Timba at the Eno: Orquesta GarDel

Orquesta GarDel fought fire with fire, battling the sweltering heat with candela at the Eno River Festival on July 5. This original song, a Cuban-influenced timba born in North Carolina, will be included on the band's first EP due out this fall:



ORQUESTA GARDEL'S next concert is THIS SATURDAY (7/31) from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Saxapahaw Farmer's Market and Outdoor Music Series. FREE.


Dominican percussionist Ramon Ortiz with his family backstage at the Eno fest.


Dance community, represent! Timba enthusiasts Rick Collier and Tonia Burkett.

Rumba Na' Ma

Mosaic's Cuban Night, with live drum ensemble Tambor Vivo, was moved to TONIGHT, Thursday (9/24), instead of as originally scheduled last week. Two short sets at 10:30 and 11:30; No cover.

Here's what I wrote about it in July:

"Cuban Night at Mosaic

Primal energies ran high in what may have been the most extraordinary night in the monthly Cuban jam series since they started last year.

Mosaic's Moroccan wine cellar ambience took on a kind of beatnik vibe, where novices and nightclub habitues mingled with rumba aficionados and Cuban homeboys. I saw one New Yorker, a former Palladium dancer, summoning rumba steps from the same deep, mysterious roots that fed the original mambo craze.

More, please."

Beverly Botsford and Tambor Vivo at the Carrboro Century Center in July. Eduardo and Stephanie Winston exhibit flourish as they lead dancers in Afro-Cuban rumba.

Link:
Mosaic Wine Lounge, 517 W. Jones St (corner Glenwood), Raleigh downtown

Greek Peek

WHAT: Greek Festival
WHEN: (last day) SUNDAY 9/20, 11 am - 7 pm
WHERE: Exposition Building, NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh

Highlights:

Food for purchase: Full course dinners and a la carte honey-laden desserts, adult beverages from Greek coffee to ouzo.

Vendor Goodies: Lots of evil eye stuff, and bellydance coin hip scarves only $10!



Live Music: 7-piece band Zephyros is from Baltimore.


Song titles: "Kardasia," "Ston Erota Sou Liono," and "Pou Na Nai I Agapi Mou"

I like those killer breaks (around the 1:00 mark) on the middle tune, which I'm told means "I Melt When I Make Love to You."


Backstage with Telly Procopos, the charismatic lead singer of Zephyros

This was from the final set on Saturday night, the so-called "Power Hour," an unstoppable medley of tunes designed to get everybody dancing. If you liked the 3-minute clip, here are the 10 minutes that preceded it:


Song titles: "S agapo ke se hriazome," "Den me niazi pou gyrnas," "Eho Mia kardia pou s agapai," "Eho ponesi gi ayti," "Glossa epikinonias," and "Kardasia" (part 1).

Longer review to follow...

This festival is definitely about the FOOD, so come hungry. Some of the meals looked a little heavy (like I said, come HUNGRY) but I snacked on a gyro sandwich which was delicious, enjoyed retsina, ouzo and Greek coffee. The dessert bar went to baklava and way beyond, with to-go boxes an option. To get the fullest selection, go early to the festival, say Friday or Saturday; on the other hand, Sunday brought some attractive half-price deals as they cleared out the last of the food and drink.

This monumental spread isn't catered, it is hand-prepared by the congregation of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, on Lead Mine Road in Raleigh. 10% of the take goes to a charity, this year it was Habitat for Humanity. One-dollar raffle tickets generated a "Greek Stimulus Package," with half of the cash going to the winner of a nightly drawing. The food service was no-hassle and very orderly, and the atmosphere hospitable, transforming the Fairgrounds Exposition Center into a giant church basement.

Emmanuel "Manoli" Matsos, the bass player of Zephyros, has been leading the band for 23 years, making it the most experienced, and largest, Greek band in Baltimore. They tackle many different regional styles of Greek dances, and the musicianship was top drawer, with hats off to clarinetist Dave Drosini, guitarist Stavros Blicas, keyboardist Peter Bisbikis and bouzouki player Yianni Barlas, who also adds synth tones of soz, qanun and violin. (This reminded me of the way the Mexican tierra caliente bands use synth tuba.) The band's youngest member, 24-year-old Bill Matsos, is Manoli's son and a serious drummer who studied music for 10 years (and played in a few rock bands) before joining his dad's outfit. About a year ago, vocalist Telly Procopos also joined Zephyros full-time.

The band is a mainstay on the East Coast festival circuit, having played Fayetteville last week, and slated for Ocean City, Maryland and Tyson's Corner, Virginia in the coming weeks. Google your Greek festivals, or hopefully, these folks will stay in touch. Opa!

HARP THURSDAYS

7-9 pm: Pavelid @ Dos Taquitos Centro

Guillo, el Maravillo

Guillo Carias Trio @ Sullivan's every Wednesday night, 8 pm - 12 midnight.

Guillo Carias' primary instrument is trumpet/flugelhorn, but for the trio he leads from the piano. Also a master piano tuner and rebuilder, Guillo and his wife Maria moved to the Triangle about a year ago, but his career in music traces back to his youth in Santo Domingo, when his father taught him every instrument in the marching band. Today, he is a well-known figure in Dominican jazz, still returning to the island every year to play their jazz festival, and has released 10 albums under his own name.

This genial trio combines just the right mix of experience and insoucience, with fellow Dominicano Ramon Ortiz on percussion and Andy Kleindienst on jazz bass. Salseros know Andy as the elephant trombone of Orquesta GarDel, but listen and hear what a fine bass player he is. Likewise Ramon, often the timbalero or bongocero in dance bands, is a sophisticated and playful trapset drummer bringing his special knowledge of hand drums to the party.



The suave, muscular dance rhythm of Dominican merengue gives the Carias Trio its unique pulse, energizing standards such as "Speak Low" and "Besame Mucho" like waves breaking the surface of an endless sea of smooth. Guillo, who led hotel bands in Santo Domingo for years, is thoroughly at ease in the cocktail lounge setting, smiling at guests while multitasking on guira, vocals or melodica to keep the voyage percolating.

Here's a characteristic peek at the crew wearing its many hats:




Venue details: No cover for Wednesday jazz. Sullivan's serves high-end martinis and a surf-and-turf menu at the bar, which has comfortable seating in which to park and listen for hours. ESPN runs on the silent big screens, and the female waits in fishnets are attentive to small parties and high rollers alike.

Downsides: no draft beer, and drink prices are restaurant style, so tax-added totals run into the pennies and dimes. The occasional cigar puffer may get to you if you are sensitive to smoke.

The upside: World class Latin jazz a lo dominicano like you won't hear anywhere else. And Guillo personally tunes the piano every week. If you love live music in the Triangle, check this out at least once.

Links:
Guillo Carias' contact page (bio, photos, video clips)

RAZPA Tonight in Chapel Hill

Last-Minute Calendar Add:

Bad boys of Spanish rock RAZPA are back in the Hill tonight, Friday (9/11), at the Dead Mule Club on Franklin St. Show is 9-2am, no cover.


Video credit: betsybetsybetsy

If you head to Chapel Hill, you can catch Saludos Compay on your way at Caffe Driade; see calendar for details.

Foodies Alert: WINE AUTHORITIES Birthday Bash

WHAT: Wine Authorities 2nd Birthday Party
WHEN: 5-7pm Thursday, 9/10
WHERE: 2501 University (next to Thai Cafe), Durham, NC

Craig and Seth, the beloved local wine gurus at Durham's Wine Authorities, are celebrating the store's 2nd anniverary this Thursday (9/10), 5-7 pm.

There's no music connection other than that they love my radio show, Azucar y Candela, and play it in the store. (WXDU has renewed my timeslot for another semester for 6-8 pm Wednesdays.)

The birthday party will feature vendors: Locopops (selling wine-based pops) and Only Burger gourmet burger truck, as well as free samples from Artisan Cupcakes, Counter Culture Coffee, and more. Frank the balloon twister will be entertaining the under 21 crowd.

Searching for a nice birthday video, I came across this very homemade demo for Mariachi Nuevo Jalisco based in Lima Peru. Someone commented on the living room decor, but I gotta, say, that's one of my favorite parts! This is zoomtastic:



Happy Birthday, Wine Authorities!

Links:
Meet the Wine Authorities on WUNC's The State of Things

Latin Beat: August Edition

As Onda Carolina celebrates its first anniversary, this month is turning out to be one of the busiest on record for Latin music in the Triangle. I have a lot of catching up to do, so here's a digest of recent news and upcoming events.

First order of business: It's the third Thursday (8/20) of the month, and Tambor Vivo is headlining again at Mosaic's free, no-cover Cuban night. Mosaic's adventurous programming creates a win/win proposition for our music and dance community. Just show up, no classes, no covers, no pretense. Just the call of live drums. This party scene is burgeoning and a little different every time. Truly cultural, yet open-ended, you can dance how you want to, from straight-up rumba to whatever shakes your bootay.

Thursday appetizer: Did you know that a free bomba dance class is held every Thursday at Havana Grill in Cary? Time: 6:30 pm - 8ish, depending on attendance. Instructor Miriam Rivas is a Puerto Rican native and a researcher at Duke. Ladies, wear a wide skirt if you have one, and sneakers or shoes appropriate for dancing on concrete. Havana Grill serves Cuban food with nightly specials.

Next on the agenda: This Saturday (8/22) is Durham's Latino Festival, 3:00 - 8:00 pm at Rock Quarry Park. This free festival will highlight local Mexican regional music by Leno y sus Compas, and two of our best salsa bands: The Latin Project and Carnavalito. For the full schedule, see poster below or visit the Durham Latino Festival website.



August has been a packed month for festivals, from Ritmo Latino, to La Ley's 6th anniversary last weekend, which I unfortunately had to miss because I was out of town. It looked to be a humdinger, with return appearances by Domenic M (the bachata singer and his supertight band played the festival 3 years ago) and Grupo Control (spandex cowboys whose sexy show kicked off this blog a year ago).

Further jamming the festival calendar, this August will wrap up with La Fiesta del Pueblo on August 29-30 (which traditionally has taken place in early September). Currently they are looking for volunteers; if you would like to volunteer, fill out this online form. Their stage schedule isn't out yet, but check back soon for more details. (Let me get through one festival at a time...)

Finally I want to congratulate all the members of the NCCU Jazz Ensemble and director Ira Wiggins on a triumphant set of performances at the Newport Jazz Festival. From what I understand, this was a project several years in the making, and NCCU artist-in-residence Branford Marsalis was instrumental in creating the showcase. The ensemble is really getting out and about these days; they will play the Detroit Jazz Festival this Labor Day weekend.

We are tremendously lucky to have high order jazz education in our midst. It's nothing to take for granted, and has had a tremendous impact on our salsa scene, when you look at the number of musicians to come out of Central who also play "our Latin thing." Kudos to NCCU Jazz, it's on my list of great things about living in Durham.


STAY IN TOUCH

Got news or calendar items for Onda Carolina? I would love to hear from YOU. You can leave a comment, or email me by clicking on "Sylvia P." in the contributors box (sidebar, right) to reach my Blogger profile.

GRACIAS!

Rebirth of the Rumba

The Ark was a patchouli-laced sweatbox Saturday night during a modern dance jam session for American Dance Festival participants. Jungle percussion was engineered by local drummers, including Bradley Simmons, Patrick Loebs, Jason [last name?] and late drop-ins including Beverly Botsford and Aaron [last name?].

Vladimir Espinosa, down here from Roanoke for ADF, blazed a wide forest path on his batá drums and timbales. (Vlad, a welcome presence here for 6 weeks each summer, also sat in with Carnavalito in June at their Brightleaf Square concert.)

Like a rhythm See 'N Say, the group dialed through a catalog of world rhythms to inspire full body movement. Here's a snippet of the rumba guaguancó:



Something tribal happened during the samba jam, as dancers locked in to a nightclub thump:



Newcomer to the Triangle music scene Alfredo Morua shook a shekere and added verses to the rumba. Morua, a pastry chef at Mad Hatter who was born in Cuba, settled in Angier 3 years ago after living in Manhattan and New Orleans.

Sweet update: Alfredo's bandmate from his New Orleans days, Mark Sanders, just sent me this excellent photo link of the two of them in 1977 in the band Conjunto Caché. Dashiki heaven!


Alejandro "El Niño" Jesus (vocal, center), Mark Sanders (batá drum), Alfredo Morua (far right, guiro). Photo © by Mark Sanders, used by permission.

Mark runs the incredible Cuban music and photo blog Fidel's Eyeglasses, definitely worth a visit if you've never been there. (It's listed in the "Blogs We Like" sidebar).

Cuban Night at Mosaic

Meanwhile, Alfredo Morua made his local music debut last Thursday (7/16) with Tambor Vivo at Mosaic. Primal energies ran high in what may have been the most extraordinary night in the monthly Cuban jam series since they started last year.

Mosaic's Moroccan wine cellar ambience took on a kind of beatnik vibe, where novices and nightclub habitues mingled with rumba aficionados and Cuban homeboys. I saw one New Yorker, a former Palladium dancer, summoning rumba steps from the same deep, mysterious roots that fed the original mambo craze.

More, please.

"Copa Night" MOVES to Parizade TONIGHT (7/11)

The Cobo Brothers' "Copa Night" Social, an institution on second Saturdays, is moving this Saturday (7/11) to new digs: Parizade, located at 2200 W. Main Street at Erwin Square in Durham.

The reason? Former venue George's Garage recently closed. Parizade, owned by the same restauranteur, is just around the corner from the old nightspot.

Party times at the new venue are shifting slightly, to a half an hour earlier: 10:30pm - 2:30 am. Admission stays at $12, with ladies paying $8 before 11 pm. Dressy attire requested; for more info and directions see the event website.

It may be good timing for the move. Parizade is a bigger space, and has a Latin Party history dating back to...? At some point I'll recount the unofficial history.

Sure Thing: Rumba Tonight in Raleigh

Almost forgot...tonight is the monthly Cubanismo party at Mosaic. Salsa dancing, live drumming by Tambor Vivo. And it's FREE.

See calendar and/or search blog for details...

TONIGHT! Los Tigres del Norte & Children of the Horn

UPDATE:
Read my concert review in Indy online blog SCAN.


Tonight I will make my first encounter with Los Tigres del Norte, Mexico's godfathers of norteño, at Disco Rodeo in Raleigh. Opening bands, start time? Who knows, I'm trying to tune in to La Ley 96.9 FM to get more info. Will be checking it out for the Indy online music blog SCAN.

Update: Opening for Los Tigres: Los Yonics. Calls to the venue get you to a recording in Spanish: (919) 836-8535.

Perhaps on my way in to Raleigh, I'll stop by the North Carolina Art Museum's free After Hours party, 5:30-8:00 pm, featuring a Mardi Gras theme where Children of the Horn will be busting a Dixieland groove. Among los bravos in this band are Wayne Leechford, of Orquesta GarDel, trombonist Robo Jones who gigs with salsa bands from time to time, and Jim Crew and Ed Butler of ELM Collective. The museum will be open, and a cash wine/food bar awaits. See calendar for details!


Goodness grows in North Carolina: Children of the Horn crop up

Cubanismo Night @ Mosaic Thurs (1/15)

Mosaic is making its Cuban nights a regular thing...Tambor Vivo live drumming @ 10:30 and 11:30 pm, dance sets in between. As always, its free. See calendar for details.

Live Rumba Tonight at Rumba 54

Tambor Vivo will play a special Mambo Dinamico holiday party, 6-9 pm Sunday (12/21) at Rumba 54 (formerly Montas Lounge). Children are welcome, and guests are asked to RSVP and check the evite for what they might bring to this potluck-style event.

Lately, Betto Herrera (director of Mambo Dinamico) has been a regular at the newly installed Cuban nights at Mosaic Lounge, where he may be heard singing rumba guaguanco at the mic with Tambor Vivo.

Tonight's holiday party will feature live percussion and dance lessons in this folkloric Cuban dance style, as well as Dominican bachata, at 6pm.

For details, please see the website.

Cubanismo @ Mosaic Tonight (12/18)

Mosaic has decided to make the unofficial rumba night "official" - they are calling it Cubanismo, one Thursday a month, featuring Cuban rumba and other drum rhythms by Tambor Vivo "featuring Robert Cantrell".

So, tonight is your night, people!

Live sets are 10:30 and 11:30, DJ'ed salsa etc. in between. Cuba freaks, expect your people to be here, all the rumba guaguanco classes from Paso, and other folks crazy for rhythm.

Quoth Eduardito, in Paso's newsletter:

"Though Mosaic is quite refined in its presentation, I can still taste the dirt of Cuba within the sounds of Tambor Vivo."

A Morroccan wine cellar with blues trains rolling by on Jones St., Mosaic is bohemian with worn, stone floors, low light and comfy enclaves. It does feel like a solar when the Cuban dancers get going. Their staff is exceptional, polite and welcoming.

Oh, and it's FREE, there's NO COVER. So rumba on down.

Mosaic Wine Lounge, 517 W. Jones St (near Glenwood corner), Raleigh. See calendar!

Jíbaro Hoedown

Now that you've whetted your appetite for música jíbara, you can get a taste of a real Puerto Rican-style parranda (a musical Christmas party) this Friday (12/5) at Diamante's Arbolito de Esperanza celebration in Cary. Local musicians Ricardo Granillo, Pako Santiago and Luis Rivera are slated to accompany the singing of traditional Puerto Rican Christmas songs at the casual potluck dinner and treelighting ceremony. Kids age 8-12 will also be chosen to be "prince" and "princess" in the upcoming Dia de Los Reyes parade.

Guests who wish to donate to Diamante's Estrella de Esperanza campaign, which provides aid to low-income Latino families at the holidays, are asked to bring an unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item. Last year, the drive raised enough food for 37 familes and provided gifts for 107 children. This year, Diamante Executive Director Lizette Watko plans to top that, since they have identified over 300 kids and 105 families in need of assistance.

WHAT: Arbolito de Esperanza - potluck, treelighting & food drive

WHEN: Friday (12/5) 6:30-8:00 pm

WHERE: Herb Young Community Center, Room B, 101 Wilkinson Avenue, Downtown Cary (Chapel Hill Rd. & North Academy St.)

Lookee here: The Raleigh-Cary Spanish Language Meetup has made this an official meetup event.



Adults dressed as the Three Kings give candy to kids at last year's Dia de Los Reyes (Epiphany, Jan. 6) parade in Cary.


UPDATED Thursday:


Photos from the party. Click on the world's best guiro to see more.

Ricardo Granillo, Pako Santiago, Billy Marrero did some musical accompaniment for the singing of traditional Latin American Christmas songs. Except for Feliz Navidad, I hadn't heard any of these before, but a little girl just arrived from Cuba with her parents was singing along. "El Burrito Sabanero" was cute. I finally figured out as I was listening to this that "Belén" equates to "Bethlehem." From the other songs I've heard (like Celia Cruz), I always thought it was a Havana neighborhood! (I guess it's both.)

Pre-Thanksgiving Workout

Triangle Fiestas is moving their Thursday Latin Party at the Red Room to Wednesday night (11/26), this week only.

Also this week only: Admission will be free for everyone.

See calendar for more info.

Happy Hour

PrimeraJazz, a new Latin jazz project of pianist Eric Hirsh and friends, will play a free "Sabor Latino" happy hour concert at the North Carolina Museum of Art this Friday (10/24).

"Sabor Latino" takes place Friday from 5:30-8:00 pm at the Museum on Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. The Latin-themed event is part of the Art in the Evening series, meant to highlight the museum's extended Friday hours. Admission to both the museum and the music event is free.



Spanish wines and Latin American food will be available for purchase, but don't expect PrimeraJazz's music to be watered down for the cocktail circuit.

"It's good to challenge ourselves," says Hirsh, a three-time winner of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composers Award. Hirsh is rehearsing the quintet to perform his original charts, as well as "salsified" jazz standards, such as his guaguanco arrangement of a Wayne Shorter tune.

As a student, Hirsh rocked Latin rhythms with UNC's Charanga Carolina. Today he plays with hip hop group The Beast and co-leads the salsa band Orquesta GarDel. He is employed by the music software company Zenph Studios, Inc.

In this incarnation of PrimeraJazz, he will be joined by Peter Kimosh, bass, Al Strong, trumpet, Steve Coffman, drums, and Brevan Hampden, congas.

"I'm looking forward to it, and hopefully getting to book this group many more times, so we can really play out instead of have to hold back and play restaurant/wedding jazz."

UPDATE: Eric blogs about the history and resurgence of PrimeraJazz here.