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...
Blu Thompson and Brevan Hampden jamming @ The Republic
All-around percussionist Brevan Hampden and his fiancee Amithyst Castro celebrated their engagement last Friday night with a great, funky jam session at The Republic in downtown Durham. Members of Brevan's musical family held down the house band--mom Brenda on piano, and dad Ivan on drumset--along with a slew of friends and musical guests dropping in.
Trumpeter Lynn Grissett
Jazz pianist Joey Calderazzo (with whom Brevan plays regularly) was jamming up a storm when I came in. Other musical guests included William Darity on guitar, Pete Kimosh on both electric and double bass, Mark Wells on vocals/piano, and Eric Hirsh on piano. A mighty horn choir waited in the wings, including Al Strong, Lynn Grissett, James "Saxsmo" Gates, Blu Thompson, Eric Dawson, Brian Horton and others.
Brian Horton shakes a tambourine between sax solos
William Darity sits in on guitar, with Mark Wells, piano
VIDEOS
Short form: Solos by Blu Thompson (soprano sax), Mark Wells (piano & vocal).
Long form: Solos by William Darity (guitar), Brian Horton (sax), Brenda Hampden (piano), Eric Dawson (sax).
Rain deterred some from the annual salsa shindig at Saxapahaw; while the ground was damper and muddier than usual, the sky cleared in time for GarDel to preside over their two-hour set on schedule.
Eric Hirsh threw up a regal solo in "Boranda," originally a showpiece for another jazzy salsa pianist, Papo Lucca. This song about a drought swells and thunders like a stormcloud; it always seems to sound better on a rainy day.
Hawaiian trumpeter Kyle Santos filled Alberto Carrasquillo's chair for the day.
BUZZ: La Excelencia coming to NC in October
Jack Wolf, the man in the Panama hat, tells me he and Salsa4U have booked the upstart New York salsa band La Excelencia for a concert in Durham in October, on its way out to Asheville's LEAF festival.
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:
Waking the blog from its staycation, and I'll start by cleaning out the attic. Here are a few videos of the recently resurgent Tropic Orchestra at work way back in June. The North Raleigh club, After Five, had a nice layout for salsa, but I don't know if the party has been repeated since. This particular night, DJ Salsa Mike had set up shop. Tropic has started picking up a number of local gigs recently, including the Peruvian Independence Day celebration this past Saturday in Carrboro (more on that to come).
Tropic Orchestra, led by vocalist Ricardo Diquez (better known by the nickname "TNT" in his early days with Samecumba) is still a wiry ball of energy on stage. Coro singer and occasional soloist Jose Rivas, who works in church music, has softer, more romantic vocal qualities that contrast with Diquez' brash street style. If properly mic'ed, it would be nice to see Rivas developed as an alternate color palette in the band's repertoire. The able Andy Kleindienst subbed on bass, always a tasteful listener and contributor to any outing. Forming the seasoned rhythm section at this pick-up gig was Pako Santiago on congas, (pianist) Frank Vila on bongo, and Billy Marrero on timbales. Never asleep at the switch, Ricardo James played trumpet (also of Sajaso), and Joshua Vincent played trombone.
It is worth mentioning that pianist and musical director Andres Leon is the heart at the center of this musical body. A self-taught player from the Venezuelan old school, his strong montunos and tasty rhythmic flourishes keep the salsa pulse pumping, even when the band shows its occasional rough edges. A reminder that even a knife that has nicks in it can cut you.
Here are two videos that both begin with Andres soloing on Willie Colon classics:
Bio Ritmo headlined the July 4 celebration at Virginia Beach last night--with extra percussion: their set kicked off just as the fireworks were getting started.
As an opener, they pounced on the tune "Hermano" from their 2004 Bio Ritmo album:
Marlysse Simmons hit a piano solo on the Roberto Angleró tune "Abicu," just as the fireworks reached their finale:
Filling in on congas was Hector "Coco" Barez, of Calle 13. Yes, thatCalle 13. He lives in Arlington now and subs with Bio Ritmo when he's not touring.
Hector "Coco" Barez (left) and bongocero Arnaldo Marrero backstage at 24th Street Park
Here's an original, recorded on their latest album Biónico, that showcases timbales, horns and congas:
Coming soon: News about Bio Ritmo and bolero side project Miramar, and coverage of Virginia Beach opening bands Latin Jazz Conspiracy and Tumbao Salsero.
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