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Published By Christopher A. Johnson |
Founded February 13, 2006 Issue # 3 February 2009 |
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| Hot Salsa Kitchen Yahoo! Group - MySpace.com/Hot Salsa Kitchen - Facebook.com/Chris Johnson - Salsa Video Clips | |||
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This month marks the
On the night of my first salsa congress in February 2006, an announcement was made and a moment of silence was observed. Ray Barretto had passed away. I was new to salsa and barely knew any of the key musicians and at the time the only song of Ray's that I could easily identify was Acid. I've been dancing and listening to salsa music for 5 years now and still could not tell you the names of many artists other than the ones with commercial success. Orlando Lopez may not be a name you recognize, but you've certainly heard of The Buena Vista Social Club. He passed away recently. Maybe you've seen the movie "The Mambo Kings" or "Take The Lead" but did you know those two hugely successful movies were based on the life of a hugely successful dancer named Cuban Pete? Again, another great artist has left us. I'm trying to make it a point to learn the names of the musicians behind the songs I love. One person who comes to mind is the vocalist for many of Eddie Palmieri's songs. Do you know who that is? At the moment I couldn't tell you without the help of Google but I do know that the singer is coming to Chicago this summer as part of the Latin Street Salsa Festival. I'd like to ask you to read the liner notes on your CD's, browse thru Wikipedia and Google to learn more about these great musicians. Or if you're lucky enough, ask your best friend to get you a great book called "The History of Salsa" which is out of print and VERY hard to find. (Thanks again!!) If you'd like to contribute to the newsletter, please email me: CAJPhoto@Yahoo.com Chris
Featuring Freddy O. |
The Buena Vista Social Club
(http://www.buenavistasocialclub.com/) was a
members club in
Havana,
Cuba that held dances and musical activities, becoming a popular
location for musicians to meet and play during the 1940s. In the
1990s, nearly 50 years after the club was closed, it inspired a
recording made by
Cuban musician
Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist
Ry Cooder with traditional Cuban musicians, some of whom were
veterans who had performed at the club during the height of its
popularity.
In Memory Of Cuban bassist Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez of the Buena Vista Social Club HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuban bassist Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, who rose to international fame as a member of the Buena Vista Social Club band, has died at 76 due to complications following prostate surgery, Cuban state media said on Tuesday. Lopez was one of a group of aging Cuban musical stars who were largely forgotten until U.S. musician Ry Cooder brought them together in 1996.
DJ Frank "Frankie J" Rodriguez DJ Frankie J has been moving crowds for the better part of 10 years. From the first time he set eyes on a pair of 1200 Technique turntables, he was hooked for life. At the age of 13, Frankie started spinning House music records in his bedroom for hours at a time. "It drove my family crazy," Frankie recalls. By the age of 18, Frankie had played his first House set at the legendary Warehouse on Randolph Street in Chicago - thanks in part to a current friend and a fake ID! "I love the fact of having people jam to my music. It was exhilarating!" |
The Clarendon Grill I went to the Clarendon Grill with my dear friend Viviana while in DC for the Presidential Inauguration. It's a club and restaurant that also has a stage for live bands. The night we were there, they had a pretty decent local salsa band and a DJ. If you're in DC on a visit be sure to check it out.  Song(s) that are from different genre's of music that can be danced to, Salsa-style. George Michael This song was a big hit and a controversial album for George. He sings about leaving the boy-band MTv image and searching for freedom. It also happens to start off with a good conga beat so have at it! Mark Ronson Lilly Allen is the latest pop-tart from Britain and she might not be your thing but this song kicks ass. Try dancing On2 to this song with the 2 and 6 step hitting with the snare. Or not, but I love it and if you can figure out the lyrics you'll actually hear the phrase "Come back stronger than a powered up Pac-Man." Terence Trent D'Arby As I pointed out last month, alot of good R&B songs make great Bachata dances. Give it a try. 
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In Memory of Cuban Pete - The Greatest Mambo Dancer Ever From Wikipedia: Pedro "Cuban Pete" Aguilar (June 14, 1927 – January 13, 2009[1]) was a Puerto Rican dancer, referred to as "the greatest Mambo dancer ever", by Life magazine and Tito Puente. His nickname, "Cuban Pete" was conferred upon him in 1949 in the famous dance hall "Palladium", New York in reference to the mambo classic song Cuban Pete by Desi Arnaz, and it was endorsed by Arnaz himself.
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An interview with Cuban Pete by Jacira Castro of SalsaPower.com
 I bumped into “Cuban Pete” (literally!) in a very clumsy but fortuitous manner at Starfish in Miami Beach the night of his birthday celebration. Andy Harlow’s band was jamming and the dance floor was packed. A friend of mine and I were dancing the Casino-Style Salsa that is dominant here in South Florida and we were executing a move called “El Melón” which requires 5 quick turns in a row, when he accidentally let go of me. The centrifugal force propelled me right into Cuban Pete...and when I realized who I'd bumped into, I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me! I apologized profusely but he kept right on dancing with his beautiful partner, Barbara Craddock.
Shortly thereafter the World Latin Dance
Council representative took over the microphone and delivered kudos
galore to this marvelous man who has given so much to the dance
world for contributing to the preservation of “Clave”.
more... |
Flava Invasion 4: "CHAOTICA" continues to create a great deal of buzz in the salsa community so here is the latest news about what's going on in the ATL: Victor Perez, Burju Hurturk, and the Hacha dance company will be heating up Atlanta, April 24 - 26, along with other Flava Invasion 4: "CHAOTICA" artists. Hacha Y Machete (HYM Style) was the first official Massachusetts based professional New York Style "ON 2" Latin Dance Company. The company was formed in 1999 by a group of friends with the intent of enriching and educating New England about the New York Style of dancing salsa/mambo through our performances and classes. Under the direction of Burju Hurturk and Victor Perez the group has earned a remarkable reputation both locally and internationally for their innovative choreography, original style, and high caliber of dancers. |
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Photos from the 2009 Chicago International Salsa Congress
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Grupo Latin Vibe has been in existence for 11 years. Co-leaders Anibal "Tito" Rivera and Tommy Matiolli formed the band 14 years ago under the name TNT. The two met at the Boy's Harbour in El Barrio, NYC or in East Harlem, NYC. Tommy is a jazz virtuoso who is addicted to the vibes, and percussion. Tito is a gifted vocalist, percussionist, lyrist, composer and arranger with a tipico style. Together they have created a "magic"with their talents. It is a style they like to call salsa/jazz. |
Adrian of Descarga Caribe
Back Issues: Frank Rodriguez
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  In
Memory of
Joe Cuba - The Father of New York BoogalooThe following is an article by Aurora Flores which has been provided to the newsletter by Earl Rush - DJ Caobo:
His music was at the forefront of the Nuyroican movement of
Longtime manager and promoter Hector Maisonave recalls
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