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Salsa in Israel

Europe / Israel / Tel Aviv

Salsa in Israel. This ancient land is as exciting as the many stories it tells. It is the land of Abraham father to Isaac and his half brother Ishmael the patriarchs of the Arabs and the Jewish people. Patriarchs born of Sarah and Hagar. It is the land of Jesus and his many stories. It is the land where all three groups claim Jerusalem as holy.

For the Jewish it is because of King David, King Salomon, the two temples, the tomb of King David and the Western Wall. The Muslims regard it as the place from where the prophet Mohammed ascended to heaven in the birthplace of Christ, the via dolorosa and the cruciction. Each group has a “gate”. Why even the hamburger chain McDonalds seems to have gotten their “golden arcs” from one of the gates.

At 71 years of age, Israel is one of the youngest countries in the world. Needless to say the country is deeply divided, with serious challenges facing its leaders. A majority is required to govern effectively. While 80 % is said to be secular (non-religious ethnic) and 16% ultra-orthodox, the ultra-orthodox control the swing vote. To be Jewish you must be born of a Jewish mother, or converting. Around 500,000 Latinos are Jewish citizens.

This is around 5% in a country of 8.5 million people. The population is very diverse. Listening to people talk, at times I felt that I was in Russia. The migration from the former USSR comprised for over a million immigrants. The Roman Empire could not afford rebellion in Judea as it was the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Massada is the conformation of the determination to be a free people.

Ultra orthodox 16%

As a new nation the argument that tradition, culture and religion had to be nurtured and recaptured was presented by the ultra-orthodox. As its first Prime Minister it is said that David Ben-Gurion gave some 50 persons a waiver from obligatory military service. Much to the displeasure of many seculars, the ultra-orthodox have since grown in numbers and receive government assistance so that they are free to do nothing else than to study. However with the control of their swing vote, the ultra-orthodox continue to be exempt from obligations. After finishing mandatory school, all citizens must render military service, two years for the women and three years for the men.

ISRAEL ARCHITECT

Although the official capital is Jerusalem, the modern city is TelAviv, followed by its Port City of Haifa. The Tel Aviv nightlife goes way beyond 2 a.m. The city is very modern, and everything seems to work right on schedule.

The architecture speaks of free growing ideas

ISRAEL FOOD

Diverse migration is accompanied with the cuisine of the immigrants. As a result, Tel Aviv boasts of a wonderful variety of cuisine.

The women walk the streets in the wee hours of the night without a care, which speaks of the public safety. Tel Aviv was voted “friendliest gay city in the world.” It is said that the annual gay pride parade was attended by more than 250,000.

250,000 people attend the LGBT community friendly parade

When visiting Bethlehem, the church of the Nativity, West Wall, and tomb of King David, you have to enter into Palestinian controlled territory. Our Israeli tour guide explained that they had entered into an agreement of cooperation with the Palestinian tour guides

Palestinian tour guides

An Israeli bus took us to the border and we then transferred to a Palestinian tour bus. The Palestinian tour guide took over and gave us our tour, a visit to their gift shop and then returned us to the border where the Israeli bus and guide were awaiting for us.

Man dressed in black dancing with woman in white top

For those of you who are always looking for a place to go dance Salsa, our recommendations are two places only, Salsa Carlos and Havana Club.

Havana Club caters to those new salsa dancers with a large main floor and three or four side rooms for specialties like Bachata, Cumbia, etc. For those of you looking to find a more Latino place, then “El Propio” is Salsa Carlos.

What got you going in Salsa? Carlos says that he grew up hearing Salsa in Cali. It runs in his blood and his heroes were El Gran Combo, Los Hermanos Lebron and Beny More. Even the bell in grammar school to signal recess, played in Salsa. In Israel some Colombian friends asked him to organize a Salsa event and it was successful. To his knowledge, he is the first person to introduce Salsa in Israel. Since then Carlos has been organizing events in Tel Aviv at places like the “Old Port”. Apart from special events, he holds every Friday night at 11:30 pm, Salsa Carlos at Carlbach 3, Tel Aviv. He is accompanied by DJ Manuel.

NOTICIAS CON SABOR on June 2022

The latest of salsa in the Bay Area of San Francisco

Someone to look out for is percussionist/bandleader/catalyst Javier Navarette who has been creating a serious buzz with his new group Javier Navarette and His Socially Distant Friends which features a “who’s who” of stellar Bay Area talent including esteemed violinist Anthony Blea, vocalist/percussionist Hector Lugo, rising star on the guitar, Kai Lyons, bassist Ayla Davila, percussionist Jesse Weber and charter members such as tresero/guitarist Camilo Landau, NY based trombonist and Javier’s brother Raul Navarette and PMO vocalist Chriselle Durandy. Navarette and friends play an intoxicating brew of danceable Salsa, Cuban descarga, Rumba, Afro-Cuban folklore, Bomba, Timba and Latin Jazz played superbly by this all-star ensemble that have impressed large audiences at Carnaval San Francisco, the UC Theatre, Rocky’s Market and other festivals and hot spots.

Navarette is also currently a member of the hot Bobi Cespedes Band and was formerly a member of renowned bands such as Charanson, La Mixta Criolla, Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir among others. He has established himself as one of the SF Bay’s rising stars….a rumbero with excellent chops, taste and well versed both in the Cuban and Puerto Rican culture and heritage. Navarette also has taught in the classroom spreading the knowledge to younger grade school children in the Bay Area. Navarette is also booking the popular Modupue Sundays series at Rocky’s Market in Oakland. Go Javier!!

Javier Navarrette from Javier Navarrette and His Socially Distant Friends

The Western Region Puerto Rican Council will once again present their “El Dia De San Juan” Salsa Festival on Saturday, June 18, 11 am to 7 pm at Swiss Park, 5811 Mowry Avenue in Newark. Headlining the show will be Frankie Vasquez “El Sonero Del Barrio”. Vasquez is considered one of the finest soneros in the business today. With a star studded career that includes working with Manny Oquendo and Libre, Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Los Soneros Del Barrio, Pedro Bermudez, Doug Beavers and many others, Vasquez displays his art of the soneo, his distinctive vocal tone always backed up by a swinging band on record and live. Also appearing for the first time will be Izis La Enfermera De La Salsa from Puerto Rico, Gambizi & Dos Four hot from Carnaval SF, Hip Hop Jibarito, Orquesta Saboricua and Rinkinkaya playing Bomba, Plena and Jibaro music and DJ Santos Lopez. For more information, go to wrprc.org!

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 also co-presents two legends: Piano master Eddie Palmieri and trumpet phenom Arturo Sandoval at Stanford’s Frost Amphiteater on July 23. Info: www.sfjazz.org.

The new hot spot for live music on Thursday’s is Charley’s LG, 15 N Santa Cruz Avenue in Los Gatos featuring the following for June: Orquesta La Moderna Tradición on 6/2; Carlos Xavier and his band 6/9; Edgardo Cambon and Candela 6/16; Son Y Clave from Los Angeles on 6/23 and Julio Bravo and Salsabor on 6/30. Presented by your friends at International Salsa Magazine and World Salsa Radio. Yours truly, Luis Medina from KPFA/WorldSalsaRadio.com will be your MC and DJ for the evening. WSR’s El De La Clave SF-Felipe Martinez will give dance lessons starting at 8 PM. Get a discount on your advance tickets by visiting charleyslosgatos.com.

Tregar Otton from Orquesta La Moderna Tradición

More clubs and events

La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley has been gaining a lot of notoriety with their monthly Baila events. The June edition will also celebrate the cultural center’s 47th Anniversary on Friday, June 17th starting at 7 pm. Corey Raynor, the venue’s production manager who organizes the event will also be celebrating his birthday. The show will feature the explosive sounds of veteran timbalero Eric Rangel and his Orquesta America as well as KPOO/KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz in the main theater and DJ Ron Palma in the Bachata lounge. Salsa and Bachata dance lessons start at 7:30 pm. For tickets and information, please visit lapena.org.

It’s Summertime and outdoor venues have opened back up for Salsa, Timba and Latin Jazz! Modupue Sundays at Rocky’s Market at Oakland’s Brooklyn Basin is featuring the exciting band La Mixta Criolla on Sunday, June 5 under the direction of percussionist/vocalist Hector Lugo and a special Bomba dance performance by Shefali Shah. The festivities start at 5:30 pm. Another great band Orquesta La Moderna Tradición will be at Rocky’s on Friday night, June 10th from 6 to 9 pm. Rocky’s Market events are all outdoors and located at 288 Ninth Avenue in Oakland. For more information, visit rockysmarket.com.

The Office on 1796 Willow Pass Road in downtown Concord is now offering Rumba Sundays every Sunday from 5 to 10 pm in a large, covered outdoor patio with a huge dance floor featuring Salsa bands such as Orquesta Taino on Sunday, June 5th. The Office features live salsa monthly with SF Salsa Congress staple DJ Super Chino spinning Salsa, Bachata and more in-between the breaks! Check out their Facebook page for more info!

Orquesta Taino posing for the camera

The Cigar Bar continues with their mission to bring you exciting danceable bands in their unique venue that combines great food, fine drinks, a parlor for cigar enthusiasts and a hot dance spot for weekend patrons. The June Latin music offerings are the following: Pacho y Orchesta Evolution 6/3; Orquesta La Original w/Alexis 6/4; Orquesta Borinquen 6/10; Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble 6/11; N’Rumba 6/17 ; Manteca 6/18; Orquesta Taino 6/24 and La Clave Del Blanco on 6/25.

The Ramp is heating things up for the Summer at their fine outdoor venue with their huge dance floor at 855 Terry Francois Blvd in San Francisco. Their calendar includes great acts on Saturday afternoons starting at 4 pm with DJ Mendy with live music starting at 5 pm featuring N’Rumba on 6/4; Julio Bravo y Salsabor on 6/11; Somos El Son with Braulio Barrera 6/18 and Orquesta Borinquen on 6/25.

The Seahorse in Sausalito features fine Italian cuisine, beer and wine and a fine space for dancing on Saturday and Sundays starting at 6 pm with KPOO/KPFA DJ Jose Ruiz. Featured acts for the month of June include La Clave Del Blanco on 6/4; Julio Bravo y Salsabor 6/5; Ricardo Lemvo and Makina Loca from Los Angeles on 6/11 and 6/12; Edgardo Cambon y Candela 6/18; Louie Romero and Mazacote 6/19; The Latin Rhythm Boys 6/20 and Eric Rangel and Orquesta America on 6/26.

Be sure to check out my radio programs Con Sabor on Saturday evenings from 9 to 11 PM PST on KPFA 94.1 FM and www.kpfa.org and Sabiduria Con Tumbao every Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 PM PST on worldsalsaradio.com. Enjoy your Summer! Ciao 4 now!!

Louie Romero from Louie Romero Y Su Orquesta Mazacote

By Luis Medina, ISM Correspondents, San Francisco, California

By Luis Medina, ISM Correspondents, San Francisco, California

Eddy Herrera presents his new production “Aquí Estoy”

Eddy Herrera is “El Galán del Merengue” and one of the most recognized tropical music artists in the region and the world. He returns to the music scene with an album of 8 songs where he wants to demonstrate his experience, and the perseverance he has had throughout the years. This album is not just another taste of his particular flavor, but also shows different facets of the Dominican star. In this article we tell you all the details.

“Aquí estoy” by Eddy Herrera has the best production

For this album Eddy promised to show his facet as a composer, and the best possible quality for all his fans and those who enjoy tropical music. This production has different sounds to capture Herrera’s tastes. In addition to songs like “Y cómo te olvido”, “Bla bla bla”, “Cómo iba a saber”, “Adicto a ti”, “Te lo pido mi amor”, “A beber”, “Nadie como tú” and the hit “Si yo se lo pido,” which is the main song of this album, were produced and arranged by the best of the best.

In this very special album, Eddy had the participation of prominent producers and musical arrangers from the Dominican Republic such as Junior Cabrera, Edwin García, Moisés Sánchez, Isaías Leclerc, Francis Enmanuel Contreras (Dary Darys), Juan Daniel Montero and his own orchestra that accompanies him in all his productions and tours. In Eddy’s own words:

“I understand that this album will mark interesting things this year and years to come. Having the professionalism, talent and experience of producers, musicians, composers, mixing and mastering engineers was more than a real pleasure, it was an honor. I hope it is to everyone’s liking and long live the merengue”.

The lyrics of each track are authored by the following talents: Giordano Morel, Martín De León, René Solís, Luis A. Herrera, Jorge A. Herrera, César Brizuela, Ernesto Díaz (EL Duende), Enghel Mata and Valerio De León. Wanting to give this new production the best quality possible, Eddy worked on mixes and sound with the best technicians and sound engineers.

Highlighting the work of the talented and experienced mixing engineer and musician Allan Leschhorn, who is the winner of 14 Latin GRAMMY® Awards, and who has worked with leading national and international artists. Along with Boris Milan, also winner of 8 Latin GRAMMY®, more than 30 nominations and 3 GRAMMY® nominations, who was also in charge of the mastering of the complete album and the song “Y cómo te olvido”.

“With this new album I want to capture mainly that, regardless of the fact that in the last two years the situation at levels of work, economy and health has been devastating for everyone, despite everything, I remain firm and on my own feet working even a little more than usual,” explained the Dominican Eddy.

Eddy Herrera has a long career

Under the long list of successes that this son of the Dominican Republic has are “El jardinero”, “El loco y la luna”, “La medicina”, “Mujer tirana”, “Tu eres ajena” and “A dormir juntos” featuring the Venezuelan artist Liz. His previous production “Ahora” received the highest award by winning the Latin GRAMMY® for Best Merengue and/or Bachata Album.

With a 30-year career with a long list of achievements and success, it could be said that Eddy has already done it all. But he continues to go on stage to cheer up and make his fans and the public dance with everything he shows. Hence his commitment to offer the best quality in each production. He will soon do a promotional tour through Latin America so stay tuned for where you can see him.

NOTICIAS CON SABOR on June 2022

The latest of salsa in the Bay Area of San Francisco

Javier Navarrette from Javier Navarrette and His Socially Distant Friends

Tregar Otton from Orquesta La Moderna Tradición

More clubs and events (título 3)

Orquesta Taino posing for the camera

Louie Romero from Louie Romero Y Su Orquesta Mazacote

By Luis Medina, ISM Correspondents, San Francisco, California

Cuba Will Be the Protagonist at the Music Meeting Festival

Nijmegen is the city that will host this musical meeting with “Cuba Al Revés” as the main theme

Music Meeting Festival was organized in Concertgebouw de Vereeniging and Stadsschouwburg Nijmegen until 2003

This year Latin America will invade the 37^th edition of the Music Meeting Festival with Cuban music from Saturday, June 4^th to Monday, June 6^th at the Park Brakkenstein facilities. This park can accommodate 12,500 visitors and is in the Nijmegen city in the province of Gelderland. Nijmegen has more than 170,000 inhabitants (2015 data provided by the UN) and is very close to the border with Germany.

This festival in the Netherlands will have as its main theme this time Cuba Upside Down. In this event, around 30 concerts will be presented with the participation of established artists and new promises from the Cuban music scene, Spanish, and Brazilian.

Regarding the main theme of this edition, the Dutch trumpeter and Artistic Director of the Music Meeting Festival, Maite Hontelé, pointed out: “I would like to have been born in Havana, to have grown up with Son, Mambo, and even the beginning of Cuban Salsa modern, Timba. But I grew up in Haaften…although almost every day, I listened to Cuban music on cassettes and played it on my trumpet.”

The artists from the Afro-Caribbean Island that will converge at the Music Meeting Festival 2022 are:

Alain Pérez with the Orchestra demonstrates the origin and future of Cuban music

The musical genius in the Salsera scene, Latin-Jazz and Flamenco, Alain Pérez will take the stage on Sunday, June 5th at 11PM for an improvisation party at the Jam. This show will last 50 minutes. Alain with the rhythm section of his orchestra will establish the basic rhythm to which countless musicians will join and improvise, bringing special guests for that day. Who are they? They are still a surprise.

After 24 hours, Alain Pérez returns to the stage, but this time with his young Orchestra for the closing day. They will perform for the first time on Monday, June 6^th from 8:40PM to 10:50PM. Alain with this band of young Cuban artists brings a sound in which traditional Cuban music is intertwined with modern Jazz and Funk.

The same way will also join this celebration of Afro-Caribbean music Osain Del Monte with a group of young percussionists, singers, and dancers. They will recreate during their musical act a traditional cult with initiation rituals to be members of a secret brotherhood. This one-hour act will take place on the first day of the festival, on Saturday, June 4th, starting at 5:30 PM.

Likewise, Music Meeting Festival will feature the percussionist and singer Brenda Navarrete as a special guest in several musical presentations. Brenda has trained in Batá drums and has belonged to Latin Jazz bands such as Joaquín Betancourt and Alain Pérez, as well as in the Interactivo group, where Funk and Ska melodies are mixed with Afro-Cuban rhythms.

Cellist Ana Carla will also be brought to this stage of the festival. She will be on Sunday, June 5^th from 8PM to 8:40PM. Her third studio album is Bahía and has influences from Cuban Son, Tango, Samba, Bossa Nova, Jazz, and even the classic French Chanson. She currently is touring for South America.

Ramón Valle, Marialy Pacheco, Rolando Luna, and Ivan “Melón” Lewis

Joining this constellation of established and emerging Cuban artists on Sunday, June 5^th, starting at 2PM, is the Ping Pong Piano project. This 50-minute musical project brings together the following virtuous of this instrument: Rolando Luna, Marialy Pacheco, Ramón Valle, and Ivan “Melón” Lewis, the latter winner of the Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album for his album Voyager in 2021.

The starting point of this “four-sided” meeting is spontaneous. It consists of placing two grand pianos on stage and letting four stellar pianists converse musically. There will be friendship, rivalry, confrontation, and harmony putting aside their impressive resumes.

“Marialy Pacheco is a concert pianist known for her duets with Omar Sosa and her contagious rhythmic interpretation. Grammy winner Ivan ‘Melón’ Lewis counters this with almost mathematical precision as the founder of modern Cuban Salsa, Timba. Ramón Valle swings across styles and feels best when given the freedom to let his Cuban heritage hang over the music. The quartet of star pianists is completed by the whirlwind Rolando Luna, one of the most important Cuban pianists of the last ten years, who became world-famous for his work with Omara Portuondo”. Fragment extracted from the Music meeting Festival 2022 website. www.musicmeeting.nl

Likewise, the band El Comité will be present (Saturday, June 4th, 10:30 PM – 11:30 PM), the Son Bent Braam orchestra (Saturday, June 4th, 4PM – 5PM), African electronics, percussion from Brazil with the duo made up of Oleg Fateev & Simone Sou, and the New York afrobeat represented by the musical group from Brooklyn, Antibalas.

This interesting congregation of artists will be completed by the Spanish trombonist Rita Payés, one of the emerging artists of the new era of the Catalan scene.

Tickets for the three days of the Music Meeting Festival in Nijmegen are €80 at the box office. It costs €34 daily, and for those under 16 who want to attend, the admission is free.