country at Calle Lirio, 30 Cangas Do Morrazo, 36940, Galicia.

Current news in the San Francisco Bay Area

What is happening now?

Tito Garcia-The Doctor of Salsa, the renowned colorful bandleader and timbalero of Tito Garcia y Orquesta Internacional passed away on Saturday, April 23rd after a long battle with cancer. Tito has performed Salsa and Charanga in the 1970’s with the seminal SF based bands Ritmo 74 and later Charanga Rene Del Mar. He later spearheaded the band “Orquesta Salsa Dulce” in the late 1980’s which morphed into the first edition of his band La International featuring a young Julio Bravo on coro in the early 1990’s. La Internacional were remembered for their explosive performances by dancers and aficionados.

Tito was a staple at the late, famed salsa palace Cafe Cocomo with his monthly “Mambo Saturdays” during the early 2000’s. I often was the DJ during those hot nights. His band featured fine musicians and vocalists such as former Batachanga vocalist Ricky Rangel, congueros Eddie Borrero and Sandy Perez of Los Muñequitos De Matanzas and keyboardist Coto Pincheira who relocated to New York.

Tito García had been fitghing against, cancer, which took his life at the end

Tito resurfaced after his bout with Cancer in 2020 to relaunch La Internacional but the comeback was short lived due to his health issues. He later hosted some outdoor rumba sessions near his new home of Vallejo but those dates were limited due to COVID restrictions. He relapsed during his recent trip to Costa Rica and died due to complications with his recovery. He will be sorely missed.

Don’t forget coming up on Friday, May 6th at 8 pm with be the tremendous Cuban music double bill of “El Tren De Cuba”…Los Van Van and Alexander Abreu y Havana d’Primera at the UC Theatre, 2036 University Avenue in Berkeley. Two of the powerhouses of Cuban Popular music are appearing together for the first time in the US and on only certain dates of the tour…SF Bay Area residents are blessed to have this double bill play here! DJ Antonio will spin in-between sets. I will be your MC for the evening. Run to get your tickets because they’re going fast! For more information, go to jaffeevents.com

Salsa superstar Oscar D’Leon and his orchestra will visit the SF Bay on Saturday, May 21 at Roccapulco, 3140 Mission St. in San Francisco. Oscar is still one of the dynamos to watch perform live…a tremendous show! Guayacan Orquesta from Colombia will also play on Friday, May 13 at the Mission Street hot spot. Also coming to Roccapulco Sat. June 11th…the Homenaje A La Musica Cubana featuring Mayito Rivera, Alain Perez, Yeny Valdes, Lily Hernandez “La Amaona” and Julio Cesar “JC Five” plus DJ Walt Digz (SF) and DJ Jimmy Rumba (LA) and on Thursday, July 7th…the explosive sounds of Pupy Y Los Que Son Son direct from Cuba.

Oscar D’ León will be in the San Frrancisco Bay Area on 21 May

SF JAZZ and the San Francisco Jazz Festival are featuring an impressive array of Salsa, Cuban and Latin Jazz starting Wednesday June 8 with Pacific Mambo Orchestra. Followed by Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Grammy nominee Aymee Nuviola 6/9; Chucho Valdes with Dianne Reeves and Joe Lovano 6/12; Changui Majadero 6/13, Danilo Perez Global Messengers 6/14; Issac Delgado’s Con Tumbao Project w/Miguel Zenon, Oscar Hernandez, Pedrito Martinez, Alain Perez, Tony Succar and more 6/18. SF JAZZ and Stanford University co-presents Eddie Palmieri and Arturo Sandoval at Stanford’s Frost Amphiteater on July 23. Info: www.sfjazz.org.

The Yerba Buena Gardens Festival will begin Saturday, May 7th from 1 to 2:30 pm with a free concert featuring local treasure Jesus Diaz y Su Habana Afro-Cuban Ensemble featuring a lineup of heavyweights from Cuba and the SF Bay including Ariacne Trujillo Duran, Leider Chappotin, Raul Pineda, Roberto Junior Vizcaino, Karl Perazzo, Jeff Cressman, Melecio Magdaluyo and Julio De La Cruz. The Yerba Buena Gardens is located on Mission Street between 3rd and 4th Streets in San Francisco. Visit ybgfestival.org for more information. There will also be an after party featuring Jesus Diaz and the Habana Afro-Cuban Ensemble and DJ Carlitos Way at the Elbo Room, 311 Broadway in Oakland.

The San Francisco Carnaval and much more

The annual Carnaval San Francisco is back on the streets of San Francisco on Sat, May 28 and Sun. May 29th with the theme Colores De Amor. The two day festival will take place on Harrison between 17th and 22nd Streets from 11 am to 6 pm. The grand parade will take place on Sunday, May 29th starting at 9:30 am on 24th and Byrant Streets. Scheduled to perform will be Jesus Diaz y Su QBA, Momotombo, Sambada, Javier Navarette & His Socially Distant Friends, Dos Four, Puro Bandido, Namorados da Lua, Annette Aguilar & West Coast Stringbeans, Susanna y Orquesta Adelante, Magna Fresq, Los Allegres Callejeros, Aqua Pura, Mariachi Juvenil, Azul Latino and more. Headliners TBA. Food, Beer, Crafts, DJ areas and Cannabis gardens on the grounds. Free! For more information: carnavalsanfrancisco.org.

There is a new Salsa scene happening on Thursdays starting May 12th at Charley’s LG, 15 N Santa Cruz Ave, Los Gatos presented by your friends at International Salsa Magazine. Opening night at this state of the art club will feature the swinging sounds of the multi-talented vocalist/conguero Edgardo Cambon and Candela. I, Luis Medina from KPFA/WSR and International Salsa Magazine will be your DJ. World Salsa Radio DJ El De La Clave will also be in the house. Dance lessons by Migi & Angel starts at 8:00 pm. Music starts at 9 pm. The upcoming schedule is the following: Julio Bravo and Salsabor 5/19, Manny Martinez and La Rebeldia 5/26 and the Charanga sounds of Orquesta La Moderna Tradición 6/2. Thursday nights just got hotter in the South Bay…be there!!

Edgardo Cambón at The Seahorse Restaurant, Sausalito

The Ramp at 855 Terry Francois Blvd in San Francisco continues to present Salsa orchestras on Saturday afternoons starting at 5 pm. The night is closed on June 7th for a private event, The Ramp’s first Salsa festival featuring 2 bands: Gary Flores y su orquesta Salsa Caliente and Eric Rangel and Orquesta America 5/14, The Latin Rhythm Boys 5/21 and Louie Romero and Mazacote on May 28th. DJ Mendy spins in-between sets and after the live music from 9 to 11 pm. The Ramp has a great patio overlooking the SF Bay and serves food and drinks.

The Seahorse located at 305 Harbor Drive in Sausalito features live music plus KPOO-KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz on Saturday and Sundays. Sat, April 30th features La Clave Del Blanco, Rene Escovedo Salsa Band with Ric Feliciano Sun 5/1; Edgardo Cambon & Candela Sun, 5/8; Orquesta Timbalero Sat, 5/14; Louie Romero & Mazacote Sun, 5/15; Susanna y Adelante Sat, 5/21; Orquesta La Original w/Alexis Guillen 5/22; Pepe Y Su Orquesta Sat. 5/28; and Orquesta Taino Sun. 5/29. Enjoy the fine Italian cuisine, beer, wine and ambiance both indoors and the outdoor patio at this scenic spot just crossing the bridge to Marin County.

The Cigar Bar, 850 Montgomery St. in San Francisco is a favorite spot to dine, have drinks, enjoy a cigar in the courtyard and dance to hot Salsa music. The calendar for May includes Manteca 5/6, Orquesta Timbalero 5/7, Somos El Son 5/13, Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble 5/14, N’Rumba 5/20, Edgardo y Candela 5/21, Orquesta Taino 5/27 and La Clave Del Blanco 5/28.

René Escovedo will perform at the Seahorse Restaurant, Sausalito, on May 1

DJ Walt Digz has a hot Wednesday night Cuban scene “El Timbon” happening at the Slate Bar, 2925-16th Street in San Francisco. Digz also hosts his own livestream called “El Timbon” featuring the latest Timba, Cuban Salsa and Cubaton videos every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 pm on Twitch. He also keeps busy by hosting the monthly Fresquecito Saturday nights at La Furia Chalaca in Oakland and the outdoor El Timbon En El Callejon Sundays from 3 to 8 pm at Vida Cantina, 56 Belden Place in San Francisco. Digz also continues his original Friday La Tropi-Cal monthly at Il’ Pirata in SF with Añejo Productions now going on their 21st year!

Berkeley’s Ecology Center will present the Berkeley Farmer’s Market Salsa Festival on Saturday, May 21 from 10 am-5 pm. This free event will feature Christian Pepin and Orquesta Bembe, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Peruvian keyboardist Erick Peralta and Band, Berkeley High School Youth Ensemble and the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble. Dance performance and Dance lessons by Rebecca Galindo. Food, crafts and more. For more information, visit www.ecologycenter.org.

Don’t forget to check out my radio programs: Con Sabor now in it’s 25th Anniversary Year on KPFA 94.1 FM every Saturday night from 9 to 11 PM PST and Sabiduria Con Tumbao every Wednesday night 5 to 7 pm PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com.

That’s it for this month! Ciao 4 now!

Cuban singer Daymé Arocena and her pride of being Afrocuban

This is our conversation

Here we are with Cuban artist Daymé Arocena who lives now in Canada. How are you, Daymé? Nice to meet you and great to have you here today.

Hello, nice to meet you. Thank you very much for the invitation. It is my pleasure to be here talking to you.

I understand that your musical career started at the age of eight. What made you start walking this path? What was the experience that made you make that decision?

I never made the decision to become a musician. I think it was part of the package. I never said that this is what I wanted to do because I’ve always done it. From the age of eight, my parents began taking me to music lessons and preparing me to came to the art and music school and the conservatory of music. I started singing with the choir in the community of 10 de octubre, where I came from. That’s how I started performing and getting up on stage as a soloist of a choir.

Daymé Arocena was born in Havana, Cuba

Considering that you come from a musical family and that music was always present at home, I imagine that also influenced your interest in making a career of it.

My family is profoundly musical, but they are not professional musicians. My dad is a music lover, but he is not a musician. My mother is a health care worker, qualified as a child cardiovascular surgeon. Actually, these are people who have a very nice sensibility for music, but they are not professionally dedicated to it.

I grew up in an intense environment. My house had many people; when I was born, there were already 22 people living at home, but some of them found more comfortable spaces to move and we became a family of 14. I was born in the 90’s, which was when the big crisis occurred and big power cuts were more frequent. There were electricitiy for very few moments during the day, so we couldn’t listen to the radio or TV. Then, my uncles and cousins kept singing, so I grew up watching the family sing and dance. In fact, several of my cousins today are folk musicians who went on to play in various traditional musical groups. It was a deeply spontaneous issue. I saw people enjoying and trying to alleviate the sufferings and shortages they were experiencing.

I imagine that musical and artistical growth in this context was very difficult. What challenges did you face in Cuba in becoming the artist you are today?

The mere fact of being born in Cuba is a challenge, but I had to face things beyond the fact that I was born on an island ruled by a dictatorial regime and all that that means. There was a lot of deep racism and a way to slyly to deal with social classes. For all these years, I have tried to purge my energy of resentment and pain caused by the situation and turn all these feelings into light and creativity. In my case, A lot of things happened like feeling uncomfortable in my own skin and not knowing how to deal with my skin color, my hair and my race. Today, I am deeply proud of my blackness and defend it to the death, but I went through a very hard and aggressive process before that.

The young and not so young prople have to know that you can make art and music through your own essence without having to please the eyes of a few.

So you would say that those things that were an obstacle are now part of your cover letter.

Totally. And proudly, too.

Daymé is deeply proud of her blackness

After leaving Cuba

When you left Cuba, what kind of support did you receive? What was the hardest moment?

Although I’ve spent years touring and working for years, I made the decision to leave Cuba a couple of years ago. I received a lot of international support that made my music visible, but it started playing long before I left my country. In Cuba, there is a control mechanism for artists consisting on a permit issued by the minister of culture to be able to practice that profession.

You can graduate from art school with full honors in the world, but that’s irrelevant because you graduate to be a music teacher, not a musician as such. In order to go on stage and get paid for your work, you need a permit issued by the Minister of Culture himself. To get it, you have to go through a lot of bureaucratic barriers such as commissions, auditions, among others. I didn’t have that permit to sing and profit from my singing when I met the record label that launched me as an artist. One day, I was singing in a deeply underground space without anyone’s permission. When I started to sneak into those spaces, my mom always told me to sing with energy because I never knew who was going to listen to me.

One day of those, a person named François Renié was watching me from the audience. This man was the creative director of the Havana Cultura platform. At that moment, they asked me to make a record with international DJs and singers. They invited me to do a casting, I showed up there, was selected and recorded the album despite not having permission to sing. When I was invited to the realease of the record in England, I showed them the music I Wrote and they offered me to sign with them officially.

You have been compared to Celia Cruz, Nina Simone and other artists of this stature because of your style, what do you have to say?

I had no idea who Celia Cruz was and it’s something I’m ashamed of. When I was compared with Celia Cruz, I wondered who she was. I think I really knew her following those comparisons.

Daymé thinks new generations have to know who Celia Cruz was

I think it has to do with that idea of homogenizing Cuban music into one thing. It was when I was compared with Celia that I started to find out about her and knew that she was the most universal of Cuban artists. She had a phenomenal way of petforming, transmitting, impacting and being as authentic. Musicians who do have access to Celia must do their utmost to let the new generations know who she was. If they can’t listen to her on the radio or TV, they can go online to listen to her and find out who La Guarachera de Cuba was.

How do you think Canadians perceive your music?

I have done very few concerts in Canada as a soloist. In fact, I’m not even there at the moment, but in Puerto Rico. I can’t provide an overview of how Canadians perceive me, but I do think that they are super friendly, docile and open to all kinds of music. They appreciate, dance and enjoy whatever you play. I must thank my ancestors for the expansion of my music beyond the Canadian framework, so I don’t rely on that market for a living.

Do you plan to stay in Puerto Rico permanently?

I came to Puerto Rico to record my next album. I’m super happy and honored to be able to do it on this island so similar to mine because it has so much culture and colorful art. Here, I found the industrialization and visibility that Cuba doesn’t have. I still don’t know if I’m going to stay here for the rest of my life, since Canada enters into my plans in some way, but this is the stage I must live now.

Daymé Arocena is now living in Puerto Rico and recording her new album

Incredible conversation with Felipe Martínez about his career in the SF Bay Area

Here is the conversation

We are here with Felipe Martínez. He is a dance instructor, broadcaster and event organizer. Good afternoon, Mr. Martinez, how are you today?

Very good afternoon. Thank you very much for the invitation.

How did you start your way in the world of music? Did you do it in your native Colombia or there in the United States?

It officially started officially here in the United States, but Colombia also played an important role in this process. In my country, I played soccer and many of my football buddies came from the coast or north of Colombia. I am from the center of the country in Bogotá. When it was our turn to meet in the bus that would take us to our place of practice, each one of them carried a cassette tape to listen to salsa or music from the Colombian Caribbean. That is how I was gradually introduced into the world of music and got interested in salsa and Caribbean music, but I grew up listening to rock and pop.

Felipe Martínez in his studio

So, we can say that your taste in music started in Colombia, but you developed professionally in the United States, is that right?

That is correct. When I came to the United States, I started dancing professionally.

You started working as a dance instructor and then as a DJ when you arrived in the United States. Meaning that you had no experience in these things from your country, but you gained it in your new country of residence.

That is right. In the case of locution, I worked as a radio host for about three years in Colombia. I hosted a show with my friends while attending high school, but we were dedicated to rock because it was the genre I listened to the most. When I came to the United States in 1998, I started dancing, working with several dance companies, and studying for a while before I started teaching, so it did not happen immediately. I studied for about four years, and after that, I decided to teach. As for my work as a DJ, that almost happened immediately. In 1999, I started making music in a little club called Café Caracas in Berkley. It was by pure chance because the hired DJ didn’t show up, so the owner of the club asked me to play for a while to cover that space. I replied yes, so I started playing music that night and it all worked out. They proposed me to keep doing it permanently, I accepted and that’s how my career as a DJ began.

Luis Medina told me in his interview that he is sometimes forced to play music he doesn’t really like, but it’s what the public wants. Apart from salsa, what other genres do you play or mix?

Salsa is just a general term for all these rhythms we have. I usually mix salsa with bachata, merengue or cha cha chá. However, I don’t usually include reggaeton in my repertoire despite its popularity.

Felipe Martínez in his work as a DJ

How World Salsa Radio started

How did World Salsa Radio start? What drove you to found it?

Worldsalsaradio.com (www.worldsalsaradio.com) started as an adventure alongside a friend at another radio station. The main idea was to educate listeners about the history of records and what they include such as singers, artists, musicians, etcetera. These days, you buy an MP3, but all you can see is the name of the song and the picture, so you lose all the album information such as credits, recording place, among other details.

In my travels around the world, I have known many DJs, whom I contacted when this project started to get them to this station to do shows. Remember that the main objective was to educate the public, then, the guy with whom we started the station took a different path because we had artistic differences, so we decided to separate.

That’s how World Salsa Radio started. During the pandemic in 2020, I was here at home for about three or four months arranging everything. I invited two other friends from the Bay Area, one of them was DJ Orlando Felix, DJ Boricua, and Ivette Fuentes, DJ La Coqui. The three of us started shaping the idea of World Salsa Radio with the same goal of educating as in the beginning. I take care of all the technical part, invite DJs to play, teach them to use the software and tell them what to say. We are already 27 DJs from all over the world and, at the moment, DJ Boricua and I are the ones who run the station.

Indeed, you have DJs from the five continents. How did you manage to unite them all in the same project?

I think the idea that brings us together is the goal of educating the public that listens to us. We want to play great music, but we also want to educate people about what we play. This is something that attracks music collectors because all that information is being lost due to the digital age. I know many who are on World Salsa Radio in person, but I heard the rest of them by other means such as a Facebook Live or YouTube. I contact the ones I like, we exchange ideas and it is explained to them what they should do.

Cuban singer Omara Portuondo and Felipe Martínez

What have been the most noticeable differences in the team?

Each DJ has a different style. We all have a different style even though we are playing Afro-Latin music. Everything played here in California is very different from everything played in Lithuania. Although we all collect the same music, everyone plays it differently.

How dod the public receive World Salsa Radio?

At first, the audicence reception was very small. The first month, we had barely 300 listeners, but we have a very large group of listeners who stay tuned to us despite the time. There are about 100 listeners who are permanently connected with us. We started the project during the pandemic, which was very good for us because everyone was home. So, people who enjoy this music, dancers or musicians listened to our shows on a recurring basis. Two years later, there are already 16,000 people who tune us in every month.

There are many people supporting us without any profit motive because we do this for free. No one is paying us to move the project forward, so we are financed by donations. We also have great support on the advertising side, which has helped us grow.

World Salsa Radio is now ruled by Felipe Martínez

As a dancer and instructor, what do you think people are most passionate about in your classes? What rhythms do they enjoy the most?

As to how I teach, I use percussion much. Since I play the conga, I use this tool to give my classes. I try not to give so much importance to numbers. Many instructors use counting to teach their students, but I try to keep out of it and use percussion. For example, I use the clave and the tumbao.

I think this method works best. If you go to a club with an orchestra playing, the singer is not going to be counting on you to dance, he’s going to be focused on making his music and providing entertainment. For the same reason, you must learn to follow the music without counting.

What have you done to balance all your activities in music?

My activities are linked, but they are separated at the same time. My personal projects have nothing to do with World Salsa Radio. However, when an event invites several DJs from the station, the World Salsa Radio logo joins that production. However, I try to take things apart most of the time.

Your pages, social networks and links to financially support the station.

You can find all the information through worldsalsaeradio.com. In the main part, there is a button that says Donations, which takes you to the station’s PayPal account. People can donate whatever they want to help us, but nothing happens if they can’t. In that case, they can spread the word about the station. In that case, they can show what we do through their social networks and give us publicity.

Felipe Martínez does not combine his activities

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Instagram: Eldelaclavesf

NOTICIAS CON SABOR MARCH 2022 by Luis Medina

Live music and other news in the SF Bay Area

I recently interviewed percussion phenom and timbalero for Santana, Karl Perazzo on my KPFA Radio program Con Sabor. He is quite a busy man…I caught up to him while he is in Las Vegas for rehearsals for Santana’s upcoming slew of shows at the House Of Blues. In addition to his busy schedule with Santana, Karl has other projects during his spare time that include the SF based all-star Salsa band Karabali as well as guest appearances with Salsa Caliente that kept him busy during the COVID. He also appears on occasion with fellow bongocero Jake Jacobs band VibraSON. On top of all of that, Perazzo also creates and manages his own line of jewelry.

Perazzo, a self taught musician who was drawn to the drum and Afro-Cuban music as a young child and started his musical studies at the age of 8. Karl is a phenomenal percussionist who plays masterful Timbales, Bongo, Congas, cowbell and an impressive array of percussion instruments. He has been a mainstay in the Santana band for the past 31 years inheriting the Timbales spot from the legendary Orestes Vilato. Perazzo is still going strong keeping the percussive fire burning on Santana’s latest recording Blessings and Miracles. The band will be launching a major tour with Pop legends Earth Wind and Fire later this year. He has his own signature line of Latin Percussion congas and bongos that he designed himself with a distinctive Dia De Los Muertos sugar skull theme to honor the ancestors.

Karl Perazzo and his instruments — Percussionist and timbalero for Santana Karl Perazzo

Perazzo has previously performed with the greats such as Tito Puente who mentored him when he was a young kid along with another fellow kid phenom Gibby Ross. I saw Karl and Gibby playing with Tito on stage-what a sight to see! Karl also played with Sheila E. (as a member of her band in her emergence as a huge star in the 1980’s), Prince, Pete Escovedo, Dizzy Gillespie, Malo, Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Ray Obiedo, Andy Narell, Jorge Santana, Raul Rekow and many others. Perazzo also formed the popular SF based salsa band Avance which had a long run starting in the early 1990’s. The group disbanded in 2020. Karl has kept himself connected to his roots which is Salsa and Afro-Cuban music but has always kept his hear open to all types of music since his childhood. He credits his father who always encouraged Perazzo to push himself to be a complete percussionist, to learn how to sing and be a versatile performer.

Perazzo is now launching his own YouTube show “The Backstage Show” on the TBS Music Channel in the next couple of months which will focus on fellow creatives such as musicians, artists, chefs, writers and other notable individuals involved in arts and culture. Perazzo who is the host of “The Backstage Show‘ told me that the program’s mission is “to turn music into inspiration“. I asked Karl Perazzo what keeps him going. He told me “you have to have passion in whatever you do in life…whether it’s sweeping the floor or playing the drum”. You can feel that burning passion, inspiration and enthusiasm along with those great playing chops whenever you see him play live! You can catch up with Karl Perazzo by following him on Instagram under karlpperc.

Music Notes

Music Notes: Salsa superstar Luis Enrique and Peruvian salsero Josimar Y Su Yambu are the new headliners replacing Victor Manuelle on Saturday, April 9th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Burlingame. Promoters JC Coral and Bosco Vega are presenting the show which originally was scheduled for early February but was postponed due to COVID restrictions. The new lineup was announced earlier in February. For tickets, visit eventbrite.com, tickeri.com, ticketsparati.com or call 415-424-8809 or 650-218-0861.

Luis Henrique performing — Luis Henrique on stage

Former El Gran Combo vocalist Charlie Aponte will be singing his original solo material as well as a slew of his great Gran Combo hits on Friday, April 6 at Roccapulco in San Francisco. Pepe Y Su Orquesta will be opening up the show brought to you by Jaffe Events. Roccapulco will also be presenting the red hot Combinacion De La Habana with a high energy six man vocal front line for their SF debut on Saturday, March 5th. CDLH is under the direction of Gerson Valdes, the nephew of iconic pianist Chucho Valdes and performs Timba mixed in with Reggaeton and Salsa Dura. This popular group is embraced by Cuba’s youthful fans and making fans everywhere.

Jaffe Events in association with MGD Productions will be presenting a dream Cuban music double bill featuring Los Van Van and Havana d’Primera with Alexander Abreu on Friday, May 6th at Berkeley’s UC Theatre, 2036 University Avenue. DJ Antonio will also play in-between sets. I have the honor of serving as the Master of Ceremonies of this special event. For Info and tickets visit www.jaffeevents.com.

Former Los Van Van vocalist Yeny Valdes and her band will be visiting the popular Fresquecito monthly party at La Furia Chalaca, 310 Broadway in Oakland on Saturday, March 12 at 10 pm. Yeny will be joined by resident DJ’s Walt Digz and Pepe Timba. For tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com

La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley is featuring a special “Baila” community dance party on Friday, March 18th from 7 pm to 1 am with a multi-room environment featuring the explosive salsa of BrauLio Barrera’s Somos El Son with KPOO/KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz in the main auditorium. DJ Ron will be spinning Bachata in the lounge. Salsa and Bachata dance lessons by In Lak’ech Dance before the show begins at 7:30 pm. Tickets are already going fast. For tickets and information, visit lapena.org.

World Salsa Radio is presenting their second in a series of dance socials on Friday, March 25th at The Beat, 2560 Ninth Street in Berkeley. There will be dance performances by renowned Salsa dance troupes as well as Salsa lessons starting at 9 pm. The DJ music will be provided by WSR CEO Felipe “El De La Clave SF” Martinez and WSR co-founder Orlando DJ Boricua” Felix. Special guest DJ will be yours truly, Luis Medina of “Sabiduria Con Tumbao” starting my set at 10 pm.

Be sure to tune in on your laptop, phone or devices by visiting www.worldsalsaradio.com. It’s on 24 hours a day!

Some of the DJ's — Walt Digz, Felipe “El De La Clave”, Antonio and Luis Medina

The Seahorse in Sausalito continues to showcase a variety of fine bands on Saturday and Sunday evenings starting at 5 pm. This month, the Seahorse features Julio Bravo’s 50+ Birthday Party with Julio and Salsabor 3/6, Rumbache 3/12, Edgardo Cambon and Candela 3/13, Anthony Blea & Friends and DJ Jose Ruiz’ Birthday Party 3/19, Louie Romero & Mazacote 3/20, La Clave Del Blanco 3/26 and Orquesta Taino on 3/27. The featured DJ is KPOO/KPFA’s Jose Ruiz. Great food, Beer and Wine are offered at this popular venue located across the Golden Gate Bridge at 305 Harbor Drive.

The Ramp, 855 Terry Francois Blvd near the water in San Francisco continues their popular Salsa Saturdays with N’Rumba 3/5, Orquesta Borinquen 3/12, Karabali 3/19 and Manny Martinez y Orquesta La Rebeldia 3/26. The shows start at 5 pm and feature DJ Mendy in-between the sets.

San Francisco’s The Cigar Bar on 850 Montgomery Street is continuing their hot Friday and Saturday night live Latin music schedule in March. This month, they are presenting Manteca, 3/4, Pepe Y Su Orquesta 3/5, The Latin Rhythm Boys 3/11, Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble 3/12, Julio Bravo y Salsabor 3/18, La Clave Del Blanco 3/19, Somos El Son 3/25 and Edgardo Cambon y Candela 3/26. Enjoy the classic surroundings, the patio, the fine food, cigars, drinks and the swinging music at the Cigar Bar.

Promoter/DJ Bosco Vega is also opening a new local night spot Gustoso at the Atlas Lounge, 637 San Mateo Avenue, San Bruno on Sat. March 12th featuring Salsa, Bachata and Timba by DJ’s Franklin, Antonio and Bosco himself!!

Remember you can catch my radio programs Con Sabor (in its 25 anniversary year) on KPFA 94.1 FM and kpfa.org Saturday nights 9 to 11 PM PST & Sabiduria Con Tumbao on Wednesday nights 5 to 7 PM PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com.

That’s it for this time! Ciao 4 now!!

This is Julio Bravo — Julio Bravo performing with his orchestra

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