The Triangle's first-ever festival of bomba and plena, distinctive music and dance styles native to Puerto Rico, takes place TONIGHT, Saturday (11/19), from 6:30-10:30 pm at the Herbert C. Young Community Center in Cary.
Bomba dancers led by Miriam Rivas at a 2009 rehearsal.
Featured performers include Baile Boricua NC, the graceful and energetic dance troupe led by Miriam Rivas, folkloric drumming by Kuumba Arts, and live music by Caribe Vibe, the sextet ensemble of Andres Leon and Billy Marrero, with special guests Jaime Roman and LouRamos.
I didin't find a schedule online, but Caribe Vibesays their first set will start at 8 pm. The guys say they will be playing "a little bit of everything!" so expect a wide tropical mix. Here's a video of Caribe Vibe I made back in October:
The early evening event (6:30-10:30 pm) is family friendly, with admission $6 for adults, $4 children under 12, and free for children 6 and under.
Raleigh rockeros Tercer Divisa Nacional had a lonely 12:30 spot atop the program at Cary's Festival Ritmo Latino this year. Nonetheless, they rocked it out for the first few festival goers huddled in the heat at the Sertoma bandshell in Bond Park.
Now a quartet, Tercer Divisa Nacional has changed its membership in recent times, but not its m.o.: politically conscious, blues and metal-influenced, Mexico City-style rock. They label themselves "rock 'n' roll urbano," a reference to the Distrito Federal origins of half its members, but "rock en español" also fits--depending on what that says to you. The band follows much more in the tradition of nationally known Mexican rock bands like Maldita Vecindad and El Tri, rather than the internationalized pop sounds of a Juanes or a Carlos Santana.
So what's new? As recently as 2009, the band had swollen to 7 members, all male. Now, its four-member core is halfsies damas y caballeros. That's no coincidence: Cyndra, a trained jazz singer, is married to drummer and co-founder Luis "El Italiano," while bassist/ co-founder David is romantic partners with lead guitarist Meagan. While they are all flamboyant salsa dancers in the street-flavored DF style (which one rarely sees anymore amid the flush of mambo and rueda schools), you won't hear any of that in Divisa Nacional; what they play is more like a form of immigration blues, empowered by joyous rock energy.
I had something else to do midday, but arrived back at the festival around 6ish see what headliner Tropic Orchestra has been up to these days. There have been some changes to the lineup; "new" was Cesar Oviedo on piano, Cesar Cordero on congas, and Abdala Saghir on timbales. The repertoire was pretty much unchanged; there was a merengue I don't recall hearing before (but might have), and a 'stone soup' cha cha chá, throwing together progressions and coros from a bunch of familiar danzones and boogaloos. Their usual salsa standards included "Rebelion," "La Murga," and "Todo Tieno Su Final." There was an initial delay for soundcheck, pushing the dance over until 7 pm; the PA system was a bit loud and distorting, but salsa dancers had their usual good time.
Tropic Orchestra
Check out these adorable little kids, dressed up and ready to perform with one of the folkloric dance ensembles at the Festival. Preciosura!
From 12 noon - 6:30pm this Sunday (8/7), Diamante's 7th annual Festival Ritmo Latino comes to Bond Park, 801 High House Road in Cary. Rain or shine, the festival is FREE and open to the public:
Here are times and highlights from the Main Stage music lineup in Sertoma Amphitheatre:
12:30 - 1:30 Tercer Divisa Nacional (rock & roll urbano) 2:00 - 3:00 Mickey Mills & Steel (reggae) 4:00 - 5:00 La Tropa de Tierra Caliente (regional mex) 5:30 - 6:30 Tropic Orchestra (salsa)
The "Ritmo Lounge" will feature various folkloric dance groups, the Christian rock band Sin Reservas at 3 pm, and Franco Gallardo Mariachi at 5 pm. Other attractions include food vendors, an opening ceremony and color guard, and children's activities. A free kids' soccer clinic with the Carolina Railhawks takes place from 2 - 4 pm.
A showcase of international dance performances at the NC Salsa Festival last night exceeded my expectations for their diversity, from the classic Nuyorican mambo and competition ballroom moves, to dancers who tapped directly in to the African and Brazilian roots.
It was followed by dance party starring Orquesta GarDel in Part One of the "Battle of the Salsa Bands" (Tropic Orchestra will take the stage tonight.) GarDel gave a heavy performance that earned respect from the dance artists, some of whom joined them onstage for the encore. Giorgio Restaurant in Cary was an elegant setting for the dance party; I enjoyed an unusual champagne cocktail at the bar. To make room for the performer showcase, a second stage was set up outside in a tent, which was brilliant because it allowed the band to set up inside at the same time.
Oliver Pineda and Mike Very with sonero Jaime Roman
Here's a quick review of the dance showcase; I'm told these same dancers will perform whole different routines to different music tonight.
1) Tito & Tamara From: Puerto Rico Danced to: Jose Lugo Orchestra, "Mambo Valentin"
Comments: Pure Puerto Rico. Classic beautiful moves and poses from a top pro team. They danced in "El Cantante" and other movies, and with top industry salsa stars like Gilberto Santa Rosa.
2) Isabel Freiberger From: Cobo Brothers Dance Company (local) Danced to: Charlie Palmieri, "Either You Have It Or You Don't," and Michael Buble, "Feeling Good"
Comments: Freiberger's music titles say it all about her performance: She definitely "has it," a natural solo performer with tremendous charisma, a unique look (kind of an Ann Margret fire), acrobatic style, and not a hint of nerves. Like poised dynamite.
3) Cobo Student Dance Team From: Cobo Brothers Dance Company (local) Danced to: Ray Barretto, "Adelante Siempre Voy"
Adam Phillips and Alexis Silver
Yin Song and Amber Cadwell
Comments: Classic Cobo style, sassy torso moves and lots of airborne lifts. Good synchronicity by two well-matched pairs, even when the sound dropped out, and they completed their choreography without music. It was the last performance of Alexis Silver and Milton Cobo delivered a tribute.
4) Lucy Lu and Jose Maldonado From: Atlanta, Paso Fino Dance Company Danced to: "La Guarachera" by Celia Cruz & Tito Puente
Comments: Put me in mind of Junior & Emily's performance at the festival last year, favoring multiple spins and constant motion over held elements and airborne moves. "That's coming tomorrow!" Maldonado told me after the show, saying this was their competition routine emphasizing ballroom elements.
5) Melanie Riveira & Serena Cuevas From: San Diego, Deseo Dance Company Danced to: A samba batucada (Brazilian drum music), and Rebeca Mauleon, "Serenata Ritmica"
Melanie Riveira
Serena Cuevas
Comments: The samba surprise: unexpected fusion of samba and capoeira with salsa and mambo. Nice to see a pair of female dancers with a unique style, introducing carnavalesque Brazilian sex and power to the "same old" salsa equation.
6) Mike Very & Erell Niane From: Nice, France. Urban Tribe aka U-Tribe Dance Company Danced to: Los Van Van, "Somos Cubanos"
Comments: Knock me over with a feather: Timba, at a mambo conference! To be more precise, a vital, fresh Afro fusion reflecting many influences from Cuban rumba, to Very's native Kenya and Niane's Senegalese roots. This was a standout with me and others I informally polled: eye-opening, gorgeously physical, and highlighting deep cultural connections.
7) Oliver Pineda From: Sydney, Australia Danced to:A bulerias by Joachin Cortez.
Comments: Flamenco, modern, and rumba inform the very physical, smooth solo routine of a 5-time World Salsa Champion. Kind of classically blended, although Pineda's costume suggests tribal assocations. Also a musician, Pineda sat in for GarDel's encore and played a killer timbales solo (see above video).
8) Victor & Burju Perez From: Boston, Hacha y Machete Dance Company Danced to: Alfredo De La Fe, "Hacha y Machete"
Comments: Introduced by MC Eric Baez as a "classic," this married pair represents the New York mambo style with all its formality and elegance. Cool music choice, an instrumental cover of their signature tune ("Hacha y Machete," a Hector Lavoe original) by violinist Alfredo De La Fe. It doesn't get more classic salsa than that. Burju's got her own line of dance shoes.
More Orquesta GarDel videos to follow soon.
Tropic Orchestra has been woodshedding all week, with some new personnel; judging by last night, they better bring their A-game! "Battle of the Salsa Bands, Part Two" tonight, starts at 11 pm (9:30 dance showcase).
Erell Niane (right) relaxing at the afterparty with Orquesta GarDel
Headliner Triangle Salsa All Stars takes the stage at 5:00 pm.
According to Ricardo Granillo, this supergroup of local musicians will include Guillo Carias, Ricardo James, Andres Leon, Ramon Ortiz, Cesar Oviedo, Alberto Carrasquillo, Hugh Robertson, Billy Marrero, Pako Santiago, Jaime Roman, Ricardo Diquez and other guests.
Caught up with Guillo Carias last Wednesday at his weekly trio gig, 7-11 pm at the Sullivan's on Glenwood Ave in Raleigh. Drummer Ramon Ortiz' brother Eduardo was sitting in, a musician whose home base is in Worcester, Mass. With Eduardo on bass, Andy Kleindienst shifted to his primary instrument, trombone. Nelson Delgado also sat in on congas and made vocal contributions on some boleros and sones.
This video captures a lively moment in the last set, with the Cuban dance tune "El Cuarto de Tula." While Andy Kleindienst is barely visible in the low light conditions, his trombone gleams close to the camera as he delivers a solo:
Ortiz brothers Eduardo and Ramon with Andy Kleindienst
Guillo has a new website, and some gigs coming up; he'll be performing with the Triangle Salsa All Stars at the Festival Ritmo Latino in Cary this weekend. More TBA soon...
The Cobo Brothers' elegant salsa/mambo social on Second Saturdays has been on hiatus ever since the closing of George's Garage last fall. But the return of Copa Night debuts tonight (4/10) at the restauraunteur's new location in Cary, with a "Black and White Party" theme.
NEW VENUE:Giorgio's, 4300 NW Cary Parkway (near High House Rd), Cary.
Black and White Party Discounts:
Regular admission: $12 Anyone wearing ALL BLACK or ALL WHITE: $10 Ladies: $8 admission before 10:30 pm.
A special performance by Mexican dancer Rodrigo Cortazar and his partner will be featured at 10:45 pm. The rest of the night will be open dancing.
Finally! I was at the right place at the right time to catch Pako Santiago in a bongo solo. Pako plays timbales often in Carnavalito, and will take up congas in the new incarnation of Charanga Carolina, but I especially like his sabor boricua on the bongó.
Here he is with Sajaso on Saturday, working a pretty hefty chart at the Cary Caribbean Festival: a 1967 Eddie Palmieri descarga on the Tito Puente composition "Picadillo."
Ramon Ortiz follows him on timbales, then Rafael Duque (keeper of the great blog Sentimiento Mañana) on congas.
Sound equipment was not adequate at this event. This is the first year for the all-volunteer Cary Caribbean Festival, and it was a healthy beginning, but the event would benefit next time from a stage manager and sound crew.
The best way to appreciate the music was to stand next to the bandstand, at the back of the speakers, so the sound could travel naturally to your ears. A drum has natural amplification, after all, that is the essence of a drum. Despite the audio challenges, this event was really enjoyable because of hot moments like these--another Eddie Palmieri classic, from the 1964 album Lo Que Traigo Es Sabroso:
Frank Vila tears up the piano, then Rafael Duque solos again (more audible than in the last clip), Serena Wiley on saxophone, and then guest rumberos Cesar Cordero and Rick Radian dialogue on congas and cajon.
Along with the aforementioned, Jade-Lin Chue played bass, Andy Kleindienst trombone, Guillo Carias subbed on flugelhorn, and leader Ramon "Chino" Casiano performed vocals. Dominican singer Nelson [last name?], formerly of son band La Sexta Clave, played hand percussion.
Live salsa band Sajaso headlines the first Cary Caribbean Festival this Saturday (9/19). Many Antillean cultural groups, including bomba and plena dancers from the Asociacion de Puertorriqueños Unidos de NC, will be participating in the free festival, which runs from 2-7 pm in the Herbert Walker Community Center. (See calendar listing.)
The Triangle Salsa All Stars, an impromptu collective put together by Ricardo Granillo for Diamante's Ritmo Latino Festival, debuted to positive reviews Sunday despite 99 degree heat. It was a sweatbath even in the shade, but dancers were unstoppable. The Sertoma bowl at Bond Park makes a cozy setting for this free festival which focusses on cultural diversity and fun.
It's about time someone pooled the experience and talent in our area into an all star Latin band; it's a lot of work to organize, but let's hope the concept will be taken further still.
Members of Sajaso, Gardel and Carnavalito took part, plus newcomer to the Triangle Guillo Carias, a Dominican Latin jazz trumpeter who recently moved to the area. Guillo's online biography lists stints with Tito Rodriguez, Pablo Casals (via the Conservatory of Puerto Rico), Sammy Davis Jr and even the Soul Train Dancers. Welcome, Guillo, we look forward to hearing a lot more of you. Guillo Carias and Ricardo Granillo
Guillo just returned from playing a jazz festival in the Dominican Republic. Apparently he has already tooled up a Latin jazz group in NC and plays Wednesday nights at a local restaurant; more details to follow.
The repertoire was a mix of tunes from the different bands' existing book, among them "Autumn Leaves," "La Esencia del Guaguanco" and a Carnavalito original.
Here's a nice clip from "La Esencia," with Pako Santiago laying some serious fire to the timbales. Then Julio takes a bongo solo, and Ramon Ortiz, who frequently serves as a timbalero or bongocero in other bands, solos for a change on trapset drums. Having that critical mass of top quality percussionists in the area makes luxury accessories like this possible--congas, bongo & bell, claves, timbales AND trapset. Having 5 layers of percussion instead of four or three doesn't seem like a big deal but it is EVERYTHING.
The rest of the gang: Ricardo on bass, Atiba Rorie congas, Phil Merritt piano, Alberto Carrasquillo trumpet, Guillo Carias flugelhorn, Hugh Robertson sax, Andy Kleindienst trombone, and Chino Casiano sonero.
Posts
