Live Salsa with GARDEL this Saturday (4/11)

It's a good band: Orquesta GarDel.

That photo looks nice on the poster; it came from the cover story I wrote about them in June 2008.

Here are the details on Saturday's "Spring Black and White Party" at George's Garage. The party starts at 11 pm promptly (not before, although the bar will be open as the dining area clears). The first live music set starts at 11:30 pm. There will be a mambo performance by James Cobo at 12:30 pm. Then, the band's second live set begins at 1:30 am, and the party won't close down until 3. That's an extra hour than usual, and Cobos run a well-organized ship, so you can expect to get your money's worth of dancing and live music.

I've been sworn not to say too much about what GarDel has woodshedding in secrecy these last few months, but they are getting ready to unveil some new charts including original compositions that will be surprising. They already have a huge and heavy book of standards including Barretto, Palmieri, Ruben Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa and La Sonora Ponceña.

Admission will be $20 at the door; some limited discounts are available, while they last, if purchased online, and to be eligible for discounts you must abide by the 'black and/or white' attire theme. (I would love to see a basket of spring colors, myself, but that's just me.)

Get out the house. A bailar.


UPDATE added Sunday (4/12):


Very accomplished local mambo professional James Cobo debuts his new solo routine, as his parents (above, center) look on.

While it was impossible to capture a portrait of James in motion with non-flash photography, I did capture the impressions of onlookers, dressed in the party's elegant "black and white" theme:


GarDel blasted and sounded GREAT. Will elaborate on how and why later.

In this photo from their first set, Paso dance instructors Stephanie and Eduardo Winston eclipse stage lights in a view from the dancefloor:


Here's Jose Sanchez (congas), Brevan Hampden (timbales) and Ramon Ortiz (bongo/bell) in this hardworking rhythm section, backed by metales Wayne Leechford, Tim Smith and Andy Kleindienst:


See more party photos at my Flickr page, if you click on any photo.