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The Ruben Blades concert at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre on Saturday, November 20th was sensational! The anticipation of the packed intergenerational crowd to his first visit In 18 years was at a high peak. Blades wowed the audience with a stunning performance backed by bassist Roberto Delgado’s dynamic Big Band. Ruben’s powerful voice was as crystal clear as when he started his career with Ray Barretto back in 1974. His set list was a retrospective into his vast and deep repertoire that included his big hits, crowd favorites, esoteric song choices and selections from his Latin Grammy award winning album Salswing! The musicianship that accompanied Blades was top notch as Roberto Delgado’s crack band were tight, explosive and swinging! The visuals projected on the huge screen above Ruben were imaginative displaying photo tributes to Hector Lavoe as well as to recently deceased Latin music giants and clever animation that was the backdrop for songs. This was a triumphant return to the SF Bay Area for Blades who last played a concert here in 2003 at Roccapulco. He performed for 2 hours and 40 minutes to the delight of the massive crowd. What a show!!

Speaking of big shows….Three time Grammy Award Winner Spanish Harlem Orchestra will play a special holiday dance/concert “Salsa Para El Bailador” on Saturday, December 11th, 8 pm at the Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza in Monterey. Yours truly, Luis Medina will be your Master Of Ceremonies and DJ for the evening playing 100% Bailable in between the sets. There are VIP seats and packages still available. There is also an auto caravan coming from San Francisco directly to the concert. For more information on the concert, caravan and tickets, please visit www.montunoproductions.com or call 510-586-3215.
I dropped by La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley to catch the livestream of their couch concert starring Santana percussionist Karl Perazo live from their stage on Friday, Nov. 19th. The web streamed concert was hosted by renowned Bay Area based flautist Miguelito Martinez (Candela) with an intro from La Peña’s Executive Director Natalia Neira Retamal. Perazo was in excellent form on congas, bongos and percussion leading a hot Latin Jazz descarga accompanied by Martinez, bassist Saul Sierra and pianist Julio De La Cruz. This session was part of an on-going series that is coordinated by La Peña new creative staff Corey Raynor. For more information, visit www.lapena.org.
The Cigar Bar, 850 Montgomery in SF’s North Beach will be open to Salseros in December for part of December. Their lineup includes Orquesta Timbalero Dec 4, Alberto Y La Differencia Dec. 5, Edgardo Cambon y Candela, Dec 10, Josh Jones Latin Jazz Ensemble Dec 11, Latin Rhythm Boys Dec 17 and the last night for Salsa this year will be featuring PMO all star vocalist/percussionist Braulio Barrera’s Somos El Son on Dec. 18. Cigar Bar will reopen the Latin music nights in early January 2022.
The Seahorse is Sausalito will feature in their Sunday Salsa lineup the following acts: Julio Bravo & Salsabor Dec 5, Edgardo Cambon & Candela Dec. 12, Louie Romero & Mazacote Dec 19 and the Salsa Caliente All Stars with Karl Perazo (of Santana), Gary Flores and Carlitos Franco on Dec. 26. The Seahorse will also be starting off their Salsa Saturdays with Rene Escovedo on Dec. 4th. For the rest of the Sat schedule, visit sausalitoseahorse.com.

The Ramp, 855 Terry Francois in SF will continue Salsa under their weatherproof tent on Saturday afternoons beginning at 5 PM featuring Pepe Y Su Orquesta Dec. 4, trumpeter Julius Melendez All Stars Dec. 11, Eric Rangel and Orquesta America, Dec 18 and a special Thursday with Julio Bravo and Salsabor on Dec. 23rd
Space 550 at 550 Barneveld, SF has opened its doors again to Friday Salsa dancing featuring Somos El Son Dec 3, Orquesta Borinquen Dec. 10 and their last event for 2021 featuring N’Rumba on Dec. 17th. The Friday Night happenings will resume on Friday, January 14, 2022 with Borinquen. The Saturday nights have resumed with Bachata Takeover Saturdays featuring Bachata in the main room and the other rooms featuring Salsa and Bachata.
Kimbara 3380 19th Street at the site of the old big room of the former SF Bissap Baobab location is now featuring Suzy Q Wednesdays every 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. This night brought you by the Producers of I Heart Mambo and the SBK Congress feature Salsa Congress style DJ’s and live bands such as VibraSON on December 15th.
Peninsula/South Bay’s long-running established Salsa Club Alberto’s, 736 West Dana St in Mountain View offers Salsa on Tuesday and Friday nights featuring dance lessons by Pantea with DJ and live entertainment. Their weekly calendar includes Tango on Sunday, Bachata on Wednesdays and Rock En Español on Saturday nights….Cascal Restaurant located nearby at 400 Castro Street, Mountain View offers live entertainment on Fridays through Sundays with great ambiance, tasty Spanish cuisine and the sounds of Edgardo Cambon and LaTiDo on December 3, 4 and 17th.

Producer Adrian Goddard’s Jaffe Events continues to keep busy into the holidays. They will celebrate with a Fiesta Navideña on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 3 to 7 pm. Featuring an afternoon of Salsa, Timba, Bachata, Reggaeton and more by DJ’s including Walt Digz, Tony O and Pablo at the Mars Bar, 798 Brannan SF. Jaffe Events is also presenting Feliz Año Nuevo 2022 on New Years Eve with DJ’s spinning Reggaeton, Salsa, Latin Hits, Cumbia and more at the BEI Hotel, 50 Eighth Street in San Francisco.
On New Year’s Eve, the renowned Salsa orchestra Grupo Gale from Colombia will headline at the Hyatt Regency in Burlingame. The event will also feature DJ Tony O, DJ Bosco and DJ Franklin. The event will also feature International music in their second room. For more information, go to eventbrite.com, ticketsparaticom or call 415-424-8809.
The Marriott in San Mateo will feature 6 rooms featuring live music by Julio Bravo and Salsabor, Amor Do Samba with Brazilian Drummers, Orquesta N’Rumba, Orq Revelation and 10 DJ’s playing hits, Reggaeton, Bachata and Salsa. Free beer offered from 8 to 11 pm. For ticket info, visit www.marriottliveparty.com.
There will be a New Years Eve Descarga 2021 featuring Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba music at 1824 Hillsdale Avenue in San Jose. This bash will feature a tribute to the legendary all-star timbalero Louie Romero who will be performing with Orquesta Salson, Dance performance by John and Liz of Salsamania Dance Company,, DJ music will feature WorldSalsaRadio DJ’s El De La Clave SF and DJ Boricua, dancer Kathy Reyes will be hosting the bachata room and more! For tickets, go to eventbrite.com
Be sure to check out my radio programs “Con Sabor” every Saturday evening 9 to 11 pm on KPFA 94.1 FM/kpfa.org and “Sabiduria Con Tumbao” every Wednesday evening 5 to 7 PM PST on WorldSalsaRadio.com.
Until next time, Ciao 4 now!!!

This is the report last month: NOTICIAS CON SABOR- SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA/NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
BY LUIS MEDINA, PRODUCER AND HOST OF CON SABOR ON KPFA 94.1 FM AND SABIDURIA CON TUMBAO ON WORLD SALSA RADIO.COM

Say goodbye to New Year’s Eve to the Latin rhythm in the country of Mozart together with the Latino Mio cultural and dance association, and create an unforgettable memory in Salzburg, the fourth most populated city in Austria.
Latino Mio is a dance school that teaches courses and workshops on Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha & Tango, and they also organize many dance events throughout the year.
This academy brings you the most anticipated event of 2021, La Noche Latina, on Friday, December 31st at the cozy Italian restaurant with traditional Naples cuisine, Ristorante Pizzeria Jamme Ja.
The doors will open from seven at night with DJ Jhonny mixing the biggest hits of Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba, and Urban Music.
Easily forget your daily life with this lilting music and let yourself be seduced by the Latin American temperament.
Venue: Saalachstraße 74, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
And the next year it will be much better! The Latino Mio dance school is already in the preparations for the Latino Festival 2022 in the district of St. Veit im Pongau, Salzburg.
This event will feature live Salsa bands, samba shows, capoeira, traditional Latin American dances, workshops, animation, and much more in a family atmosphere.
The instructors will be led by Jhonny, founder of the cultural and dance association “Latino Mío” with 15 years of experience in the instruction of Salsa, Bachata, and Kizomba. Also, will be Dany “El Tango”, who is characterized by being a passionate teacher. Dany will help you develop your style with improvisation and spontaneity from the beginning.
They are joined by Claudia and Oscar. The first is an excellent dancer who will warmly and cheerfully teach you the dance steps, just as she will give you helpful advice on getting suitable footwear. While Oscar, will educate you and help you tune your ear to keep the rhythm of the movement.
It is worth noting that Oscar is a graduate of the Esnaola Music Conservatory of Buenos Aires (Argentina) and sings in various orchestras touring concerts in Europe and Argentina.
Date: Saturday, August 20th, 2022
Hour: 7:00 PM
Academy Address: Gstättengasse 16 5020 Salzburg, Austria


With the arrival of the penultimate month of the year, it’s normal, that we are eager to enjoy and start having memorable moments now that 2021 is almost over. That is why, as a first step, we offer you the latest news about the most important Latin events taking place in the country known to be partially below mean sea level, the Netherlands.

Get ready to delight yourself with the masterful sound of Jazz and its fusions with the virtuoso Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez along with the participation of Michael Olivera (Drums) and Yarel Hernández (Double Bass) in a dazzling Latin Jazz concert on November 19th at the Bimhuis auditorium in Amsterdam.
Energy, Latin Style, And Unique Enthusiasm Come Together In The Music Of This Trio
Alfredo Rodríguez (composer and pianist) was born into a family of artists whose father is the famous singer and TV host from the island of Cuba, Alfredito Rodríguez.
From a young age, he was a prodigy on the string instrument. “He studied classical piano at the prestigious Amadeo Roldán Conservatory and the Higher Institute of Art while playing popular music in his father’s orchestra at night. While performing at the 2006 Montreux Jazz Festival, he was discovered by his future mentor and producer, the legendary Quincy Jones.” Excerpt from his biography.
The 36-year-old pianist from Havana has classical training with nuances of styles of dance music from the bars of his hometown and the Progressive Jazz of Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea, which we can evidence in each composition and concert.
Rodríguez already has four studio albums, and one of his most emblematic presentations was made in 2019 with Richard Bona with a full house in one of the best concert halls in the world, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, located in the capital of the Netherlands.
Date: Friday, November 19th
Venue: Bimhuis. Piet Heinkade 31019Amsterdam, Netherlands
Time: 8:30 PM
Ticket: € 23 (Sitting) / € 19 (Standing)

Latin Weekender is the Latin festival per excellence in the Netherlands. This sixth edition will feature 25 workshops at all levels, boot camps, a pool party, shows, a concert with the Pegasaya Orchestra, and nine social events of Salsa, Bachata, Tango, Kizomba, and Afro Dance.
Get away from the routine with your group of friends and lovers of Latin music for a long weekend and experience the passion for dance.
Remember to buy your tickets in advance as there is currently less availability for Latin Weekender 2020 reservations.
Date: Friday, November 19th – Sunday, November 21st
Venue: Center Parcs Limburgse Peel. Peelheideweg 25, 5966 PJ America, Netherlands

The Pegasaya Orchestra will be present at the Latin Weekender 2021, and you can’t miss it. The band, made up of ten musicians, was founded in 1985 in Tilburg city (the sixth most populous city in the Netherlands).
This orchestra, the greatest leader on the Dutch Latin scene, has participated in national and international festivals. They have been the first band to win the audience award twice as The Most Popular Group at the Rotterdam Summer Carnival (1995 and 1999). In February 2001, Pegasaya released their compilation album “The Best of the Pegasaya Orchestra” and also featured live performances on the Holland Casino chain in the Netherlands for a year (2007/2008). They also accompanied Elvis Crespo on May 28th, 2009 during his concert at the Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam as well as Jeniffer López at her presentation at the Hennie Huisman Soundmix show in 2003.

Music Meeting Concerts presents a special Sunday in the Cuban style with the musical meeting between Alain Pérez Quinteto and Alfredo Rodríguez Trío in two unique performances on the third Sunday of November.
Music Meeting Festival 2021 organizes for this fall a series of concerts at LUX and Brebl in Nijmegen, LantarenVenster in Rotterdam, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, and MuziekPublique in Brussels. Music lovers will be able to enjoy unique evenings with challenging compositions and collaborations by music teachers from all over the world as a prelude to the Music Meeting Festival 2022.
Alain Pérez, the Cuban artist with numerous Latin Grammy Award nominations, will present his magic and charm with his fusion of Salsa, Latin Jazz, and Flamenco on November 21st in Nijmegen. Alain, known for leading the legendary singer Celia Cruz’s orchestra before he turned thirty, consolidated his musical career by becoming the bassist of Paco de Lucia for six consecutive years. Currently, Pérez has his band and is one of the most important musicians in his native country. Alain Pérez plays bass, guitar, piano, percussion, and sings; he also works as a composer, arranger, and producer. For this event, Alain (Bass and Voice) will be accompanied by Andy García (Piano), Inoidel González (Tenor Saxophone), José Montaña (Percussion), and Alain Ladrón de Guevara on drums.
On the other hand, Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodríguez breaks the third wall between him and his audience when he shares his skill and technique live. Attendees feel close to the refined play of the notes with the rhythm and harmony of the melodies that can be sung with ease. For this Latin event, Rodríguez (Piano) has in collaboration with his two friends: Munir Hossn (Bass / Spanish Guitar) and Michael Olivera (Drums).
Date: Sunday, November 21st
Venue: Mariënburg 38-39, 6511 PS Nijmegen, Netherlands
Start: 3:00 PM
Admission: € 22.50