The Brand New Life Plays Durty Durham

The Brand New Life headlined Friday (5/3) at Durty Durham's Pinhook fundraiser. (For supporting band The Black Experience, see yesterday's blog post.)

The Brand New Life at The Pinhook

Greensboro is some kind of strange rhythm nexus, attracting more than your average share of griots, drum classes, and African and Brazilian percussion specialists. In fact, all across the state, from Asheville's Toubab Krewe, to Greensboro's Africa Unplugged, and Carrboro's Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba, Africa/North Carolina hybrids are springing up like a cottage industry.

The Brand New Life belongs to Greensboro's gems. "Impossible to pigeonhole" has become a popular moniker for out-of-the-way bands, but:  "Does several things very well that don't traditionally go together," better describes The Brand New Life. As the set started out Friday, they showed their  free jazz, skronk funk side. "Just wait," I told some friends at the bar. Sure enough, they pulled out their heavy West African grooves next. In its history, the group has worked closely with musicians from Senegal, and musicians on the autism spectrum, both of whom released special synergies in the collective.

Sean Smith and Evan Frierson

Walter Fancourt and Seth Barden

Getting up to date with BNL's personnel changes during the past year:   Tama drummer Mamadou Mbengue just left the area in March for Chicago, but percussionist and co-founder Evan Frierson has taken on the instrument, also called a talking drum. Scott Johnson plays congas since September, 2012, and electric guitarist Will Darity is a full-time member since June 2012, around the time of saxophonist and co-founder Casey Cranbrook's departure. Trumpeter Sean Smith (2006-2010 member of Asheville's Afromotive) holds up the horn harmonies now with tenor saxophonist and co-founder Walter Fancourt. Two more original members remain intact: Seth Barden (electric and upright bass), and Daniel Yount (trapset drums).


Will Darity


Daniel Yount

My video clip from Friday night shows Frierson ascending the stage for a talking drum cameo, followed by smoking horn solos from Fancourt and Smith, on an Afrobeat tune entitled "Everybody Like You, Boy."

It's an original tune, based on a traditional Senegalese tama/sabar rhythm. Made more Afrobeat by The Brand New Life.   (--BNL trapset drummer Daniel Yount)

Evan Frierson

Seth Barden and Will Darity

Links:

The Brand New Life, artist website

Greensboro Tiene Ya Su Guaguancó

Some pics and commentary from Afro Cuban All Stars at the Carolina Theatre in Greensboro last night (4/3):


Juan de Marcos, still the empresario. Behind him: former Cubanismo pianist Ignacio "Nachito" Herrera, who lives in Minnesota, and bassist Alberto Pantaleon who lives in Mexico City.


Representing the old school: Evelio Galán is a nephew of Mañuel "Puntillita" Licea, an original member of the Buena Vista Social Club who passed away in 2000. Galán lives in Dublin and heats up the scene there in percussionist Conor Guilfoyle's band, Havana Son. Juan de Marcos (on stage, behind him) called him "the best singer I have ever heard." Gorgeous voice, like butta. He blew me away. (I like how he strategically placed himself in front of my camera too. These are not bootlegged, I had a photo press pass.)


Calixto Oviedo is a beloved timbero in Stockholm. His 90-year-old mother is gravely ill right now, and although he is very worried about her, it didn't affect his performance. We all hope she will hold on to her health until he finishes out the tour next week and can go down to Cuba to see her. This guy has tremendous musicality on the timbales, and a great attitude!



Behind Emilio Suarez's dancing torso, that's bongosero Pepe Espinosa, who played an unusual solo on bell. He lives in [correction!] Stockholm, I believe. His sister Madelin Espinosa is also a percussionist.


Jose Gil Piñero, aka Jose Gilito, definitely plays well to the ladies.


Here he is down in the open orchestra pit with the dancers. After intermission the concert went into party mode. On stage behind him: Emilio Suarez, Juan de Marcos (arms raised), Evelio Galán.


Don't curb your enthusiasm.
Jose Gilito gets a hug. Behind him on stage: Emilio Suarez, and Juan de Marcos' wife/business manager, Gliceria Abreu (in white).







Yes, that's one nice thing about Cuban bands, they bring the party to you. For anyone who had reservations about this new and unfamiliar lineup, they are the cream of Cuba's talent diaspora. This is an elite orchestra and I appreciated the vitality and fresh faces. They shared with us a sense of optimism that this tour is opening doors, and that Barack Obama will put an end to the cold war on cultural exchange. Soon we will be ready to exhale!

I write this as rumors about Los Van Van's U.S. tour THIS SUMMER appear to be substantiated. It's going to happen, people! This July 28, Durham will get run over by El Tren!

Shout out: Local musicians I ran into in the audience at the Afro Cuban All Stars show included Bradley Simmons, Robert Cantrell, Jose Sanchez and Cesar Oviedo. If you were there, give a holler!

I also talked to Edwin Dubois, the owner of the Greensboro club Rumba D'Cache. He said he did cancel the Niche concert (sounded like he didn't sell enough advance tickets?), and was out of town that week opening another club.

Afro Cuban All Stars in Greensboro THIS FRIDAY (4/3)

The Afro Cuban All Stars will target Greensboro's Carolina Theatre for a massive vacilón this Friday (4/3):


Nostalgia band brings new faces in '09.

Juan de Marcos' latest combination features expatriated Cubanos, to steer clear of potential headaches with visas and the all-important FBI security clearances. This is the hurdle that since 2003 has in essence prohibited Cuban touring, going on 6 years now. Soon to be a thing of the past? Rumors are flying, but at this time unconfirmed. We'll keep you posted!

Meanwhile, Afro Cuban All Stars are in the 7th week of a grueling 8-week tour that has already taken them from the West Coast through the Southwest, the Midwest and Northeast. View full tour schedule here on Timba.com, including dates in nearby Virginia and Atlanta this week. The tour will wind up in Miami on April 11.

These details on the 2009 Afro Cuban All Stars lineup were reported in All About Jazz.com:

"Ignacio 'Nachito' Herrera (Minnesota), pianist and ex-musical director of Tropicana Orchestra and Cubanismo

Calixto Oviedo (Stockholm), drummer, performed with Adalberto Alvarez, NG La Banda, Pacho Alonso, etc.

Yaure Muniz (Madrid), Igort Rivas (Curacao) & Miguel Valdes (Vancouver), trumpeters, members of the Buena Vista Social Club, but also lead trumpet players with Paulo FG, Klimax, Tropicana Orchestra, etc.

Alberto 'Molote' Martinez (Amsterdam), trombonist, member of the original line up of Buena Vista Social Club, but also a featured member of Elio Reve's Orchestra, Cuban Symphonic Orchestra, etc."

Grupo Niche, Si o No?

Can anyone confirm or deny the Grupo Niche show that was announced by Rumba D'Cache in Greensboro this Friday (3/20)? I have tried repeatedly to contact club owner and promoter, Edwin Dubois, and haven't been able to reach him at his email or phone numbers. Has anyone bought advance tickets?

Furthermore, the event poster is no longer displayed on Rumba D'Cache's homepage or myspace page. What gives?

Grupo Niche in Greensboro NEXT FRIDAY

First Photos

El Gran Combo in Greensboro last night. Click on to see more at my flickr stream.

Puerto Rico's Great Combination

I've seen some great shows in Greensboro: Spanish Harlem Orchestra, the Afro-Cuban All Stars (where I danced, albeit briefly, in a front row clench with Pedrito Van Van).

Now tonight, El Gran Combo moves into view at Rumba D'Cache on W. Market St. (see calendar).

The band formed in 1962, as an off-shoot of the estimable Cortijo y su Combo, and is still going strong 46 years later with pianist Rafael Ithier at the helm. Known as "La Universidad de la Salsa," some of its 'graduates' include bongocero Roberto Roena and trumpeter Elias Lopez, who went on to work as band leaders in Puerto Rico, and sonero Andy Montañez and bolero singer Pellín Rodriguez. The band's current signature lead voices are Charlie Aponte, Jerry Rivas and Papo Rosario.

El Gran Combo rejected a signing offer from Motown in the early '70s to create its own label, Combo Records, a business decision that has put them in control of their own commercial and artistic brand. Their output has been voluminous, producing new albums, compilations and live recordings almost yearly for most of their career, and hits that are still widely played and recognized by salsa fans around the world. Evergreens such as "Un Verano en Nueva York," "Azuquita Pa'l Cafe" and "El Menu" resonate as markers of Puerto Rican identity--and for tonight's Halloween theme, there are hits like "La Muerte" and "Brujeria." More recently, their 2001 El Nuevo Milenio - El Mismo Sabor spawned the dancehall staple "Me Libere" and a tribute to the passing in 2000 of timbal king Tito Puente. Their last album was Arroz con Habichuela in 2006.

Here's a pre-1977 clip of the band from YouTube, featuring Andy Montañez at his height:



Three men sharing a microphone may be old school, but it captures the convivial force of the art form, the essence of salsa's stage presence. Nice dance moves, too; musicians, you can polish up your stage footwork with these fine fellows.

At the end of the clip, there's an Easter egg of La Sonora Ponceña, Puerto Rico's other iconic, long-running salsa band. You will catch a glimpse of Yolanda Rivera, one of the first ladies of salsa, and the great Luigi Texidor spinning a soneo. Seeing the two bands bookended is a great combination, indeed. Thanks to L.A. Times music critic and author Ernesto Lechner for suggesting this clip as essential viewing.

El Gran Combo in Greensboro Saturday (11/1)

Staggering news just in: Puerto Rico's legendary salsa band El Gran Combo is playing in Greensboro this Saturday (11/1) at a venue called Rumba D'Cache.



These are the details as passed along to me by Jack Wolf: Tickets are $35/advance, $40/door, $50/table or $100/VIP table. Doors will open at 8 pm and show begins at 11 pm.

This story is developing! I'll be doing my best to confirm details with the promoters and post more here ASAP.

Words on the Street

A little late for posting Mexican Independence Day celebrations, but Franco Gallardo y Los Charros de Mexico are at La Maraka tonight (see bottom half of poster, Monday, 9/15):



Also found this, when I was out cruising posters at the tiendas along Roxboro Road: very popular bachateros Monchy y Alexandra will be at Ambis 1 in Raleigh on Friday, 9/26:



Also, on the left there, merengue band Oro Solido, with Bachata Asurr, will be at Club Menage in Greensboro on 9/19.

If you've ever danced to bachata at all, you will have some passive recall of Monchy y Alexandra's hits. "Perdidos" and "Dos Locos" are two on YouTube that I can remember hearing in the past month. "Hoja en Blanco" (their first big hit as a duo in 1998) is the one you've probably danced to a thousand times.

A lot of Latin popular dance music is highly commercialized, which means it is both highly polished and highly recycled. It seems that, before it was a bachata, "Hoja en Blanco" was a Colombian vallenato hit for Esmeralda Orozco and Omar Geles, with Los Diablitos de Vallenato.



Finally, I saw this DIY ad for a live trio huasteco on an Oldsmobile. There were more of these number stickers in mysterious, symmetrically ordered patterns on other parts of the vehicle, as well as old AAA and Fraternal Order of Police stickers. As if a trio huasteco in Durham were not intriguing enough!

Turntable Batucada (9/4)

WUAG is welcoming back UNC-Greensboro students with a free screening of the music documentary Brasilintime: Batucada com Discos. From what I can glean, it's about American and Brazilian hip hop djs trying to communicate in a turntable version of a samba batucada. Here's the official trailer:



Next Thursday (9/4) at 7 p.m., at the Weatherspoon Museum of Art, UNC-Greensboro, see calendar.