Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Fathers day! - Feliz dia de los Padres! Sunday June 20th


My Father is no longer here in body,
but his spirit is always with me.
Happy Fathers day Papa!
I miss you!


1928

1936


Brooklyn, N.Y. 1941


Brooklyn, N.Y. 1941


Tunisia, North Africa 1942




1960

Central Park N.Y.C. 1973

Central Park N.Y.C. 1974


My Father and myself, New Orleans 1974


Central Park N.Y.C. 1991


Central Park N.Y.C. 1994


2000

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Video: Cuba "No pare la rumba!"


El Callejon De Hamel


In memoriam: Félix "Pupy" Insua -Cuba-N.Y.C.-Cuba


Félix "Pupy" Insua

Rumbero, bailarine, dance teacher.
La Habana, Cuba 1948 - June 2nd 2011 La Habana, Cuba.

R.I.P. / Q.E.P.D.
*** Iba ayé ba yé t'orún ***

 Video:
The late Félix "Pupy" Insua :
dancing Rumba Columbia en La Habana

before he left
and relocated to New York City.



Video:
El fallecido Félix "Pupy" Insua
junto con Roman Diaz




Video:
El fallecido Félix "Pupy" Insua y su hijo
Museum of Natural History December 2005.
Rumba Columbia


Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Sexto Sentido & João Donato "Bossa cubana" 2004 - Cuba

"Bossa Cubana"
Sexto Sentido & João Donato

**((**((**))**))**

Cuban vocal quartet Sexto Sentido, together with the Brasilian master João Donato: arrangements, acoustic piano, vocals.
Great project, great sessions
recorded en Cuba.

Great variety of styles and materiel, several sung in English.
Tambores batá on The Beatles 'Come Together'.
T
he master João Donato's piano playing as always... is superb.

5 Pa' Ti - "Son Con Swing" 2000 - Cuba

"Son Con Swing"
5 Pa' Ti
CD - 2000
((****))
Cuban vocal quintet 5 Pa' Ti.
Tasty vocals, arrangements and very tasteful playing.
Two songs are sung in English, which to me sounds like
they're singing phonetically and do a very good job at it.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Video: Cuba


Video: Cuba - La Ritmo Oriental


"Candela Brava"



"Hay Que Tener Cuidado Con La Percussion"


Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Havana Central, music Viernes 8:30pm-12:00a.m. Manhattan


I'll be playing with Grupo Irék Friday May 27th
at 'Havana Central', if you are in town come by.
8:30pm-12:00a.m. (gratis)
2911 Broadway (Between 113th & 114th St)
http://www.havanacentral.com/home.php



Netanyahu "El Diablo"

Benjamin Netanyahu:
Imperialist, colonialist devil.




Thursday, May 19, 2011

Pototo y Filomeno with Orq.Melodias Del 40 - 1959 Cuba

Pototo y Filomeno mostly with Orq. Melodias Del 40
and several songs with a conjunto playing Son.
Download directly from Yoyo's excellent music blog.

Leopoldo Fernández y Aníbal De Mar
a.k.a. "Pototo & Filomeno" can be very funny on these...
though the real stars for me are Orq. Melodias Del 40,
who absolutely sound amazing on these sessions.
Several songs on both recordings have Pototo & Filomeno
backed by a conjunto and those also are very nice.

"Ensalada Rebelde"
Pototo y Filomeno
With Orq.Melodias Del 40 y Conjunto
((****))

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Books: "The Amazing Adventures of Anacaona"

"Queens of Havana: The Amazing Adventures of Anacaona,
Cuba's Legendary All-Girl Dance Band"

I had been wanting to read this book for the last four years.
I finally bought it last week on Amazon.com, a brand "new
hardcover copy" for $1.10 with $3.99 shipping.. total $5.09!!
(retail price: $24.00)

Fabulous book!
A great accounting by Alicia Castro
of the Castro Sisters band: Anacaona.
From the 1920's through the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and beyond.
With great insight into Chinese Cuban musicians in Havana.
And El Barrio Chino en La Habana.
393 pages....with MANY excellent photos!
An absolute bargain at $1.10!

The book includes a CD with the
band as a Septeto playing 5 songs:

1. Despues Que Sufras
2. Amor Inviolado
3. Besame Aqui
4. Oh! Marambe Maramba
5. Maleficio
6. Algo Bueno

Septeto Anacaona

The beautiful Argimira "Millo" Castro
La bongosera

Millo 1940's

"Oh! Marambé Maramba" - 1937
Graciela
: vocal & clave
Argimira "Millo" Castro: bongó solo

"Algo Bueno"
- 1937
Graciela: vocal & clave
Argimira "Millo" Castro: bongó solo


Con Graciela clave y voz.

Mexicans Rise Up.

Monday, May 2, 2011

"En Nosotros" Generoso Jimenez, Peruchin, El Negro Vivar - Cuba

"En Nosotros - Instrumental"
Vinyl LP on EGREM/Areito
1964-'66

Musicians include:
Generoso "Tojo" Jimenez: trombone & Arr.
Pedro "Peruchin" Justiz: piano.
Rafael Somavilla: piano, arr. & comp.
Adolfo Guzmán: piano, arr. & comp.
Rolando Baró: piano, arr. & comp.
Alejando "El Negro" Vivar: trumpet.
Emilio Peñalver: tenor saxofone.
Osvaldo Peñalver : alto/sop. saxofone.

Great tuba on both tracks:

2. El Manisero

6. Domitila Donde Vas

Sunday, May 1, 2011

LP cover: Pérez Prado -"Dengues" 1964

"Dengues"
Dámaso Pérez Prado
Recorded in Lima. Peru in 1964,
a series of Dengue singles were
later released here, 12 on this LP.

I like the cover showing a red painted
car brake drum, which gives the Ritmo Dengue
it's distinctive sound, Prado is credited as
the originator of the Dengue rhythm.

Conj. Roberto Faz "Dengue En Faz" 1964 - Cuba

"Dengue En Faz"
Conjunto Roberto Faz
Vinyl EP with 4 tracks con ritmo Dengue.
1964 on EGREM

1. Dengue en Faz

2. Dengue para ti

3. El Dengue y su tiqui tiqui

4. Tiqui tiqui Dengue para ti

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