fall flavor digest

A few things - -

Mosaic Fall Music Fest is ongoing NOW through Oct. 11. Lots of out-of-town, soulful house deejays (East Coast, West Coast, Europe, Canada, etc.) EVERY NIGHT, and a Noche Latina next Thursday (10/8) featuring LIVE Dominican jazz with Guillo Carias Trio.

Charanga Carolina makes a much anticipated return this semester with their debut performance TOMORROW, Sunday (10/4). The student/community cooperative performing ensemble has been on sabbatical for the last 9 months while director Dave Garcia took research leave from UNC. The new formation features many new students getting their sea legs in Latin music, and early rehearsals are promising. The lineup is 4 violins, 1 cello, 1 flute, 3 trombones (led by Charanga alum Andy Kleindienst), 2 pianists, 1 trap drummer, and Latin rhythm and vocals by community musicians Pako Santiago (congas), Ramon Ortiz (timbales), Nelson Delgado and Jaime Ramon (vocals). The only thing missing for Santa Salsera is bongo and, ahem, MORE COWBELL on their Puerto Rican charts like "Isla del Encanto" and "Boranda." But I am loving the energetic new timba charts, including Los Van Van's "Esto Te Pone La Cabeza Mala." As always one gains appreciation of the classics when one hears them in rehearsal, and believe it or not, the timba rhythm puzzle was really cooking and motivating me to dance when I heard Charanga's rehearsal last Tuesday night. This will be a very exciting year. Debut is Sunday 3:30 pm, free at Chapel Hill's Festifall street festival on Franklin.

Link: Festifall's full music lineup here

And finally: What goes together like barbecue and flamenco? Welcome the collision of flavors this Sunday (10/4), 4:00 - 6:30 pm at a Concert on the Lawn at Western Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Raleigh: Music by Mixed Quartet and flamenco guitarist Ed Stephenson & the Paco Band. Expect Ed to be in exceptional spirits since the opening of hockey season and the 'Canes' signing of winning goalie Cam Ward to a 6-year contract. $6 admission; flyer indicates that the good churchgoing folk of Western Boulevard Presbyterian will be serving barbecue chicken. What's not to like?

NOTE ADDED:

Man, I am such a space case I forgot to mention the International Festival going on in Raleigh. If you can do it all, I dare you.