29 December 2013:

Happy New Year!  See our Events & Reviews section for some live NYE options; also, on Thursday, January 2, the Humboldt Park Orchestra returns to the Alhambra Palace.  See4fantasticevents.com for more info, and see also our December 7 post for pictures and comments from their first performance.  Recommended. 

15 December 2013

Check out Events &  Reviews for what's on this week.  Congratulations to Mambo Fino for landing a weekly Friday night gig at Cafe Laguardia.   We'll try to write more about them soon. 

But not today.   Nuestros Primos Musicales is taking a little holiday break - see you in two weeks, and happy holidays if you are celebrating any. 

7 December 2013

THIS WEEK:
3rd Annual Afro-Caribbean Improvised Music Festival, December 11-14, 2013 
Old Town School of Folk Music  and Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

This year's offerings include a Tribute to Ismael Rivera,  a film screening of Sonó Sonó, a special performance by James Sanders' Proyecto Libre and the always-excellent  Afro-Latin Record Collectors' Fair and Exhibit.  This is happening in conjunction with the grand opening of the new Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. For more information including the full schedule, visit Aguzate.org

Humboldt Park Orchestra Debuts at Alhambra Palace:

The Humboldt Park Orchestra (see our December 1 post) gave a rousing debut performance for an enthusiastic audience at the Alhambra Palace Tuesday.  Much of the material was 70s-vintage Fania-style Salsa, and as the leader, Angel Rodriguez, had assured us, this won't be a one-off - the band will be returning for another performance at the Alhambra on Thursday, January 2. 

Chicago International Salsa Congress Coming in February 2014:

On November 24, we mentioned that Orquesta el Macabeo had a new track, their cover ofPedro Navaja, on the new album Música en tiempos.  You can now order the single from Amazon.com here...the whole album, which includes various artists, is available here...

1 December 2013

THIS WEEK: HUMBOLDT PARK ORCHESTRA 
Alhambra Palace
Tues, December 3, Doors Open 7PM

Now this should be interesting.  According to Musical Director/Leader Angel Rodriguez, who currently also currently plays trumpet with Naboriand has a resume including stints with Freddy Kenton, Orquesta 809 Isla, Jesus Enrique andWillie Garcia among others, he has had the dream of bringing together some of the area's Salsa elite for some time, and earlier this year, area DJ Angelo Prieto encouraged him to go ahead and put a working group together.  This is the debut performance of the result,  which includes some key area bandleaders and performers doing old-school Fania style 70's Salsa.   The horn section alone is reason enough to go, but all of these guys are excellent.  Angel tells us that this is not intended to be a "one-off", and if all goes well, there will be more performances in the future. 

Speaking of Nabori, the nominees for the 56th GRAMMY® Awards will be announced on Friday, December 6. Nabori has been under consideration for a possible nomination in the Tropical Latin category, as has Orquesta El Macabeo.  There are usually 4 or 5 nominees, so best of luck to both!

24 November 2013:

Banco Popular of Puerto Rico is releasing a 20th Anniversary DVD project in December titledMúsica en tiempos featuring a compilation of videos of some of the island's best groups including Orquesta El Macabeo, which is rolling out their own take on Pedro Navaja for the occasion.  We have seen a sneak preview of Orquesta El Macabeo's piece, and as usual whenever they do a cover, they give it some of their own personality. 

Next week, we'll post up an item about December 3's special debut concert by the newHumboldt Park Orchestra, a group composed of many of the area's bandleaders and key performers.  This looks to be interesting, so you might want to save the date.    

17 November 2013:

You can see our gallery and recap for the CISC Kickoff Party here. 
The Latin Jazz pick for special concerts this week would be the Greg Duncan Latin Ensemble concert at the Old Town School of Folk Music, Wednesday, 8pm

10 November 2013:

THIS WEEK:

This is a kickoff event for the upcoming Chicago International Salsa Congress in February featuring four fine area bands. 

Early Warnings:

Humboldt Park Orchestra, December 3, 2013
Alhambra Palace

This is a special All Star band composed of many of the area's bandleaders and key musicians and instrumentalists.  We'll share more about this closer to the date, you can also find more information at 4fantasticevents.com

3rd Annual Afro-Caribbean Improvised Music Festival, December 11-14, 2013 
Old Town School of Folk Music  and Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center

This year's offerings include a Tribute to Ismael Rivera,  a film screening of Sonó Sonó, a special performance by James Sanders' Proyecto Libre and the always-excellent  Afro-Latin Record Collectors' Fair and Exhibit.  This is happening in conjunction with the grand opening of the new Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. For more information, visit Aguzate.org

There are a lot of other things going on during November;  you can find many of them on our event calendar which is here,  and frankly, there are also a lot  of things going on in some of the restaurants which aren't posted on the calendar.  This isn't because we don't like the restaurants, but rather because those establishments, for whatever reason, seem to follow the philosophy that it is not their job to publicize which bands are playing there. In a way, they have a point - their money comes from the sale of food and drink.  Unfortunately, many of the bands that play these restaurants seem to share that philosophy (it isn't their job either).    There are at least seven area restaurants where this appears to be the situation.  We are always happy to help spread the word, but we also help those who help themselves. 

6 November 2013

NEW VINYL FROM ORQUESTA  EL MACABEO:

This is Perico, a Cortijo classic, with just enough twists and turns to let you know that this is Orq. El Macabeo and not the original.  We'll let the music do the talking (this is from the band's Youtube channel).  The other side is a cut by Bioritmo, Carnaval. This is a collector's item that you can find a few places including Amazon.com. 

APPALATIN COMES TO TOWN: 

Different, refreshing, and fun.  We picked up their CD too.  Read about their live performancehere and the CD here. 

NEW VENUE:  WIRE

Coming Up:

27 October, 2013

And now for something completely different: 

Appalatin (Latin/Appalachia Roots) plays in Chicago

DOCKtoberFest Chicago
River South neighborhood next to River City Marina
200 W. Polk at 800 S. Wells Street
Saturday, Oct 26, 5:15–6:15
Sunday,   Oct 27 4:45-5:45   

Rather than try to explain this in 25 words or less, I will let you read their press release, which is here.   Yes, it's a fusion with Cumbia and Quecha music, not Cuban, but still sounds interesting. 

20 October, 2013

We're on vacation this week, but check out the Calendar of Events for what's happening. 

13 October 2013:

See our 6 October posting for the Tito Puente Jr. concert on Tuesday. 

6 October 2013

COMING SOON:  
TRIBUTE TO THE MAMBO KING BY 
TITO PUENTE JR. 
15 OCTOBER 2013, ALHAMBRA PALACE 
Dinner 6:30pm, Concert doors open 7:30pm

Tito Jr turned up at Festival Cubano in 2012 and is bringing the Mambo to the Alhambra, which is offering dinner/dance packages for the event.

Speaking of the Alhambra, last Tuesday, we dropped in to see a new singer in town, Stacie Sandoval, originally from Burbank by way of Indiananapolis, where she had been bringing the Salsa to Indiana. Afinca'o also played a fun set.   For our photos and report, click here