When Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan presented in late November a new business plan for the financially troubled Artisphere that included closing the building on Mondays and Tuesdays, I wondered what would become of the arts center's "Salsa Tuesdays" events. While tonight’s Cuban salsa and timba event with DJ Reyna is being billed by dance instructor [...]
Last weekend was an action-packed one for Latin music in D.C.'s music venues; this weekend is slightly more academic. On Saturday, the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History are offering a free program, “Onstage Conversation- Rubén Blades—In His Own Words.” American History Curator Marvette Pérez will speak with Blades, the [...]
For fans of Latin and Brazilian sounds, Friday and Saturday nights offer a number of appealing choices. Earlier in the week I highlighted the Monday appearance of Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Alexis y Fido, and now Friday brings another Puerto Rican reggaeton duo, Rakim y Ken-y (also known as R.K.M. y Keny), who will be at El Boqueron [...]
Back in November, WPFW Sunday night DJ Jim Byers kicked off the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s “Metro Mambo: Latin Music in DC” series of concerts and lectures with a special program titled “Mambo in Mexico.” I contacted him then about the program and posted an interview here.
Byers will be back at the same museum on [...]
On Dec. 18, longtime D.C.-area salsa dance instructor and promoter Eileen Torres fell and broke her ankle in three places. She had surgery and still needs medical treatment and rehabilitation, but does not have medical insurance. Tonight, members of the local salsa community are holding a fundraiser at Zanzibar on the Waterfront to help pay [...]
Who knew that D.C. had its very own Cuban timba and salsa band? Yep, Orquesta Ashe, led by Cuban Aramis Pazos Barrera will be at the Left Bank in Adams Morgan tonight. Timba is a modern Cuban brand of salsa that adds funk beats and hornwork to the traditional clave rhythm. Barrera was a dancer [...]
Dance instructor, promoter, and Hispanic cultural event lecturer Eileen Torres sent out an e-mail on Monday that said in part:
I received word Friday that Zanzibar management is canceling Thursday Salsa Nights. It has been a losing proposition and they were left with no other choice than to stop the loss. I will hold special [...]
As promised, some stills and vids from Friday night:
La Timbistica:
Chopteeth:
Fertile Ground:
...and the Chopteeth videos...
"Struggle":
Nice horn bit:
Trouble viewing? Check out the YouTube versions here and here.
Review below; videos and photos forthcoming.
"The future of la musica is assured," a beaming Jim Byers informed the 9:30 club on Friday night.
Byers, the host of WPFW's "Latin Flavor," spoke after a stellar performance by La Timbistica, a high-flying salsa outfit also known as the Berklee College of Music Latin Jazz All-Stars. The [...]
