Video of the Week:Puente, Giovanni & Richie
Posted on 18. Jul, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
To continue with the Latin Jazz theme of this week, I selected a video of Tito Puente with a selected group of mostly percussionist, performing Puente’s favorite Five Beat Mambo. This is one of Puente’s old favorite, which he previously recorded as Four Beat Mambo with Willie “Bobo” on bongoes, Mongo Santamaria and Patato Valdes [...]
Continue Reading
Latin Jazz needs the younger audience!
Posted on 15. Jul, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
I just read a very interesting blog at the Latin Jazz Corner titled “Is Latin Jazz on its Deathbed? A Need to Reach the Younger Generation”. The article talks about the problem highlighted in a study in which they found that the audience of Jazz listeners is only the older generation, but it is not [...]
Continue Reading
Giovanni Hidalgo honored at Jazz Fest
Posted on 11. Jul, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
The 19th edition of the Puerto Rico Heineken Jazz Fest was dedicated to the Puerto Rican “conguero” extraordinaire Giovanni Hidalgo. The Heineken Jazz Fest, celebrated the past Memorial Weekend, recognized one of the best latin musicians of our time. Giovanni Hidalgo is considered the best “conguero” in the world. I’ve been following Giovanni almost since he [...]
Continue Reading
Father’s Day Special – Cuban Pianists Bebo y Chucho Valdés
Posted on 23. Jun, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
Cuban father-son pianists have a great family and musical history:
In the music world is hard to find a better Father’s Day tribute than that of Cuban pianists Bebo and Chucho Valdés. Bebo Valdés, who last October celebrated his 90th birthday, along with his son’s 67th since they were both born on October 9th, is still [...]
Continue Reading
Latin Music Video: Sonora Ponceña
Posted on 04. Jun, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
La Sonora Ponceña’s 55th Anniversary:
La Sonora Ponceña in celebrating its 55th anniversary of making music “con caché”. The celebration took place at the “Coliseo Roberto Clemente” of Puerto Rico on Saturday, May 23rd. La Sonora Ponceña is one of the longest running bands in Puerto Rico and in Latin Music, behind several cuban bands like [...]
Continue Reading
Rafael Escalona and Carlos Vives: How they popularized Vallenato, Part 1
Posted on 26. May, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
Two inter-connected lives
Rafael Escalona and Carlos Vives have been two of the main forces which popularized the Colombian latin music genre of “Vallenato” in the last few years. Their careers and lives are interrelated in more than one way. Rafael Escalona helped popularize Vallenato through his songs, “parrandas” (parties featuring group of people signing), and [...]
Continue Reading
Twitter: fad or social networking pandemic?
Posted on 17. May, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
Twitter as social pandemic:
Twitter use is spreading faster than the swine flu. Everyone with an online presence is using it. But, is twitter’s microblogging, where you can only write a maximum of 140 characters, really provide value for the social networker? Is is just a burning fad or a new trend here to stay?
How twitter [...]
Continue Reading
Post-Mother’s Day Latin Music Video - Gloria Estefan
Posted on 11. May, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
I want to share a favorite song in video, and even though Mother’s Day just passed, I’ll still share the video all the same. Gloria Estefan’s “Con los años que me quedan” is a lovely “bolero”, at the trio style. This song was recorded on Gloria Estefan’s album “Mi Tierra”, which was released in 1993, and [...]
Continue Reading
LatinoWebCafe’s 2nd month
Posted on 08. May, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
LatinoWebCafe celebrates its 2nd month and I’ve been thinking of all the things I’ve learned in my short bloggging life so far. Early on, I decided to make LatinoWebCafe.com a blog for latinos with a focus on three topics instead of just one topic. I want to share my passion and knowledge for latin music, share [...]
Continue Reading
Premios Billboard Musica Latina - more of the same!
Posted on 27. Apr, 2009 by Hector Aviles.
After the results of the “Premios Billboard 2009” of latin music, you have to wonder if whoever chooses the award winners even listens to the recordings. These latin music awards, as with the Grammy’s, “Lo Nuestro”, etc., seem to reward the most popular and conected artists than the quality of music they play.
My particular grief [...]
