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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!

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

Facebook: Eldelaclavesf (https://www.facebook.com/EldelaClaveSF)

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Europe – May 2022

From Chile Nairoby and La Casa del Ritmo with their project “Vinyl Plater Productions”

Definitely that… “What we dreamed as children someday begins to materialize”.

And because I begin this review with this phrase, since all our childhood we were born in a salsero home we woke up with a musical background of the Sonora Ponceña, Gran Combo, Ismael Miranda, and when we went to sleep we would listen to a bolero by La Lupe, Celio Gonzalez or something by Joe Cuba, where we saw the cassette and acetate records so close and yet so far away because for us children that was untouchable, but we never lost faith in having what we longed for so much.

After almost 5 years of having emigrated to Chile, one Sunday shopping my husband Julian Rangel and I were walking through an antique fair and we saw a used turntable, but in good condition and at a tentative and affordable price so we both looked at each other and the language of our eyes spoke for itself… we bought it! and with them a couple of records to test the recent acquisition, that day we were super excited and decided to share this achievement with our friend Juan Joseph, who did not hesitate to come to the house to share some time with us, after several purchases and purchases and more purchases of vinyl because it became a passion was born:

PRODUCCIONES VINILOS PLATER EN CHILE (formed by Julian Rangel, Juan Joseph and my person Nairoby Plater).

From Chile Nairoby and La Casa del Ritmo with their project "Vinilos Plater". — Vinyl Plater Productions in Chile

A personal project to revive part of our childhood and that was taking shape when we started looking for a place to make a family party called El Arepazo Plater (where arepas are distributed and salsa dancing all night), after several months looking for a local call us and offer us a place called Club 440 to make our first salsa event in original format which was a challenge first because Chile is not a very salsero country and the strong Venezuelan public here is the salsa trunk or alcoba called in other countries, On the other hand, the place offered did not have a kitchen, it was small and so we could not realize what we had in mind in principle, however we reinvented ourselves and managed to do on October 17, 2021 the first Vinyl salsa matinee in Chile, which was a success and an appetizer for the contemporary salsero with a good ear and taste, dancer and who likes to enjoy and listen to less of the same and of course in Acetato.

So we began to see the meaning of our dreams, on January 1st of this year we made the first International Arepazo Plater in Chile under the production of Vinilos Plater in original format, in a place called Caracas Club, which was something extraordinary first because it was the first time that such a party was held here, and because we gave our countrymen exquisite Arepas and good salsa.

Thank God doors have been opening with other musicians such as Nohel Farias, producers such as Dj. Alexander Navas, Jorge from The Brooklyn Sound and venues like the Salsoteca where we have been invited on several occasions and we have left high the name of our beloved Venezuela, reviving and rescuing the format of the acetate, we also made an appearance at events such as Salsa Woman, Integration Salsera (audition of music lovers and collectors between Colombians and Venezuelan), private birthdays, Guateke and Salsa for Adults among others.

We know that this is just the beginning of a long way to go, to learn and to improve, but we thank God for guiding us and humbly continue working on new projects in the short, medium and long term, grow as collectors, music lovers, producers and continue to contribute and highlighting the invaluable of Vinyl, as music is very broad and infinite.

Facebook: Vinyl Plater Productions in Chile

Article of Interest: “Extravagante” is the ninth record production by Orquesta Mulenze

Panama, its music and performers and its best places for Salsa dancing

Panama is a country located on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The Panama Canal, a famous landmark of human engineering, crosses its center and links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to create an essential maritime route.

In the capital, Panama City, modern clubs, casinos and skyscrapers contrast with the colonial buildings of Casco Viejo and the jungle of the Metropolitan Natural Park.

As every country also has its native music, La Murga is a musical genre performed by street groups, used mainly in carnivals in different provinces of Panama. La Murga was created by local musician Manuel Consuegra Gómez.

Murgas generally include the interpretation of songs in chorus, with voices accompanied by percussion instruments. These groups also have dancers who perform steps characteristic of the genre, including jumps and other acrobatics.

“Hey, let’s dance the murga

The murga of Panama

This is an easy thing

And very good for dancing

Ay tu tienes un caminao

That has me upset

And when you dance La Murga

Hey mamita how good you are

Murga pa’quí, murga pa’llá

(This is the murga of Panama)” Composers: Willie Colon / Hector Lavoe.

Panamá, its music and performers and its best places for Salsa dancing

This country has produced important musicians, singers, composers and sportsmen linked to Latin music.

Camilo Azuquita, Gabinete Pampini, José Luis Gracia “Chino Garcia”, to name a few.

To name a few.

Composer Aceves Núñez, accordion player and singer of typical Panamanian music.

Ricardo Fábrega composer of “Taboga”, Carlos Almarán composer of the song “Historia de un Amor”, Erika Ender author of the song “Despacito”, renowned composer Omar Alfano, Franciasco Buckley, Busch y sus Magníficos, pioneer of salsa in Panama.

Raúl Gallimore, Rubén “Yindo” Rodríguez, Manny “Bolaños, Papi Arasomett.

Some years before Blades arrived in New York (the city where he became known), figures such as Miguel Barcasnegras better known as Meñique, Victor Paz, Emilio Reales, Mauricio Smith and many others were struggling among the greats of this type of music in the big city.

All of them, making their way and making a breakthrough to achieve, based on pure talent, a privileged place for Panamanians in the musical environment, where at that time the Cuban and Puerto Rican presence dominated.

Roberto Delgado, Salsaswing, who recently recorded with Rubén Blades, is also Panamanian.

Later on, already in the movement of what was officially baptized as salsa, the most outstanding names are Francisco Buckley, better known as Bush, Roberto y su Zafra and Toti Pino’s Los Excelentes; Orlando Barroso and Los Salvajes del Ritmo, the group where Rubén Blades’ career began, also have their distinction.

All of them, making their way and making a breakthrough to achieve, based on pure talent, a privileged place for Panamanians in the music scene, where at the time the Cuban and Puerto Rican presence dominated. The future of salsa in Panama is promising.

Cartographer Ernesto Jiménez points out that the combination of music, talent, promotion and public acceptance opened the door for maestro Omar Alfano to become, without a doubt, one of the most successful composers. La Kshamba, Sociedad Anónima, Orquesta Yaré, Roberto Delgado, Soundcheck, La 507, are just some of the good salsa orchestras in Panama.

Women are not left behind, singer Anita Barroso stands out with her talent and defends the place of women in the Panamanian salsa scene; while singers Luis Lugo, Tony Flores and Victor Jaramillo, are making their way in their careers choosing salsa as their source.

Musicians like Ricky Salas and maestro Danilo Pérez found in salsa and in their country, the ideal base to develop their successful careers. Others became allies of salsa; announcers such as El Capitán Luis Gooding, Erick de Icaza, El Gigante de la Salsa; Jimmy Dawson; Moisés Rodríguez; El Lobo Edy Molina; Johnny Salsa; Eddie Vázquez and Valentín Ortega, among others, have defended the genre through the radio waves and, in some cases, venturing out as entrepreneurs.

The initiative to talk about Panama and its people linked to salsa is great and I know that it is not easy to touch on several aspects in an article.

One of them is the Barrio El Chorrillo, for all that it represented for Ismael Rivera, practically to turn his life around.

Sorolo was a protagonist of this, famous for his fried fish and his friendship with Maelo.

Sorolo, Mery and Cuñón, people named by Maelo in his proclamation of El Nazareno, who accompanied him to carry the Negrón.

Another important character of El Chorrillo is Mano’e Piedra Duran, who thanks to fame and money, made an orchestra, “Alegria”. Where he has an active business where salsa is always present.

External references:

Sources consulted

WhatsApp group: SalsaGoogle

Lluís Enric Mayans

@lluísenricmayans

Dumas

Lo Mejor de Panamá

Website: El Karoeke 50

Facebook: El Kareoke 50

Article of Interest: Anacaona Areito de Anacaona ‘Flor de Oro’ (Golden Flower)