Tito Rodriguez was Latin Music Premier Entertainer
Posted on 07. Jan, 2012 by Hector Aviles.
This week marked the 89th birthday of Puerto Rican Latin music legend Tito Rodriguez. When I remember the Salsa and Bolero master, I think as much of his silky voice as of his ability as an entertainer. Salsa star Gilberto Santa Rosa regards Tito Rodriguez as one of his Latin music models, and I assume [...]
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2011 Latin Music Highs and Lows: Salsa (Part 1)
Posted on 05. Jan, 2012 by Hector Aviles.
I’ll share my viewpoint on which were the highs and lows in Salsa music during 2011. The lists below are in no particular order of importance. I’ll keep it short, so let’s get right to it… Salsa Music 2011Highs: Salsa Dura is Alive and Well: 2011continued to see great releases of Salsa Dura, a clear [...]
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Latino Music Cafe 2012 Resolutions
Posted on 02. Jan, 2012 by Hector Aviles.
I’m not that big on New Year’s resolutions as I believe on continuous improvement, not in once a year improvements. But it’s a good time to reflect on the last year and apply lessons learnt. In 2011 I change jobs. After 15 years in Microsoft, I now work for an Austrian manufacturer with US operations [...]
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Luis Enrique’s “Soy y Seré” CD Review
Posted on 26. Nov, 2011 by Hector Aviles.
“Soy y Seré” is the 18th recording of veteran Nicaraguan singer Luis Enrique. After the huge success of Luis Enrique’s 2009 comeback album “Ciclos”, “Soy y Seré” was the widely anticipated follow-up. “El Principe” of the “Salsa Romantica” released a romantic album that leans more towards Latin pop. The contrast between the two albums is [...]
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Latin Grammys Hangover
Posted on 21. Nov, 2011 by Hector Aviles.
I gave up on Grammy awards or Latin Grammys being a fair competition of the best music a long time ago. They clearly aren’t. Yet, as I watched the 2011 Latin Grammys, I could only watch in attonishment some of the Latin Grammys awarded last week. Did reggaeton group Calle 13 deserve 9 Latin Gammys? [...]
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Miguel Zenon Starts West Coast Tour in Seattle
Posted on 12. Nov, 2011 by Hector Aviles.
As part of the promotion for his recent release “Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook”, multi- Grammy nominee jazz saxophonist Miguel Zenón begins a tour of the west coast of the United States with a stop at Seattle’s Jazz Alley this Monday, November 14th. Miguel will bring his quartet, made up of Venezuelan pianist Luis [...]
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Miguel Zenon’s “Alma Adentro” CD Review
Posted on 10. Nov, 2011 by Hector Aviles.
Out of the box creativity combined with extraordinary performance is a rare combination to find. Puerto Rican alto saxophonist Miguel Zenón has brought jazz fans a jewel of Latin American songs in straight jazz format. I hate to spill the beans up front in a CD Review, but “Alma Adentro: The Puerto Rican Songbook” is [...]
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Omar Sosa and Afreecanos in Seattle
Posted on 01. Nov, 2011 by Hector Aviles.
Cuban pianist and improvisation extraordinaire Omar Sosa is out in tour, visiting Seattle’s Jazz Alley Nov 1st and 2nd and from there continuing to Oakland’s Yoshi’s on Nov 4th and 5th. Although Omar barrows heavily from jazz and latin fundamentals, his music is a mix of these with elements of hip hop, techno, electronica and [...]
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Elizabeth Brings Her Jazz to Seattle
Posted on 28. Oct, 2011 by Hector Aviles.
Elizabeth! adds an exclamation point to her name as she does to her music. With a fresh new CD coming out, the silky-voiced singer and trombone player brings her mix of jazz styles to Seattle and Oregon this last weekend of October, and the following week to California. Along with Bill Anschell on piano and [...]
