MisterBryans

Salsamundo Thursdays at Babaluu

The good folks at Babaluu (Nubia and Pilar) have asked me to take over their Thursday nights. So starting October 22nd, I will be DJ'ing a night that I am calling Salsamundo.

It's a format that I started to develop at Lula on a Saturday night, where I'd string together a mix of music in every genre  from Colombian, Cuban, Vintage, Romantica through to African....

On one hand, I don't want to play the same format as I do Sundays, (about 80/20% cuban/non-cuban), on the other hand I couldn't possibly play an evening of salsa without Issac,Adalberto, Van Van, Manolito etc etc,. So there is a blend somewhere that I want to develop into something unique to the dancers and party people of Babaluu's.

My good friend Erica (Colombiana by background, VanVanera by inclination) was very influential in opening my mind to these possibilities.

In 2003, I found myself bombing along the Malecon in my buddy Luis' crapped out Lada, grooving to Puerto Rican Power at ear-splitting volume. I was in my 100% Timba phase at the time and didn't get it at first, listening to Puerto Rican salsa in Cuba.

I understand a lot better now.

Canada, the U.S. and Cuban Music

There's a growing flood of mini-developments in the 'deshielo' (thaw) between U.S. and Cuba, but this link from Cuba Colada is the most significant for Canadian music audiences and Canadian producers.

The flow of artists and musicians between Cuba and the U.S., choked off since 2003, has begun to trickle again. The most famous voice to hit stateside from the island is Omara Portuondo, the lone female artist from the Buena Vista Social Club, who has received a visa to perform in the U.S. in October. Omara, who just got a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Tropical Album for her album Gracias, will perform during the San Francisco Jazz Festival on Oct. 20 and at UCLA on Oct. 23. The Latin Grammys will be held on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas; no word yet on whether Omara will attend.

Which makes it all but official that come the 2010 summer touring season, Cuban music artists will be touring the U.S. on a regular basis.

The question for Canadian promoters of Cuban music - and it wont really be answered until agents start making phone calls toward the end of this year - is, will there will be more Cuban groups available for the Canadian market, and will they be more expensive than before, or hopefully, less expensive, because Canadian promoters wont have to bear the costs of flying the musicians from Havana to Toronto or Montreal.

The real cost of Cuban salsa bands was never really in the fees the bands charged, the costs were in the price of flying 15-18 people from Cuban to Canada.

Theoretically, you strip away those flight costs (because the bands could start a tour in Miami) and the bands become much cheaper to present...Therefore more money can be spent on promotion, etc etc.

Theoretically.

Adonis Puentes News

Cool news from one of my oldest friends in the business, Adonis Puentes. He's the lead vocalist on master percussionist Orestes Vilató’s album “It’s About Time,” recently nominated for a Latin Grammy Award in the category of "Best Traditional Tropical Album"

Apparently Adonis was originally asked to sing a couple of songs for this album, and the producers liked his voice so much they got him to sing the whole album. Which is not surprising to me. He has a great voice.

Meanwhile, I just got some new music from Alexis (Alex Cuba) which I'll post up soon.

(Still recovering from Havana Cultura)

Ogguere with Cucu Diamante at Paz Sin Fronteras

Decadencia - Eskuatron Patriota

One of the most widespread of the so-called 'dissident' Cuban hip-hop videos in circulation

The Pacemaker DJ

From the Telegraph U.K.

The next giant leap forward in dj-ing is a miniaturized device that’s not much bigger than an iPhone.

The Pacemaker does for the DJ set-up what the Walkman did for the home stereo by making it mobile. It also makes DJing accessible for even the complete novice. It takes an hour or so to get to grips with and all the MP3 mixes are saved to the gadget’s hard drive. These can be played through headphones or through a home or club audio system. “We’re aiming to put the focus back on to the music,” says Ola Sars, the man behind the Pacemaker which comes in 60gb (£299) and 120gb (£399) hard drive options.

Demo sessions have seen pro DJs mixing tracks while they’re out in the crowd on the dancefloor. Does this now mean Djs will need a new device to help improve their dancing?

Honest to God  i have waved my iPhone at the speaker system at the club and told my friends "soon, this is how we will DJ".

And here's what it looks like....

Maybe i should just skip the Serrato Final Scratch

Fun with Francis

It was on a break at the Ogguere rehearsal, where Francis and Roberto were brought in to beef up the backing band which included Glenda del E and Jalidan Ruiz. The drum set was just sitting there, waiting for someone to hit it, and Yasmina had the camera.

Descansa En Paz Lazarito

The Toronto Cuban community lost one of it's most prominent members last Sunday upon the news that Lazarito (aka Chico Valentino) died in an automobile accident while back home in Cuba.

I did not know Chico that well personally, when I was entering the Cuban music scene as a live music promoter (in 2001-2002) he was one of the first Cuban dance teachers in Toronto, running the Thursday night parties at El Convento Rico. The last time we talked was at the Salsa on St. Claire festival this past July. And from the first to the last time, what I remember most was his irrepressible smile, his handsome Cuban-guy good looks and the way he danced with an infectious energy that always made the room feel better.

Two of my best Cuban friends posted these messages on Lazarito's facebook page

from Sarita Leyva

Lazarito, es extremadamente triste y dificil saber que ya no estaras mas entre nosotros, todos los que te conocimos y queremos estamos consternados con la noticia, nunca te voy a olvidar, descanza en paz querido amigo, hermanito mio, se que donde quiera que estes tu sonrrisa y alegria contagiara a todos, gracias por los buenos momentos, recuerdos y memorias, mis condolencias para tu familia, que la paz y la luz del señor esten contigo. Te quiero mucho R.I.P

from Alberto Alberto

Hermano mio, que Olofin y todo el Panteón Yoruba ilumine tu camino a la eternidad. Que aunque se que de este mundo nadie se marcha, y que tan solo cambiemos de posición, siento una gran tristeza al saber que ya no estas entre nosotros. Pena por tu familia y amigos. Hoy brindare por ti y recodare los buenos momentos en que compartimos. Que en paz estes mi hermano.